I still can wrap my head around the fact that a person whom you trust with your health/life could be so careless as to clearly and concisely explain and guide you in making a decision with birthcontrol. I was pretty adament about wanting a birthcontrol that would actually ‘work’ after getting pregnant on both the pill and IUD (Mirena). Unfortunately, the time I agreed and scheduled to have ESSURE I was suffering from mild post partum (undiagnosed), my baby who was two months old had been diagnosed with Sickle Cell SS and we had suffered the loss of my husbands favorite uncle.
Although I was sure I wanted birthcontrol, I recall having a fairly brief conversation about ESSURE. I had requested on more than one occassion during my prenatal visits that I desired a tubal ligation. My doctor at the time was pretty convicing that ESSURE was the best for me, less invasive and I could go home that day and resume normal physical activity, etc. Well, after a few months I noticed issues which included bloated tender belly. Obviously, we all have a belly (varying in size depending on your body) after giving birth. However, the tenderness wasn’t normal because I could lay my baby on my belly or my other children could touch me and it hurt. I also felt some sort of way because I had never had a belly protrude so much after several months after birth.
Again, with so much going on from adjusting to a new baby, learning of her illness (Sickle Cell) and other personal responsibilities and issues I went on with my life noticing issue after issue. Needless to say, four years have gone by and I have suffered in silence with extremely painful menstral cycles, excessive bleeding, headaches almost daily, bloated/tender belly, lower back and bodyaches (c0mes and goes), nausea (comes and goes), blurred vision (with and without headaches), fatigue, insomnia, low-no sex drive and memory loss. I am thankful to have found other women who suffer the same issues, although it saddens me. I am grateful to my family, especially my husband who have taken care of me and always believed me.
I am on a mission to spread whatever word that I can about ESSURE, even if it just helps those who desire it more informed of the real effects of it. I pray that the FDA will do their due diligence and make the necessary changes/warnings or better yet REMOVED it from production and availability because it clearly is not good for women! I am prayerful that we will be helped one way or the other!!