Extraction and Re-insertion

Today was the big day! I said goodbye to my faithful Mirena of five years and got a new one inserted. I prepared for the event by taking 1g of naproxen and wearing comfortable pants, though I'd have liked an anti-anxiety pill to take off some of the edge.

Extraction:
Typical to any gyno visit, my feet went up in the stirrups. My doctor advised that it should be relatively quick and painless based on feedback he's received. He inserted a speculum and swabbed my cervix with what I assume was antiseptic. It tingled a little. Then just like ripping off a bandaid, he yanked out the Mirena. It didn't really hurt, it just felt a little weird for a second. Then it was done! He showed me the worn Mirena and it looked pretty much like a new one with just a little pink coloring to it. No big deal.

Re-insertion:
After this, my doctor immediately prepared me for insertion of the new Mirena. He explained the process in detail, step-by-step. He told me that previous patients said the re-insertion immediately following extraction was easier than the initial insertion, and that pre-doping was probably going to make my experience better too.

My doctor used Hurricane Spray, which is just a novacaine-based numbing spray, on my cervix. Then he used a small tweezer to grab my cervix. Just like before, it was a very small and dull pinch. He then used the sounding wand to measure my uterus depth. The sounding wand is a long, thing stick that measures depth. It causes a quick and firm cramp, but really isn't too bad. It also is over in a second. He then used the sound measurement to set the Mirena inserter to the correct depth.

Now that he had the equipment prepared, my doctor used the inserted to push the Mirena into uterus. This is the worst part, but it went SO MUCH better than the first time around. Thank you, naproxen. This part, from when he started the insertion to when he removed the speculum, took about 30 seconds. I know, I counted. It honestly didn't hurt nearly as much as I expected, but I stayed tense waiting for it to get really bad. I had a few hard cramps and pressure from having the device in my canal, but otherwise nothing.

Afterward, ZERO PAIN. He explained that I would probably spot for a little while and that I should avoid insertion activities (tampons, douching, sex) for five days. I laid on the table for a couple of minutes before leaving, but I really felt fine from the get-go. Last time, I got really woozy so I wanted to play it safe. I drove home, cooked dinner, and sat on the couch.

Now that I'm about three hours out, I have the mildest aches if I move a certain way and the occasional very mild cramp. I had minimal spotting on a panty liner, but no major blood. All in all, things are going well!

Time to Re-Up

Well, I can't believe it's been five years since I had my first Mirena inserted. The anniversary is actually coming up in May, but I'm having my removal and new insertion on Monday, April 18. It's time, Shelby! It's time!

• How do I know it's time? Over the last few months, I've noticed subtle changes that tell me the slight hormonal impact of Mirena is diminishing. I put on a little weight, my oil qualities in skin and hair have changed, and I've had a day or two with very light spotting.

I went to my doctor for my annual exam three weeks ago and got pre-certified for my new Mirena. I have good insurance, but it is unfortunately grandfathered from ACA so I will have to pay most of the cost myself. This stinks, but it's still VASTLY worth it to me for the financial and lifestyle benefits. Things I'm looking for to?

• Another five years with no periods. How much has this saved me on tampons and inconvenience?
• Another five years with no babies! Priceless.
• Another five years of not buying birth control at $20-40 a month, $240-480 annually. One year of no BCP and no tampons alone makes up for the cost!

As I reflect back on my experience, I realize that I've been very lucky. I do know one girl who had a very bad side effect - septic shock - from her Mirena. I have had zero bad experiences with mine and I'll continue to sing its praises. 

Here's hoping the removal and re-insertion are low on the pain scale and go quickly and smoothly! This time, I'm packing the good drugs.