In the beginning of 2013 I had the Mirena IUD surgically removed due to it migrating and actually embedding itself in scar tissue on my cervix as well as the strings breaking off and those too embedding in my cervix. It was a painful horrific thing to go through and swore I would never do it again.
After the procedure I discussed with my doctor other birth control options as well as trying to recover from the Mirena crash my body was going through. It was suggested I go on the shot as a temp solution but not long term as my body was already going through so much with the hormones being so off balanced. She suggested Essure, she sold me on how easy the procedure was and painless it would be; and that it was 99% effective. I was very unsure about doing it due to all the problems I had with the Mirena and she assured me that this wouldn’t happen with Essure. I figured, I’m a single mom as it is and I definitely was done having kids. So why not just do it.
So I made an appointment with the GYNO who removed the IUD and he agreed that Essure was the best thing to do. We set the date for the Essure to be ‘installed’ and I counted down the days.
The day came for it to be put in. The pain was very uncomfortable at first and then it turned into sharp, stabbing pains. It felt like my insides were being ripped apart. I asked if it was suppose to hurt that badly and he said it was normal and that he was all done. He said I needed to have another depo shot until they were able to run tests to make sure that the device was properly in place. I went along with what I was told to do.. I mean why would he steer me wrong, he’s my doctor right?
I had the essure put in June 2013, roughly 6 months after the Mirena IUD was removed. From June to August I noticed significant changes in my body… Weight gain was the 1st, as women we always want to deny gaining weight but we notice it in our clothes. That was my 1st clue something wasn’t right. Then it was constant back pain, pelvic pain, sweating, constantly out of breath. I was assured that it was something else causing all this. Exercise more, watch what you’re eating, your weight is causing these pains. Here’s some diet pills, this will help. Lets check your thyroid. Test after test. Nothing saying why all this was going on. Then the day came for the GYNO to run the dye test to make sure the ‘device took.’ That was the most painful thing I ever experienced aside from labor pains. That dye was shot in me. Doc said it looked good and then left the room. When I stood up. I felt a warm rush just go down my legs, it was blood. I ran to the bathroom across from the xray room and left a trail of blood following me. Blood was just every where. I couldn’t understand why this was happening. Was this suppose to happen? It hurts. It hurts so bad! Omg am I bleeding everywhere. I hear my son in the room next to me ask the nurse if I was done yet. I push the call button on the wall. The nurses come rushing to the bathroom. I’m standing in a pool of my own blood. Its running down my legs and all I could do was try not to panic and ask the nurse if this was suppose to happen. She calls to the doctor, who doesn’t bother to see for himself if I’m okay. He says its normal and it will stop. I cleaned myself up and took my son home. I bleed heavily for 2 weeks after that. Assured that it will stop everytime I called the GYNO. It did eventually stop. I became pretty wore out in the process.
So here I am now… In the year and half that I’ve had Essure.. I’ve gained even more weight on top of the weight I gained while I had Mirena. My belly has a swollen pregnant look to it. I have very heavy constant bleeding off and on each month. Pelvic pains. Lower back pains. Night sweats. Shortness of breath. I’m insecure about my body and weight. I hate my body and I’m just very unhappy with how ugly I feel. Excersize is damn near impossible. I can’t breath just walking a short distance. Never had these issues in the past.
My doctor says it’s this or its that.. From what I’ve read about Essure, I believe its now the main cause of my misery. I have no idea how to fix me. It’s depressing that medically I was failed not once but twice, and now this one I’m afraid may actually kill me.