I got the Mirena IUD put in today. I'll do a short segment on the Endo/Fibroid side of things as well as the UC/Crohn's side of things while I go through how the IUD is working for me.
For now, since I just got it inserted, I'll talk about how my experience was getting it put in.
I'm not going to lie, it hurt.... It didn't help that I have been bleeding for about a month and a half straight with extreme pain already but... wow. They told me that I would just feel cramping and I heard from women who DO NOT have Uterine Diseases that it feels like typical period cramps. For me, it felt like a bad Endo attack. I don't know if that's because I have Endometriosis and that's why my pain was so much worse, but that's what it felt like. I'll try and put this in a more... step by step kind of explanation that should hopefully make more sense.
First, I was asked if I had any Motrin or Asprin or ANYTHING that I could take that may help with the cramping, to which I said no... All I had on me was Tramadol. They said I should take it, so I did. I asked the Gyno if she had any numbing gel they could use for my cervix, since I was told about it before, and she said she did and she could definitely use it so she went and got some. Then I got ready, as though I were getting prepped for a Spec exam. I tried to relax as much as possible and the first thing she did was put in two fingers to feel my uterus and generally palpitate the area. I forgot the exact reason... It was very uncomfortable but she was gentle and didn't push too hard on my uterus knowing that I was already in pain, so then came the next part: The Speculum. I HATE Speculums. They hurt SO bad and put pressure against my colon, which isn't pleasant since I have UC. She put plenty of KY Jelly on it and was very gentle but it still stung like a bitch and when she opened it, it just made it that much more uncomfortable. But the BEST thing you can do is relax, let your legs fall open as wide as they can, take DEEP breaths in and out and try to focus on something else. I was listening to music, which REALLY helped. As they were prepping my cervix with Betadine and the numbing solution (which, even before using the numbing solution, I couldn't really feel the q-tips pressing against my cervix), my body got used to the Speculum so it became more of this uncomfortable irritation instead of this stinging forced object. The next part... was the worst. She needed to grab my cervix to stabilize it, hold it in place, so that she could slide the Mirena IUD into my Uterus. When she pinched my cervix with.. whatever she used to pinch it with, that feeling was.... I can't even describe it because it was a pain that I had NEVER felt before. Every type of pain is different and this one was... Stinging, sudden, SHARP.... Then came the cramping. When she inserted the Mirena, it felt like I was having a very bad pain day, where my Endo was just acting up. I concentrated on my breathing, on the music, on the words and instruments and everything else besides the pain. I need to say this again because doing DEEP, CONCENTRATED breathing really does help! When she was done, she cut the string, tucked it under the cervix and then closed the Speculum and slid it out. During the procedure, it's a good idea to stay as still as possible so that Doctor can do his/her job safely. When I'm in pain, I tense up, I can't move. My muscles just kind of lock me in place which can be a problem when trying to insert a catheter (never again, thanks!)... but apparently it wasn't a problem this time! I did well during the procedure but for the entire day, that cramping was STRONG. I HIGHLY recommend having some sort of pain killer with you or at home waiting for you to take and then as soon as you get home, put on a heating pad! It will SAVE YOU.
I'm doing okay now, still cramping but not nearly as bad as I was earlier today. Drinking a lot of water has also helped. I haven't bled much either, which is a good thing. And when it came to my UC, it didn't bother my bowels at all! The procedure made me a little gassy because of me tensing up so much from the pain, but otherwise, it didn't affect my UC negatively at all! Now let's just see if this whole procedure was worth it! Fingers crossed!!
