While I was in the Army I decided to have my tubes tied. My husband did not want to have a vasectomy, so that left me to be the one to ensure that we would not have any more children. We already had five and I did not want anymore. I scheduled an appointment with the Women’s health clinic at Ft. Bliss (which is where I was stationed). We had discussed Mirena which I was completely opposed to and other forms of permanent birth control when they brought up the Essure procedure. The physicians really pushed Essure, they said it was safe, permanent, and had no negative side effects. I was truly misinformed.
On Dec 14, 2010, I went in to have the procedure done. From the moment I went in to have the procedure done even to this day I have issues with this device. When I went in they had me lay down on a table, then they gave me something which would open my uterus to allow the devices to be placed in my fallopian tubes. I was in extreme discomfort and heard the most disturbing stapling sound while the device was being placed in my fallopian tubes. From that day forward I have suffered severe abdominal cramping.
Prior to having this procedure done I used to have very light menstrual flow for 3 to 4 days then it was done. I never had cramps, rarely experienced bloating, and rarely ever suffered any other symptoms associated with a menstrual cycle. Since having this procedure I suffer from excruciating abdominal cramps beginning two weeks before my menstrual cycle and continuing all the way through. My cycle has now gone from 3 to 4 days of light flow to at least 7 days, and at least 2 of those days are extremely heavy flow. I stay bloated most of the month and I have severe back pain during my menstrual cycle. I have even had debilitating back spasms the last 3 months while I have been on my menstrual cycle.
Within four months of having the procedure done I developed symptoms that were consistent with having an STD. I even went to be tested for STD’s twice because I was convinced my husband was having an affair due to the symptoms I was experiencing. Each time the tests came back the same, there were no signs of an STD, I was clean and had been. However, the symptoms persisted. My husband was convinced I was having an affair because of the symptoms and we later divorced because of his suspicion. I tried desperately to convince him I was not having an affair, but because my body was displaying symptoms of a STD he refused to believe me, even though I showed him documentation from the medical treatment facility showing him I did not have a STD.
So now, I am a disabled veteran divorced mother of four children, that suffers practically daily with pain associated with this horrible device. I cannot help but wonder how my life would be different if I had not had this procedure done. To find out that the manufacturer was given a preemptive status by the FDA which means they cannot be held accountable for doing this to me is devastating. I am miserable. I suffer from major depressive disorder along with other things, and I’m certain that this is at least in part due to this device. I wish I had never had this procedure done.