A Few New Things

This week was a week for "new." New counselor, new birth control, and a new experience battling my acrylic nails.

First off-new counselor. I started to get anxious the night before my appointment. Tightness in my chest, clenching my jaw, and a slight headache. No matter how many times I meet a new counselor, I always get anxious. I hate to hear about depression being something you live with-not cure, and how I lost the genetic lottery. I also anticipate terrible, degrading comments or mocking questions-but in reality, I've never had someone treat me that way. Just my mind playing games.

This counselor works out of a church with Samaritan Counseling Centers-FLAG UP. I'm not religious and I hate awkward conversations where I'm made to be a heathen damned to hell because of my beliefs. Luckliy, I didn't run into this problem. SCC is affiliated with some churches, but they offer secular and non-secular counseling, and they are more affordable and flexible than regular counseling groups.

Even better-my counselor was cool and funny. He's a fellow English major turned shrink and he helped cheer me up but also get me focused on some of my hurdles in just the first session. He gave me the option to speak with him again and didn't make me feel like I was embarking on some lengthy counseling commitment. I'm very happy with the match and glad I didn't chicken out (I was screening his calls and avoiding making an appointment, but the fiance helped nudge me toward getting in-and I'm glad I did).

I have another appointment next week and I'm also looking into switching my medication as well. Although changing medication is an even more costly endeavor since first appointments at nearly any clinic run upwards of $200. Great.

Second new experience, changing from oral contraceptives to an intrauterine contraceptive (boys-avert your eyes if necessary!). I've had a few girlfriends interested in IUCs and we've all heard mostly terrible things about them-so I'm going to launch some information into the interbutts and hope to help a few people.

First off, an IUC is a little device inserted into the uterus through the cervix that helps regulate periods (if you get the medicated kind like I did) and also prevents pregnancy with the good ole 99.2-99.9% efficacy. Mine is called Mirena and looks like this:

This model is laced with hormones to help regulate periods and can sometimes halt bleeding altogether. It can be kept in the uterus for 5-7 years or taken out whenever you like. 

The other model is called ParaGard and is laced with copper (sperm poison) and can be kept in place for up to 12 years. This model does not have hormones and might be preferable to girls with sensitivities. It looks like this:

Those little strings on each device hang down through the cervix and into the vaginal cavity. They're similar to fishing line and help docs get the devices out and help you keep track that the device is still in place. 

Like any other BC the IUCs come with risks, I find them comparable to OCPs with the exception of additional risks during insertion. Check out WebMD for some info or hit up your local Planned Parenthood (shout out to Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood-they have awesome staff who are fun and informative!). 

Anywho-now for the real life experience stuff. May be a bit graphic-just sayin! After my first appointment to update my BC I mentioned I was interested in an IUC and they gave me a run down of benefits, risks, and the procedure. Still interested, I scheduled my insertion appointment for a couple weeks later. The fiance came along for my insertion and I think he was more nervous than I was and had a harder time during the procedure-not to say that I wasn't uncomfortable!

So ladies, if you've had a pelvic and you've had crampy periods-you'll have a good idea of what goes on. As a lady who doesn't have bad cramps, I found myself ill-prepared for the cramping during insertion, but all in all it wasn't too bad. 

First off the nurse checks to make sure you have a uterus and it's in the right spot. Then she opens you up with the speculum thing and cleans up your cervix with a few good swaps of iodine and some other stuff. Next is when it gets uncomfortable-the nurse has to pinch your cervix to create an opening to measure the uterus and insert the device. The pinch is uncomfortable but not unbearable-just like an intense cramp. The measuring got me a little nauseated and gave me a little heat flash and a little woozy. Concentrate on your breathing and it only takes a couple seconds. 

Good news! I have an average utereus! Just over 7cm :o)

After the measuring, prepare for the insertion. The nurse uses a special device that fits through your cervix and into the uterus, pushes out the IUC and then retracts. This can be pretty intense cramping, but between squeezing the fiance's hand, a soothing nurse at my side, and breathing steady it wasn't too bad and was over relatively quick. There were a couple of surprise "pops" when the device pushed the IUC out and retracted shut, but they didn't hurt. 

The nurse trims your strings, cleans ya up, and takes out the speculum and you're all set. They offered to let me lie down for a while, but I was fine right after the procedure, sat up, and we left within a few minutes to go get some Boomer's (drive-in burgers). 

I experienced cramping for the rest of the day and evening, but the next morning was back to normal. If you have bad cramps during you period anyways, it probably wouldn't bother you too much-I'm just a wee sissy in that regard because I don't have to deal with cramps on a regular basis! As for life with an IUC-I'll have to update ya'll on any changes. So far-I'm pleased with the choice. No more pill popping every night and my BC is taken care of for the next five years or so. SWEETNESS!

Lastly, I tried to remove my acrylic nails at home. I was warned not to do it and while I didn't try to rip them off I did inadvertently dye my fingertips blue. The internet said "soak in nail polish remover for 15-20 minutes then peel off" etc etc. No big deal-or so I thought. The special shellac top coat didn't budge and my fingers turned blue from my nail polish remover. Brilliant. In the end I gave up on the experiment and just trimmed the tips down and filed them smooth. 

Maybe I'll go to a nail salon and get them removed, or I'll keep my ugly nails to myself and wait for them to grow out. I look a little mutated from my removal effort. Oops.

As for the cats: Iroh and Millie got their nails trimmed today and are enjoying a midday nap at the moment. All is well on the home front, although our scratching post is in dire need of repairs!