I had my IUD placed yesterday. Well. That was a very memorable experience. I guess my first mistake was looking at the approximately 800 surgical tools on the counter. After some chit-chat between the OB and I, she got down to business. It was not excruciating by any means, but I felt a good four big ole’ pinches in the hoo ha region. Enough to make me squint my eyes and tense up and want it to be over… right then. They use some torture device to pry open your cervix, which you feel, then you feel the Mirena go in, as well. After all was said and done, maybe two minutes total, I felt fine.
Until I didn’t.
I could feel myself start to get hot and immediately asked for a magazine to fan myself off with. Knowing exactly what that means, they also got me a few cool towels for my forehead and neck. The nurse returned with a glass of water while I fanned myself like a crazy person. I started to calm down a little, so they left me to recuperate with the door cracked (in case I needed help) and told me to take my time. Never a dull moment with me, in case you didn’t notice.
I started to feel a little better, so I slowly sat up. Bad plan, kids. Very bad plan. I recognized immediately that I had made a fatal error and dropped back to a horizontal position, but it was too late. My OB chose to walk back in right then and could tell I was about to go. She checked my pulse (which was insanely low) and pronounced that I needed caffeine and sugar immediately. She laid me back further and brought me back a Coke. Another nurse came in with smelling salts, and she is actually a friend from Sunday school! So, after Dr. L was sure I was not going to keel over, she left me with my friend, who fanned me and brought me more Coke and a cupcake until my color returned to human levels. Apparently I was as white as the paper on the table when she came in. So, I probably had to lay there for an hour after the Mirena until I was sure I could get up again. I just LOVE having vaso vagal reactions to everything like that. <-- Sarcasm. I'm the same with blood draws and always have to elevate my feet and drink something sugary during the process so I don't faint... because I will, otherwise. In a heartbeat.
By the time I was able to leave, Trevor, who was watching both boys, had already sent me several "COME HOME IMMEDIATELY OR THE WORLD WILL END!!!" text messages, so he was quite thrilled when I got home!!
Near-fainting episode aside, I was super crampy and uncomfortable for a few hours after the insertion. Immediately after the cramps were pretty painful, like the worst period cramps you've ever had, but that only lasted about half an hour. Also, it seriously felt like something was shoved up there all evening long, but the nurses and doctor assured me that was just my irritated cervix and not the Mirena that I was feeling. They were obviously right, considering today, I feel totally fine. Very light cramps and super minimal spotting, but that's it! They told me I can have light spotting for up to four months (at most) and light cramps for about a week, but hopefully all will go well other than that. It's definitely a relief to have that over and done with and know that we won't be getting any surprises any time soon! I love my boys, but I do believe that two is plenty for our family!!
Any of you guys totally loving (or hating) your Mirena? Thinking of getting one? So far, so good, here, now that I'm totally conscious!!
P.S. Boudreaux's Butt Paste is giving one of my blog readers a $100 Visa gift card, so make sure to leave a quick comment HERE to enter!!
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
I like my Mirena so far. After the initial 3 weeks of constant spotting, it’s a SUPER easy form of birth control, and I don’t think it’s had much of an impact on my supply.
Getting it put in was no picnic, but I had nothing like your experience! Just a little discomfort.
Oh goodness, what an experience! Glad you’re feeling better!
I love my Mirena! I spotted on and off for almost 3 months which wasn’t the most fantastic experience in the world, but now-nothing. I can’t even tell you the last time I had a period. Plus I can’t feel it at all and tmi…neither can my hubby.
Sorry you had such a bad insertion experience but hopefully you will love it as much as I do!
I loved my Mirena! Getting it placed was painful, though nothing like your experience…I feel so bad for you!
I had absolutely no periods, which was amazing. The removal is usually so easy for most women, but mine got stuck and they had to really yank to get it out. That’s the only part that sucked for me. Otherwise, I loved it! We’re now trying for #2 and I’m hoping that will happen soon 
Oh, that doesn’t sound like fun at all. I have a few weeks until I have to decide what I am going to do.
I had mine placed 3 weeks ago. Lots of discomfort and cramping. The nurse told me she thought I was going to faint because I turned white but I was fine. Still having a little spotting but hopefully that will go away soon.
I loved my mirena until I had it out and wanted to try for another. We were lucky and had zero issues trying for # 1 (almost to the point of being surprised) but after my Mirena was removed it took a full year to get pregnant. My OBGYN suspected it was due to the Mirena, but never really got any conclusive answers.
Funny how things work! It took us a year to get pregnant (well, stay pregnant) with #1 after being on the pill. Had Mirena after that. Then was pregnant with #2 one month after having it out!
I’m on my second Mirena (had one after both pregnancies) and have never had any problems. I never had a period with the first one (too soon to tell with the second one- have only had it about 5 weeks and am nursing, but I’m hoping I won’t have one this time either). I had spotting for a week with this one; can’t remember about the last one.
I thought I was going to DIE when the first one was put in, it hurt so bad. This time, it was just a little pinch and uncomfortable for just a minute. Not sure if it was b/c it was my second or if it was because a different doctor did it.
Anway, I’ve enjoyed it b/c it’s no-maintenance, and there’s almost zero chance of any surprises!
Oh and I meant to say that when I got the first out, it was so painless I didn’t even know he had removed it. And we got pregnant within 3 weeks. (It took 4 months with my first.) And I’m not a “regular” person, so that was a surprise!
I love my Mirena! I got it right after having a baby last July, and I don’t know why it took me so long to get on the IUD train. For working moms, I think it’s a must! Glad it’s worked out for you.
I loved the IDEA of a Mirena… even had my OB put one in after my son… but I couldn’t figure out why every time I rolled over, or moved that night (and the next day) I would gush, well… you know… so I had an ultrasound, and apparently the Mirena was lodged in my cervix rather than opening up like it’s supposed to you know up there… Yeah, that was fun. Had to have it out and then insurance wouldn’t cover another. I had a few choice words for them after that, since they were so nice about it and all… (<–not)! Good luck!
Oh no! I bet that hurt like crazy!! I don’t blame you for being mad!!
I may be the only woman who hates the IUD. I had the Mirena placed after my 3rd child was born. Let’s just say I spent about $380.00 on my whooha over the next 6 months. I had chronic yeast and bacterial infections–which I’ve never had a yeast infection before. spent TONS on medication. Had 3 unexplained all over body rashes that required steriod treatment (itching up the wazu). Finally after my 8th doctors appointment where they swore up and down this wasn’t related to my IUD I requested that it be removed. My now chronic rash and yeast infection were gone completely within 24 hours and I haven’t had one since. I wish it worked for me. Way more convenient than the pill but ended up costing a TON for me.
I’ve had a difficult experience with the Mirena. I got mine put in on Dec 9th, 2009. I have endometriosis (and am basically infertile) so I wasn’t on birth control to prevent getting pregnant but to stop my periods to give the endo a rest(I don’t tolerate hormonal birth control well) . Now I’ve never had any kids and they recommend mirena to those who have already had kids mainly because (this is my opinion) they have more room to put it in. So when I got it put in it was horrible. SOOO much pain. Cramping started immediately and I had a 45 min drive home. When I got home I was in so much pain I could barely talk and then developed nausea so bad that I had to call the doctors office after hours for them to call in Zofran for me. The bleeding and pain was really bad (which sucked because my mom died the day after I got it put in and I had to fly home and go to two funerals) for a few days and then the bleeding stopped. I never had spotting at all my periods just stopped. I have occassional cramping so bad that I wonder if its perforated my uterus. Also the LOVELY mirena has given me reoccurring BV, bad, bad, acne and major weight gain (approx. 50 lbs). I go back and forth on whether I want to have it out because its convenient and I don’t have any health insurance which would make it impossible to have monthly gyno appointments that I need. *sigh* I hope your time goes better than mine!
My gosh, what an awful experience!! I’m sorry you went through that!