Menorrhagia and the Marina coil?!
Question: Friend of mine, (mid forties), has really bad periods. They can last up to two weeks and she loses heavily. She also becomes very anxious.
She has some fibroids.
She has been offered the choce of the coil or the removal of the uterus. The medics can't advise her as to which to have and she doesn't know about any possible disadvantages of the coil.
Has anybody had experience of this treatment? Anything, for or against would be helpful.
Thanks.
Answers: Friend of mine, (mid forties), has really bad periods. They can last up to two weeks and she loses heavily. She also becomes very anxious.
She has some fibroids.
She has been offered the choce of the coil or the removal of the uterus. The medics can't advise her as to which to have and she doesn't know about any possible disadvantages of the coil.
Has anybody had experience of this treatment? Anything, for or against would be helpful.
Thanks.
Right, trying to piece together the facts: Marina coil:
"it is made of a light, plastic, T-shaped frame with the stem of the 'T' a bit thicker than the rest. This stem contains a tiny storage system of a hormone called Levonorgestrel. This hormone is also used in contraceptive pills such as Eugynon, Logynon, Microgynon, Ovran 30, Ovranette and Trinordial. In the Mirena, however, a much lower dose is released than when you take the Pill (about 1/7th strength), and it goes directly to the lining of the womb, rather than through the blood stream where it may lead to the common progesterone-type side effects (see below)."
Levonelle one step tablets (the morning after pill) also contain the active ingredient levonorgestrel. Dont know the dose but it sounds quite strong, you'd probably want to try progesterone pills before implanting one in you, anyway, goodle comes up with lots of bad things about marina coil.
Anyway, with those symptoms you describe i would REALLY recommend trying the pill Micronor/ Norethisterone. It stopped my periods & was the only thing that could control my period anxiety (which was incidently caused by raising estrogen levels). It saved my life at the time. cant praise it enough, this way they can try progesterone without having something implanted, if its not right its easier to stop taking.
I have got a merina coil in and would personally advise against it. I had it fitted for heavy periods (I have endometriosis) and have had problems with it over the last 6 months (I had it fitted Nov 2006).
I am now bleeding almost every 2 weeks and am very bloated in between my periods. I also feel that my hormones are all over the place (on the verge of tears etc) most of the time.
If I were your friend and had a family then I would definately go for surgery.
I hope this helps?!
My mother Had major fibriods....so bad that she had to wear a super plus tampon....and t overnight pads and change them every 2 hours......her periods lasted about 2 weeks. (like your friends)..and she had so many fibroids that it mad her look as if she were pregnant...In ther end she decided to have her uterus removed....she was in her 40's as welll...and was not oing to have anymore children. MY mother says that was the best thing she did in regards to that situation...she no longer has to fight iron def, the pregnant look is gone...having the surgery took away about 15 lbs....the doc said her largest fibrois weighed about 1.2 lbs....that's alot....Good luck to your friend.
I have had the coil fitted I get on OK with it. It comes with hormones so can make you moody though I personally am not affected by this. It took a while to settle down initially I had a period that lasted 4 weeks but spoke to doctor and took a couple of pills which made this stop. Some people don't have periods once coil is fitted. Mine are erratic but very light when they come just spotting. Once fitted they last 5 years. I hope this helps.
Removing the womb brings on early menopause.
The coil sometimes brings on extra pain and the possibilty of more bleeding. Patients are in discomfort for a while afterwards, some lasting 3 - 4 months before things settle down.
Has your friend thought of uterine balloon ablation aka Thermachoice or thermal ablation?
It sounds a bit gruesome, but a balloon full of extremely hot water is put into the vagina, and it basically burns away the lining of the womb thus leaving no lining to come away once a month :)
It only has a 87% success rate but surely it is worth a go? I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned.
Even when she has made her choice, she wil need the fibroids to be removed or the bleeding will continue.
She could have a hysterectomy but keep her ovaries, therefore she wouldn't need to have HRT yet.
I wish her luck :D
I had the marina coil fitted & its the best thing I ever had.
I had very heavy, painful periods & endometriosis, which just took over my whole life at one time. You know when you have a new-born baby & everything revolves around them? Well that was me & my periods - I had to keep a constant check on what was going on & they could scream, throw up & mess their nappy at any time, anywhere, without warning! (You get the picture....)
Since having the coil fitted my periods have really taken a back seat in my life, in fact sometimes I dont even have a period, which is great. All I can say is we're all different & your friend may take to the coil very well, like me. I was about to have the inside of my womb 'micro-waved' (there is a technical name for it, but Ive forgotten) but the marina coil was offered to me last minute. I'd say give it a go, anything is better than having parts removed or blasted with micro-waves.
How lovely that you are concerned enough to post this question, Im touched.
With love as always
x
I had the merina coil fitted for exactly the same reasons. Immediately my moods changed. I went from being a happy go lucky person into an anxious, stressy idiot! Then the gradual weight gain, creeps up on you before you even know it, and to try to get if off is nearly impossible, if I look at a cake, or drink a few glasses of wine at the weekend on goes 2 pounds! My doctor didn't give me an option, but if I did, I would remove my uterus in a second!
It has got to be worth trying the MIRENA coil. It is easy to fit and often actually produces amenorrhea in many women. ( complete loss of bleeding!) Depending on the size, type and position of the fibroids it is sometimes possible to remove them, rather than the uterus or perform endometrial laser ablation, which only takes out the core lining of the uterus which has less morbidity than hysterectomy.
The Mirena was a complete solution to a horrible problem for me. It doesn't work for every woman with fibroids, apparently, but it did with me. On the internet, naturally enough, you tend to hear about the problems. There are many, many of us out there for whom this coil has proved a total blessing. It's really worth a try before major surgery. If it doesn't work, what have you lost?
Hello Dear one..
The best treatment for such condition is Hysterectomy and preservation of ovaries. Marina Coil has it own drawbacks and often may lead to exacerbation of the problems, although it may be effective in some.
If your friend has completed her family and is above forty years then the treatment is to go for hysterectomy as I have said.
In child bearing women ablative methods for uterine fibroids are available.
The best course will be to consult a gynecologist and ask her advice.
Here are few sites that may be of some help;
1.http://www.pandamedicine.com/rt_women/31...
2.http://community.homeandhealthtv.co.uk/e...
3.http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/bcc-f...
4.http://experience.patient.co.uk/discussi...
Intrauterine Device (the Coil) (list of experiences about) :: Patient ...
I have had fibroids & endometriosis. I had the fibroids removed, including a large polyp, & endometrial ablation vaginally.
10 years ago I had laproscopic endometrial ablation.
You need to research Gyns to find one that is expert in laproscopic surgery & doesn't believe in hysterectomies.
This is what I would suggest if possible.
I love my Gyn MD. not only is he an expert surgeon, he is a nice person.
In the NYC area, at Mt Sinai Medical Center, my MD is Michael Brodman MD., head of Gyn.
The best to your friend.