Initial consultation for Mirena

[longtompot]

I have an appointment next week for a chat with the gp about having my first Mirena coil fitted. Can anyone tell me what happens in this appointment? Is there likely to be an internal examination? I just want to be prepared for it.
I have been encouraged for many years by many gps to have one fitted, but the very idea just put me off. As I am being treated for anaemia, and they think heavy periods are the cause of this as its been going on for many years, I am just so tired all the time, and I think I will just give it a go.

I would hope that this GP is also trained in removal as well as insertion of same.

I would try and determine exactly what the cause of the heavy periods is rather than just having a mirena fitted. It is not suitable for all women by any means and some cannot tolerate the ongoing issues with bleeding.

Ongoing heaviness of periods can cause anaemia to arise. Have you never seen an actual gynae about this in all the years you've had heavy bleeding, did no-one ever refer you?. Has no-one ever mentioned the possibility of you having fibroids here; these can cause heavy bleeding as well as endometriosis.

I have been treated at my local gynae dept at the hospital for the heavy in between spotting, which was due to a huge polyp. Had to be removed under ga as it was so big. Not had that issue since.
My periods have always been heavy, since they first started, as have my mums, and my daughters.
The gp I am seeing has a special interest in womens health, inc the fitting of coils, not sure if she does the removal as well.
I am in my late 40's, am perimenopauseal, so will have it, assuming it works, until I have had my menopause.

I just wanted to know what the initial appointment would entail. I naively thought, as I have spoken to several gps about it over the years, I could just get one fitted.

I love my Mirena. First appointment from memory was nothing physical, just a talk about my options and despite the fact that I was keen to go ahead there and then, they weren't able to do that and I had to come back a week later.

It was uncomfortable but not painful on insertion, and then I felt like I had mild but noticeable period pain for about 3 weeks. Just when I decided I'd had enough and might have to get it out, it finally implanted fully and I've not felt as much as a twinge since. Haven't had a full on period for years. It's amazing.

I can't remember the initial appointment but my insertion was incredibly painful. I hadn't really prepared myself for it at all and I was in dreadful pain for the rest of the day, horrendous cramps however after a few days I didn't have any pain and it has been great to have the coil. My periods are regular but extremely light. I just wanted to prepare you as no one told me and I wish I had known what to expect.

The initial appointment is usually just to tell you what will happen and make sure you know everything there is to know about it. I had my 2nd one inserted in December - my GP does it. It was a bit painful, take some ibuprofen before you go. I went Xmas shopping afterwards, its not so bad and worth it to stop the heavy periods.

Thaks all. I had the appointment yesterday and it was just a run through of the possible problems that can occasionally occur, and letting me know its a good idea to take ibuprofen beforehand. She was a lovely gp, has fitted loads over the years and has never had someone come back with an infection or any other issues. I am now booked in for a few weeks to have it done, and my smear at the same time. I didn't realise you actually get a presciption for the coil which I have collected from my pharmacy. Might not be the same for all gp surgerys.
Lets hope I am of the many who have no issues, and it stops my super heavy soak through an always nighttime thick pad in an hour on the worst two days periods.

Finally had the mirena fitted today. Was meant to happen 2 weeks ago but my period arrived late, so would have been heaviest on the day. Then the dr had to postpone as her hca was away, so couldn't happen anyway.

I was terrified beforehand. I took some paracetamol and ibuprofen, not sure if helped. I had the smear test first which was fine as normal. Then was cervix cleaning, and then measuring depth, then it was fitted. The depth measuring and the fitting did make me oooh in an ouch that was painful way, but I didn't swear.
The dr was fantastic. She was reassuring the whole way through, and at the end she squeezed my arm and said how well I did. I did feel a bit dizzy, so had to lie on the bed for a bit, but was ok. Afterwards, it felt like when I have tried tampons and not got them in far enough, so when you sit down you can feel it. I was expecting that, but of course its not the same. Just feel a bit stretched and swabbed.
I feel ok now though, just a bit of pain and some bleeding. Hopefully all will be ok as she said it was a perfect fitting.

I was offered mirena due to heavy periods and period pain and anaemia. Was either that or ablation or hysterectomy. Was best choice as light bleeding and no period pains. Appointment was at hospital. I have a very tight retroverted uterus where the gynae consultants could not even perform an internal exam nor dilate my cervix to fit the mirena They ended up putting me to sleep as day case and decided to perform a hysteroscopy and biopsy while I was completely knocked out.