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IUD, D & C, Possible Hysterectomy
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02-09-2004, 08:37 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 8
Hysterectomy: February 26th, 2004
Surgery Type: TVH
Ovaries: Removed both
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IUD, D & C, Possible Hysterectomy
Hi,
Another new member here! This forum is great!
This is going to sound crazy, but an IUD (loop), which I have had for 27 years, is causing me problems. What a surprise!!! My gyno, not the one who inserted it, felt since I was not having any problems with it, we would leave it alone.
Well, since I am 55 and through menopause, we decided to try to take it out. After two strings broke, (two separate attempts), we decided to leave it alone, and watch it every 6 months using ultrasound, knowing that eventually I would need a D & C. My gyno hasn't noticed any irregularities when doing office ultrasounds, nor have I had any irregular Pap smears.
A month ago, I started lightly spotting occasionally. I went to the gyno and he had me go to a radiologist for an ultrasound to look at the lining of my uterus and see if they could see if the IUD was embedded.
The radiologist did think it might be slightly embedded, and that the lining was thickened. My gyno says that the thickening of the lining is what happens when an IUD is being used. In other words, it is supposed to thicken.
The thickening has thrown me for a loop. Could I have cancer? My gyno feels strongly I don't, but wants to have me get a D & C to remove the IUD and take biopsies. A well regarded gyno surgeon would be present. If they can't get the IUD out, he says he should do a hysterectomy.
Finally, now to my question: My personality is such that I always cover every base. So, I am not sure if I am over reacting. Sloane Kettering is close to us and affiliated with a local hospital. Do I go there, just in case for the D & C? Do I proceede with the D & C with a gynecologic surgeon, and my present gynecologist. Am I being too careful? Sloane Kettering oncology aftercare is at my local hospital.
I feel as if I have been very long winded, but the whole situation is rather complex to me.
Thank you for any added info that may be helpful to me.
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02-10-2004, 10:28 AM
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Posts: 30,771
Hysterectomy: February 4th, 2002
Surgery Type: TVH
Ovaries: Removed both
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IUD, D & C, Possible Hysterectomy
Hi walkteach and welcome! I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble getting your IUD removed. Hopefully it will not be necessary for you to have a hysterectomy; that is generally only done if the IUD has perforated the wall of the uterus, and when that happens there is usually severe pain and problems with bleeding. Also, if your paps have all been normal, it's doubtful that cancer has anything to do with this, but of course it's always wise to check and double-check.
Has an ultrasound or x-ray been done yet to try to locate your IUD? These non-invasive techniques can be of help in evaluating the extent of the problem. I'm assuming the IUD is just embedded in the uterine wall enough to make removal difficult, but that it hasn't passed through the uterus into the pelvic cavity, although in rare cases this is possible.
Here are a few links with information about problems removing IUD's:
http://www.infoforhealth.org/pr/b6/b6chap4.shtml
http://www.ivillagehealth.com/expert...68514-2,00.htm
http://www.managingcontraception.com...s/pdfs/iud.pdf
According to those articles, there are a couple of ways to go in trying to remove your IUD. One way is, as you mentioned, a D&C. The cervix is dilated and instruments are used to scrape the walls of the uterus. The problem with this procedure is that it's fairly indiscriminate, and the DR can't see what he or she is doing.
However, in a hysteroscopy, the DR can look inside the uterus and locate the IUD before trying to remove it. It is a minor surgical procedure and anesthesia is often used. Here is more information on the use of a hysteroscopy to retrieve an embedded IUD:
http://www.obiakorobgyn.com/medical/crs/hystiud.htm
Just my opinion here, but if I were in your place I would go to a facility that has the capability to do hysteroscopies and get another opinion from a DR there. It sounds like you have access to excellent medical facilities; I'd avail myself of those in an effort to avoid a hysterectomy if at all possible.
Good luck, and do let us know how it goes, OK?
s,
-Linda
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