Getting an IUD tomorrow- reassure me

[Bernadine]

I'm getting one to help with my endometriosis symptoms, and I'm nervous. Nervous about getting it in, nervous about how I'll feel after, and just nervous in general about how I'll like it.

I'm trying to just reassure myself that if I hate it, I can have it removed.

[pooh8402]

Take like 800 mg of ibuprofen about an hour, hour and a half, ahead of time.

[mel]

Take a couple motrin before hand and you should be fine! The procedure is really quick, during which I felt like I had bad period cramps, but then I was fine after. I had spotting for the rest of the day, but nothing heavy at all.

Good Luck!

[joy]

I’ve had two insertions. First one I took ibuprofen ahead of time and the second one I forgot. Both were maybe 10% worse than a Pap smear. (I’ve had a kid). The anticipation of the pain was so much worse than the actual thing.

I cramped immediately the second time (can’t remember the first time). The intensity stayed the same but the length of time I had the pain diminished each day. It didn’t keep me from doing anything.

[jackie011]

I had mine inserted in late August. I took some Advil about an hour before the appointment. It was really no big deal. My doctor talked me through everything she was doing, showed me all of the tools ahead of time, and it was just a little unpleasant. If I was there for 10 minutes, I’d be surprised. Came home and relaxed for the rest of the day (appointment was at 3:30).

Felt great the next day. There was some heavier bleeding/discharge for the first few days and some random spotting here and there in the following weeks. I’m trying to notice for signs as I should be getting my period soon, but who knows what that will be like anymore. (I’ve also been on antibiotics this month, so this cycle may not be “normal”)

[wambam]

My insertion was not a big deal at all. It was uncomfortable but not unbearable. Because I've never been pregnant, they gave me the cervix dilating medication. I also had RX strength iburprofen, but it turned out I didn't need it. I felt period-like cramps for a few hours and then I was 100% fine. I worked out the next day. I had my IUD for 6 years until I was sterilized this April.

Good luck!

[bex1973]

My experience was the same as others, not a big deal at all. I didn't take any Advil or Motrin or anything because I didn't have any pain.

Just be prepared for (TMI ahead) a LOT of discharge for a while following (like months).

[Deleted]

You can feel the insertion, but it's not painful IMO. I've had two. The first, I was so anxious and worked up and tense that I wiped myself out with worry. I went home, had light cramping, and passed out because my nerves were shot. Don't do that to yourself.

[DotAndBuzz]

Insertion was painful for me* - had it done 6 weeks post delivery of DD2, and felt like a really intense Braxton-Hicks contraction/early labor cramp, but I didn't take anything before hand either.

I cramped for about a week afterwards, but nothing crazy. Spotting lasted maybe a week or so for me, and then good to go until I had it removed 5 years later. I had light periods every 4-5 weeks when I had it in, that lasted 4 days, tops.

*I don't handle pain well. At all.

[sunshine608]

I was so nervous but it really wasn't a big deal for me. It was a quick pinch/pain , less than a minute and then it was over. I did it on my lunch break, took two Advil before hand and went back to work after. I'd just come back from ML and had not sick time but needed to get in done before the end if the year.

I have Endo too and so far it has been amazing.

[goldengirlz]

Like others, insertion was NBD for me (granted, I had just had a baby six weeks earlier without drugs so anything seemed easy after that!) I brought H with me and squeezed his hand but it was fine.

I have the Paragard and I definitely bled after insertion. I expected spotting but this was full-on bleeding. No pain that I recall though.

In fact, that was the first day I left the baby with H and took the subway to meet up with my best friend for happy hour. So it definitely wasn’t a curl-up-on-the-couch-with-a-heating-pad day — I felt 100% fine afterward.

[galaxy8227]

For me it was uncomfortable and I had some cramps afterwards but otherwise was fine. I went home and relaxed for the afternoon (had it done at 11) and was fine when the kids came home.

[carmenere]

For me the insertion was super painful (no past pregnancies, and no pain meds or anything to help dilate) BUT once it was over, I only had a little bit of cramping. I like it and my cycles have been much better since I got it.

[lexxasaurus]

I have the hormone free one - I take meds that counter hormonal BC - so probably a bit different in the after because my periods are still assholes.
But insertion did hurt, though was over really quickly. Cramps the next day (nothing as bad as my period cramps) and I've had it 5 years with no issue.
Hope it all goes well for you!
ETA: I've had one pregnancy but had it terminated so no kids. If you've had them, I know that can make it easier. Still wasn't terrible!

[circa1978]

Sept 19, 2018 8:34:31 GMT -5 sunshine608 said:

I was so nervous but it really wasn't a big deal for me. It was a quick pinch/pain , less than a minute and then it was over. I did it on my lunch break, took two Advil before hand and went back to work after. 

This. I had no idea it was supposed to hurt so bad (my GYN was like, have you considered an IUD, it's free! and like 30 seconds later I had one) but it really wasn't that much worse than, say a particularly sharp PAP or a pelvic exam mid-labor, LOL. 

[Miss Phryne Fisher]

I passed out after the insertion of mine. It didn't hurt but it for some reason gave me kind of panic attack symptoms and then I passed out for a bit. I hated the thing, I had it out a few months later, it killed my sex drive.

[junebugmom01]

I have had 2 kids.. and insertion was still really painful BUT only for a bit! Def pop those ibuprofen before. I am going on two years with it. Good luck!

[pinkdutchtulips]

Sept 19, 2018 9:14:34 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Like others, insertion was NBD for me (granted, I had just had a baby six weeks earlier without drugs so anything seemed easy after that!) I brought H with me and squeezed his hand but it was fine.

I have the Paragard and I definitely bled after insertion. I expected spotting but this was full-on bleeding. No pain that I recall though.

In fact, that was the first day I left the baby with H and took the subway to meet up with my best friend for happy hour. So it definitely wasn’t a curl-up-on-the-couch-with-a-heating-pad day — I felt 100% fine afterward.

I've been considering this for awhile as hormonal bc doesn't work for me and I had an AWFUL experience on depo shots about 15-20 years ago. How much bleeding and how long did it last ... what about blending issues forward ? I

I'm 44 looking down the barrel of menopause and anything to help make periods go away until my body completely shuts down is welcome - why the struggle between mirena and paraguard

[goldengirlz]

Sept 19, 2018 13:07:34 GMT -5 pinkdutchtulips said:

Sept 19, 2018 9:14:34 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Like others, insertion was NBD for me (granted, I had just had a baby six weeks earlier without drugs so anything seemed easy after that!) I brought H with me and squeezed his hand but it was fine.

I have the Paragard and I definitely bled after insertion. I expected spotting but this was full-on bleeding. No pain that I recall though.

In fact, that was the first day I left the baby with H and took the subway to meet up with my best friend for happy hour. So it definitely wasn’t a curl-up-on-the-couch-with-a-heating-pad day — I felt 100% fine afterward.

I've been considering this for awhile as hormonal bc doesn't work for me and I had an AWFUL experience on depo shots about 15-20 years ago. How much bleeding and how long did it last ... what about blending issues forward ? I

I'm 44 looking down the barrel of menopause and anything to help make periods go away until my body completely shuts down is welcome - why the struggle between mirena and paraguard

The Paragard won’t help with heavy periods; in fact, heavier periods is one of the side effects (at least for the first few years.)

The Mirena will make your periods lighter or even completely eliminate them but talk to your doctor about the relative safety of hormones. The Mirena was contraindicated for me because I have a medical condition that puts me at higher risk for blood clots.

The initial bleeding after insertion only lasted a couple of days, if I recall. I’ve had no problems with breakthrough bleeding between periods and, seven years later, my periods are completely normal.