Out with the ring.. IUD Appt. tomorrow

Avatar for kas9066
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Out with the ring.. IUD Appt. tomorrow
10
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 11:15am

I started the ring Sunday before last, and by Thursday my DH was asking me to please take it out.... and I felt terrible... - so I took it out, and called my Dr this week, and Now I have an appointment for tomorrow @ 2 to have an IUD put in.


As so as I pulled the ring out, the next day I started to spot ( I had only been off my period for a day or two) and now I'm in a full blown period again... so I have been bleeding now for 2.5 weeks.... this is so aggravating!


I am so excited about the IUD, but I am SO scared too. I know its going to hurt - she told me it probably would, and I am so afraid I will have the same reactions to the hormones in the iud, and it will be pointless. Plus my insurance doesn't cover it, so its completely out of pocket. My DH was going to go with me, but he has to be out of town for business... so I'm going to have to do it alone too....


Any words of wisdom, or anything would be appreciated.


Thanks for letting me vent.


iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 11:24am
Hi Katie, welcome back!

If you are concerned about the hormones in Mirena, had you considered a ParaGard (Copper-T) IUD? It's hormone free and effective for 10 years. Popping a couple of Ibuprofen tablets before your appointment will help reduce any discomfort during and after insertion. Let us know how you're doing, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

Avatar for heidee0
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 11:49am
I have had Paragard for 20 months. I will turn 44 in December and DH and I are done having kids. I was on the pill for 10 years but stopped when I started getting migraines. I really like my IUD. My periods are a bit longer and heavier but the pros out weigh the cons for me and I LOVE not having to think about contraception. A little spotting doesn't stop DH and I from sex (wink, wink).

I know everyone reacts differently but my insertion went fine. I went back to work afterwards. I just had a bit of cramping and spotting for a few days. My first couple of periods were a bit long but not a big deal.

Heidi

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 12:00pm
Hi Katie!

Please don't worry too much or be too scared about getting an IUD! I, too, had really bad side effects from hormones & finally after trying 4 different hormonal BC's in the past 2 years I decided to get an IUD. I'm 25 & have no children. Luckily, my gyn recommended the IUD to me! I got the ParaGard 6 weeks ago & I'm loving it! I was also terrified before the insertion process...I was so worried about it right up until it was inserted. My gyn told me that it would be a bit painful, but that it was nothing to worry about & that it would be over before I knew it. I took 800 mg of ibuprofin about a 1/2 hour before insertion & the entire insertion process lasted no more than 5 minutes. The most painful part was a sort of pinching feeling I felt in my stomach as my uterus was being sounded. It was definitely an uncomfortable feeling, & my gyn asked me if it hurt. I said yes & my gyn said "It's in! You're done!" It really was over before I knew it! I was crampy for a few days afterward, but nothing terrible & definitely nothing that a few ibuprfins didn't cure!

I just had my 1st period with the IUD a few weeks ago & it was totally fine! A bit heavier than usual, but not especially crampy or heavy. I'm guessing that the next one might be a bit havier, since my periods were super light while on hormonal BC. I was also really worried about expelling it...my gyn told me that in the past 10 years of inserting IUD's, only 3 of their patients have expelled their IUD!

Hopefully everything will go fine for you! I can tell you that even though I've only had my ParaGard for a little while, it's really been a lovely method of BC for me. My body has been so happy to no longer have any hormones & it's been wonderful not having to worry about BC every day! I can't speak highly enough about it! I just feel great having finally found a BC method that seems to really be working for me after having so much trouble with different BC methods in the past. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions or need any additional information. Good luck!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 12:03pm
I have a Mirena IUD that I've had for close to 2 months now. I was terrified before going to the appointment too and expecting severe pain, but it worked out fine with no problems. Make sure you take 800 mg of ibuprofen first, that'll help stop any cramping and act as a pain reliever. The insertion felt like a cramping feeling, but it didn't hurt at all, and I haven't even had children. Try to relax, if you're overly tense, that's just going to make it worse. It's actually good that you're on your period, that means your cervix is open and the insertion will be easier.

I don't think you should worry about the hormones. I've had problems on every pill I ever tried, and I'm doing great on the Mirena. It doesn't have any estrogen, and the progesterone is released directly in the uterus. Almost none gets into your bloodstream so problems are extremely rare.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 12:06pm
One more thing...even though I have the ParaGard (without hormones) I've heard a lot of women who had had bad reactions to hormonal BC methods, say that they love their Mirena, too! I think the amount of hormones in it is so small & since the hormones are released in the uterus, there's a much smaller chance of having bad side effects from the hormones. Good luck!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 12:21pm
good luck...I've had the mirena for a year now and love it....it did hurt being put in,but nothing unbearable...take ibuprofen!the first few months I had 2 periods each month lasting 16 days & coming 2 weeks apart....but it got better...now if I have a period basicly spot for a few days...
Avatar for kas9066
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 4:42pm

Thank you all for responding! My Dr. doesn't like to do the paraguard because "why would you, when you can have lighter easier periods with minera?"


I'll ask her about the paraguard again tomorrow - I think i just some reassurance (that she probably cant give me) that I wont be a moody witch with no sex drive and a killer headache.


I'll be sure to take some ibuprofen tomorrow before I go - thanks for all the tips and support! I'll let you all know how it goes tomorrow.


iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2004
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 6:19pm
Just curious... why did your husband not like the Ring?

Alta

Avatar for kas9066
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 10:06pm

hi alta,


It took about 2.5-3 days for the hormones to kick in and I became super witch, plus he hates to see me in pain, it gave me back my constant headaches, plus it killed my sex drive on the 3rd day - the same as it had been on the pill, he had me back to 'normal' for a month, and then back to nothing.... but mainly, the pain, and the mood swings - he said he really didn't like knowing who he was going to come home to, happy Katie, sad Katie, depressed Katie, angry Katie, etc. It took 2 days to get back to 'normal' when I did take it out - and all is back to normal.


iVillage Member
Registered: 07-04-2003
Fri, 09-17-2004 - 1:18pm
Hi Katie,


Just curious as to how your Dr's appointment went? I just got my IUD inserted a week ago and happy with it so far!





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