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Had the worse OB/GYN visit EVER!

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I went to see a new OB/GYN yesterday (mine moved out of the area) to get Mirena IUD consultation and possibly get it removed. In another post I mentioned many of the symptoms that has led me to believe that I am at the beginning stages of perimenopause. I also inquired of that to the OB/GYN and the whole visit was a joke! When she heard all my symptoms, she made me feel like I was being dramatic and would say things like "I'm not a specialist in Psychiatry and I dont treat anxiety and depression!" She would also say things like, "In my 16 years of experience, Ive never had any woman come in and complain about any of the symptoms you have and think its the Mirena." If you go to the Mirena website and look at ALL the possible side effects, you will see mood changes and depression! She was so defensive of this type of birth control, i was like what is going on with the lady?? Then on top of that, when I would ask her a question, she would say "I don't know" alot! I'm just sitting there in her office in tears, thinking to myself "ok, if you have 16 years of experience, shouldn't you be able to answer my questions??" I then told her that I am NOW even more confused because I didn't get any answers and that I'll talk to my husband and think about it before I remove it. She then said if I didn't want a birth control with hormones, I could get the Paragard and gave me a brochure. She didn't care that I was in tears not even handing me a tissue. She definitely showed she didn't care, had no empathy, didn't listen to my needs, and was very cold and heartless. Then later, I found out from my husband (who was waiting for me in the waiting area) that he saw many brochures on the table about the practice and that they highly supported the Mirena. So this OB/ GYN apparently endorses and most likely gets a financial cut to recommend this type of birth control to women. So it made total sense as to why she acted the way she did! She must have gotten her feelings hurt and defended the Mirena. It makes me so sick that Dr's put their pay first BEFORE the needs of their patients.

When I got home later I looked up info on women who had their Mirena removed and about 95% of the posts I read, these women were so much happier after they had it taken out. Many of them complained that they suffered from anxiety and depression like symptoms after they had the Mirena put in (even months or years after). I've had mine just over one year and I am having it removed for sure, just not with that worthless OB/GYN I saw. Thankfully I found out that my Primary care physician or GP does women wellness care and can remove my Mirena. I have an appointment with her this Monday and will finally be rid of this IUD. Doing this will help me to determine if it is the Mirena that has caused me to feel my perimenopause symptoms or not. Process of elimination.I'll keep you posted. Anyone else have a similar experience?

0 likes, 28 replies

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  • bobbysgirl
    bobbysgirl Guest

    Posted

    Ooh poor girl! First of all let me send you a big ((hug)). What an awful experience. I have been thinking about how to reply to your post without sounding like a raving, tub-thumping conspiracy theorist! I'll try, but it is a subject that gets me all steamed up.

    My OH was diagnosed with diabetes in 2004. By the time he found out it had already done quite a bit of damage and he was on a ton of pills. I started with menopause miseries in 2012. I tried 'natural' remedies, but nothing worked. So I went to my GP and asked for HRT. For a while everything was fine. Then I started to get some bleeding. I had already discovered I had cysts and fibroids and have suffered from Endometriosis (all this is another LONG tale I won't go into, but I DO understand what you have been through!) I stopped the HRT and the misery started again.

    As all this has been happening we have been looking at alternative treatments etc and educating ourselves. To date my OH has dramatically reduced the meds he is o

  • bobbysgirl
    bobbysgirl Guest

    Posted

    Sorry iPad froze

    ... Meds he is on and most of the side effects have vanished too! I have started taking Vit D and Magnesium. We have been changing our diets (we have always had a reasonably healthy diet) to include Coconut oil, cider vinegar (not supermarket stuff) butter (NOT) spreads, turmeric, grass fed meat all the sort of food that is beginning to creep into the media.

    Ladies something is working because my hot flushes/night sweats have STOPPED. 

    The reason I have gone on about this is, when we have gone to the doctors about this they are all so ignorant and dismissive about it. They DON'T have all the answers - they just think they do. They only accept what Big Pharma tells them. They say 'oh these things have not been tested and PROVEN to work'. Well they won't because they can't be patented and sold at a vast profit.

    Twice now I have mentioned to two doctors that I have started taking  Vit D. The first doc said 'oh we are all deficient in Vit D in this part of the world'. The other, a younger female doc said, 'oh we don't test for Vit D deficiency anymore because it is assumed EVERYONE is deficient, (then she came out with the killer remark) we are only just beginning to understand how important Vit D is to our health'. HELLO,  can you hear yourself? Why aren't you telling US your patients?

    Rant over.... My advise to you is do your research, then get back in there and give her both barrels! Take your husband in next time, he doesn't have to say anything, just sit there, arms folded.

    You deserve better, we all do. You said she said ' in her experience', she's not that experienced! Go get her girl!cheesygrin

    • Guest
      Guest bobbysgirl

      Posted

      HI Bobbysgirl, first of all, thank you for your kind and supportive words.  That means alot to me. smile I'm glad to find other women (like yourself) who understand me and agree that Dr's for the most part are idiots! I am not going to let one inexperienced, coldhearted, insensitive obgyn ruin it for me, but I don't feel too happy about Dr's right now!!

      I'm sorry to hear that your OH had to go thru some trying times with these so-called medical professionals as well.  Glad to hear that he is doing much better. biggrin

      My husband and I too, eat very healthy. We are on what's called, the "Alkaline diet".  It isn't too widely known here in the US, but it is very healthy. We don't eat any processed sugars and get our carbs from natural sugars like fruit.  We also eat lean meats (organic) with no hormones injected in them and grass-fed beef sometimes.  We are also taking some important supplements, a few of them are the Vit D and Magnesium.   I also take other supplements that help with anxiety and depression.  Unfortunately, I am already on medication for both of those things but know I won't be on them forever.  I haven't gotten the hot flashes yet but do have many of the other symptoms of perimenopause.  I am still not 100% sure if my symptoms are from starting the beginning stages of peri or if its from the Mirena.  Glad that I'm getting this thing out on Monday, so time will tell if it was indeed that or peri.  Just a little nervous tho because some women got more intense symptoms after they had it removed (kind of like withdrawal symptoms, I guess) and I'm just praying that I won't be effected as adversely.eek

    • didi0613
      didi0613 bobbysgirl

      Posted

      Amen sister. I take vitamin d and b12. I don't think my PC takes vitamin deficiency tests anymore either, but they are the first to tell you when you are overweight, have high cholesterol, bp is too high and glocuse, but still not factoring in most if things that are high are due to fluctuating hormones and perimenopause/menopause.

      Most doctors I agree are about supporting the pharmaceutical companies. I prefer to handle my symptoms naturally like Vit. D, B12, and might try some magnesium too.

      I do feel a lot of it helps.

    • bobbysgirl
      bobbysgirl didi0613

      Posted

      I'm with you there! In the days before computers, I had a doctor who filled out your name and address on the perscription pad BEFORE you sat down. You left with meds whether your needed them or not!

      I read recently that due to modern farming practices Magnesium is not in the soil in the quantites it used to be, so many of us in the West are deficient in something that helps to maintain normal bone and muscle function and also helps reduce tiredness. So you may need to suppliment magnesium.

      I asked my GP for a full blood-works last week. I told her I want to test, hormone levels, vitamin and mineral levels (as far as you can with simple blood tests) and liver/kidney function. I am going to see her on Wednesday and I said I want to have a copy of the results and go through everything with her. She aslo insisted on a cholesterol test, but I'm not so fussed about that. I think there is too much hype around 'high' Cholesterol and not enough reseach done on the reason it is high (inflamation). I feel then that I will be armed with the info I need to fix my own problems without resorting to 'meds'.

      I think a lot of doctors don't consider what Hypocrates said when they take the oath - 'let food be thy medicine'! Watch this space.....biggrin

  • didi0613
    didi0613 Guest

    Posted

    I don't use Mirena or any sort if birth control cause I am in Peri. However, I do emphathize with you if you poured out your feelings and asked all these questions about the side affects of having it in,and your OB Gyn made you feel crazy or over dramatic. I would definitely stop seeing her. She definitely cares more about her money to support a product that she clearly is denying knowing about the bad side affects- instead of helping or providing the best care of her patients health. Sorry Lara, but glad your getting it removed. Sometimes you have to follow your own gut. Make your own decisions that you know are best for you. Just would be nice if for once doctors would listen and really show empathy and care towards their patients.

    Good Luck to you, and get yourself a better OBGyn.

    • Guest
      Guest didi0613

      Posted

      Thank you Didi for your kind reply. smile I definitely am NOT going back to see her. It was a complete waste of my time and money.  And yes, I am on the hunt again for a new obgyn.  It is sad that we do have to do the work on our own to research what's good and bad for us.  We arent the ones who went to medical school, so you would think that Drs could be more caring and less money hungry. :-/
  • chrisann144
    chrisann144 Guest

    Posted

    Hi since they held my comment I will repost first I'm sorry you dealt with that dr! I was a nurse for a long time so I can relate to Drs some shouldn't be Drs and there was a few that I just loved working with they asked my opinion it wasn't all about them! I do notice a lot of Drs with perimenpause symptoms seem to be like welcome to your forties or say your too young I have experienced symptoms for about five years I'm 47 now they have gotten worse in the last year that is for sure! I also feel some Drs are too clinical meaning if a symptom is written it can't be then I had that experience with my husband he was on meds which he had terrible side effects and one of the side effects he had the dr was like I never heard of that I'm thinking ok well he didn't have stomach pain not being on these meds and because it isn't written doesn't mean it can't be a side effect! Once you get the coil out I hope you feel better it can be very frustrating
  • gentleballads
    gentleballads Guest

    Posted

    we ladies should get our dignity and rights recognised - we should not be treated as mad women or hypochondriac because of our symptoms. docs should not prescribe anti-depressants without explaining their exact usage and also the weaning process. we are being scoffed at because we do research on the net !

    sometimes woman are our worst enemies - the ones who were too- thick skinned to feel the transition

  • ursulauc62
    ursulauc62 Guest

    Posted

    I know alot of doctors will try to push their own preferred methods of treatment on patients.

    I had a Mirena coil fitted several years ago at an OBS/GYN hospital visit. I was having heavy and painful periods and the lady Dr I saw examined me and then suggested she fit it there and then. I hadnt really been told anything about it before, but she insisted it was the best option. So I had it fitted, and when I went home started getting bad stomach/abdomen cramps which continued for the next few days. I rang my own Drs surgery and said I wanted it removed, and they made a bit of a fuss about it, and rang the hospital to get authorisation from the Dr who had fitted it before they could remove it.

    I said well look youd better do it otherwise I'll just take it out myself. They didnt like the sound of that at all, so asked me to go in, and the practise nurse quite begrudgingly removed it.  After that the cramps stopped. I really dont like the idea of it. I'm sure it may suit some women.  Anyway, I'm into the menopause now, so dont have to worry about this sort of thing.....

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