The Pill

Dinah93

lkmc01 wrote: »

Is the implant painfull to put in? Can it be felt all the time its left in? Can it be seen when you wear sleaveless tops? Does it cost? How quickly does the procedure last?

thanks

It's an odd sensation but I wouldn't say it hurt at all, more like a slight pulling at your skin. You can't see it but if you press down on your arm you can just feel it (helps them take it out again!). It's free, like all nhs contraception, the procedure takes around 20mins then thats it, nothing else to think about for 3 years.

lkmc01

i might see if I'm suited for the implant. would this be done at the family planning clinic? Is there nurses there trained to do this? Or would I have to make a doctors appointment

scotsgirl_3

I think if it is anything more than pill/diaphragm etc they will probably need a repeat appointment - although I'm not sure about the injection, as I don't think that takes very long to do. Implant or coil would probably be a repeat appointment but at mine you rarely have to wait very long for an appointment. If its a pill you may well find they have them in stock at the clinic, mine certainly do.

Margaretclare, I'm really sorry to hear about your daughter.

trina2010

to get the implant, i was at the family planning clinic a few months back and there was a girl getting one put in while I was there so im sure they can do it there.
the matter is more the first time you go they will talk through the options with you. they usually then will give you time to decide which method you would prefer and talk through all the info about how you came to the decision etc. go through the risks and make sure everything is 100%.

I would recommend that you go along on friday with an open mind and talk through all the options with the people there, certainly in my experience they have been doctors and nurses and will give you the best advice they possibly can.

go with an attitude of 'i would like this...do you think its best' rather than, 'i want this, fit it now please'.

best of luck!
xx

oystercatcher

I think if they can they do implants or coils there and then, as there is always the chance that people will become pregnant in the few days between appointments! The whole point of these clinics is to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
OP if you say you are 'uncertain' when you arrive then they can discuss options and then find the one which is right for you.
Reliable contraception is the priority as becoming pregnant with high blood pressure increases the risks of complications.
Once the contraception is sorted then you can work on the healthy living etc...... not easy I know. Make sure you get your blood pressure checked regularly. It's likely it will creep up as you get older.

margaretclare

Dinah93 wrote: »

I'm really sorry to hear about your daughter Margaretclare, its awful to think things like that can still happen. Unfortunately it's one of those illnesses that because you can't see or feel it it's very easy to convince yourself it doesn't do anything. However I was diagnosed at 14, went onto medication at my doctors advice at 18. I have 24 hour monitoring once a year, twice yearly hospital checkups, quarterly checkups with my GP. I take my tablets every day, I'm about 9 1/2 stone and I go to the gym twice a week which I joined on diagnosis to try to get the bp down a bit lower than the medication seems to manage. Unfortunately after a lot of investigations they can't find a reason beyond genetics (mum and gran were both diagnosed in their early twenties) so all I can do is keep taking the tablets.

Thanks for the kind words. There is effective treatment - a stent put into the narrowed part of the artery - but it does depend on being diagnosed in time. A friend of mine has a little grandson with the same condition and his was diagnosed within days of his birth. Liz had served in the Royal Naval Reserve, had done all kinds of things, Duke of Edinburgh's award, things which involved being very active, and it was never discovered until too late.

Yours is what's called 'essential hypertension' and at least you've had it fully-investigated. At 9 1/2 stone you're not too bad, but in the case of the OP who said she'd been 16 stone when she had the Pill stopped and wanted to go back on it at 20 stone....I was a bit gobsmacked at that.

UKTigerlily

BallandChain wrote: »

I know the depo provera contraceptive isn't for everyone but I have been on it about 6 years. Had irregular bleeding for a couple of years but now only get occasional spotting. I am 42 so had a bone density scan too which came out fine. I'm hoping to stay on the depo for quite some time and the nurse said so long as the next bone density scan comes back ok (think they do it again in 5 years) then I can stay on it. I'm hoping that by the time menopause comes round I won't notice it, lol. It's the best thing I have ever used as pills, coils make me bleed irregularly and heavily.

Tigerlily, can I ask how old you are and how long they said you can be on depo for?

OP, please make an appointment with your Family Planning Clinic. They really do know their stuff.

I'm 30 & will be on it for life or until I have a Hysterectomy as it's not for contraception purposes, I can't have kids anyway. Seeing as I don't want to be on it until i'm 55, i'm hoping for a Hysterectomy next year!

UKTigerlily

9 1/2 stone is skinny for some! No way is it overweight for most people!

lkmc01

of course I don't know what my blood pressure is now, I havn't had it checked since I was pregant 4 years ago. it could be fine. i feel fine

margaretclare

lkmc01 wrote: »

of course I don't know what my blood pressure is now, I havn't had it checked since I was pregnant 4 years ago. it could be fine. i feel fine

You should have it checked at least every year. Don't you have a cervical smear and get it checked then?

Please do me a favour - go and get it checked. Go to a Well Woman Clinic or similar.