Posts Tagged ‘birth control’

Here’s my account of today’s gyn visit and removal of Mirena IUD.  The tech tried twice with the automatic blood pressure checker, but it failed to get my blood pressure.  She said we’d get it later in the treatment room.  Then in the treatment room, the tech tried once more to get a blood pressure but the manual checker she used had a hole in the tubing.  FAIL again (3rd time).  I made a comment that perhaps she needed to check and make sure my heart was still beating…  three failed attempts to get my blood pressure.

Then I had to give a urine sample.  NOW is it just me, or…  it seems like every single time I “do” the urine test, I do not have the urge to use the restroom.  But suddenly, in the midst of trying to get the stupid anesthetic clean wipe packet open, I have to use the restroom so bad that I can’t hardly hold it~!  I think it’s a psychological thing…  knowing you CAN’T, but have to!  (Ok, maybe it is JUST ME).

The doctor came in, explained a little about the removal, and asked if I had any questions.  I didn’t at that time; I saved them all up for later.  I was just a bit anxious wondering if this was going to hurt.  So up in the stirrups (and I ain’t talking ’bout stirrup pants).  He asked me to slightly cough, then cough harder.  The hard cough was his cue to yank the strings.  It didn’t feel like I thought it would.  It wasn’t pain and agony like the insertion!  But it did have some feeling and was almost just like a built up pressure.  The cool thing is:  he asked if I wanted to see what the Mirena looked like.   OF COURSE!  I wanted to say “You dang little booger!  So you’re what’s been causing all this hubaloo?”  I should have asked to take it home with me for a souvenir.  He probably would have let me…  but that is gross.

I grew a little nauseous and my abdomen hurt.  They asked me to lay there a few minutes just to make sure I was ok.  He wanted to know if I had breakfast.  “No, I didn’t eat but I drank a protein shake.”  Now in my book, to a weight loss surgery patient, that equates “breakfast” but evidently not in his eyes.  He asked me which I would rather have:  juice, coke, or a granola bar.  He preferred me to eat something before I left.  Choices, choices, choices!  None really wls friendly…  but I opted for the granola bar.  I figured if it was loaded with sugar, I’d take a small bite and throw the rest away just to appease him.  Luckily it was 7 sugars, fat free, and low cal.  So, I ate half very slowly cause I wasn’t hungry.  BUT, I might as well get my money’s worth while I’m there, right?

He gave me a prescription for an anti-biotic to prevent infection. And, we discussed birth control.  Where to from here?  He asked about my absorption issues, and finally I made a decision:  Ortho Evra hormone patch.  I had used it before, and it seemed like a hassle free process to me.  I reminded him of my employer’s insurance plan:  I work for a Catholic company which means NO BIRTH CONTROL coverage.  As in years past, I had him write another letter of medical necessity, explaining that it was for hormone issues and nothing to do with actual birth control.  Sigh. I grow weary sometimes of insurance “hoop jumping”.

The pharmacy informed me that this birth control would not be covered by insurance at this time.  I usually end up purchasing the first month and fighting all month long until they decide to cover more.

I’m at home now.  I about cried on the way home. Not sure if that’s hormones or relief.  I think it was relief.  I am hopeful that this might alleviate some of the symptoms that I’ve experienced, especially strongly in the past 2-3 months.  More to come.  Oh yeah, and the cup of Joe for a job well done….?  I drank a cup of strong coffee BEFORE the appointment.

Today is the day.  Mirena comes out at 11:00 am.  I feel like it’s a big deal, when really it won’t take but 2 minutes for the gyn to reach up inside, grab the strings of the IUD with the forceps and gently pull it out.  You’d think, however, that I was about to have some big long drawn out, life altering procedure!  My only hope for today is that there isn’t much pain involved.  I have taken the rest of the afternoon off from work, just in case!

I am really hoping that this will begin to provide relief from these hormone issues.  I know it won’t be a cure, but the Mirena has actually CAUSED some of my suffering and at least those symptoms can begin disappearing.  I’m about to record my weight and measurements so that I can chronicle the changes post-removal.

It’s hard to believe that such a tiny piece of equipment can produce such big results…  I’m talking about Mirena IUD.  I had mine “installed” a year and a half ago after a long history of hormone problems.  My symptoms seemed to disappear during the first year after gastric bypass surgery, but towards the end of my second year, began to show up again.

My gyn thought that this little piece of gadgetry would be a miracle solution.  However, I believe that it has been more of a hindrance than anything over the past year.  I know that each of us are different.  I’m not going to tell you that Mirena is a terrible product.  I don’t believe that.  I just know that our bodies are all so unique, and what works for one might not be too beneficial for another.

The other day, while doing research on hysterectomy procedures, I came across a website that I found shortly after having Mirena put in.  I will be honest that at the time, I shrugged it off as I was not having problems to the extent of these ladies.  They were discussing the horrible side effects of Mirena such as:  PMS, anxiety, depression, hot flashes, constipation, memory problems, migraines, lack of sex drive, fatigue, nausea, food cravings during certain times of the month while food aversions during other times,  dizziness, sleep disturbance, cysts on the ovaries, and WEIGHT GAIN.  The list does not stop there!  Again, I didn’t think my symptoms were THAT extreme.

But, in April I was seeking medical treatment from my gynecologist and also received a second opinion.  I also considered BHRT (bio-identical hormone replacement therapy) and consulted with a compounding pharmacist which included taking a saliva test.  I even started taking all kinds of supplements suggested by the book “The Hormone Survival Guide to Perimenopause” by Nisha Jackson (which is a great book).  The compounding pharmacist’s piece of advice:  GET THE MIRENA OUT!  The consulting gyn stated that I was NOT going through perimenopause, and that the Mirena was still the best choice for my type of hormone issues.  But, also said that the symptoms I was experiencing was because Mirena CAN mimic perimenopausal symptoms.

I came to terms that what I was experiencing was just part of “being or becoming healthy”.  But can I admit that it was very taxing on my nerves to watch my body experience the changes?  I had to force myself to accept the weight gain (it jacked up about 10 pounds the first month that Mirena was put in).  My weight used to be 118-119 on average.  Now, it stays about 130-135.  I can’t seem to break 130 for NOTHING!  I started jogging, working out, watching every calorie, upping my protein intake, taking in more fluids…  but still, 129 was not a number that my body wanted to hit.

Believe it or not, my quest for finding a solution to my problems have nothing to do with weight.  I have come to the conclusion that there is more to life than the number on the scale.  It also has to do with mental health, with being able to cope with problems, with being physically healthy and feeling good.  After all, what good is it if I weigh 110 lbs but am as crazy as a bed bug?  Or, feel like crap every single day of my life?  I embraced the Mirena even with its possible side effects because I thought it would help cure or control the hormone imbalances. Unfortunately, I’ve come to find that it has contributed to, and not helped, my health condition.

I’m scheduled for removal on January 5th and will be logging my journies.  I am very hopeful that symptoms will begin to dissipate shortly after.  However, I know that it is just a first step.  I still have to try to find another alternative to help the underlying issues that have always been part of my hormone problems.

I wanted to add one more thing.  These past few months have been so taxing on my nerves.  Seems like 3 out of 4 weeks have been stressful (instead of your normal PMS where only 1 week out of the month is bad).  I can tell I’m feeling a little better right now because of my desire to spend time on my website, blogging, updating the templates, etc.  For awhile, I just didn’t want to work on it.  The things that I love to do fell to the way side as depression slowly set in.  Stay tuned for updates.