The icon is technically inaccurate but I still like to use it.

[slemslempike]

Ooooooh. Ow.

My coil fitting was this afternoon. This should have coincided with the heaviest day of my period, and I was worried about this to the extent of posting in theladiesloos for advice. Obviously, therefore, my bleeding stopped entirely, leaving me to wonder if that would cause problems. Now, however, I am bleeding reasonably profusely, and being reminded of my utter inability to position pads correctly. So that's nice.

It was not tooooo awful. Usually when I've had something done and they say to lie down for a bit afterwards I do it for a little bit just to show willing and then leave as soon as possible. Today I very quickly wished that I'd lain down for longer, as shortly into the "now sit in the waiting room" period I was desperately trying not to be sick on the floor and sticking my face into the fan. I feel better now, but my cramps are still just enough that I can will use them to justify retiring to my boudoir for the rest of the day and reading.

The HCA was very nice and let me hold/crush her hand and talked to me distractingly. I had taken nurofen plus beforehand, and then the doctor gave me local anaesthetic. I made the mistake of looking at the needle before it went into my vagina. GOSH. The anticipation was worse than the actual injection, though that was not terribly pleasant. Then the sound thing went in and was one of the least enjoyable experiences I've ever had involving my genitals. But that, and the actual insertion, did not take very long at all, and once all the paraphenalia was removed all that remained was the cramping, which is pretty much a medium-bad period pain level. I think the sickness and shaking was mostly reaction to the local anaesthetic than pain.

I bought a chocolate brownie dessert thing from M&S and I am going to finish reading Time and Tide Wait for No Man - Dale Spender's book about the early years of Time and Tide magazine. My main knowledge of Time and Tide comes from the Provincial Lady, I am looking forward to changing this.

Comments

[antisoppist.livejournal.com]

You got local anaesthetic? When I was showing signs of agony I just got "oh... you must be very sensitive" and had to make do with my nurofen. I am not looking forward to getting it replaced in however many years' time it is.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was told to take ibuprofen beforehand, which I thought was instead of the local aneasthetic, and then when I showed up they said they would give me the injection. I think it's because doctors tend to have problems finding my cervix (I really don't know why - I've never had any problem). I got the impression it was standard for women who hadn't had children.

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

YOWZER. I'm glad I have a thingy in my arm instead. Plus I can gross people out by getting them to touch it (once I'd got over being grossed out by it myself).

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

That was my favourite thing about the implant - "feel this! look, it wiggles around and everything! I'm a CYBORG!".

[whatho.livejournal.com]

Ow. Ow.

Ow.

Well done.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I do worry slightly that I have a very mild form of Munchausen's*, as I don't mind medical stuff in the slightest, and really like telling people about it in the hopes that I will receive sympathy. So this is going quite well.

*I don't actually think this at all, but this didn't stop me from making a joke about it to a doctor once, which was even more embarrassing that it would otherwise had been since she then failed to find anything wrong with me.

[iliketea.livejournal.com]

Ow ow ow ow OW.

May I ask you a terribly stupid question and enquire as to why you went with the coil as an option?

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Not stupid at all! And there is little I like better than talking to people about my innards, so I am more than pleased to answer.

When I was on the pill/implant before, one of the side effects was a loss of libido (although it might have been related to other things), and I don't much fancy that again, so I wanted to avoid any hormonal methods. I'd looked at other things like the diaphragm and the sponge, but they have relatively low efficiency rates, whereas the coil is technically more effective than sterilisation. And really, even this short time after the insertion I've forgotten most of the pain, and it (barring any problems) should last for ten years, which is all to the good.

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

I am largely without reference points, but still impressed by your bravery. I shall endeavour to find a way to commemorate it.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I am VERY brave. The HCA said so and everything, I am slightly miffed not to have been offered a lollipop. I am using my laptop as a very effective heat pad.

[whatsagirlgotta.livejournal.com]

I am now feeling very protective of my nether regions, not aided by proofing instructions to medical students on how to conduct vaginal examinations.

[leedy.livejournal.com]

"Do not use any gardening implements..."

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

What do they tell them? Is there anything you're having to resist changing?

[irrtum.livejournal.com]

Well done, ouch, well done. What a procedure!

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

In terms of relative discomfort, I much preferred having my arm sliced open to put a bit of plastic inside. But I'm hopeful that this way will be better in the long-term.

[chiasmata]

Gosh, you're very brave. Thank you for posting about this. I still haven't made my mind up whether I'm going to go for one yet.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I have the copper coil rather than mirena (It's called something like the TT380 - very murderous android), but I assume that the procedure is the same, I can't see why it would be very different, if at all. I think that now I know what the pain is like, it would be much easier for me if I have to have it reinserted or anything. It was not knowing which bit was going to be the apex of pain that was very difficult. And really, for me, even the nastiest bits were quite bearable.

[ex-humanfema327.livejournal.com]

READING THIS MADE MY VAGINA HURT

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

IT IS MUCH LESS BAD WHEN IT IS YOUR OWN VAGINA

[majea.livejournal.com]

We are coil twins! I just got one inserted last week, though with considerably less difficulty. They told me my cervix was "obvious." My exhibitionist cervix was a bit miffed at the implied insult.

I went with the mirena coil, though, in order to stop periods altogether, so we will have to compare notes in a couple months' time.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Ha! I apparently have a nice relaxed vagina, but medical professionals have difficulty with my cervix. The one today was describing where my cervix was and what it would feel like, and I nobly restrained myself from saying "dude, I know my own cunt, thanks ever so".

Can they tell with the mirena if it will stop all periods before they put it in and see? I thought it was an often thing rather than an always thing.

[edithmatilda.livejournal.com]

Ow. One of the advantages of being fucking hideous is that at least I'll never have to do that. Ow.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I am hesitant to say this, because I generally don't like to interfere with how people see themselves and talk about themselves, but I wanted to tell you that when you posted photos of yourself a while ago, I thought that you were very attractive, with a lovely face. (I mean, your hair looked rather sore, and I was sorry you were in pain, but overlooking that... now I sound rather shallow and callous.)

But I don't wish needles in vaginas on even the prettiest people, if they don't welcome that sort of thing.

[nerdcakes.livejournal.com]

OH MY GOD, DUDE. I am very impressed. And I sympathise with your FOOLHARDY decision to look at the needle. Ow.

(Also, because apparently NEEDLESSLY INTRUSIVE questions seem to be okay in this pot, when you have long-term contraception things do you just not use condoms at all? And do you not worry about this? (I am totally not accusing your dude of being riddled with STDs! But heterosexual sex is something that I don't have any sort of experience of and I always thought that coils/implants/etc seemed awfully convenient but that I'd probably worry too much about potential badness happening, you know?)

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

It looked like one from old movies with a curly handle!

Since I've not yet had time to have sex since insertion it is not yet fully clear what's going to be happening with that in the future. This is because I am more cautious about trusting condoms (I am far too inept in any case, and also recently had an adventure with the morning after pill that I am not keen to repeat). However, in the past I've just relied entirely on the pill/implant and trusted both of us not to do anything to get STDs. Although looking back this was not the most intelligent decision, especially since testing didn't really happen. I got tested as part of the coil thing though! Gonorrhea free, baby!

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

Clearly, I can't empathise directly, but still, OWWWW. Well done, and I think you more than deserved that chocolate brownie dessert thing.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

My sister game me an M&S voucher for my birthday with instructions to buy the brownie thing - today was the first time they'd actually had any! (Also - thank you so much for the voucher you sent me! It was very lovely of you.)

On an entirely different subject from everyone else...

[oursin.livejournal.com]

I've finally managed to dig up the link to the post in which I raved about Catherine Clay's book on the Time and Tide circle. An amazing group of women.

Re: On an entirely different subject from everyone else...

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Oh - thank you! I shall have a look out for that. I'm really enjoying Spender's selections.

[(Anonymous)]

I got a Mirena fitted in December last year, and it's now just settling in. Be warned: your periods for the next few months might be hell on toast!

After the fitting, (I too made the mistake of looking at the contraption for insertion) I nearly passed out and threw up twice. Once while on the loo, but that's kinda beside the point. One of the nurses said that it's a common reaction, it even has a fancy medical name, but apparently the cervix doesn't like things being pushed past it. Who'd a thunk?

Depresso

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I don't have a Mirena, I have an IUD, so I have normal periods only heavier and more painful.

Indeed! It's almost like it's designed expressly to stop that sort of thing from happening.