Expert: Glenn A. Dorfman - 10/15/2009

Question
No, Sir, you have not because I have never asked a question on this site before. Now would you please answer my question? Or would SOMEONE answer MY question?

Glen wrote:
"I have already answered this question for you once before."

Your Question was:

First, thank you for even being here to help us all.

As I sit here now my family and my Doctors are making plans to have my IUD removed laparascopically.(sp?) I did have PID apparently when the darn thing was inserted (11/19/08)and it was ignored/neglected by the OB that inserted it. When he put it in he never checked to see if the strings were present. There was "resistance" as he said during insertion (I now believe that was the perforation I was feeling). He did not ask me if I could feel the strings. He did not use an ultrasound to view insertion. He did not ask me to schedule a follow up appointment to make sure it was still in place. Ever. He said I'd never have to come back.
When I did go back to him, months later, (8/13/09) still having pain, more severely, with several symptoms of PID (unknowingly) he tried to remove it to no avail then said it had probably fallen out. He got his technician to do an ultrasound and she could not see it so he said that confirmed it had fallen out. I described more in depth my pains (especially during intercourse) and he said he did not know why I was hurting, the Mirena had simply fallen out. He suggested I take Ibuprophen or Naproxen for the cramping and said "time will heal".

Now, 3 second opinions, 3 ultrasounds (2 vaginal, 1 pelvic), 3 X rays, 1 hysteroscopy, a severe case of PID, and several bottles of medication (pain and antibiotics) later, the IUD is lost inside my body, above the uterus (as far as we can tell) and we're trying to schedule surgery at a hospital without having insurance.

What should I do?


Thank you for your time.

~A. Brown~

Answer
I had thought that you wrote directly to my email and not thru AllExperts and I thought I responded directly. Anyhow, here it is again.  The PID could not have been caused by the insertion process unless it only developed later. PID infections take a while to develope into something clinical and something that can be diagnosed.  As for the perforation of the uterus, this apparently is a common complication, based on the number of such questions I have received on the subject. It does not necessarily have anything to do with negligent insertion. The IUD can be placed properly but when you cramp, exercise etc. the uterus moves and can squeeze the IUD around and even out! Even if the doctor was negligent in some way and it could be shown by testimony of other doctors that this caused your problems, including a surgery, it is not a viable case. Unless you have permanent and serious damages and the case is worth intothe 6 figures, it is not economically possible for a lawyer to take the case. Cruel but a fact of life in the legal system.  I think the Mirena should be taken off the market as it is obviously causing lots of problems for women but to my knowledge, no one is suing the company. You just have to get the damn thing removed and stay away from IUDs in the future. Sorry, that is the best I have to offer.