Mirena in situ but no strings, now what?

[User323232]

My third Mirena needs replacing but the GP couldn’t find any strings, nor could she see it. She had a bloody good dig and it was the most horrifically excruciatingly painful thing and I was screaming and crying in pain.

The next step was an ultrasound which has confirmed the Mirena is in the correct place. I’ve had many internal ultrasounds whilst pregnant and they didn’t bother me at all, but since that attempted removal, I really struggled with the ultrasound probe this time and just the feel of it reminded me of that terrible experience. I can’t imagine letting the GP have another try.

Ideally I’d have another Mirena because I use it for heavy period management and also the hormone to be able to have HRT. What options do I have?

Obviously the correct answer to my question is ask the GP, but it’s taken six months to get this far, so I’m impatiently asking mumsnet. Thanks in advance.

I had mine removed under GA. Mine was lost though.

They’ll put you under GA and sort it!

Oh gosh. GA!

I was referred to a specialist midwife who retrieved it under local rather than general anaesthetic. I was fine until she held it up like a prize fish, then I came over all queasy. So don’t let the GP try again and, if you’re at all squeamish, tell them not to show it to you.

Is local anaesthetic more substantial than whatever completely ineffective gel they use normally? I’m not squeamish (specifically asked to see the placenta after DC was born to see what all the fuss was about), and thought I had a pretty high pain threshold but there’s is no way in the world I can imagine letting someone have another poke around.

Yes, so the midwife used a gel to numb my cervix first then injected a local anaesthetic. I was obviously dreading it, but apart from the queasy turn it was bearable. At a later date, I went back for another mirena and they gave me the same combination of gel then injection to the cervix.

I’m sorry about your experience and cross with your GP for attempting something which clearly requires an experienced specialist and an anaesthetic.

Thanks @MIAMNERit’s really thrown me. I’m normally such a “just roll my sleeves up and get stuck in no matter what” sort of person, this has really, really affected me. I don’t love the idea of having to have a GA “just” for this, but having done a bit more googling now too, I can see why it might be needed. It’s such a shame it just feel like overkill. Last time I had one removed they also couldn’t see threads, but I was in for a smear, and the nurse was able to get it quickly and easily anyway.