This is my horror story as well. I pray daily that this product and procedure will be eliminated. I gave birth in Feb. of 2011 at the age of 31, to a healthy boy and had signed all of the proper paperwork to have a tubal ligation done at the time. My husband and I had done the research and agreed that this would be a good option and convient for us especially since our son was born via c-section. Our son was delivered without incident and as soon as he was my doctor said, ‘Sorry but I can’t do the tubal ligation.’ When we asked the reason she just said that there was a large amount of scar tissue and that it would take too long to find the tubes. It’s so hard to believe that even when in the OPERATING ROOM, her time was more important than her patient. With that, I was sewn up and sent to recovery. At my next appointment 2 weeks later, she suggested the Essure procedure. My husband and I were both told that this was an excellent alternative. We were NEVER informed of ANY risks, and yes we did ask. In fact we were told that it was even easier than the T.L. The only warning that we did recieve from my doctor was that our insurance was ending so we needed to make a quick decision.
Unfortunately we made the wrong decision. I had the procedure done in April of 2011. Because I was a little nervous before being put under and expressed this she said, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll be up and running around doing normal things this evening.’ In recovery I complained of pain. The procedure was done on a Thursday. I called my doctors office on Friday with complaints and was told to just take it easy and rest, that i must just have a low tolerance for pain. By Saturday I was cramping so badly that the pain was radiating around to my back and down my thighs. I called the doctor again and was told my only option was to go to the ER. We did and a CT was run, pain pills were prescribed and we were sent home. I did go to a follow up appointment on Monday after the ER visit. My doctor suggested that I give it some time and that I would be fine. I did this for a while but I continued to get new and odd symptoms. Continued cramping (extreme), headaches, nausea, vomiting and so many other things. I was so miserable that my life literally came to a stand still. Before this procedure I was a very active mother of 5 children between the ages of 14 down to the newborn. My kids hated how ill I had become as we were such an active family. My oldest son and husband had to do so much more to help since I was bedridden.
After weeks of trying to wait it out I went back to the doctor. Her advice then was that I needed to stop breastfeeding. I had breastfed all of my children with no trouble at all, nor was it a problem with the new baby before the procedure. This was also not an option for me. Again I went home defeated. At another appointment when I again begged her to remove the coils she informed me that it was all ‘ in my head’ but that she would do it if thats what I really wanted. By this point my insurance was gone but my husband and I were willing to pay for them to be removed so that we could have normalcy back in our lives. At this time we were also informed that the only way to remove them was a Total Abbdominal Hysterectomy. Again that was also a price we were willing to pay even though it was the saddest thing to have to decide.
When I woke from what was supposed to have been a TAH, I was informed that she did not do that procedure but that she had just cleaned up some scar tissue. She had decided that the pain I was going through was due to my uterus being twisted and scar tissue. I understand that at the time I couldn’t be consulted but she didn’t even bother to step out of the room to consult my husband either. My husband and I left the hospital hoping that she had done the right thing. After healing from the surgery absolutely nothing changed except our bills since we had to pay ourselves.I waited as long as I could because financially these medical bills were swallowing us up. Again with the doctors appointments and being made to feel like I had psycological problems instead of physical problems. I was so depressed about my condition that I was miserable physically and mentally. In Feb. of 2012 I again paid for a TAH. This time the hysterectomy was completed. I healed up from that surgery well and my body went back to normal. Of course the hysterectomy sent me into the ‘change’ but I was aware of the things that could occur afterwards.
The thing that upsets me the most is that I was unaware of the complications that Essure posed. I have heard that the complications are rare but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. I am happy to be rid of the Essure coils but I’m also so sad to have lost my womanhood in such a dramatic way instead of gradually the way nature has intended. My family has also suffered greatly financially as well. Since all of these doctor visits, ER trips, and surgeries were paid by us we are now in the process of bankruptcy. Over $90,000.
If only one woman or one doctor changes their mind about this procedure before its too late then maybe my pain was worth it. I also reported the Essure to the FDA in 2011. If your a doctor or a husband or partner please don’t disregard the complaints you hear. I had an awful and uncaring doctor but my husband was great and stood by me then as he still does now (even with the hot flashes).
At the very least we need to be ABSOLUTELY sure that women are informed PRIOR to the procedure.