Mirena coil

[brightbunny]

Hi all,

I'm having quite a bit of trouble with general aches and pains lately, and nothing seems to work.

Also I have a decision to make - another laparoscopy or to try the mirena coil for the first time. I know I will make my own decision in the end but what is everyone's thoughts on the coil?

[sarahfmh]

Hey,

So I have an update...I had 2 laparoscopies, a year a part. They fitted me with the mirena coil the first time, and I was pain free for a year. Once I got the pain again a year, this led to the second laparoscopy and a new mirena coil fitted - the reason I was given for the second fitting was that the effects of the coil (not the contraception part) might only last for a year.

A year later, getting pain again I was a bit fed up, so my consultant referred me to a fertility specialist. He advised I keep the coil as a localised 'treatment' but he told me I should go on the combination pill (microgynon). The fertility specialist did say that it might take trying a few different pill types to find the one that suits me best.

I'm now into my 3rd month of taking back to back packets of microgynon and I haven't had any pain (apart from when I trialed taking a break in the pill packets).

However, something to consider, when I saw my GP (with headaches and stress) he looked over my notes and thought it was odd I was taking the combination pill if I intend to take them back to back. He suggested I go on the mini pill for this reason.

All in all, if you haven't already, I would suggest taking a contraceptive pill. Admittedly, I was on the pill when I first got my pains, but I was told that my body might have just got used to the hormones from the pill and so having a break for 3 years (after my first laparoscopy) gave by body a chance to re-set....

Don't know if I have just rambled a load of useless information, but I hope it helps

x

[brightbunny in reply to sarahfmh]

Hey, no you haven't rambled at all! Thank you.

I'm currently on Lucette, which used to be Yasmin I think. It does do its job and I haven't ever had any side effects from it, but the trouble is that I do end up wanting to do something different. Because if I forgot for two days to take it, I automatically come on. When that didn't used to be the case if I'd doubled up on a certain day.

So I am nervous now because the contraceptive pill is in a way all I've ever known. I've never had the implant, coil or anything else and I denied the coil the first time straight before my laparoscopy, because they asked if I would like them to put it in if they didn't find anything, while I was still under anaesthetic. But I said no because I was happy with the pill, and they found endo anyway! Haha.

So now I'm at a crossroads. I have a lot of concerns in my head, and all I have to do is leave a message for my doctor saying 'refer for surgery' or 'refer for coil'. Eek!. X

[sarahfmh in reply to brightbunny]

Well I had my coil fitted under anaesthetic and if you worried about feeling it, as I was, don't be! I have never felt it, or noticed it was there! I got period pains after my laparoscopy and some bleeding so I don't know if that was from the coil or the laser work they did. But all in all, I had no issues with my coil.

x

[Siana92]

Can you not just have another lap to check and then have coil fitted under anaesthetic? When was your last laparoscopy? I had my first lap a week ago and mirena coil was fitted under anaesthetic as internals have been so painful. Had really minor bleeding from it and felt quite tender down there inside first few days and like I could feel it weirdly.. Also had really crampy period like pains through that too on top of op pain, etc.. But all those feelings and bleeding have stopped now re coil. I'm still in pain but don't think it's any pain related to coil or periods anymore. Xxx

[brightbunny in reply to Siana92]

Thanks for your message, I am going ahead with both I think to just see how much things change I had my first laparoscopy in Feb last year and the pain came back not long afterwards but at first it wasn't anything like it used to be. Then it's slowly come back and now it's as bad as it was before my operation. I'm calling in on Tuesday to sort it out. So did you have any side effects? X

[Angelclaire]

Hi

I had my mirena fitted during a lap. I did have side effects for a while.

Straight away a couple of painful heavier than usual period (but could equally have been from surgery, had a ovary and tube removed).

For about 6-9 months when having a period I would get migraines with vomiting. Always had headaches with period anyway so just amplification of those.

After first couple of months of heavier periods they all but stopped tmi didn't really need any pads as just small smears when wiping. I would still get a very very small dull ache which would make me look at my calendar and go oh I am due on!

Surgeon left endo on one ovary to preserve it due to me being under 40 (at the time 😜). At every scan I was told that was shrinking and eventually it has gone. So the mirena certainly did its job there.

I have now had it 3yrs and it is due renewal and I have been experiencing symptoms of endo again.

So whilst the first few months can be hideous (for me not all month only around ovulation and period) in my experience if you can hold in there it's worth it.

Good luck

[brightbunny in reply to Angelclaire]

Thank you! I just wonder what the outcome will be for me as obviously everyone is different. Obviously I don't HAVE to have it, it's just an alternative to what I'm on now which is the contraceptive pill - Lucette to be precise. I just have the trouble where I can't really have much time off either, otherwise the workload is trebled for the rest of the team. Decisions decisions! I have my consultation on 29th July, just hoping that he gets that I need another lap!