After reading some of the stories online, I realize that first, my story begins a lot earlier than most and second, it isn’t nearly as bad as what other women have gone through, but it’s my experience and I would hope someone can relate.
I was the second patient in my city to recieve the essure proceure in 2003, I could have been the first, but I told my doctor I wanted him to practice first. Little did I know…as he goes on to have many malpratice lawsuits brought up against him and recently, just last month, was found liable and ordered to pay a patient compensation.
I was just 22 years old at the time and already had my 2 boys with my husband. Although I do not regret getting a tubal ligation, I DO regret getting the essure. At first, I felt fine. I was up the next day taking care of the family, but as time went on I started to realize I was feeling some new and unusual pains.
Since the procedure, I have started getting migraines at least once a month (usually during my cycle) which leave me completely useless. Also, if I move wrong, get up, cough, sneeze, or anything, I feel a strong stabbing, twisting, pulling sensation where my tubes are. (Good news is that I have had many tests done, including an ultrasound just 2 years ago that say my implants are in the correct spot.) I’ve also developed Fibromyalgia since then, although I have no clue if these can be connected, though I have heard this condition can be brought on by bodily and emotional trauma. I feel they may be connected because I started getting both the migraines and the Fibromyalgia pains less than a year later…although it took another 6 years to be diagnosed.
As I mentioned, I had my new doctor (one whom I trust very much) preform an ultrasound to ensure A. they are in the correct position and not poking through anything and B. that I can’t get pregnant (that’s a big worry of mine, as I am so happy with my two kids.) I have told my doctor about the pain I have regarding the implants. He has told me I could either start on birth control to see if the hormones will help with the pain (this I elected out of due to the fact that I had a tubal ligation so I wouldn’t have to take the pill) or he could preform a hysterectomy which at the time, I felt I was too young for. Being 33 now, this may be something I decide to do in the near future.
However, due to my Fibromyalgia, I am on different pain medications, including a narcotic, to relieve some of the pain and it seems to help, as I have noticed when I don’t take my pain meds, I feel more pain in my abdomen.
Luckily for me, this has not effected my sex life with my husband and, except for a few instances, we have regular relations. I have not gotten pregnant….again luckily for me…and I have not had any allergic reaction nor have had these coils preforate any of my insides.
I hope that some of you who are deciding whether or not to get this procedure done will take my words to heart. Please understand that I am one of the LUCKY cases where I just have pains, be it sometimes extreme, and possibly migraines and Fibromyalgia could be related to my coils. I urge you to not only read my story, but the others’ who have had much more serious issues caused by this procedure. Again, I regret ever getting Essure and will never reccommend it. There are much more safer and less painful ways to go about a tubal ligation.