I decided to have an ablation due to complications with a bleeding disorder I have had my whole life. Since we were not planning to have any more children after having four of our own and the risks involved with possible pregnancy after that procedure, I was introduced to Essure by my doctor. She highly recommended it, gave me the hard sell on it being done in her office as outpatient surgery, and truly felt it was my best option out of the few she had to recommend. I agreed to the procedure and it was done in 2010. Ever since, I have had excruciating bouts of lower left pelvic pain.
I never know when it’s going to flare up, but the discomfort is always there. When it does flair up, the pain begins quickly like a hot poker that sends a burning, radiating pain from the same location every time. As it increases in intensity, I quickly take 600 mg of ibuprofen and brace myself for the 20 or so minutes that I will have to endure the pain. If I’m lucky, I am home and my husband is able to watch the children for me. I don’t like them to see me in such pain. I feel my body, especially my head become hot and as it progresses I begin to sweat. I can’t help but squirm to find some form of comfort, but repositioning offers no relief. My eyes water from squeezing my eyes so tightly as I try to silence my crying. After the pain medication dulls my pain, I am left exhausted and need to sleep. This is not normal and it is incredibly disheartening to be told I may have to endure this for the rest of my life because no one has determined what is happening to me.
I have seen many doctors for these alarming bouts of pain, but none were concerned enough because the episodes are intermittent and unpredictable. One doctor suggested I either decide to take prescription pain killers on a long-term basis or get a hysterectomy. Not wanting to do such a drastic surgery with no promises that this pain would be resolved and no explanation other than a shrug of his shoulders, I declined. I was then sent to a gastroenterologist who recommended a sigmoidoscopy, which was the single most painful experience of my entire life. I left that experience scarred, but with news that everything looked fine. I continued to have the pain and the doctor recommended a colonoscopy, which thankfully I was knocked out for. All is well internally in that area. Here I am three years after Essure and I don’t go anywhere without pain medication with me. I have had the severe bouts while driving and had to pull over. I’ve been at the grocery store and had to hide myself until my medication could kick in. The suffering is horrible and distressing to me and my family. I have a nickel allergy, so finding out they are made of it is disturbing. Regardless, before I knew other women were having similar problems I could tell you that this pain radiates from something inside that feels like a little ball radiating searing heat and pain. Given the onset of it and its location, why hasn’t anyone been able to figure out this problem and help me?