IUD Displacement & Embedded Case: Patient Experience & Concerns

Question
I had an IUD inserted in July of 2005 at my 6wk postpartum visit.  I've not had periods while using the iud and no problems.  I went for my annual exam 2 weeks ago and learned the iud was misplaced.  They did an ultrsound to find the device and were shocked to learn that not only was it embedded but actually uder a layer of skin.  The Dr. tried to remove it in her office and said she could feel it and was scraping the the skin and that it felt like a speed bump, but it never moved.  I'm scheduled for outpatient surgery next week and I'm more than a little nervous.  The Dr. was very frank with me, she said she's never heard of this happenning before.  She knows I would like to have more children and is concerned there will be too much damage done to my uterus upon removal.  She said I could opt to leave the iud in and try to get pregnant.  I'm still not having periods though, so I'm not sure how that could happen or what damage it might do to leave the IUD in.  I was hoping to try for more kids in 2-3 years.  I'm scheduled for a hysterscopy (sp) and she requested one othe device.  She said this might be more exploratory just to learn more about what is going on.  Have you ever heard of this happening?  And when she says it is under skin, does she mean the actual uterine wall or just the lining?  
Sorry to ask so much, I really am nervous.
Thank You So Much,
Heather

Answer
If your doctor could feel the IUD inside the uterus I think she will be able to remove it at hysteroscopy.  When she says it's "under the skin", I assume that means it's under the outer lining of the uterus, in other words in the uterine wall.  If it's not possible to remove it at hysteroscopy she may plan to do a laparoscopy, which means to place a scope under your umbilicus to look in, then place a grasper through a small incision to grab the IUD.  Usually after surgery like this the uterus will heal well and there will be no damage.  I think your doctor is warning you because sometimes it will be more difficult to remove it and one never knows until doing the surgery.  As long as your doctor is a skilled surgeon at hysteroscopy and laparoscopy this will probably turn out to go very well, and you'll be back to normal in a few days.  Good luck.