Implanon removal/insertion.

The Implanon is a rod which acts as a contraceptive device. Much like the Pill except you don't have to try and remember the last time you took the pill, it just exists. Check this site for more information on it.

I had my first one put in just over 2 years ago. When I had it done then, it was just after I had a laparoscopy done due to the pill unable to regulate my period or psychotic mood swings any more. I went on the pill at 15 not for a contraceptive purpose, but to help me have regular periods (3 week long periods, excessive blood loss to the point of being anaemic, passing out at school and having to take extended time off due to it causing me to have gastro/vomiting. All the females in my family have problems but we all vary). The pill was fantastic to me, and has helped other family members quite a bit. But at 20 I was changing my pill prescription every 3 months (or less) because it was not making any difference and my increasingly worse periods. I was suggested to a gynaecologist for further testing and that the Implanon is probably the best choice for me.

First insertion was relatively easy. After going to the chemist with my perscription to pick up the implanon, I get given this box which is as large as my forearm. Instant thought of "Jesus! this thing is a monster!". I show up to my gynaecologist and explains that it isn't more than 4cm long, it is inside the needle inside the box. My gyno injected me with a local anaesthetic into the area of insertion (my upper left forearm) then inserted the implanon which I did not even feel. Done in less than 10 minutes and only a few tears from the local needle (I get teary around needles due to a horrible hospital experience), but that is just me.

Implanon box, the needle and the Implanon.

No issues at all, totally fine until about 6 months in when my boyfriend in the middle of the night grabs my arm with a vice death grip during a nightmare and the intense pain causes me to kick him awake. I couldn't even touch my arm without being in serious pain. Go back to the doctor and apparently what he had done is just ripped my scar tissue so now my implanon will move around a little bit more than other peoples. It isn't damaged at all so don't worry about it. After that no issues again, I can just move mine up and down my upper arm much more than my friend can. 

So after a lengthy discussion, my boyfriend and I decided that we are going to move to NYC for his work and that I should start looking for jobs. Considering my Implanon will have to get replaced next year and who knows if I will be back in the country during that time I might as well get it changed over now. Not to mention the last period I had was short but horrible. Was dry retching, curled up in a ball in pain and pale. Nothing that I couldn't deal with, but if it was going to happen while I was living and working on a boat with no way to sit down and cry, well, let's just sort it out now.

Yesterday I had it changed over. The anxiety of it all starts happening, my friend had hers done a year before me and also had hers changed over 6 months early, so I had her comments of "it hurts more than the original insertion. Mine was pretty stuck though, because yours moves a fair bit maybe it won't hurt as much".

I lay down and the local is put in, doctor says "This is the worst part, you'll only feel pressure but no pain". Me choking back tears "Yeah, I know, I just hate needles". 

IT WAS NOT THE ONLY PAIN I FELT YOU DIRTY HORRIBLE FIBBER 

I got it originally done by my gynaecologist, who was fantastic and don't get me wrong, my doctor is pretty good too and is trained in removal/insertions of the implanon. But I seriously did not get enough local. I felt her cut me open with the scalpel, not a weird pressure feeling but I FELT THE BLADE CUTTING MY SKIN OPEN! She was in shock when I yelped and said that I felt her stab me, thinking that I had it long enough to work but I believed I didn't get enough because I didn't get a weird taste in my mouth like I usually do when I get local. I am anaphylactic to morphine and penicillin, and very sensitive to locals so I don't know if anyone else gets the weird taste I do. Anyway, every now and then I could feel pain, but the majority of the time it was just pressure on my skin. It took her a bit to get it out but that was it was moving around a fair bit. After it was out, the new one was put it. Which I felt. It's done now and it looks like this.

The red line is currently where it is sitting, the bruising is totally normal and so is a bit of swelling. There is a white scarred dot in between my two freckles which is where the first Implanon was insterted and as you can see mine moved up a fair bit. I had to get a few stitches because the hole in my arm was larger than she expected to make. You don't normally have to get stitches but hey, I do nothing by halves. 

This is the photo after I took off the band-aid to air out the site. My arm is still very tender and probably will be for the next few days. 

UPDATE 19th Nov 2014 (original post on 21st March 2013)

I have included a photo below of how it looks now after the implant. The removed one is definitely more obvious than the original but its on my arm and no one can ever see it nor do they mention it. I thought I should include an update as this post seems to be visited often. Hope this helps you in making your decision! I don't regret it. 

Between the freckles is my first one, the second one is in line with the bottom freckle.