Mirena

[elephant]

I suffer from Endo and PCOS and have done for many years, as part of my treatment my Dr has suggested having a Mirena put in.

Im a bit nervous as im having it done next week and sort of know what to expect from the information I received from my Dr but wanting to hear how other people went with it.

If you can please share your stories or info with me.

Thanks!

[paradise lost]

I have it for contraception, have had it since December 2006. My DP and i discussed all our options, we needed something as close to 100% as we could get and i wanted the lowest dose of hormone possible so we decided to opt for Mirena. We'd both had STD screens and were clear so i took myself off to the clinic to have it fitted.

A doctor fitted it and a nurse was there too. I was in a gyn bed (one of those short beds with stirrups for your knees) and the nurse had told me it can cause a bit of painful cramping, that i should hold her hand if i needed to and that i would be kept lying down for 20minutes afterwards and should arrange for someone to be with me that evening so i wasn't alone with DD in case i fainted (very rare reaction but they have to warn you).

So first the doctor used a tool to measure how far the inside of my fundus was, with a sort of rod. They asked me to cough, i presume as they got through the cervix but i have to be honest and say i felt nothing but a very tiny was-that-a-cramp. Then they adjust the applicator of the IUS to the depth they measure (so they don't try to put it in deeper or shallower than your uterus is) and put it in. I didn't feel that at all, and said to the nurse "ok, i'm ready" as the first cramp faded away and the doctor said from the end of the bed, "just let me trim these cords and you're done". So then she trimmed the cords and released me from the stirrpus and i laid there very bored and feeling fine for twenty minutes. Then i got up (slowly at their insistence) and went home. DP came over that evening and we ended up playing scrabble and having a laugh and i seriously felt totally fine.

The next day i had a little cramping but not worse than AF, and i had spotting for a few days.

I had some annoying very light on off on off spotting for a few months and sometimes it was really annoying if it had gone on for weeks, but it was always very light and now it's settled down to a 7day period, which is one day very very light bleeding and then 6 days spotting (just like stained CM basically) and 1 or 2 days of midcycle spotting when i ovulate every month (which i still do).

I've had no real problems with it and will certainly have another put in after my next baby and probably use it long-term when our family is finished so neither of us has to have surgery.

HTH

Bx

[missya]

Hiya, I have had it for three years now. I had it fitted to relieve my Endo symptoms. The fitting was fine, if you are used to endo pain you can certainly cope with this, I wouldn't even call it pain just abit uncomfortable. I had bleeding for the first ten months which nearly made me have it removed but it slowed to monthly bleeds after that, very light and nearly painless. I have just hit the 3 year mark and it has just stopped completely I have have missed my last two periods (no I'm not pg). I am pleased I had it done and if it delays me having to have another lap then even better. I hope yours goes well, good luck.

[elephant]

Thanks for the info guys!

It has somewhat made me feel better and somewhat not! haha

I am having mine done under a general because of my endo and because I have had some issues with my uterus in the past.

I have PCOS as well as endo so my Dr doesn't think that I will have much bleeding but I will just have to wait and see.

Missya - How did you have yours done?
How heavy was the bleeding for 10 months? I don't think I could put up to with that! I get a lot of pain when I get my period and I don't think I need that as well as everything else that occurs with my endo.

[missya]

Hiya Ele, Sorry it's taken me awhile to reply. I didn't have any type of pain meds or anesthetic (sp?) when I had it inserted, just sort of breathed through it, so if I can do that anyone can. The insertion was nothing compared to Endo pain. The bleeding for the 10 months wasn't any where near what I normally had to deal with and it was relatively painless which was a huge improvement, but it was annoying and I felt let down having thought it would stop it completely. It just took some time to do that I guess. But as I said for me it was worth it. All the best, please let me know how you go, cheers

[elephant]

I had my Mirena put in on friday!

I had quite a bit of pain when I woke up in recovery and quite a bit of cramping just like period pain which I still have today.

I have not really had any bleeding so I'm hoping fingers crossed that I am one of the people that doesn't have periods which is highly likely because of my PCOS anyway.

Thanks for all your support and advice I'm now hoping the Mirena will help with my Endo symptoms!

[missya]

Hiya Ele,

Pleased that you didn't have too much discomfort following you Mirena fitting.
Hope things are going well and that it will give you some relief from Endo.

[elephant]

So far after my insertion of my Mirena I don't seem to feel any better Endo wise. The cramping is getting better and I have not had any spotting or bleeding after it was put in so thats great!

Thanks to everyone for all your advice it made it much easier knowing what it would be like from someone who actually has experienced it!