Please tell me about your experience with the mirena coil

[SolidGold]

My gp has recommended I have a mirena coil fitted to help with heavy very painful periods. I'm 49 and can't take the combined pill. I don't need contraception as dh has had the snip, but just need to find a way of lessening the pain.

I have an appointment this month and will probably need a hysterectopy (??) - camera examination - to check there are no problems causing the pain.

Just interested in how people have got on with the mirena. Thanks

I got pregnant with DS1 a year after having it fitted. Apparently had expelled itself

Can't you have the copper one with no hormones? I had one and loved it. Horror stories about heavy periods were unfounded. I'm just about to have another one inserted as I just had a baby. Best thing ever I thought.

I had one last year for heavy periods and it expelled itself in a large blood clot one evening.

I have fibroids - one external to the uterine muscle and a few internal, but I'm not sure if that's why it expelled. TBH I had a lot of pain on insertion and the following days.

I've had another one inserted under GA and they cut and cauterized the external fibroid while I was under.

I've had no pain from the insertion, but I did rest up properly as I was in hospital. Since then no bleeding but sore chest pain and twinging pains around the ovaries. I have gained weight though.

Have they offered you an ablation as an alternative?

Hopasholic, I have that much breast pain for over a week every month anyway, I have to wear a bra in bed too.

Jolly, no ablation been offered. Do you think I should ask about it?

The reason I'm seeing the gynae is because of mid cycle bleeding. I can cope with that if there's no sinister reason for it and I can cope with the one/two days of heavy bleeding each month, it's the pain I can't take, it's so bad, I can't stand up!

The gynae offered me the mirena to deal with that. I would be happy with anything, the pill, whatever, but think due to my age they won't do anything else.

I am so shy, anxious and generally crap that I go to pieces when at the doctors and forget what I wanted to ask or find myself mindlessly nodding and agreeing to everything, then I get home and think, wtf have I agreed to now?, call up the next day to cancel whatever procedure they're planning and am back to square one!

I think the Mirena comes before an ablation in terms of preference for most doctors.

OP do you not have a kind female doctor that you could speak to? or a practice nurse initially?

Belize, I have seen all the female doctors at my surgery now One was kind, but very young, and as soon as I mention mid cycle bleeding they want to refer me for the hysteroscopy The others have just shrugged it off as "an age thing"!

You definitely need a scan for mid cycle bleeding - they need to see what's going on.

I was told there is little that can be done about some fibroids. Although when you read the Mirena information it does say not to be used if you have fibroids which me.

I also had a D & C while I was under, as the womb lining was exceptionally thick.

Mirena is pushed by GP's as I'm sure it's the cheapest, easiest option, but there are alternatives from D&C, to ablation to hysterectomy that can be discussed.

Can you take a strong willed friend or family member in with you op? They can ask if you start stumbling?

Jolly, there's no one that can come with me

I don't want any surgery or a general anaesthetic. They did a scan last year and could see nothing. I think it's just my hormones going haywire due to age.

Tbh I would take the mini pill if it would help, but they won't prescribe it without me seeing the gynae. I have to wait til 27th jan for my appt and my period is due next week. I'm already getting worked up about it