Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Considering Getting A Copper IUD

Cypressmyst

Recommended Posts

Cypressmyst Explorer
Cypressmyst
Posted

I'm considering getting a Copper IUD put in. I've heard great things about them but I'd like to hear more stories from people before making my decision. Especially people that have had horrible cramping that may have gotten better after going gluten-free. Did you have problems with cramping return or?

At the 10 month mark being gluten-free and my cramps are nonexistent. I'd like to get off my Ortho but don't want to get pregnant.

Any insight is appreciated! :)

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Emilushka Contributor
Emilushka
Posted

I had the Mirena (not the copper IUD but the one that has hormones) for a year. I got a bunch of abdominal cramping with it, but only with orgasms. My periods were nonexistent and I didn't have menstrual cramping. The orgasm-related pain, however, was the reason I had it taken out. At that time, I didn't have any problems with gluten and my Celiac symptoms had yet to begin.

One of my friends has had Celiac since we were kids and she has also had the copper IUD for years and loves it. She has no problems from it.

koolsharkz Newbie
koolsharkz
Posted

I have a copper IUD, and I love it! I've had it for 3 months, and my cramps did return again at the beginning, but they've disappeared. It's possible that it'll make your cramping worse, but a lot of people find that after the first few months it levels off to where you were at before. It affects everyone differently, so the only way to know for sure is to try it... if the cramps are awful, you can easily get it removed, which was a great reassurance for me! As someone who doesn't tolerate hormones, the copper IUD is so so so fabulous, and I highly recommend it :)

Cypressmyst Explorer
Cypressmyst
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the feedback guys. Very helpful! :)

Melstar23 Apprentice
Melstar23
Posted

I have had a copper iud for 2.5years and I love it. My period pains never changed, they have never been bad though, and they did't get heavier which is what all the doctors told me would happen. It is good to never have to remember a pill or suffer side-effects from hormones. If it doesn't work out for you, you can just have it removed.

RebeccaLynn Rookie
RebeccaLynn
Posted

I have had my copper IUD for 3 years, and I love it as well! It was a bit uncomfortable at first, but have had no problems or cramping at all since then. I got it before my Gluten Intolerance reared its ugly head, so Im not sure the difference it made, if any. I highly recommend it as it doesn't have hormones, and you don't have to think about birth control at all. Good luck!

  • 3 weeks later...
ilikepie Apprentice
ilikepie
Posted

I also had a mirena IUD and also had horrible cramping after orgasms. I also had severe cramping once when the IUD shifted inside my body randomly. I got it taken out the next day. It scared me to think that this tiny thing could puncture my internal organs or uterine wall. I will never do anything like that again. Or use synthetic hormones. It makes me sick to think that a doctor was willing to put that thing inside me.

I was told that the copper IUD can significantly increase cramping, which was why I opted for the mirena.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Hawthorn Rookie
Hawthorn
Posted

I have had both the mirena and the copper coil. I had to have the copper coil removed because I just bled constantly on it, it really didn't agree with me at all.

The nurse said that was really uncommon, although it can cause heavier periods.

I had no pain after initial cramping with both types of coil. That cramping was gone within a couple of weeks of having them fitted.

Good luck, and i hope it works for you. Take a couple of painkillers before you go to have it fitted, it helps although it's not as scary as you think it will be if that makes sense. It takes seconds :)

  • 3 weeks later...
Cypressmyst Explorer
Cypressmyst
Posted
  • Author

Thank you everyone. I have decided to risk it. I don't see any other option at this point as I don't want hormones and will not use condoms etc. I don't like the thought of it but I like it better than being pregnant at this point. ;)

My Doc (who is also gluten competent btw!) showed me the whole thing and how it is done the other day. Helped to put me at ease a bit too.

Thanks again! :D

  • 2 weeks later...
Cypressmyst Explorer
Cypressmyst
Posted
  • Author

Just had it put in yesterday. Cramping is about half as bad as my worst period cramps. It wasn't pleasant by any means but it wasn't the end of the world either. Over in 5 minutes.

I generally don't take my PAPs well and want to climb the ceiling when they are done. This is my first OB Gyn visit since going gluten free 11 months ago. My body is significantly less inflamed and on edge so that could contribute to the ease of the exam. It was a night and day difference there.

Also I took 800 mg of ibruprofen 30 minutes prior and my doc gave me a prescription for misoprostol 200 mcg. Double the normal dose (ask your doc for it if you are having a PAP and can't stand them. It made a big difference. :) ) so be sure to recommend that to your doc too.

I get better each passing hour with the cramping. I'll keep this thread updated for any who are interested as I go along.

Thanks again!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. trents
      - trents replied to heart390's topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      5

      Why now?

      Sorry for rambling on so much. It was not clear to me from you first post that, although you have known for several years that gluten had been causing you distress, that you had already eliminated it from your diet.
    2. heart390
      - heart390 replied to heart390's topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      5

      Why now?

      Because a close friend has had Celiac for years - I've eliminated gluten after the ER said all I had was a huge pocket of gas several years ago. The gluten will be my 4th autoimmune disease. Thanks so much for all your input!!!
    3. trents
      - trents replied to ainsleydale1700's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      5

      Confused about HLA-DQ Celiac gene test result

      @ainsleydale1700, the additional test information you provided is very significant! Here is the important part: "This test detects IgG antibodies to tTG (tissue transglutaminase), and was performed because your IgA level is below normal. The immune response that occurs in celiac disease often leads to IgG antibodies against tTG." It looks to me...
    4. trents
      - trents replied to heart390's topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      5

      Why now?

      Yes, other health challenges and even severe prolonged emotional distress are thought to be potential triggers for the latent celiac genes. Let me encourage you to get tested for celiac disease as soon as possible so that you can get on with eliminating gluten from your diet, which itself will involve a considerable learning curve in order to become consistent...
    5. ainsleydale1700
      - ainsleydale1700 replied to ainsleydale1700's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      5

      Confused about HLA-DQ Celiac gene test result

      Thank you! I have the classic symptoms while eating gluten-constipation, diarrhea, weight loss, loss of appetite, etc. My main problems right now are elsewhere in my body. Dental issues...my teeth started breaking. I had two teeth break in the past month. My dentist looked at my teeth with a camera and said I have no enamel left. Im really struggling...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,437
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Thomasine
    Newest Member
    Thomasine
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Why now?

      By trents · Posted

      Sorry for rambling on so much. It was not clear to me from you first post that, although you have known for several years that gluten had been causing you distress, that you had already eliminated it from your diet.
    • heart390
      Why now?

      By heart390 · Posted

      Because a close friend has had Celiac for years - I've eliminated gluten after the ER said all I had was a huge pocket of gas several years ago.  The gluten will be my 4th autoimmune disease.  Thanks so much for all your input!!!
    • trents
      Confused about HLA-DQ Celiac gene test result

      By trents · Posted

      @ainsleydale1700, the additional test information you provided is very significant! Here is the important part: "This test detects IgG antibodies to tTG (tissue transglutaminase), and was performed because your IgA level is below normal. The immune response that occurs in celiac disease often leads to IgG antibodies against tTG." It looks to me that you may be a "seronegative" celiac. The frontline diagnostic tests for celiac disease are IGA tests, especially the tTG-IGA. However, another IGA test ("total IGA") was done to check you for IGA deficiency and you were found to be deficient. That means that the usual IGA tests done to diagnose celiac disease, such as the tTG-IGA, would not be reliable. That is why the IGG testing was done "reflexively" (which means in response to the results of a previous test, i.e., the total IGA test.). The IGG tests are not quite as reliable as the IGA tests for diagnosing celiac disease, meaning, there are more "other" possible causes for elevated IGG test scores. The IGG test did give a borderline positive result, however, so the physician ordered the endoscopy with biopsy to check for damage to the small bowel lining that would be caused by untreated (continuing to consume gluten) celiac disease. The biopsy showed no damage so the doc concluded you do not have celiac disease. However, the monkey wrench in the gears of the doc's conclusion is that he gave you permission to proceed with the gluten free diet which would have allowed for healing of the small bowel lining to commence. How long were you gluten free before the biopsy was taken? And how much damage to the small bowel lining was there to begin with? If the damage was minimal, it might have been fully healed by the time the biopsy was done. And the symptoms you describe involving vitamin and mineral deficiencies, tooth enamel loss, cessation of menses, neuropathy, constipation alternating with diarrhea . . . IMO all scream of celiac disease as opposed to NCGS.
    • trents
      Why now?

      By trents · Posted

      Yes, other health challenges and even severe prolonged emotional distress are thought to be potential triggers for the latent celiac genes. Let me encourage you to get tested for celiac disease as soon as possible so that you can get on with eliminating gluten from your diet, which itself will involve a considerable learning curve in order to become consistent at it. Even pills and meds can contain gluten because wheat starch can be used as a filler. It's important to know if you have celiac disease for two reasons. First, it damages the lining of the small bowel and, over time, wears down those billions of little fingers that make up the lining and produce a huge surface area for absorbing nutrients from the food we eat. The small bowel is essentially the place where all of our nutrition is absorbed. Long term undiagnosed/ignored celiac disease therefore results in nutritional deficiencies even when we are eating well. You don't need that with the other health issues you are dealing with.  Second, many or most people find it difficult to be consistent with the gluten free diet if they don't have a formal diagnosis of celiac disease. It is just too inconvenient and limiting and they begin to rationalize that, "Well, maybe my problems are due to something else." Human nature has a remarkable capacity to rationalize. It can be argued that you can cheat a little bit on the gluten free diet with NCGS because it only creates a little discomfort and distress but not damage. That doesn't work with celiac disease. So, I feel it is important to know which you are dealing with, especially in the case where you have not yet begun the gluten free diet and you are a good candidate for beginning testing. Many people make the mistake of experimenting with the gluten free diet before they get tested for celiac disease and then they have to go back on gluten for weeks or months, the so-called "gluten challenge", in order to achieve valid test results. By the way, autoimmune diseases tend to cluster. When you get one, it is very common to develop others in time. 
    • ainsleydale1700
      Confused about HLA-DQ Celiac gene test result

      By ainsleydale1700 · Posted

      Thank you!  I have the classic symptoms while eating gluten-constipation, diarrhea, weight loss, loss of appetite, etc.  My main problems right now are elsewhere in my body.  Dental issues...my teeth started breaking.  I had two teeth break in the past month.  My dentist looked at my teeth with a camera and said I have no enamel left.  Im really struggling with neuropathy, and gynecological conditions.  My periods stopped 6 years ago and Im not in perimenopause or menopause.  When I consume gluten, my resting HR goes up about 30 points, and takes a week or so to normalize.  The list goes on, its very overwhelming Ongoing vitamin D deficiency, magnesium, iron, blood creatinine is always low, dont know if thats relevant. Below is from the Celiac panel, otherwise the results were normal.  Not crazy high, but I wasnt aware the Celiac panel was included in the bloodwork.  So I didnt prepare for it in advance, and Ive been on a gluten-free diet for the past 4 years High t-Transglutaminase (tTG) IgG: 7, Reference Interval: 0-5, Unit: U/mL This test detects IgG antibodies to tTG (tissue transglutaminase), and was performed because your IgA level is below normal. The immune response that occurs in celiac disease often leads to IgG antibodies against tTG.   I know I have a bad reaction to gluten.  But with the low likelihood of Celiac, any guidance on other paths to explore would be greatly appreciated!  Ive been trying to figure this out for years now, and more issues keep coming up.  It has been so overwhelming.  Thanks again.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.