What can I do to help me cope with a procedure?

[PurpleYam]

Whenever my coil is replaced I hyperventilate. I do my best to relax and co-operate, but each time it's worse. Last time I hyperventilated so badly that I went into tetany. I know coping strategies for hyperventilation (diaphragmatic breathing and reciting poetry/singing) and they normally work, but not for this particular procedure.

Please help me find a way to cope!

Ask for gas and air?

Do you have to have the coil?

I wouldn't have one if you paid me!

I had such a bad reaction on the one and only time I went to have one fitted that they told me I should never have one. My blood pressure plummeted and I was close to fainting for 20 minutes. An insult to the cervix I think they called it.

If your reaction was extreme, like mine, perhaps it's better to look at alternatives.

Ask GP for a dose of Diazepam to take pre-op?

I do want the coil. It's worth a few hours' discomfort.

They don't think my reaction is cervical insult (though my cervix certainly feels insulted by the procedure!).

I asked about G&A last time, and they said that for any form of sedation I would have to get it done in a specialist place, I forget where. But I like and trust the doctor who does coils at my surgery. I'd rather see her, if possible.

Diazepam sounds a possibility, unless it counts as sedation. If I took enough to cope, would I still be competent to walk home alone? I imagine I wouldn't be able to drive.

I would get something from your GP. You could take 2 paracetamol before you go as well. Bring headphones and listen to something like conversation or an interesting documentary.
You could try renting a TENS machine. It should work in these situations, as you could be creating and controlling tingling sensations elsewhere in the body. It also would give you something to focus on and hopefully give your brain something else to worry about.
A bottle of Coke is a great help in these situations too.

I have mine done under general anaesthetic due to ptsd
It’s bliss and no way would I have one put in awake

I had a coil fitted in April. I had labour pains so severe afterwards that I felt like something was up....

I was right. It had perforated my uterus and had to be removed via keyhole surgery.

TENS - interesting idea. I have one. Shall have look.

Listening to something very absorbing - also worth trying. Wonder whether ds would lend me his state-of-the-art noise-cancelling headphones.

But I'm puzzled about the Coke bottle - how does that work?

Ouch, Chatty, how awful!

Re the Coke Bottle. You drink the Coke if things get difficult. Have a good swig before the procedure. I am a Fainter so would have a bottle stashed in my bag for the dentist etc. Caffeine helps the blood pressure rise and the sugar, well, does what sugar does.

I think you can get it done under general if you are really worried. Could be an option?

An implant is long term contraception too, I think it has similar hormones to the mirena if that's what you are having?

Durrr!

So I'll be listening to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and zapping my back while stoned on diazepam and high on caffeine.

Should be good

Hi OP Diazepam can be quite sedating depending on he dose, you might need to check if it is a sedative from their point of view. If it's the first time you have had it, it might make sense to have someone walk home with you.

PS you weren't the only one wondering about the coke bottle 🙄