Just wanted to share my excitement after finally having a gynae take my requests for pain management seriously in getting a coil put in.
The first one I had was put around 10 years ago – I passed out from the pain of insertion the first time around (Mirena), and then had to be sent to a specialist clinic the second time for a smaller one (Skyla), which left me in a full-blown panic attack and on the point of vomiting. I've never felt any pain like it.
The experience of actually having it in over the following years was heavenly – I had no bad side effects, loved the ease of it (I travel a lot and getting the pill isn't always easy), and was gutted when it ran out.
I've been on the pill since (progesterone only) and haven't liked it much. But the pain of getting a new coil put in has always scared me so much that I haven't gone back for another.
This year I decided it was time – so I started shopping around to find someone who would offer local anaesthetic to at least take the edge off. Clinic after clinic told me:
"It's not so bad"
"We're very experienced, you won't feel anything"
"Take a paracetamol a couple of hours beforehand"
One said they'd give me Misoprostol the day before to soften my cervix (read about this online and apparently studies show it makes no difference to the pain of insertion and just gives you extended cramps beforehand)
And then finally, today, I walked into a doctor's office, and she immediately said,
"Don't let anyone tell you your pain isn't real. We'll tell your insurance company that we tried once, insertion didn't go well and you require sedation. Come in next week and we'll knock you out, pop it in and send you home again."
I actually cried with relief!
So just posting to:
a) celebrate! and
b) tell anyone in my position that you're NOT being a baby about the pain, it IS possible to have one put in without suffering, there ARE good doctors out there, and it IS worth being determined about it.