A few years ago I sat at my computer typing random things into google. I was starting to think I was crazy! What was wrong with me……was I really making it up? I racked my brain thinking of anything I had changed or done differently. Finally, I thought about my Essure and typed that into google. My mind was blown!
As I read the stories of each woman and what they were experiencing I kept saying ‘that’s me!’
Chronic pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, extremely heavy menstral cycles, hair loss, weight gain, achy painful joints, fatigue, erratic moods……sound familiar?
Ok, so a lot of that could be explained away by life events….that is what I tried to do, but nothing added up. I thought back to when I got the Essure and when I started to notice all these symptoms and problems. It was about a year afterwards that I really started to question what was wrong with me. I don’t recall a sudden onset of everything, but I can tell you it got progressively worse as time went on.
I went to the doctor multiple times and had various test done. I was sent to a specialist on more than one occasion. In short they said ‘nothing was wrong’ or at least nothing that a test could confirm. I brought up the Essure. I stated things I had read and was basically told that was not the issue and people most likely had ‘buyers remorse’.
Fast forward to present day…..I had my Fallopian tubes removed to remove the device recently. I finally had a doctor listen to me and agree that while nothing supported the Essure as the problem nothing could rule it out either. I went into surgery with the hopes that only my Fallopian tubes would be removed, but understanding a complete hysterectomy might be needed. I was lucky that only my Fallopian tubes were removed.
So after the surgery the pelvic pain was gone. It was noticeable within 48 hours after the surgery. I had pain at my incision sites, but the previous pain was gone. It could have been gone sooner, but I am accounting for pain meds that first 48. Joint pain….a thing of the past. Weight…I dropped 15lbs the first month after I had them removed and I can tell you I was lazy and eating what I wanted that month, plus I couldn’t exercise because of the surgery. Hair loss….drastically diminished and I have all these new little hair sprouts growing. Sex….it is great again! And pain free!!!!! Fatigue and moods seem to be back in check….that took a little more time. I am guessing my body had to regulate itself again. I still have my monthly cycle, but it is not as heavy as it was before the Essure removal.
So I think it is safe to say that the Essure was causing a lot of problems. Something that sounded so good turned out to be a nightmare. I spent about 5 years trying to remove something that took minutes to install and a month off work to recover from the removal.
I questioned myself and if I was having some kind of mental issue. I can remember having these moods and thinking what is going on and why can I not stop this.
All I can do is tell people DO NOT get the Essure and if you have it…..REMOVE IT! I think it took me so long to connect the Essure to my problems because they didn’t appear to start right away. They may have, but I was at least able to explain them away or not be overly concerned/bothered by them.
I can tell you that everything got progressiveou worse over the years and it was impossible to ignore.
So if you are having issues DEMAND they get removed. The only way you will know if it’s the cause of your problems is if you remove them who cares if you don’t have Fallopian tubes anymore…..Essure was permenant birth control anyway, so what do you need Fallopian tubes for? I will tell you that if a doctor says you have to have a hysterectomy to remove them then move on and find another one. Yes, you may still end up with a hysterectomy, but that shouldn’t be the first and only option.