Copper Coil

Yesterday, was another day of firsts. I ran my first ever Park Run and experienced my first ever coil removal sans anaesthetic - go me! The Park Run was a success, as in I completed the 3 mile course in less than half an hour, but unfortunately I was in pain the whole way round and suffered cramping for some time afterwards. Nevertheless, I felt a sense of achievement and the endorphins put me in a good mood for the day ahead, despite being overtaken by a man pushing a buggy (maybe more than one).

Later that day I had my final appointment with Mr Kalu before he was going to refer us for fertility treatment. We talked about our options and how he thinks referring us straight for IVF is our best chance given my age and the severity of the endometriosis. He said he would refer us as soon as I've had another hysteroscopy to have one final look inside my uterus to check for adhesions and a final clearing of any cobwebs. There is currently a three month waiting list at Kingston Hospital for IVF so all being well, I'll be able to start treatment at the end of the summer. Whilst, I'm not relishing the prospect of having yet another procedure, I'm looking forward to getting our fertility journey underway. After a few months of setbacks, things seem to be finally heading in the right direction.

Mr Kalu then informed me he was going to remove the dreaded coil. Gulp. Although this was my second IUD, I'd never been awake for insertion or extraction before so as I lay on the bed with my legs akimbo, I was a little tense to say the least. I could feel it scraping every millimetre of my cervix as he was pulling the wretched thing out, I can now see why women only have them every 5 years!

After a few minutes of chat while I was fumbling around for my underwear, which were of course tucked neatly under my leggings on the chair (I have no problem with a doctor studying my floodlit private parts but there's no way he's going to see my knickers), I asked to see the coil that he'd just removed. This is what he removed from the waste bin...

I'll just leave that there with you.

Tough Mudder Legionnaire

Two days ago I completed my second Tough Mudder© event. This was an achievement in itself (or maybe an act of sheer madness) but even more so with the uninvited guest that rudely showed up that morning. I'd woken up feeling nervous and excited but those feelings were soon replaced with horror - my good friend Flo was 8 days late and she had chosen THAT day of all days to make an appearance. F**k.

The inevitable bloating and cramps soon followed so I dosed up on analgesics alongside my protein packed breakfast and hoped for the best.

I managed to control the pain fairly well during the event, there were only three of us so we flew round the 10 mile course in under 2½ hours. There are certain times where being vertically challenged has it's advantages and doing any kind of team assault course is definitely one of them. I watched 15+ stone men trying to squeeze through small tunnels whilst I sailed though, I was never short of volunteers for a leg-up over the 10ft walls either!

Later that evening, I was curled up in agony wondering what on earth I must have done in a previous life to deserve this torture.