Pain with IUD removal (no strings!)?

I have had a standard copper T iud for 2 1/2 years. I have been considering having it taken out for a while and a few months ago my PCP was going to take it out for me, but the strings were almost completely gone (there is a small fragment of one, but not enough to grip and pull it out). She referred me to a gynecologist for an IUD removal, but I never went to have it done. Fast forwarding to this past weekend, I went to an urgent care for vaginal drainage, thinking I had a case of bacterial vaginosis. Well, the doctor there looked inside of me and saw not only vaginal drainage but pus coming out of my cervix (YUK!). She put me on 2 different antibiotics, but said if the cultures she took come back positive, chances are the IUD will have to come out. Well, I have an appt on next Monday for IUD removal, but I'm afraid it will be really painful in part because I haven't had children before. I know how they remove it without the strings, but it sounds really unpleasant.