Tantrums, Tears, & No Tiaras: My nexplanon implant saga

After I had Theo I decided it was time to go for a slightly longer term method of contraception, we are not planning anymore children at the moment and to be honest I was getting a little lax with taking my pill everyday - oopps! After having a little look around I decided the implant was for me, I knew a few people who have had them and they (on the whole) were very happy with it. So off I went and booked the insertion! I was a little nervous but I was reassured that after the local had been put in I wouldn't feel a thing. Yes that bit stung quite a bit, but it all went down hill after that! As soon as she put the implant in I was convinced something wasn't quite right. for a start the insertion hurt! And not only that but it hurt quite high up my arm, after the nurse said I needed to feel the implant to make sure I knew it was in there (as if the pain wasn't a good indicator!) Needless to say, I found it very difficult to feel - even she did. She said something about it being swollen and that after that had gone done it should be easier. She patched me up and sent me on my way. About an hour after the pain in my arm was pretty bad, I found myself taking paracetamol and ibuprofen to dull the throbbing and the bruise was quite frankly horrific straightaway. I looked like a hardcore junkie, it was awful. Thinking back alarm bells should have rung then, but the nurse had said it would bruise so I just got on with it.

Fast forward a few weeks (about 4) and the bruising was finally starting to disperse, but guess what I still couldn't feel the damn implant. Not only that but the insertion sight was very tender and I had itching around the site. So I book a telephone appointment and the nurse says to be on the safe side come in and have it checked. So off I go, the nurse who seen me was different to the one who had inserted it - she can't feel it either! She goes and gets the nurse who inserted it, she has a good prod around (which bloody hurt) and says oh yes I can feel it but its a little deep. No worries. Yep easy for her to say! I mention the tenderness and the itching and she says - its healing - don't worry! I ask if removal will be difficult owing to the deep insertion, she replies, it shouldn't but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I'm not going to lie, she didn't fill me with much confidence, I went home and did a little research and came to the conclusion it had been fitted wrongly.

It wasn't long after this I started getting a lot of random bleeding and quite frankly i'd had enough, I wanted it out. It was still slightly tender to touch and I just wanted the damn thing out! Back I go to the doctors, they try and convince me to keep the thing; I say no, they tell me to take the pill alongside the implant- um no thanks I'm not double dosing on hormones! I insist on having it removed and again I mention the deep insertion but she doesn't seem worried! I have to book another app for the removal, oh and another app to get the pill re-prescribed (by now I've had a lot of apps over this friggin thing). The day comes to have it removed - I'm bricking it, I know its in deep. Oh joy, its the insertion nurse! She pushes and prods around on my arm, she's tutting, I'm starting to feel ill from the rough palpitation on my arm, she asks who put this in. I reply - you did! Cue the nurse looking very sheepish, and finally admitting she can't take it out, it's in too deep! ARRGHHHH had I not said this several times already. Nurse tells me I have to go to a specialist clinic to have it removed and the waiting list is long. Brilliant. Just what I want to hear.

Thankfully around 3 weeks later I get a phone call and I'm offered an appointment 2 days later, I was shocked! Turns out the insertion nurse has made an urgent referral to get it removed! Off I go to this clinic and meet this rather lovely lady doctor who tells me she's an expert; exactly what I need. She feels my arm and tells me, it's in pretty deep but as she can feel one end she thinks she can get it out, if I'm happy for her to try, if not I'll be added to a list and have to have it done in hospital. I just want the thing out so I ask her to try. I won't go into the details of the removal, it wasn't painful in the slightest but it wasn't enjoyable, mainly for the poor doctor who was sweating by the time she'd yanked it from my muscle (with the help of another lovely lady doctor) after my muscle had started to grow fibres around the implant. I just about managed to get away without proper stitches and instead had several sterry strips put on and a large plaster. The doctor was very apologetic for being rough but honestly I didn't feel a thing, the local anaesthetic definitely did the job! She went on to say that if I hadn't had pushed to have it removed then in 3 years time when it was due for removal there's no way she would have got it out, I would have had to have it removed in hospital and would have been sporting a sizable scar. Turns out the nurse had inserted the implant far too high in my arm (14cms from my elbow when it should be 8-10cms) and also it had been inserted incorrectly! I now have the offending implant in a little bottle and I've brought it home to show the hubby exactly what I've been through! I honestly cannot thank the doctor enough, she was lovely as was her colleague, they put me at ease and I felt no pain, I wasn't rushed out of the door and I honestly felt they provided amazing care.

So, if you decide to have one fitted - honestly its an amazing form of contraception which unfortunately I've well and truly been put off of, don't be fobbed off if your not happy. Signs that its been fitted wrongly are; severe bruising after insertion, difficultly in palpating the implant and long-term tenderness. The doctor said its much easier to remove a badly inserted implant soon after insertion than it is years down the line when scar tissue has formed around the implant itself.

I am so glad that I pushed for the removal.

I'm only 1 day post removal but honestly it's not painful at all today, I was expecting my arm to be awful like it was when I had it put in but its not at all! I will try and remember to upload a photo after the dressing has come off and its healing