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Menopause

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Original poster

Should I have a mirena

22 replies

YummieMummyof3 · 16/10/2021 12:13

Hi I would welcome some advice.

I am 45 peri menopausal. Experiencing heavy periods. I have been diagnosed with uterine fibroids.

I keep the bleeding under control with traxmetic acid (I hope I have spelled it correctly).

In May this year after my GP referred my to the hospital. They recommend a mirena coil.

1st attempt failed as they were unable to dilate. I was in agony for days afterwards.

A few weeks later.

2nd attempt they injected me with a pain block. After a lot of effort by the doctor to insert the coil. I felt a warm sensation. There was a pool of blood on the floor. They failed to insert it.

I am was in agony and bleed heavy for around 6 weeks. I am still occasionally sporting now.

I returned to the hospital last week. The Doctor told me the only treat me available is a mirena coil. I have said I am not keen. I was told I would be deemed to be refusing treatment and I would have to continue to suffer with heavy bleeding. An appointment has been made for next week.

OP posts:

Idontlike · 16/10/2021 16:07

I had fibroids and took tranexamic acid for years. It did eventually stop working for me.

I tried the Mirena. I was spotting or bleeding every day for around 9 months. It also made me put on 2 stone. Awful that they are trying to force you to have it but they do like to make you jump through hoops before offering a permanent solution. It would be a totally different story if men had to suffer with horrendous bleeding and pain every month

Gynae then asked me to try the POP -that had me bleeding so heavily for the 5 months I was on it that I was anaemic even though I was on prescription iron tablets.

I refused ablation as there is a highish failure rate. After 5 years under gynae I sat and sobbed and begged for a hysterectomy. My periods were ruining my life as I had to miss work because I couldn’t leave the house. I had to wait forever for the op but I was happiest woman alive the day they took me to theatre.

I hope someone will be along who is more knowledgeable of the system, I don’t see that you are refusing treatment, you are declining treatment that is traumatising, painful, may not work etc etc. Horrible for them to put pressure on you like that.

TomAllenWife · 16/10/2021 16:17

I have the mirena put in under GA much better and I will never have it done awake again

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 16/10/2021 16:18

that sounds dreadful for you! Six weeks of bleeding! Have you had any explanation of why it's gone so wrong twice now??

I have one, to go with the Oestrogel HRT, and love it. I did have one before for contraception and have had no issues with either.

I do think it makes a difference to who fits it though, first time was my GP who had done a course and seemed to be the only GP in the district to do it, so was fitting them all the time, and the last one was fitted at the Sexual Health Clinic and again someone who was doing this all the time.

Notaroadrunner · 16/10/2021 16:22

The mirena has also been suggested to me. I'm currently on the mini pill to see if that will help with heavy periods. While I haven't had a heavy bleed since starting it over 5 months ago, I'm experiencing light bleeds and spotting almost every day, so that is no good. My gut is telling me not to get the mirena even though everyone I know has had a good experience with it. I can't explain it but I feel that it will effect me negatively if I get it, or I'll be left with constant spotting as I am now. I would insist in getting it under ga by my gynaecologist if I was to get it. I've read too many stories on MN where it's been torture getting it in and my friend had the same experience. I have no answer for you but really feel for you. It's shit!

SecondRateFrog · 16/10/2021 16:29

I had one put in and was told that there were no disadvantages, only advantages. That's wrong, as I have permanent bleeding. But the process itself was bearable.

Original poster

YummieMummyof3 · 16/10/2021 22:55

Thank you all for your thoughts. I am seriously considering not having it.

OP posts:

BlackSwan · 17/10/2021 07:10

I got the Kyleena coil this week for heavy periods. Day 4 now, no bleeding but still some crampiness. I thought if it doesn't work then I'd go for ablation. Idontlike how high is the failure rate? What happens if it doesn't work?

Trillian2020 · 17/10/2021 07:17

I had my first mirena fitted 4 years ago for heavy bleeding and now have it with oestrogel for perimenopausal symptoms. It's great and will definitely get another but may go for lower dose progesterone option like Kyleena(?). I did have spotting for 5 months and put weight on but that's stopped and was worth it- no more crushing fatigue and periods ruling your life.

groundcontroltomajormum · 19/10/2021 06:10

Your experiences sound horrific. I would refuse based on the other attempts that did not work. Also put in a complaint against the gynaecologist. You haven't refused treatment. It hasn't worked twice for you.

oneglassandpuzzled · 19/10/2021 17:27

Mine is working well. I’m 57 and had it put in back in December 2020. Wish I’d done it a decade earlier.

emmathedilemma · 20/10/2021 13:19

Based on personal experience I wouldn't as it made my bleeding (also due to fibroids) worse and once it's in you'll find they're not that keen on taking it out either....."try giving it more time to settle"......

Original poster

YummieMummyof3 · 28/10/2021 13:28

Hi everyone

I decided to bite the bullet and go for it.

Headed to the hospital. Puffed on gas and air. I felt really dizzy, the doctor looked up and told me he was going to abandon the procedure.

After getting dressed the recommendation was to sedate me at a later date. I start a new job in a month and I am reluctant to have to call in sick. There was talk of taking the mini pill. However the room was spinning with the gas and air.

Undecided what my next move should be .

OP posts:

Hill1991 · 29/10/2021 07:24

@YummieMummyof3

Hi everyone

I decided to bite the bullet and go for it.

Headed to the hospital. Puffed on gas and air. I felt really dizzy, the doctor looked up and told me he was going to abandon the procedure.

Undecided what my next move should be .

I'm so sorry for all you have had to go through, This should not be happening I can see your reluctance to try and have the coil fitted again ( I had one in for a year still was bleeding they didn't want to take it out) it was in the wrong place. I'm now on an injection that has put me into menopause (with the view of making the decision if to have a hysterectomy) I'm sure if your already peri-menopausal then that could be an option for you.

I would do your own research into what could be an option apart from the coil for you as that clearly isn't option after so many failed attempts, and take your own information and you tell them what you want to do as it's your body you have control on what happens.

Original poster

YummieMummyof3 · 29/10/2021 19:05

Hi Hill1991

I am intreaged with an injection, sounds like a good idea. Do you know what the name of the injection is and I will research it.

Thanks

OP posts:

Hill1991 · 30/10/2021 06:14

@YummieMummyof3

Hi Hill1991

I am intreaged with an injection, sounds like a good idea. Do you know what the name of the injection is and I will research it.

Thanks

I'm on one called prostap I have the injection every 3months and not had a period since starting them.

Here is a leaflet I've found about them

mft.nhs.uk/app/uploads/sites/4/2019/11/19-71-GnRH-analogue-injections-Nov-19.pdf

Original poster

YummieMummyof3 · 07/02/2022 20:52

I did eventually get the mirena inserted under GA. I was in a lot of pain for days afterwards. I phoned the hospital who assured me that the pain was normal. I then started to bleed more heavily. Again I was assured that this was completely normal and would clear in time. Then it came out. The hospital told me to contact my GP who prescribed the mini pill. Continually spotting and heavy bleeding so far. Feeling depressed and put on loads of weight despite going to the gym.
I have been referred back to the hospital. Looking for alternative treatments.

OP posts:

Hill1991 · 09/02/2022 07:14

Oh bless you I hope your feeling better and it might be worth getting a blood test done to check for anaemia caused by the bleeding and here are some of your other options if you haven't already tried them.

• degestrol(if I spelt it right) I had taken double the dose as my gynaecologist said because I'm bigger than the average woman I needed a bigger dose

•prostap injections best thing invented in my opinion

•ablation good if it works

I am no expert so I would do your own research and go armed with your own information rather than be told what they want to do.

Original poster

YummieMummyof3 · 09/02/2022 17:34

@Hill1991

Thank you for recommending prostrap. I have taken desogestrel before and I am having the same issues as when I had taken it before. Weight gain. Spotting most days. I am just hoping the doctor doesn't insist that I try to give it chance.
Does the prostap injection stop all bleeding?
Would be a brilliant option if it works.

OP posts:

Hill1991 · 10/02/2022 07:26

Yes it does completely stop your periods I haven't had one in over a year now only side effect I get is hot flushes for 2 weeks after each injection. It was my last resort as everything else failed my only other option is a hysterectomy which I'm having on Wednesday as the injection can't be given long term in my case I'm only 31 so a long way off menopause but if your already peri-menopausal you might be aloud to be on it until you reach menopause.

torquewench · 10/02/2022 07:31

Do you know how big the fibroids are? I had mine removed, my friend had a hysterectomy to sort hers out.

I have a mirena, best thing that ever happened to me. It was fitted in a sexual health centre. Some pain for about 10 mins, some minor bleeding at the time.

Roselilly36 · 10/02/2022 07:34

You poor thing OP, sounds like you are having a terrible time. I was flooding badly so I opted for the Mirena, I am on my third & final one now, this will take me through the menopause, my periods have stopped. Have you considered a hysterectomy? I think
I would have pushed for it, if the Mirena hadn’t worked for me. Good luck for the future OP

Blane · 11/04/2022 17:24

I'm 54, when I was 47 I had severe anaemia due to heavy bleeding for several years. Had to go to hospital for a blood transfusion. I went to theatre, had a D&C, uterine ablation and the mirena fitted. The best thing that I ever did. Not sure if it's the mirena or the ablation, or both, but it worked, only ever had very light periods since then and sometimes none at all.

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