My husband and I didn’t meet until we were 40 and didn’t marry until we were 43. Neither of us had previously been married or had children. We had a pregnancy scare prior to marriage that led us to discuss on whether we wanted to have children. We both agreed that the risks were too high for the baby and if we ever decided we really wanted children, we would adopt. So, I talked to my GYN about having my tubes tied and that’s when she told me about the ESSURE procedure. She gave me a pamphlet that explained the procedure. She explained it was a lot less evasive and could be done in office for an office co-pay ($25). She did tell me that the procedure would have to be confirmed in the hospital via x-rays 3 months later, but failed to tell me how much that would cost me ($600). Also, she told me that I could go to work within a few hours after the procedure. I wasn’t told to have anyone drive me to the appointment, but was told that I should have someone drive me to the hospital for the confirmation appointment, which turned out to be backwards advice.
I had my procedure done mid-December of 2011. First of all, the procedure was more invasive than I was led to believe and I began to feel as if I was a guinea pig. I only had to undress from the waist down, but the head of the table was slightly elevated. I started to feel really over heated during the procedure to the point where I finally just pulled my thin sweater over my head and took it off to keep from passing out. At the end of the procedure, the nurse took my blood pressure and realized it was too high and that’s when I heard the doctor tell the nurse that I should have been laying flat, not elevated. Um, she was at the end of the table, nothing blocking her view of how I was positioned on the table. Also I was extremely nauseous to the point that they had to give me a shot after the procedure. Thankfully my boyfriend (prior to marriage) took the day off, cause I had to call him to come pick me up. There was absolutely no way I could drive. I had to take the full day off of work, cause I was too weak and was severly cramping. I felt like I had been completely lied to about the procedure. Prior to my appointment I had researched the procedure on the Internet and never read or was told about any possible side effects. It too said that most go back to work within hours after the procedure. I was led to believe that this was an easy and quick procedure. No big deal.
I changed GYNs after calling to schedule the confirmation appointment and learning that I would have to meet my deductiable for the ‘x-rays,’ cause they were not just typical x-rays. I was left to feel like I had been railroaded into a procedure so this GYN could get more of them under her belt or maybe she got some kick back for performing them. Anyway, that’s when I decided to change GYNs. I later had the confirmation test done and I was shown that my fallopian tubes were now closed, although that is a very uncomfortable test too. I was just thankful it worked and I didn’t have to go back through something similar again or that I had spent all that money in vain, but now I’m reading that it may not be permanent???!!!! It was sold as a PERMANENT, 100% guarantee, procedure as long scar tissue built up and closed off the fallopian tubes. Now I have to worry about it not holding????!!!!!
I had my period change from always being regular, especially on the pill to spotting more days than not during the month after turning 40 and prior to this procedure. However, it wasn’t until after this procedure that I started having way heavier periods; lasting longer, more frequent and more clotting. My GYN had me try going back on the pill to see if that would help, it didn’t. I’ve tried different pills and I’ve tried going back off the pill. Nothing changes it. I never know when I’ll have my period, how long it will last or how heavy it will be, however I consider myself lucky compared to what other women are dealing with. I mainly told my story, because if I had known all the facts I would have picked an alternative procedure. Like I said, once the prodecure started, I realized what a guinea pig I was, but then it was too late. I hope this can help other women choose an alternative procedure.