The IUD Saga Continues

November 21, 2008

I was trying not to think about it so I wouldn’t get a pimple. One of the girls at work described the pain as “like labor”, something I was sure I’d never have to live through again. She said I’d be having a lot of hot baths.

For anyone new to the story, I began a period back in September that hasn’t stopped yet. Apparently, it’s common in early menopause. If you care to read the gory details, they’re in The Pill Or Mirena and What’s A Mirena IUD?

I chose the IUD. The appointment to insert it was November 18. I went in there reeking of Rose Oil. The mean secretary was very friendly, surely meaning she felt sorry for what I was about to go through.

I was prepared for a 5 day convalescence. I stocked 2 magazines (InStyle and Oprah). I have the 5 movies (The Devil Wears Prada because I am the only person left in North America that hasn’t seen it, Little Miss Sunshine, Juno, The Queen, and Death At A Funeral).

Sites To Know : FTC Who Cares

Nicole sent me a link to this excellent FTC site dedicated to filtering medical information for consumers, very much a Site To Know. In an ocean of information so overwhelming that you can’t decide how much applies to you, I look for good data that does the legwork in finding dependable outlinks for me. I looked up MRT and really think the IUD is the right first choice. I followed the link at the bottom to the National Institute on Aging (never knew about it before) which got me to more good info on MRT .

Though the intention is to keep the site updated, the purpose though is to provide a “short list” of the best and most reliable sources of information. How welcome is that, given that Googling these topics gets you hacking through a jungle of material that’s questionable at best.

Insertion

Ideally, you’re having your period when the device is placed so that the cervix is relaxed. Well, I wasn’t. I was on those pills!! I asked twice and they said “Stay on them”. Actually, in a step I’m sure physicians love, I self-medicated myself down to ½ pill a day. I crack them in half with my teeth because the pill isn’t scored. Those horrible little things were fogging up my head and becoming my enemy. I figure this isn’t utter quackery. It’s being faithful to the normal gradual physiologic drop in hormones before a period.

I feel a little embarrassed about this fuss and worry now. Doing a stomach crunch (1) hurts way more than the IUD placement. BUT this adds yet another item to the growing list of why it is better to be loose and floppy!! After 3 vaginal deliveries, the last one 11 years ago, my cervix is permanently relaxed. I felt nothing when the rod went in. When the bars of the little T were opened, it felt like a large gas bubble for about 4 seconds, and that was that. This must be what I am inside:

I was expecting to be grinding my teeth, clutching the table, and trying not to scream. He told me I could scream if I wanted to, he was used to it, and blood too, and besides I was the last appointment of the day, so “whatever turns your crank”. He puts in 1 of these a week and he’s seen it all. This is the kind of doctor I love. If he’s not excited, you definitely do not need to be.

Go back to your regular life

Anyhow, I drove myself home and told my husband to stay at work. He told me to enjoy my Rosemary Wine, which is the closest he can come to understanding Rose Oil. I have a friend called Brigitte, pronounced “brig -EETA”. The closest he can come to her name is “briquette”. He NEVER says her name when they meet.

Watching the movie later, as Anne Hathaway walks past the Sephora store in NYC and I’m almost sobbing with envy, I do have a little tightening in my lower abdomen and have to sit up straight. I treated myself to hot chocolate made with real cocoa.

I haven’t felt anything since. I hope my boss doesn’t read this because I’ve booked 3 days off. I do not believe for one second that my friend at work didn’t have the pain she claims, or the other women as well. It’s just that at 48, I’m a walking, talking testament to the many benefits of flaccidity and mushiness.

Onced it’s inserted, you can go home and exercise if you like. You can have vigorous sex, but it’s suggested to wait a few days for the strings to soften, more for his sake than yours. I stay on pills for a day or two till the IUD starts secreting its own tiny little dose of progesterone, and then stop.

Wait and see (and pray)

We’ll wait and see what happens in the longer term. One-third of women have no periods. Most have very light periods, with possible spotting only for the first 3 months. Since this is menopause, periods may come every 6 weeks or with some irregularity. It seems there’s no need to worry unless the bleeding is excessive.

Karen sent me a fabulous prayer that she says often : “Fulfill every purpose for which You allowed this situation.”

Incredible. If more prayers were like that, I’d be more of a praying person. It focuses inwardly, instead of imploring someone to give you something. Please understand that I’ve done my share of pleading. I’ve beseeched. Sometimes, you’re really scared and can’t see any other option. It is all you have left. I have been there.

But I’m not there today and I am thankful in the extreme. I hope the little object does its job without incident. I cannot feel it. I marvel that it’s really in there, like when you did your first pregnancy test the day you missed your period and it came back positive.

If it doesn’t work, I know there are other choices. Many. Today, I’m reading Oprah, doing a mask, bleaching my teeth, wondering why my dog is chewing himself so much, and wading in Rose Oil. Tomorrow, I’m exercising, baking, meeting a friend for coffee, and pretending I live my ideal life which that of almost-a-hermit.

A choice that I might have run from, or not considered until forced upon me, has turned out to be (I hope) a blessing.

Posted by Christine Scaman | Filed Under Happiness, Sites To Know

Comments

2 Responses to “The IUD Saga Continues”

Christine on August 25th, 2010 1:20 pm

Hey!

Thanks for relating your IUD insertion story. I am wanting to have one placed as well but not sure where to go in Victoria as I am relatively new here. Would you recommend the Doc that you went to? Did it/Is it all still work/ing for you?

Christine
Christine Scaman on August 26th, 2010 7:44 am

Christine, for me the thing has been a gift. I am never aware of it, feel very well, and only have occasional spotting, if that. It’s been about 2 years now. I’m hoping to get 3 more. I would highly recommend the Dr., but he’s trying to retire, and honestly, I think any OB/GYN can do this. I don’t see that the insertion seems tricky. Takes about 10 seconds. Younger women may feel it more, but besides the slight gas-bubble feeling when it was inserted, I have not felt it since. I simply love it – can’t imagine what life would have been like with the options of heavy periods, pills, or hormone level tests and creams and so on. Might be better choices for some women, but they would not have been for me.