After a year of tests it is looking likely I have endometriosis—though the dr I am assigned to is reluctant to perform a laparoscopy despite cysts and adhesions present. He recommended a mirena coil in our telephone conversation but did not go into this in detail or mention other options. I now find myself on a waiting list for this but have since read some scary things about it (hair loss, infections, anxiety) and worry about how long I will have to wait for this. From the googling the progesterone only implant seems to do the same thing so would I not be just as good to try this? And have it fitted at my GP surgery soon?
Any advice would be much appreciated thank you. I am feeling pretty alone and confused
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gettingusedtoendo
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Zoladex is often used for endometriosis. Some people have problems with it but it was wonderful for me. It is an injected implant that goes just under the skin and can be done at your GP's. But I think the gynae has to prescribe it. There are ones that last 1 months and ones that last 3 months.
A mirena coil is 'progesterone only' but because it is placed in the uterus, with a low dose of progesterone released continually, it is in a position for the progesterone to act directly and easily on the area where the endo develops, eg: outside the uterus in the abdominal cavity. Many other progesterone implants require the progesterone to travel all over the body before reaching the target area of the abdominal cavity. Having a mirena fitted was one of the best things I ever did. However, I would insist on it being inserted, as an operation, while you are anaesthetised.
Hi GrittyReads, I had a coil put in jan 25th and been having some server cramps since. I haven’t had a baby, so I know that can be an issue... my question is, did you have pain after? Did it settle down? I try pain relief but I don’t find it helps... so now don’t bother.
Feeling at a loss, I don’t want it removed as I want it to work I was just wondering is this normal? I’ve had internal ultra sound since and external and they say it is in the right place, but this pain stops me in my tacks at work, even laying on sofa at home with a hot water bottle brings little relief... is this normal....
So sorry to hear you are having problems.I was in pain/uncomfortable for a day or two after the op to insert the mirena. Also, I had really bad period-type pains, every 3-4 weeks, for several months after. However, by about 5 months ... all the pain - and all periods - disappeared. Plus it stayed like that - utter bliss - until I had the mirena removed 5-6 years later, with no pain or problems since. NB I've never had children, but I was a lot older than you are (early 50s?) so my hormones would have been waning, naturally. If you can bear it, give it another month or so, but if it's too much or doesn't improve go back to your GP or the Gynae who did the op. Hope it improves!
You could suggest your gynae to prescribe you the progestine pill to start with, as the mirena coil is long term and you don't know when you want children yet but you are thinking about it.
Although having a mirena inserted is probably best done under anaesthetic (although many women have them fitted without anaesthetic, it is painful ... and can be very painful) it is usually much, much easier to have them removed. I had mine removed at my local GP practice. My lovely (female) GP booked me a double appointment, had an examining room all prepared with everything she and I would need, and she had a nurse on standby-for after - in case I felt faint or anything. Although it was a tad painful, it was completely successful - also hysterically funny!! NB My ability to do bizarre movement in yoga probably helped a bit. However my GP is one hell of a wonderful GP - and woman!!
While the mirena is intended to be long term (usually about 5 years before removal - and then replacement if wanted) they can be easily removed by a GP. I'm not good with pain, and I have an oddly tilted uterus, but - as I described above - my Gp took mine out a few years ago, when I was in my 60s.
However, the main and most important point about having a mirena coil fitted - as opposed to having progesterone patches - is that the mirena is placed 'in situ', exactly where the effects of the progesterone are needed. It is the very place where the progesterone-type chemical (that calms so many of the 'Endo' issues) can be released and utilised by the affected body tissues.
Thus, there is not a massive amount of progesterone coursing all over the body - as in the case with patches. This is why some GPs etc are cagey about prescribing Progesterone. It's usually in the form of patches, with the chemicals absorbed through the skin and then passing all around the body before reaching the target.
NB: I think in younger women (could be wrong here) the progesterone is also accompanied by more oestrogen, as oestrogen is the 'happy' hormone, which will counter any 'depressive/downing' effects of progesterone.
In the tiny and 'in situ' amounts released by the mirena, there is no need for this to be countered by extra oestrogen, as the progesterone is near where it is needed to act on the unwanted Endo tissue in the abdominal cavity.
NBB - I never had children: neither myself, nor my late husband (nor my current partner of nearly 20 years ) ever wanted children - we didn't think we'd be good parents, and that there were too many things we wanted to do in the world that would not be fair to children. However, despite this, because of my endo problems (believe me, medics were much more reluctant to do anything about endo, 40+ years ago!), I still had to take the pill for most of my fertile life - it was the only thing offered! This was despite the fact that my late-husband had a vasectomy!! Then, the pill was the only thing that kept 'my' endo at bay * (although until my late 30s, endo was always 'just' dismissed as bad periods).
Having combined drugs of the progesterone patch and oestrogen may work for endo, but it's not good to have all those chemicals in your body for long periods - especially if you don't want children and have to do it for years.
Obviously all this is from my pov, but there are so many povs to bear in mind when talking to women with endo.
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