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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

for it not to take at least 3 weeks before I can get someone to take my coil out??

65 replies

vbacqueen1 · 06/05/2008 10:43

Having agonised over this decision for months I have finally decided that I definitely want my hideous Mirena coil taken out. It has caused me no end of side effects so one would imagine that it would be an easy thing to arrange for it to be removed, right? Bloody WRONG! I rang my GP's surgery this morning to check if it would have to be the Practice Nurse who would do it and was told to call back in 10 minutes so they could go and check. Duly called back to be told that I would initially have to make an appointment for a consultation. Guess when? 20th of May! And Christ alone knows how long I'd then have to wait for a second appointment to take the effing thing out
I'm 41 years old. I know my own mind. This is not a whim. Why is this so difficult?

OP posts:

bigshopper · 06/05/2008 22:48

I've got the copper coil. No side effects apart from much heavier periods, but not so dreadful I can't cope. I have annual scans to see whether it's in place anyway because the doctor told me it was important to, but don't live in UK so not NHS. Seems like a great, no trouble sort of contraception.

NiftyNanny · 06/05/2008 22:50

I've been told so many times to get a MIrena - because "they are so wonderfully free of side effects"

The trouble is I have a "normal" T shaped one now and I get PMT from the moment I ovulate. I retain about half a stone's worth of water, I'm ravenous, I'm twitchy and tired, my boobs hurt... urgh.

Is the copper one the beads on a string one? That was FINE for me though I did have a condition which stopped my periods for a while anyway so it was hard to tell. But I got told they don't do them any more? Maybe it was just my FPC then... but I desperately want to change from this non-hormonal one as it's giving me such horrible heavy periods I can't face much more

Sorry to hijack the thread, no you're not BU but I posted on Health once before about coils and... no one could tell me much

I REALLY don't want to gain weight.

ingles2 · 06/05/2008 22:52

I had a copper coil taken out a couple of weeks ago. It was fantastic BUT I had it in for more than 5 yrs,...started getting loads of infections, pain during sex and constant bleeding, then had to wait 6 months to get it taken out due to all the infections..
so don't leave it in too long.
gp wants to put a mirena in now but I think not from the views on MN

Original poster

vbacqueen1 · 07/05/2008 10:55

I was also told that the only side effects of the Mirena coil were all good ie. no PMT, no bleeding.
If I had known then what I know now I would never have had it. I bled non stop for 6 months, which I was then told was normal , I have frequent migraines for which I have to take super strength migraine tablets on prescription (I used to get maybe one every 2 years), which I was again told was normal. I have no sex drive. I'm more miserable than I've been since .......well, I can't remember when, and from the outside in, my life is truly lovely so there is no other reason that I can see for this misery than the bloody coil.
To be honest, I'm angry that none of these "normal" side effects were pointed out to me BEFORE they put the coil in. And I'm angry at myself for not having done more research into it beforehand too. I thought I had done enough but I was obviously only looking at the positives.
Added to that is my Catholic dilemma on contraception in the first place - we spent years trying to have babies and the more I think about it, the more wrong everything about this coil is, hence my decision to want it out, and now.
Sorry, a bit of a rant there! Have stopped now.

OP posts:

shouldbeworking · 07/05/2008 12:17

I agree with Mellyonion ....The GP may want to see you to see if he can persuade you to keep it because of cost issue. My fpc doctor said they wouldn't fit one in a woman who might change her mind and want it removed because of the cost involved. That's why I ended up with a copper coil instead because I had voiced my concerns about the side effects of the mirena (I suffer from migraine). Copper coil was horrid as well. constant bleeding and period type pains..I did wonder if it worked as a contraceptive by rendering you completely incapable of ever having sex again!!!!I came extremely close to removing it myself too.
The medical profession do seem to be pretty keen on the mirena. I have never had a consultation about contraception without it being mentioned. I suppose that if a woman has one and keeps it for the full 5 years it is pretty cost effective in terms of doctor's time etc. Trouble is I know and have read about so many women who have had such problems with it it's hard to believe it is the wonder contraception they sell it to you as.
Good luck wth getting yours removed...Finally was rid of my coil during op to be sterilised...not the answer if you want more dcs though.

MadMumsy · 07/05/2008 12:28

I had a coil and fell for my second daughter while it was supposed to be in place. I fell for my first daughter on the pill. After that I made my own arrangements......got my husband to hold it out and I got two housebricks ready and squashed it in between. Haven't had any children since!!!! (only joking really!!)

bergentulip · 07/05/2008 12:37

I find it a little hard to believe that cost can really be that much of an issue. I had to pay for mine myself, just the system here in NL where prescriptions are not covered, and it was about 100euros. Ok, not cheap, but that's what? 60-70quid. There are far more expensive things out there within the medical system than the flippin' Mirena.

It's a silly excuse on the GP's part if that is the case. x numbers of boxes of the pill all add up! Even just one year's worth. So, one hardly needs keep the Mirena in more than about a year to make it 'cost effective' for the NHS......

bergentulip · 07/05/2008 12:38

triflenorks · 07/05/2008 22:35

someone asked about what coils they do at a fpc. I went today for my consultation. At mine they do.
Nova T 380 copper coil and t shaped. last 5 yrs
flexi t copper coil and t shaped last 3 yrs.
a 10 yr copper coil also t shapped.
one that is like an upside down u which has small spikes on it again a copper coil. last 5 yrs; apparently rarely used because of the small spikey looking things.
and the mirena which is the only hormonal coil. last 5 yrs.

triflenorks · 07/05/2008 22:37

oh, I was also told that a coil is the cheapest form of contraception for the nhs, as it might cost a 100 quid a pop but when you break that down per day its cheaper than the pill. the most expensive part is the fitting as its done by a doctor. the removal can be doneby most nurses.

GreebosWhiskers · 07/05/2008 22:56

Bugger! I just got my mirena put in last week after waiting for nearly a year & a half Wondering if it was the right thing to do now. I'd heard that there were low incidences of side-effects with this one.

Original poster

vbacqueen1 · 08/05/2008 10:20

Well, the deed is done!
Sat and waited for three quarters of an hour at the FPC (my GOD have you been to one of those places lately?? It's like a youth club! I was the oldest person there by about 20 years and I swear I could hear them sniggering at me - "like, yeah, as if SHE still has sex" the feckers) and the lovely nurse just asked me a couple of questions, bypassed the pregnancy test as those dreadful schoolies were obviously right and I haven't had sex since they started playgroup, and whipped it out. No fuss, no pain, didn't even feel it come out.
The worst part of the whole procedure was having to flash my over-enthusiastically waxed bikini line.
Scarily, my husband looked very pleased when I came home and said it would now be more exciting.............. I fear the patter of tiny feet could be occurring.

OP posts:

shouldbeworking · 08/05/2008 14:13

Thats the whole point bergentulip the mirena is cost effective for the nhs so long as the woman keeps it as her sole form of contraception for at least 12 months. The initial cost of the coil plus the doctors time to fit it become expensive if the woman has it removed early and then requires alternative contraception. I believe the relative cost effectiveness is why nhs is so keen on this form of contraception. But because the initial costs of fitting it and the coil itself are relatively high this is why they are keen for women to perservere with it for at least a year, it only becomes a good cost effective method for the nhs in the long term. In the short term it is expensive when compared to other methods.

LessThanImpressed · 09/05/2008 08:36

PHEW!

Glad you have got this sorted finally vbacqueen!

I know what you mean about the FPC - I went once (I am 32) and felt like an OAP

Hope all goes well from now on!

cheesesarnie · 09/05/2008 11:37

vbacqueen1 -i felt same at a fpc when ds2 was about 6 months and i was 28!
oooh pitter patter!

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