Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: NorthArm on November 14, 2018, 01:21:26 AM
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I went to have the Mirena inserted this morning, and she couldn't get it in 😂😂
Picture this...I'm high as a kite from the ibuprofen / paracetamol / codeine combo, naked from the waist down, legs akimbo up in in the stirrups of that gynaecological ‘birthing stool' thingy....
And she's clamping my cervix so she can ‘sound' (measure) my uterus, muttering through the anatomy, etc....ant the bit of my cervix that goes into the uterus wouldn't open 😂😂. She was saying, ‘that's gotta be hurting you', and I was saying,'no just feels a bit like a period cramp, but more than manageable'...😂😂
Anyway, after trying this and that for about ten minutes, she gave up. I've now been referred to another gynae who works out of a local public hospital, rather than private (my private health cover doesn't kick in for another six months, we have stupid rules here, but not as bad as the US thank goodness!).....
Personally, I think my cervix is partially fused after needing two emergency caesars, which is why she couldn't do it.
She also is adamant I've been post meno for ages, but can't explain why I keep having a period every two weeks, on prog or off....
Anyway, my appointment with the new gynae is not until 20th Feb, and in the meantime I've decided to put myself on a ‘longish' cycle - 5 weeks of oestrogen patches with 7 days of Utrogestan vaginally. I'm so tired of gps and specialists not knowing much about anything. I'm not so arrogant to think that nothing could go wrong with this regime, but as I'm bleeding every two weeks regardless, I'm sure my uterine lining must be reasonably thin, and as it's only for three months, if anything untoward should start happening, it should be found early enough!
Anyway, I'm still getting a giggle out of how flabbergasted the gynae was this morning - she was sure I'd be screaming in agony 😂😂, even after I assured her my pain threshold was incredibly high!!
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You did make me smile,what we women have to go through,before my hysterectomy there was many a time my legs were in said stirrups with not just one but sometimes TWO MALE gynaecologists muttering & rubbing their chins 😳 🤣
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Oh jaypo...I've been there myself 😂😂
There's no point in being shy, is there? 😂😂 Our Victorian great great grandmothers would be scandalised 😱😂
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Oh my it's good to laugh,at one point during the intense inspection of my nether regions, I half expected a cleaner & delivery man to pop in for a look 🤣😳
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😂😂😂
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I went to have the Mirena inserted this morning, and she couldn't get it in 😂😂
Picture this...I'm high as a kite from the ibuprofen / paracetamol / codeine combo, naked from the waist down, legs akimbo up in in the stirrups of that gynaecological ‘birthing stool' thingy....
And she's clamping my cervix so she can ‘sound' (measure) my uterus, muttering through the anatomy, etc....ant the bit of my cervix that goes into the uterus wouldn't open 😂😂. She was saying, ‘that's gotta be hurting you', and I was saying,'no just feels a bit like a period cramp, but more than manageable'...😂😂
Anyway, after trying this and that for about ten minutes, she gave up. I've now been referred to another gynae who works out of a local public hospital, rather than private (my private health cover doesn't kick in for another six months, we have stupid rules here, but not as bad as the US thank goodness!).....
Personally, I think my cervix is partially fused after needing two emergency caesars, which is why she couldn't do it.
She also is adamant I've been post meno for ages, but can't explain why I keep having a period every two weeks, on prog or off....
Anyway, my appointment with the new gynae is not until 20th Feb, and in the meantime I've decided to put myself on a ‘longish' cycle - 5 weeks of oestrogen patches with 7 days of Utrogestan vaginally. I'm so tired of gps and specialists not knowing much about anything. I'm not so arrogant to think that nothing could go wrong with this regime, but as I'm bleeding every two weeks regardless, I'm sure my uterine lining must be reasonably thin, and as it's only for three months, if anything untoward should start happening, it should be found early enough!
Anyway, I'm still getting a giggle out of how flabbergasted the gynae was this morning - she was sure I'd be screaming in agony 😂😂, even after I assured her my pain threshold was incredibly high!!
I had a coil fitted in my early 20s they couldn't get it in, cervix too tight
(I'd had a baby by then) I was screaming in agony
Had to hsve general anaesthetic to get it fitted
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One leaves one's dignity at the Surgery Door and picks it up on the way out!
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I had the same Mirena Misadventure this morning. ::) The Consultant gave me 3 options, either he could refer me to a larger hospital where I could have an anaesthetic to insert the Mirena, come off HRT altogether (no way I said) or go back to my GP and discuss the other options with her. Thankfully my GP is a lovely lady and really switched on regarding HRT. The thought of an anaesthetic to my nether regions brings tears to my eyes 😂.
I currently use an Estraderm 50 patch and am now wondering if I should change to a combination patch or should I just go for the coil and suffer the insertion process. The Consultant seemed quite surprised this would be my 3rd merina and I am over 65! Who cares about my age - it's how I feel that matters to me. It will probably take me 3 weeks to see my GP but in the meantime any suggestions from you lovely ladies are most welcome.
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Hi Northarm and Fee, just wanted to add in my mirena misadventure! I had exactly the same a few months ago! The GP who tried to insert it said she'd never seen such a backwards tilted uterus and got the nurse to have a good look :o. She managed to do the measurement / sound bit but when she put the plastic tube in to insert it, the plastic tube bent! She said she'd never seen that happen. She tried twice and both tubes bent. She was so surprised, she showed me one of the bent tubes, covered in blood (eek!) It was pretty painful by this point (major cramping) so I was a mixture of annoyed it hadn't gone in after all of that but relieved it was over. She referred me to my local hospital where they can use an anaesthetic to insert it, so I decided to try that. However the Dr there still couldn't insert it - she said my cervix had totally clamped shut (probably after what happened the first time!) So she said I'd need a hysteroscopy to insert it. I think that can be done with a general anaesthetic or without. I decided to leave the mirena for a while after those experiences but I might go for the hysteroscopy later this year as I'm fed up of the utrogestan. Can't decide whether to brave it without a GA though! I hope your second attempts work Northarm and Fee!
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Yes, I'll be having a general anaesthetic - they'll do a full hysteroscopy, d&c and Mirena insertion...don't want to go through that again lol!
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Hi LucyLoo and Northarm. I had my first Mirena fitted 10 years ago during a hysteroscopy to remove some fibroids and I have no wish to go through it again. Let's hope my GP can suggest an alternative, just when you are jogging along nicely something else rears it's head. ;D
LucyLoo what's the problem with Utrogestan, does this come in a tablet form or is it a gel?
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Thanks Northarm, that's good to know you'll be having a general anaesthetic. I think the dr said I could have one for a hysteroscopy but I was a bit out of it after the second mirena insertion attempt so can't remember what she said now!
Did you have your hysteroscopy without an anaesthetic Fee? Was it OK?
I take utrogestan 7 days per month in tablet form vaginally (I'm on the Prof Studd regime of oestrogel and 7 days of utro - which is a very low dose of utro but I do have a good bleed each month around day 11). I'm progesterone intolerant so get PMS symptoms with the utrogestan (fatigue, bloating, feeling grumpy). Some months are better than others but I'm thinking of going for the mirena to hopefully avoid the progesterone side effects.
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Brave ladies,
;D NorthArm, what a laugh ;D
I can't even think of inserting a coil. You all have my admiration :clapping:
Conolly X
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LucyLoo, I had a general anaesthetic, it was o.k. but I had some nasty fibroids removed as I was suffering really heavy periods and clots at the time, so it seemed sensible to have the coil fitted at the same time. The dr suggested the coil to me 10 minutes before the op ( no rush, take your time and think about it :o) so it was really a quick decision but I have never regretted it and as I say have had no problems with it during that time.
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Hi Fee, that's good to know you had a general anaesthetic, thank you. And that's great you've had no problems with the mirena previously. I hope you can have it fitted again as it sounds like a really good option for the progesterone part of your HRT, especially as the progesterone is more localised to your uterus. I'm afraid I don't have much experience to give you advice on other options for the progesterone. My experience is limited to the 7 days of utrogestan per month. In answer to your original question, I think you'll be OK to stick with your estraderm 50 patch for the 3 weeks until you see your GP and then hopefully you'll be able to discuss all of the options with her. You could always try a combination patch to see how you get on if you'd rather not go through the mirena insertion process again? I believe you usually have to give new HRT treatments about 3 months to settle in.
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Brave ladies,
;D NorthArm, what a laugh ;D
I can't even think of inserting a coil. You all have my admiration :clapping:
Conolly X
Aw thanks Conolly! I personally don't feel that brave ;D! I think the thought of having it inserted is probably worse than the reality! x
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Hello LucyLoo,
You have no idea... I have Asperger's Syndrome Disorder and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. This sort of thing makes me really uncomfortable, both mentally and physically. I tried it once when I was really young and had all my bits in very good shape and it was a nightmare. I can't stand the thought of it.
I'm glad it works for many of you, it's certainly better than having to insert or take Utrogestan every day or have to change patches twice a week.
Conolly X
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Hi Conolly,
I've no idea how hard it must be for you. I know I am very lucky to be able to have a go at having it put in. For me the insertion attempts weren't too bad as I was able to stay calm (mind you, I had to ask the nurse to not talk to me as I wanted to focus on my breathing!) I totally agree the mirena does sound so much better than having to insert/take utrogestan. I still haven't got the mirena as I'll need a hysteroscopy (and probably a GA) to get it in. I'm currently waiting for an appointment for some bowel problems I'm having so I'm going to see if I can find out what's going on with that first and then decide whether to go ahead with the mirena x
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Lucyloo I'm on the same Utrogestan regime as you - 7 days vaginally, but I use a 100mcg patch rather than gel. I'm going for the Mirena as bleeding is still problematic (every two weeks 🙄, although one is heavy spotting) and I have a suspected adenomyosis, so hopefully it will sort that out xx
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Best of luck with the mirena Northarm. Do you know when you're going to have your hysteroscopy? I'm sorry to hear about the bleeding every 2 weeks, that sounds really tough. I've got my fingers crossed the mirena sorts it out for you.
I have a call booked with the GP who tried (and failed!) to insert a mirena for me next Friday (couldn't get a face to face appointment) to ask her some questions. I want to know whether I can request a GA for a hysteroscopy and also if I have it put in that way and then find it doesn't suit me, how easy it will be to remove it (i.e. would I need another GA)? She's seen my anatomy (as it were!) so I'm hoping she'll have a good idea of how easy/difficult the removal might be. I'm nervous that I'll be one of the unlucky ladies that the mirena doesn't suit as I'm sensitive to progesterone and find utrogestan vaginally for just 7 days gives me PMS symptoms and exhaustion. However I know I won't know until I try the mirena and on paper it does sound ideal - I have fibroids so I think it should help shrink those and I love the idea of no periods (or very light periods) after the first 6 months!
I'm peri menopausal (I'm 42) and do find my own hormones are still doing their thing in the background, unfortunately. My bleeds are quite well controlled with the 4 pumps of oestrogel and 7 days of utro (I usually bleed on day 11 after utro days 1 - 7) but my mood swings can still be quite bad. I'm usually OK when I'm on the oestrogen only part but last week I had bad PMS symptoms - exhausted and irritable - and I can always tell when it's my hormones (or the utro) as my eyes look more sunken (I know that sounds weird but I can tell when my progesterone levels are high!)
I'd be really grateful if you could share your hysteroscopy experience please Northarm. I'll let you know what the GP says about mirena removal with a very backwards tilting uterus / when it is difficult to insert after my call on Friday in case that's helpful xx
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Lucyloo, I have a backwards tilting uterus too. And yes, like you I'm particularly sensitive to progesterone, the pmt is awful, isn't it?
I'll be having a ga as Mirena couldn't be inserted awake as it appears that my cervix is all but fused shut from scarring. They'll be doing a hysteroscopy and d&c at the same time.
Bleeding is not too bad - I have a good ‘period bleed', then heavy (need a pad) sopotting two weeks later. And both bleeds are as regular as clockwork, lol. I think it's fairly easy to remove the Mirena, or not as complicated as putting it in, anyway. Time will tell if it will send me bonkers like norethisterone did...
I have suspected adenomyosis, and endometriosis. And if the Mirena doesn't work, I'm opting for a hysterectomy...