Essure Procedure

I was implanted with Essure in October, 2012.    The procedure was done in my doctor’s office with cervical block and some pain meds taken before the appointment.  The procedure was one of the most painful experiences of my life and I have had two vaginal births.  My uterus was very retroverted and one coil was very difficult to place.  After several tries the doctor finally was able to place it.

I spent the rest of the day in bed resting.  The next day I began to have labor-like cramping and very heavy menstrual bleeding.  I called my doctor and they asked me to keep them posted.  After a couple weeks of progressively worse bleeding cramping, followed with migraines, horrid back pain, and extreme fatigue my doctor ordered an x-ray to rule out perforation.

The x-ray showed that the coils were exactly where they were supposed to be.  My symptoms got worse and got more complicated.  Hair loss, memory loss, confusion, joint and muscle pain, insomnia and chronic infections followed.      I just wanted birth control, but got way more than what I was expecting.

I was fortunate that my implanting doctor was the first to “connect the dots” and believed that Essure was causing most of my symptoms. My doctor wanted to schedule a hysterectomy immediately.  I had the Essure coils in for only 10 weeks, but it was 10 weeks of total hell.

Surprisingly I started feeling better within hours after my hysterectomy and most of my symptoms were gone within a few weeks.  I never thought I would have to have such an extreme surgery at the age of 35.   I had to take three weeks off from work during the holiday season, and grateful for good health insurance and a supportive family.  I could not have survived without them.

I am almost 9 months post-hysterectomy and I am feeling great.  I still have very sensitive skin, I cannot wear “cheap”  metal jewelry, cannot use most soaps and makeup without breaking out in a rash or acne and still deal with painful IBS symptoms when I ovulate.