A WOMAN has shared how she was left in crippling pain when her coil somehow managed to escape from her cervix and end up floating around her organs.
She had been using an IUD for 10 years when she felt shooting pains in her bowels. After back and forth with doctors she discovered that her IUD had become lodged in her bowels.
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Sharing her story, TikTok user Mahlia Mack, from Australia, explained how the pain got so bad she ended up fainting at work, developed a fever and couldn’t stop throwing up.
Her gallbladder was encrusted in calcium, and she had to have both her gallbladder & bowels removed.
Mahlia said that she had the contraceptive IUD implanted six weeks after giving birth. 10 months later, I experienced excruciating shooting pains throughout my uterus as well as my bowels.
“My GP checked my uterus for strings to remove the IUD. She couldn’t find them and sent me to an ultrasonography. The ultrasound tech could not find the IUD inside my cervix so she suggested I have an Xray.
“The X-ray showed the IUD free floating around my organs. I was sent home with painkillers and told the hospital would contact me for surgery. I was in so much pain, I kept telling doctors I was CERTAIN the IUD had moved to my bowels.”
Frustrated Mahlia claimed she was not being heard by any of the doctors and left her in pain.
She said: “No one was listening to me, I had a specialist tell me there’s NO WAY the IUD would [have] been in my bowels. She stated that there have been only three cases of the IUD reaching the bowels in all her years.
“I just wanted the pain gone and the IUD out of my body as soon as possible. I could barely stand some days. WHY IS NO ONE HELPING OR LISTENING TO ME?”
Mahlia, who was working at the time, took a turn for the worse a few weeks later.
“I felt really off the entire day. I felt faint, hot and the shooting pains were the worst they had ever been. I got to work to start my shift and nearly fainted,” She explained.
My co-worker commented that I was almost unconscious at work and suggested I go straight to the hospital. He would take me. I was hesitant about going back to the ER as they had not been able help me for four weeks.
An X-ray revealed that the IUD was not floating around my organs. I was sent home with painkillers
Mahlia Mack
“I figured they would tell me to go home and wait for surgery. My co-worker suggested trying a different hospital ER, hopeful that I would get the help I needed.”
In a follow up video, Mahlia revealed that her experience at hospital second time round was much better and doctors immediately “knew something was very wrong”.
She recalls that “my pain levels were unbearable, I was constantly throwing up and had a high fever. They performed every test and ran a CT contrast scanner.
“The doctor came in and let me know that not only was the IUD lodged in my bowels, my gallbladder had also turned porcelain, both needed to be removed urgently.”
Mahlia said: “The doctors could NOT believe the other hospital had sent me home several times with the IUD floating around in my body. I was SO THANKFUL for the doctors and nurses listening to me. I needed to stabilise before they could operate so they started IV antibiotics and planned surgery for first thing in the morning.”
When she came round from surgery a few hours later, Mahlia found out it was good news, as doctors managed to retrieve the IUD without needing to remove her bowels.
Not only was the IUD lodged in my bowels, my gallbladder had also turned porcelain, both needed to be removed urgently
Mahlia Mack
She explained: “I was in surgery for 3.5 hours and they successfully removed the IUD without needing to cut my bowels and give me a colostomy bag.
“They also removed the porcelain gallbladder. And that my friends is why I will NEVER have an IUD again.”
Mahlia’s original post has been viewed over 6.3 million times online. Thousands of people commented on her shock and shared their own experiences.
“My jaw dropped when they sent you home with pain meds and didn’t operate right away… I haven’t even finished the video yet. Hugs,” One person shared her shock.
Another said: “I’m so sorry this is absolutely terrifying you are so strong I would not have made it.”
A third shared: “My last IUD embedded into my uterine wall and that pain was BRUTAL. I can’t even imagine what you felt.”
What is an IUD and how does it work?
What is an IUD?
The IUD (Intrauterine Device) is a small, T-shaped, copper and plastic device that is inserted into the womb (uterus). It can last for between 5-10 years.
The NHS states that it can be fitted anytime during your menstrual cycle. It is 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy if properly placed.
How does an IUD function?
An IUD, also known as a coil, releases copper into the womb.
Copper changes the cervical mucus and makes it more difficult for the sperm reach the egg. This can make it less likely that the egg will survive.
Some could relate to Mahli as they shared their own horror stories, with one woman revealing: “I’m so sorry you had to deal with this. Mine moved and became so infected I was throwing up/fever and had to have an emergency removal. The worst!!!”
One more shared: “That happened to me too but they said I imagined it and put me in the mental health ward until I passed out with septicaemia and they found it floating.”
Others, however, reminded viewers that women’s experience of contraceptive methods can differ, as some revealed their IUD has worked perfectly for them since having it fitted.
“Guys don’t let this freak you out! I’ve had my IUD for 5 years and no problems,” One woman spoke up.
“I’m on my second IUS and mine’s been fine, not every IUD story is a bad one! Sorry this happened to you tho (sic),” Another woman commented.
One viewer added: “The IUD is the best thing that ever happened to me, but obviously that’s not the same for every woman.”
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