Essure Procedure

My husband and I had our second child in March of 2010. After much discussion, we knew we were done having biological children and set out to search for a doctor who would perform tubal ligation (which was a little difficult since I was only 22). I found a gyno who agreed to a consult in November of 2010 and the Essure procedure was performed 12/14/2010. I was informed that this should be expected to be a permanent form of birth control by tubal occlusion due to a metal coil. I was NOT informed that this tubal occlusion happened by the use of PET fibers causing the endocrine system to elicit a CHRONIC inflammatory reponse creating scar tissue buildup. For approximately 4 weeks after Essure implantation, I had heavy cramping and mild headaches which I attributed to my body trying to adjust. Around the beginning of January 2011, the headaches became more severe, and have increased in severity over the years also causing visual disturbances. I’ve always been relatively healthy, but within the first year of having Essure implanted, I noticed many sore throats, swollen lymph nodes in my neck, excessive fatigue and increased anxiety and depression spells with high intensity mood swings and loss of concentration and hair. Along with the previously mentioned issues, since having Essure implanted, I’ve had intense body/muscle pain and joint pain (hips/knees), and low back & pelvic pain which often caused me to be unable to perform daily functions. My monthly periods have become more painful, heavier bleeding, as well as severe cramps and back pain that rate higher than my day to day pain. In March of 2014, I developed a cyst on my lip that became incredibly painful to the point of an emergency room visit followed by a 2 day hospital stay. CBC lab results showed high white blood cell count, so I was treated with high strength antibiotics IV and while the doctors searched and searched for a cause for the cyst and infection, they found none. I felt incredibly better while on the IV (followed by oral) antibiotics, but within a few days after finishing the antibiotics, the aches (head, body, muscle, joint) and fatigue returned. While I can not directly contribute the lip infection to the Essure, I feel as if I can say that there is definitely something going on in my body that my natural immune system is trying to combat. These symptoms have caused MUCH STRESS to me including thinking I had cancer (due to all the swollen nodes and headaches, signs my grandfather had when he was disagnosed with a brain tumor…), and having myself tested for all kinds of STDs and other infections that could have related to these symptoms. I am negative for anything else that could cause all of these issues, and the time line is too close to even think it could be anything else now. The over all result of these symptoms makes it hard for me: to be the mother I want/need to be, focus as much as I need to at my job, socialize, and be happy. I’m coming up on my 4 year anniversary of Essure implantation, and I can say without a doubt, I REGRET the decision to get it. I don’t have the finances at this time to find out if I have a nickel/titanium allergy, or if my body has created an infection to try to get rid of the Essure, or if removing them will help. But knowing that the PET fibers cause the endocrine system to go into overdrive sure explains a lot of my problems (and just because it’s HORMONE FREE doesn’t mean it’s doesn’t cause your hormones to go crazy). Bottom line: If I had been properly informed and educated, had there been enough information on it when I did the little research I did, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD ESSURE IMPLANTED!