Questions re: Mirena coil & surgery follow up! What check should be done?

[BookBimbles]

Hello 👋

I had a laparoscopic surgery with excision of peritoneal/ superficial endometriosis 5 weeks ago. A Mirena coil was placed during the surgery. I’m still recovering ❤️‍🩹 but think I’m gradually doing better, though not been back to work.

My questions:

Does anyone know if the coil is meant to be physically looked at and placement checked 6 weeks after? Or is it enough for me to feel for the strings? (And a doctor just to go off verbal description of how I’m feeling post surgery?)

In a follow up for surgery would you expect, or were you shown photos of the lesions, or told about the type of lesions (e.g. colour, type)?

I’ve just had a letter confirming the histology results on the lesions confirmed endometriosis.

During the surgery there was a complication of internal bruising on my rectoperitoneal, caused by the gas tube. They kept me in overnight having checked it all in the surgery just to be safe. I then had a post op follow appointment at 4 weeks post op, instead of at 6 weeks, which I think the consultant had said. I saw a different doctor at the consultant’s clinic. I was told the appointment had been made because of the bruising. I discussed my recovery up to that point, and she seemed to imply that was nothing out of the ordinary. She agreed to some onward referrals to pelvic physiotherapy and health psychology, which I’m grateful for. However the she did not carry out any physical or internal exam, and said I would get a 6-month telephone review. She did also reassure me to contact sooner if the recovery pain didn’t ease / worsened or I had real concerns with period pain etc before then.

Is was only after I was ushered out, I realised the Mirena coil hadn’t been checked - or that I didn’t understand what was meant by ‘check’. I think the info leaflet said a 6 week check. I phoned and left this question with a medical secretary, but haven’t heard back yet, and thought someone on here might have experience of this, or know?

Thank you! X

[TheUntamed]

I went private so not sure that this will be helpful, but I got a print out with pictures. And every time I’ve had a scan I’ve asked for a disc because otherwise you spend your life chasing things to get shared between doctors with separate systems.

For NHS, I would do a patient info request to the hospital - that’s how I have the ultrasound pictures. GP only gives you the written report, if they even give that. And in future I’ll be asking for a copy of the referral letter from the GP which the reception still hasn’t provided.

[BookBimbles in reply to TheUntamed]

Thank you - I was thinking about whether I needed to put in a patient info request. I managed to get copies of all my letters, which I think is all the GP gets. That’s a good tip about the disc (though not sure if they’ll do that). I’m hoping I don’t need anything further, but I can imaging the challenge going from one hospital to another.

[TheUntamed in reply to BookBimbles]

The NHS sent me a secure download link instead of a disc. I wish the private people had that as well - it would have been easier. They did send them across the GSTT, where I finally had my first appointment and will revert if the insurance cover runs out.

It's a lot of data! The CT scan was three CDs full - hundreds of images. We actually had to pull out an old Windows computer with a CD reader.

[BookBimbles in reply to TheUntamed]

Oh wow! Thank you so much. I have an old laptop with a CD / DVD reader/writer.

[JulesUK]

I was told to book an appointment with the nurse at my GP surgery for them to check the coil was still in place. Can’t 100% remember I think they said 6 or 8 weeks after. I’m the past I’ve had follow up appointments with the hospital but this time nothing.

[BookBimbles in reply to JulesUK]

Thank you - I’ll follow up on arranging an appointment then.