UPDATE AT BOTTOM: removing IUD myself?? no flames please

sugarplum22 · October 2010

I would really like to have my IUD removed like now!! But unfortunately, with Tricare, there is a drawn out referral process...and I will prob have to still pay quite a bit of $$...I just don't want to deal with it

So, my DH is an ER resident and he says we can just do it ourselves. He's never actually removed one before but has seen it done. I'm not really comfortable with the idea of him doing it, for some strange reason.He is obviously more skilled than I am. Would you let him just do it?

Have any of you taken it our yourself or know about someone doing this? any suggestion??

Thanks in advance! Jenny

mandyclaire579 · October 2010

Um....hell no. I get that your DH has seen it done, but that's not enough for me. I don't know, that rubs me the wrong way. I would think that if a person isn't trained in insertion/removal, you could really end up doing some damage. Just my opinion.

meldoo2002 · October 2010

Do you want it removed so you can have more children? Honestly no I would never let DH do it.... well maybe I would, but only in an office somewhere that if something were to go very wrong I could get the care I needed. I'd be too nervous to end up infertile because of something he did wrong. Would you ever get over that guilt? It's not like removing a splinter... its in your uterus. Nope wouldn't do it.

PrincessFiona9 · October 2010

A girl I work with was just telling me the other day that her friend ended up in the ER because she tried to pull out her IUD. I wouldn't recommend doing it.

Temp159135562506975 · October 2010

i have seen endoscopies done - but i'd never perform one. I'm guessing your DH has seen surgery, too - would you let him cut you open at home?

taking a risk that something would go bad? not worth it. Pay the money - do it the right way - in a doc office with someone who truly knows what they are doing.

liongish119 · October 2010

Since DH hasn't done it heck no. However, does DH know someone who HAS done it, like a doctor friend? As he's an ER resident, I would trust DH to ensure the sterility and safey of the home environment.

Amber5103 · October 2010

I would never let him do it, even if he was a resident! Is there are reason your doctor on base can't do it?

jamie.renee · October 2010

Um, hell no. We have Tricare as well and it cost me not a single cent to get mine removed (we have Prime). The referral process was a piece of cake, I went in to my PCM and told them what I wanted and since they couldn't do it they got me to someone that could. A few days later it was out. Don't risk your health.

mom2be:)2008 · October 2010

NO WAY!!!!

I don't care if my DH was a resident. First of all, he's still very much in the learning process...there's a reason they make dr's train first! Secondly, so what if he's seen one removed, I'm sure he's seen alot of things, it doesn't make him qualified to do it!

Wait out the refferal and cough up the money, unless you want to risk never having children again.

lisa&andy · October 2010

Uh if you have to get a referal then you are on Prime and it won't cost you a cent, once the referal is in the system (2-5 days) you can call and make an appointment with your doctor, you don't need to wait for that piece of paper. As for costly, if you are on standard, I was under the impression that all its going to go is cost you a copay.

Having said that, no way in hell would I let my my DH take my IUD out.

MaliaMouse · October 2010

Oh my god my legs are crossed as I read this, I actually think I can hear my uterus and my IUD crying in pain at the idea of it.

Sage Mommy · October 2010

there is a drawn out referral process...and I will prob have to still pay quite a bit of $$...I just don't want to deal with it

Probably something you should have thought of beforehand. How long can it really take? You're making it sound like it's going to take 6 months and I'm gathering from the other posters that it isn't what your making it out to be.

I'm really hoping you aren't going to do this. Well, make sure to let us know how it goes,

JENandJEH · October 2010

I also have Tricare (Prime) but I got my referral by calling my PCM's referral nurse, explaining what I needed and asking if I needed to be seen. She said since they do not perform IUD removals they would process the referral without me needing to be seen by the PCM. Within 3 days, I had the referral in hand and got an appointment the next week to have it removed. It cost me nothing. If you don't know, check and see if your PCM has a referral nurse that can take care of it for you.

Referrals really aren't that big of a deal and if your PCM is making them that difficult, you need to switch PCMs. I most definitely wouldn't let my husband remove my IUD. Too many things could go wrong and I would absolutely HATE for something to happen that my husband could never forgive himself for.

BubblyToes · October 2010

What's your husband's name? Because I never, ever, ever, ever want him to be my doctor.

dmogmo · October 2010

BubblyToes:
What's your husband's name? Because I never, ever, ever, ever want him to be my doctor.

This. And it will probably cost you way more money when your DH effs it up. Just a thought.

Emilia0101 · October 2010

We have Tricare it is easy to go off base and not have to pay a cent. They will either refer you to women's care on base or refer you off base. The turn around time is usually a few weeks tops. I would be devistated if I tried to remove it myself then had some major complications then was never able to have children again.

AfterAll · October 2010

BubblyToes:
What's your husband's name? Because I never, ever, ever, ever want him to be my doctor.

This made both DH and I LOL.

DEBBIE33CASEY · October 2010

No flames here-

but no way- especially if he's never done it. Even if he'd done it a 1,000 times at work I would hate for him to pull mine out and perf my ute. There is a reason you can't buy IUD's at the grocery store and insert them yourself. I would just wait- it can't be that long- and the $ is just what we deal with as people. I would not risk my help. Get on the list to see your doc!

Temp159135562506975 · October 2010

and just an FYI for anyone - you really shouldn't get an IUD if you want more children... they can cause problems and are best for women who are done having children.

sugarplum22 · October 2010

First of all I want to say that I don't appreciate the bashing of my DH. He is THE smartest person I know. I should not have used the term resident because he is only 6 months away from graduation. And he placed in the top 5th percentile on the NATIONAL BOARDS!! He is not just some dumb student doctor!

I just posted this to get opinions, obviously I'm wondering about it myself. But I have done quite a bit of research. There is all kinds of information on the web about removing them yourself. There is even a video on how to remove them. (p.s. they are not hard, they are rubbery and would only hurt you if they have become embedded, which obviously would cause pain) And my DH has spoken with a friend who says it would be no problem doing it myself.

And on the referral note. I'm having trouble because my PCM just left our clinic so I'm having to find another one. The one I found is waiting on my paperwork and then has to see me before making a referral and she's booked through nov 20. Then I will have to wait some more on the referral appointment. I'm upset about this because I already had an appointment with my previous PCM to have this removed and we were going to start TTC in a few months now will probably have to wait until next year.

Thanks for those of you who gave sincere advice.

KarBear · October 2010

No way would I do this. Also, if you're that worried about the referral process, waiting times, and money, I don't really think TTC is the best idea.

KariChadDora · October 2010

My husband is an attending level (i.e. FINISHED with residency) surgeon, a urologist to be specific. He has performed countless pelvic exams on women and I would never, never, NEVER allow him to do a medical procedure on me unless my life depended on it and there was no other help available. And likewise he would NEVER treat a family member unless it was an absolute medical emergency. To treat your own family member is absolutely negligent.

mfransdell · October 2010

sugarplum22:

First of all I want to say that I don't appreciate the bashing of my DH. He is THE smartest person I know. I should not have used the term resident because he is only 6 months away from graduation. And he placed in the top 5th percentile on the NATIONAL BOARDS!! He is not just some dumb student doctor!

I just posted this to get opinions, obviously I'm wondering about it myself. But I have done quite a bit of research. There is all kinds of information on the web about removing them yourself. There is even a video on how to remove them. (p.s. they are not hard, they are rubbery and would only hurt you if they have become embedded, which obviously would cause pain) And my DH has spoken with a friend who says it would be no problem doing it myself.

And on the referral note. I'm having trouble because my PCM just left our clinic so I'm having to find another one. The one I found is waiting on my paperwork and then has to see me before making a referral and she's booked through nov 20. Then I will have to wait some more on the referral appointment. I'm upset about this because I already had an appointment with my previous PCM to have this removed and we were going to start TTC in a few months now will probably have to wait until next year.

Thanks for those of you who gave sincere advice.

Then remove it yourself, whatever. Please update though. Im dying to know how your home IUD removal goes.

sugarplum22 · October 2010

Again, I just posted this to see everyone's opinion on it and see if anyone had done it before. I'm kinda a big chicken and honestly I haven't even felt the strings before. I'm thinking they must be a too high up in there or something...

And for those who said we shouldn't TTC, I'm not all that concerned about the money. I just am not very patient and I'm ready to start now I don't like waiting. I am also dreading having to potentially have 2 exams because of switching to new PCM and then having referral.

Sorry this caused such a stir, that was really not my intention.

BubblyToes · October 2010

Your follow ups make you sound like even more of an idiot.

I watched a video of brain surgery once. I feel pretty confident that I can do it myself.

PS Test scores mean nothing once you're actually practicing. HTH

JENandJEH · October 2010

sugarplum22:

Again, I just posted this to see everyone's opinion on it and see if anyone had done it before. I'm kinda a big chicken and honestly I haven't even felt the strings before. I'm thinking they must be a too high up in there or something...

And for those who said we shouldn't TTC, I'm not all that concerned about the money. I just am not very patient and I'm ready to start now I don't like waiting. I am also dreading having to potentially have 2 exams because of switching to new PCM and then having referral.

Sorry this caused such a stir, that was really not my intention.

In my experience with referrals for OB/GYN issues, your PCM will not do an exam other than maybe taking your blood pressure and listening to your heart/lungs. I know referrals are a pain in the butt, but honestly, usually all I have to do is go to the appointment, sit in a chair in an exam room and tell the doctor why I want the referral and then I'm out of there. No exam, not poking or prodding. Also, if you do get pregnant, you'll have to go through the referral process to get in with an OB/GYN for prenatal care so why not just go ahead and get your inital appointment over with so that if there is a referral nurse at your new PCM, you may be able to bypass an appointment and just speak with the nurse after a BFP.

I know Tricare can be frustrating but honestly, it really isn't that big of a deal and usually isn't that much of a wait. Ask your new PCM if they can put you on a cancellation list and get you in any earlier than their first available appointment. Or, switch to Tricare Standard where you won't have to worry about referrals but will have copays.

sugarplum22 · October 2010

Well, we did it and it was soooo easy!! DH literally just reached up in there, grabbed the strings, and pulled it out! It was totally like pulling out a tampon, absolutely nothing to it. No pain at all!! I was terrified and he kept reassuring me that it was simple. It was over before I even knew he was pulling.

Now I don't know if I would recommend taking it our yourself (i know i'm such a hypocrite) but since DH is a doc and has experience, I'm glad we did it this way!

mavilabride4evah · October 2010

I am cracking up over every single post saying no don't do it and you went and did it anyway. LOL!

fairychick77 · October 2010

kit443 · October 2010

Glad it went well? LOL I don't know what to say. When I had mine removed it struck me how easy the whole process was. Probably would still have chosen a professional but whatever.

kiwi443 · October 2010

Well, I'm glad you emerged unscathed.

jenerally? · October 2010

Goldie_Locks_5:
and just an FYI for anyone - you really shouldn't get an IUD if you want more children... they can cause problems and are best for women who are done having children.

you are so incredibly misinformed, as usual.

To the OP: an IUD is not a splinter. I hope you don't develop an infection and ruin all your chances for further conception.

kbs0929 · October 2010

Goldie_Locks_5:
and just an FYI for anyone - you really shouldn't get an IUD if you want more children... they can cause problems and are best for women who are done having children.

kbs0929 · October 2010

sugarplum22:

Well, we did it and it was soooo easy!! DH literally just reached up in there, grabbed the strings, and pulled it out! It was totally like pulling out a tampon, absolutely nothing to it. No pain at all!! I was terrified and he kept reassuring me that it was simple. It was over before I even knew he was pulling.

Now I don't know if I would recommend taking it our yourself (i know i'm such a hypocrite) but since DH is a doc and has experience, I'm glad we did it this way!

seriously? this is probably one of the most idiotic things I've ever read on tb.