Post failed coil insertion metaperiod.

[Pandorica]

I had a failed coil insertion a month ago, towards the end of my last period. I took all the pain relief beforehand, I actually have a high tolerance to pain. It was agonising however and the doctor didn't get past the smallest cervix dilation thingy he had. I've never been pregnant so I was warned that it would be uncomfortable for me but I couldn't handle the pain and he had to abandon the procedure. I spent that day curled on the sofa, feeling like I'd been repeatedly kicked in the gut.

My GP was completely professional and terribly apologetic about the failed fitting. I have no doubts regarding his competence.

I know childless women like me aren't usually offered the coil but I can't take hormonal BC due to other meds that I'm on. I confess, I was really looking forward to not having to worry about contraception for eight years.

So anyway, my period has rolled around again and it's been extremely heavy. Mine are usually light little 48hr things but I've been bleeding heavily. There's been a lot more pain, with really savage cramps. I've also had visible clots, which is new for me. As it's been xmas I haven't been able to see my GP. I spoke to him on the phone yesterday and he advised me to rest and take Ibuprofen Lysine. If I haven't stopped bleeding by the new year, he'll refer me to my local hospital's medical assessment unit to find out what's occurring.

I spoke to my sister (though she has had kids) and she said her periods are quite often very heavy and can last up to a fortnight. So now I'm wondering whether I'm just being a pussy about all this because I've never had a heavy period before.

Can anybody offer insight on this? I feel like I've lost my perspective here.

 

[brunette1989]

I may sound stupid, but what is a coil insertion?

 

[Pandorica]

I may sound stupid, but what is a coil insertion?

Insertion of one of these. The cervix is dilated by a doctor so that the IUD (intra-uterine device or coil) can be placed in the womb.

 

[WillowedCabin]

That darn cervix.

This is the time where all those people who call me a hippy for using a speculum on myself can go to hell.
It would be nice to see what's going on down there.

My guess is that the cramping and heavy period symptoms will pass since this is not a normal thing and you had someone putting pressure on the opening of your cervix. That being said, you know your body, and it is ALWAYS a good idea to seek a second opinion.

Upon, a quick perusal of online information, I see a lot of scary articles about being pregnant accidentally during these things. Any chance you were pregnant?

On the upside, it's probably nothing, and you should follow the advice of your physician. Monitor changes in your body temp and give yourself time to rest. I would also hold off sex for a week.

Just think, if you had had the coil put in, heavy periods might have become a normal thing for you. Hence, why you were probably good candidate for the coil-- light periods, and all that jazz.

**my cure for the period blues: heating pads, chocolate, hot baths, and a Woody Allen flick

I hope your cervix feels happier.

 

[SweetErika]

Were you OK between the recovery from the failed procedure and this period, or have you had trouble all along?

Longer and heavier bleeding, clots and bad cramps are fairly typical for other women. It just depends on where our bodies are at any given time. There are standards for when you need to seek emergency care. I think it's soaking like two large pads per hour or something, but don't quote me on that. Is there a nurse advice line you can call if you feel you may need to see a doctor quicker?

My guess is trying to force your cervix open tricked your body into thinking you had a miscarriage or something last month, so now it's cleansing itself.

Ibuprofen or Naproxen, heat on your tummy/lower back (if you can't be tied to a heating pad, you might try some of those self-heating adhesive pads), rest, and if you can manage it, orgasms might actually help, believe it or not.

 

[Pandorica]

Were you OK between the recovery from the failed procedure and this period, or have you had trouble all along?

Longer and heavier bleeding, clots and bad cramps are fairly typical for other women. It just depends on where our bodies are at any given time. There are standards for when you need to seek emergency care. I think it's soaking like two large pads per hour or something, but don't quote me on that. Is there a nurse advice line you can call if you feel you may need to see a doctor quicker?

My guess is trying to force your cervix open tricked your body into thinking you had a miscarriage or something last month, so now it's cleansing itself.

Ibuprofen or Naproxen, heat on your tummy/lower back (if you can't be tied to a heating pad, you might try some of those self-heating adhesive pads), rest, and if you can manage it, orgasms might actually help, believe it or not.

I was fine till about a week before my period, when I got mild, achy abdominal pain which kept making me think my period was starting when it wasn't. Usually I get pains on the day my period starts but this was a good week beforehand. I wasn't warned that I'd be likely to experience a bad period this month but when I spoke to my GP he said it's not uncommon.

I'm not soaking 2 pads an hour. I upgraded from standard to super tampons and when I had trouble retrieving the damn things cause they were so bloated I switched to pads. I guess I'm soaking one high flow pad per day and another overnight. If the pain or bleeding were really acute, I'd be at the hospital by now. But it's not as severe as that and I know how stretched services are at this time of year. If I went in today I'd still be lucky to see a doctor before next week.

There's a nurse-staffed advice line I could call but my GP is far more qualified and doesn't mind calling me when he gets a moment if I put a request in with the surgery admin staff. And when you boil it right down, I don't want kids. I'm not at all concerned about how this will impact my fertility or affect my plumbing in the future. In fact if I get told it's lowered my chances of pregnancy I'll be thrilled.

I've using a hot water bottle and the cat has been helpful too while I've been laid up on the sofa. The ibuprofen lysine is mostly managing my pain but it wears off after 3hrs and I can only take a dose every four. And of course it doesn't stop the cramping.

And yes, orgasms help.

WillowedCabin there's no chance I was pregnant. It's been a pretty light month sexwise and we're both very diligent when it comes to contraception. He's not the kind of guy to roll a condom on and then not give another thought to its integrity before he blows his wad.

Also, I don't have a temperature. That would have been the first sign that there was an infection of some kind.

Yeah, on reflection I'm a pussy.

 

[ella_v]

It could be a side effect from the IUD. Usually your period gets stonger after getting an IUD since it makes your body think that something is wrong and that is needs to clean out everything.

Maybe the failed insertion was enough to make your body think that it needed to bleed stonger than usually. But I guess the best person to tell you that is your doc since he knows your body and medical history.

And get well soon!

 

[WillowedCabin]

WillowedCabin there's no chance I was pregnant. It's been a pretty light month sexwise and we're both very diligent when it comes to contraception. He's not the kind of guy to roll a condom on and then not give another thought to its integrity before he blows his wad.

Also, I don't have a temperature. That would have been the first sign that there was an infection of some kind.

Yeah, on reflection I'm a pussy.

Funny thing about pussy, it's fucking resilient.