Ugh, I’m sorry. My delicate flower wouldn’t even allow it in, we tried twice, second time with the medicine that softens your cervix. Worst pain of my life, I also have endo and haven’t had kids. I think I levitated off the table the 2nd time lol. FWIW I’ve heard the removal is much easier.
I remember reading your posts about it. I’m sorry you had such a bad experience.
My first one was embedded in my uterine wall. I was really scared that it would hurt like hell to be pulled out. They warned me it may not come out.
In the end, it was fine. Like, a 3 on a scale of 1-10. I had my second one placed a few weeks later.
I had that one (Paragard) removed and replaced with Mirena about a year later. That was a zero in the pain scale.
EDIT - I also have endometriosis. I switched to Mirena to help with the pain. Spoiler - it did not really work like that for me. 🤷🏼♀️
I’m sorry it didn’t work for your endo 😕 this was my last resort before a hysterectomy and I was shocked it worked. I hope the next one works as well.
Have you looked into excision surgery? I’ve been holding off because “that shooting pain in my intestines and down my rectum is totes fine.” I got all the other tests and I was getting ready to schedule a follow up/consult when coronavirus came to town.
They think I have adenomyosis, too, so hysterectomy is on the table in addition to excision. I’m grateful that it waited until I was late 30s before pain became a daily thing.
I don't have endo, but the insertion of my first IUD was godawful. Getting it removed and replaced with a new one was much, much easier. I barely felt the removal, and inserting the new one was maybe 25% as painful as the first.
ETA: I just remembered that my doc gave me cytotec to take before my IUD replacement, and I think that definitely helped. So ask your doc if it might help for you.
Sorry I can't help in regards to the pain of the removal but I'm considering getting an IUD and now your making me second guess that decision.
Honestly everyone is so different I wouldn’t let her experience sway you. I have never had kids and my insertion was super quick and no more painful the pap exam discomfort.
This makes me super nervous as i also had an extremely painful insertion. No kids.
Last summer with the iud inserted i also had a LEEP cone procedure, and in order to do it they lasered off some of the strings to get at the pre cancerous tissue. So the remaining string is super short. Do they have to dig into my cervix to find it? It is years away before i need to have it removed and it's already giving me anxiety.
All this to say, i feel you. Glad to hear from others that it is less painful. Still worried for myself due to the short strings. Lol
This makes me super nervous as i also had an extremely painful insertion. No kids.
Last summer with the iud inserted i also had a LEEP cone procedure, and in order to do it they lasered off some of the strings to get at the pre cancerous tissue. So the remaining string is super short. Do they have to dig into my cervix to find it? It is years away before i need to have it removed and it's already giving me anxiety.
All this to say, i feel you. Glad to hear from others that it is less painful. Still worried for myself due to the short strings. Lol
Short strings happen and if they're still visible then it will be straight forward. If the strings are not visible then it can still be pretty straight forward just depending on how long the strings are. There is a soft tool that can use to bring them down and then remove. So unfortunately there's not a single answer until able to visualize what's going on.
I’m sorry it didn’t work for your endo 😕 this was my last resort before a hysterectomy and I was shocked it worked. I hope the next one works as well.
Have you looked into excision surgery? I’ve been holding off because “that shooting pain in my intestines and down my rectum is totes fine.” I got all the other tests and I was getting ready to schedule a follow up/consult when coronavirus came to town.
They think I have adenomyosis, too, so hysterectomy is on the table in addition to excision. I’m grateful that it waited until I was late 30s before pain became a daily thing.
Yes, definitely look into excision surgery since a hysterectomy doesn't actually treat endo.
Joy - I'm getting my uterus and tubes removed this week for adeno and scarring from last year's abscess on my ovary/tube.
As for the OP. My IUD was essentially pushed partially out due to the above mentioned abscess, but it was super painless to get fully removed. Mine was inserted during surgery, so no experience to compare it to.
I’m sorry it didn’t work for your endo 😕 this was my last resort before a hysterectomy and I was shocked it worked. I hope the next one works as well.
Have you looked into excision surgery? I’ve been holding off because “that shooting pain in my intestines and down my rectum is totes fine.” I got all the other tests and I was getting ready to schedule a follow up/consult when coronavirus came to town.
They think I have adenomyosis, too, so hysterectomy is on the table in addition to excision. I’m grateful that it waited until I was late 30s before pain became a daily thing.
Yes, I had excision surgery about 10 years ago (and before that 5 laprascopies where they just lasered it so that also didn’t do anything) with one of the top docs in the country. It did nothing for the pain, which leads me and my doctor to believe I also have adenomyosis, which makes me feel like a hysterectomy would be helpful since that would be in my uterus. I didn’t think the Mirena would work but it’s been a godsend.
Post by BlondeSpiders on May 12, 2020 17:41:19 GMT -5
Glad I'm not the only one who found insertion to be excruciating. TBH, it wasn't the actual insertion so much as it was the measuring of my uterus with the loooooong metal measuring rod. That part absolutely broke me; it just felt awful and *wrong.* I didn't know I was supposed to take any OTc pain medication beforehand. I can't believe I was able to drive myself home after that.
Sorry I can't help in regards to the pain of the removal but I'm considering getting an IUD and now your making me second guess that decision.
I had Mirena pre kids and the insertion and the removal were really not bad at all. My insertion of the Mirena post baby was actually worse pain wise. And it still wasn't terrible.
This is totally not what you’re supposed to do but I pulled my own IUD out. It was an impulse decision and basically I did it just to see if I could. (It was causing migraines and my doctor and PP couldn’t get me in for a few weeks). No pain with the removal and only slight cramping later.
Post by picksthemusic on May 12, 2020 18:39:29 GMT -5
I coughed and it was out. Unless it's lodged in there (which is rare, but I have seen it happen), it should be a fairly no-nonsense procedure kind of like a pap smear.
I was entertaining talking to my OB about getting an IUD when I go for my annual this summer because we are very much done at two kids and H hasn't been in any kind of hurry to do the promised vasectomy. I am not sure whether this thread has prompted me to hurry up and get it done soon while I'm still just around 1 year after having DS, or whether I'm nope octopus-ing my way out of it entirely and reminding H that I bore two children, he can step up here.
This is totally not what you’re supposed to do but I pulled my own IUD out. It was an impulse decision and basically I did it just to see if I could. (It was causing migraines and my doctor and PP couldn’t get me in for a few weeks). No pain with the removal and only slight cramping later.
There definitely is no reason why someone can't remove it themselves. Where I trained we actually kept the strings 1cm longer so that it's easier for people to take them out ourselves. We tell people when we insert them that they can remove it themselves if they want. We have a hand out on it and everything. We've been circulating it even more widely during covid as well for people who want to avoid coming in to the office but want their IUD out. All about bodily autonomy when possible for reproductive health choices!
Have you looked into excision surgery? I’ve been holding off because “that shooting pain in my intestines and down my rectum is totes fine.” I got all the other tests and I was getting ready to schedule a follow up/consult when coronavirus came to town.
They think I have adenomyosis, too, so hysterectomy is on the table in addition to excision. I’m grateful that it waited until I was late 30s before pain became a daily thing.
Yes, I had excision surgery about 10 years ago (and before that 5 laprascopies where they just lasered it so that also didn’t do anything) with one of the top docs in the country. It did nothing for the pain, which leads me and my doctor to believe I also have adenomyosis, which makes me feel like a hysterectomy would be helpful since that would be in my uterus. I didn’t think the Mirena would work but it’s been a godsend.
Ah, I’m sorry! This is mostly what I’m worried about: I’ll get excision but still have pain because my problem is also adenomysis.
Did you try pelvic PT? I talked to one and it was prescribed by my doc. Logically, I get why it would help.
I’m scared to lose my uterus (illogical, really) so I keep dragging my feet on surgery.
I was entertaining talking to my OB about getting an IUD when I go for my annual this summer because we are very much done at two kids and H hasn't been in any kind of hurry to do the promised vasectomy. I am not sure whether this thread has prompted me to hurry up and get it done soon while I'm still just around 1 year after having DS, or whether I'm nope octopus-ing my way out of it entirely and reminding H that I bore two children, he can step up here.
Nope Octopus all the way. Your H can step up.
My H had it done almost 2 years ago. Best birth control ever. Best.
I was entertaining talking to my OB about getting an IUD when I go for my annual this summer because we are very much done at two kids and H hasn't been in any kind of hurry to do the promised vasectomy. I am not sure whether this thread has prompted me to hurry up and get it done soon while I'm still just around 1 year after having DS, or whether I'm nope octopus-ing my way out of it entirely and reminding H that I bore two children, he can step up here.
My mirena was the worst. I know a lot of people have success with IUDs, but tell your DH to get snipped. I wouldn’t do it if there were other options.
My body basically rejected mine and the side effects were awful.
This is how I would rank my IUD experiences: The insertion and removal experience... why does this doctor hate me Insertion..... okay, that could’ve been way worse Removal..... wait, you removed it already?
Post by basilosaurus on May 12, 2020 20:26:11 GMT -5
I've never had kids. My mirena insertion was pretty damn painful despite being given meds to take ahead of time (I think a muscle relaxer, not cytotec), and someone drove me. My strings were so short I never felt them. Removal felt about the same amount of discomfort as a Pap. Not fun, but NBD.
This is totally not what you’re supposed to do but I pulled my own IUD out. It was an impulse decision and basically I did it just to see if I could. (It was causing migraines and my doctor and PP couldn’t get me in for a few weeks). No pain with the removal and only slight cramping later.
There definitely is no reason why someone can't remove it themselves. Where I trained we actually kept the strings 1cm longer so that it's easier for people to take them out ourselves. We tell people when we insert them that they can remove it themselves if they want. We have a hand out on it and everything. We've been circulating it even more widely during covid as well for people who want to avoid coming in to the office but want their IUD out. All about bodily autonomy when possible for reproductive health choices!
Oh good! That’s good to hear. It came out so easy it was almost disturbing.
If it helps at all, my insertion was NBD. I didn't even know I was going to get one that day. My OB was like, hey, you aren't going to have any more kids and it's free now so, do you want one, I have one in the other room. I went back to work after. I didn't know it was even supposed to hurt really bad until after it was already in. I wonder how much of this is also provider skill because I swear, it was in and I was done before I knew it. Best. Decision. Ever. Seriously, my IUD is one of my top 10 most life changing moments. No regrets. I haven't had a period in literally years.
FWIW, I did give birth vaginally and I did have an unmedicated childbirth, so my pain tolerance might be on the high side but normally I am kind of a wimp.
OP, mine is still in so I can't speak to removal pain.
That's great news. I had two C-sections but still think my pain tolerance is manageable.
I had no pain with my insertion after a csection, although I did dilate to 9cm before needing it.
No pain as well with removing it. I think both times my doc was chatting me up and it was done before I realized it.
My first 2 removals didn't hurt at all. My 3rd one was super painful and I actually gasped and screamed a little (I wasn't expecting any pain at all). My Dr said that I had scar tissue on/in my cervix from my Mirena and that's what caused the pain. He couldn't insert a new one right away because of it.
My first 2 removals didn't hurt at all. My 3rd one was super painful and I actually gasped and screamed a little (I wasn't expecting any pain at all). My Dr said that I had scar tissue on/in my cervix from my Mirena and that's what caused the pain. He couldn't insert a new one right away because of it.
I have a feeling that isn't very common though.
I’m on mirena #3. Insertion was never painful - I do not have children - but the removal of #2 was really painful. I didn’t expect it and got a little dizzy. Ask for the medicine to soften your cervix if you’re afraid. That is what I will do in 4 years. good luck!
Sorry I can't help in regards to the pain of the removal but I'm considering getting an IUD and now your making me second guess that decision.
It was nothing for me. Some minor pain which Advil relieved. It appears the pain fluctuates from one extreme to the other so I guess you won't know until then but I wouldn't cancel it because of that. And, the pain fades pretty quickly.
UPDATE: had it removed today. I was terrified and had really worked myself up about it. The NP explained everything to me and was very reassuring. She said it wouldn’t be nearly as painful as insertion because there are far less steps. The speculum was uncomfortable, but not terrible. Then they clamped the strings with a tool and there was a quick, pretty painful cramp when they pulled it out which lasted for about 30 seconds. Then that was it. I have no pain right now at all and no bleeding. I did take some Tylenol about an hour before, not sure if that helped.
I didn’t mean to scare anyone off who was thinking about getting an IUD with my original post. I will definitely get another one when the time comes. Today I learned there is a family planning section of the hospital that works with people for whom IUDs are a struggle to insert. They apparently have all kinds of techniques to help with that pain, so I wish I knew about that when I had my first one inserted.
Thanks for the update! I don't remember if this was mentioned elsewhere, but I thought I would bring it up. I had my Mirena in for 6 years and for the last 4 years, I had no period to speak of. That first period post-removal was like 4 years' of periods all at once. Hopefully it won't be that bad for you.