I’m 26 years old and a mother to three beautiful kids. Two boys, and one girl. They are my life. I conceived all of them while I was on birth control and I knew after my daughter was born, I needed to look into another form of permanent sterilization. At my 20 week check up, I told my OB that I wanted my tubes tied. She was sad for me but, knew it would be for the best. I went and filled out all of my paperwork for a traditional tubal litigation and thought that everything would be fine. She told me that after I gave birth, they would do it the following day. Turns out, I was wrong. They never did it. The hospital claimed that they never received my paperwork. When I went in for my six week follow up, I mentioned how they never did my tubal. She was shocked at first, and then claimed that she can just do the Essure procedure. I was very skeptical at first, but she assured me that everything would be okay. She knew I couldn’t afford much down time with three kids ages three and under. So, I trusted her. I asked if there was any tests that needed to be done before having this done. She told me no and I should be okay.
So, I went and filled out more paperwork and set up my date to have the procedure done at the hospital. Yes, the hospital. Not the office where it was advertised. The day of my procedure, I arrived at the hospital bright and early. She came in and asked me one more time if I was positive that I was done having children and its okay if I wanted to back out. That should have been my first red flag. I assured her that I trusted her and that I was done. Next thing I knew, I was waking up in recovery in immense pain. I knew instantly that something was wrong. I had issues walking and was bleeding. I asked for pain medication and they reluctantly wrote me a prescription. Days following the procedure were a nightmare. I couldn’t lift my infant daughter, I couldn’t play with my boys. I couldn’t even walk down my hallway or get in and out of bed. A week and a half following Essure, I made another appointment with my OB. I sat down in her office and burst into tears. I was in so much pain, I developed hives and blisters all over my arms, legs, and feet, and could barely walk. I begged her to remove it. To do something, ANYTHING to help me. She looked at me dead in my face and told me she wouldn’t remove it, give me a bilateral salpingectomy, or a hysterectomy. She told me to see my primary care doctor and a dermatologist for my hives and pain. She told me that it couldn’t be Essure causing this pain. I told her that I discovered that Essure had Nickel and I was allergic. She denied that that information was true. I cried leaving her office.
The next day I called my PCP and they immediately got me in. She took one look at me and told me that it was an allergic reaction to the Nickel and my body was rejecting the implants. She referred me to her personal OB that she used to work for. He called me and took me on as a personal case. I was in his office the following day (which was a Saturday) and that Monday, I was in surgery for a bilateral salpingectomy. Most of my symptoms from Essure have vanished. I’m no longer living in pain. I’m able to play with my children and enjoy my life. I’ll never be 100% after having Essure. I have scars that are a constant reminder of what I endured and went through. I’m fighting for every single person who has to suffer from this terrible device and I will not rest until justice is served.
Dara, your story makes me so angry. I was going to have this procedure but when I read your story, I changed my mind. I’m so grateful to you. Thank you for saving me.
Thanks for your story Dara. It will save many women, believe me. I am scheduled next week to have my coils and tubes removed! So excited to be Essure-free!