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

[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.

[iliketea.livejournal.com]

And does it interfere with menstruation patterns at all (either worse/better) or not? (I guess you possibly don't know that yet, in terms of how it works for you, but am hoping there will be discussion on this matter forthcoming. Yay innard-chats.) :)

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I don't know how it'll work for me yet - they say that it will take a few cycles for your uterus to adjust fully to having the IUD in it (and there is a possibility that it might come out in my first period, which I do NOT want to happen). One of the known side-effects in some women is heavier periods, but I thought that I would risk that. My periods were VERY nasty when I was younger, but more recently they've been mostly fine, so I'm hoping it won't be too awful.

And yes - I imagine that you can stay tuned for more on my bleeding patterns!

[iliketea.livejournal.com]

Yay, am glad. Thank you for info and sharing and such like. :)

[yiskah.livejournal.com]

Ooh, ten years? I was told five!

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Maybe it depends on the brand? I have the TT380, which the manufacturer's website informs me is the "gold standard", and is for 10 years. Though I seem to have lost my handy leaflet, and it's possible I misunderstood when I was still rather woozy. I shall ask at my 6 week thing.

The TT380 is also a toaster.