My name is Stephanie. I am a 28 year old mother of 5 amazing girls. Pregnancies were always hard on me. I suffered 3 miscarriages by the time I concieved my fourth daughter. I was told I could not have anymore children. Then I got pregnant once again. After a horrible and miserable pregnancy I had daughter 5. That was December 1, 2012. I knew I, or my body, could not handle another pregnancy. I wanted my tubes tied. I scheduled a surgical consult to discuss a tubal. At that appointment I was told about Essure, and given a generically printed page with information. I was then scheduled for another appointment to discuss options. In bold letter halfway down the page it said women with nickel allergies should not use the product. I have an allergy to nickel and most other metals. So at the next appointment I told the doctor I was not interested and that I indeed am allergic. She replied by saying the info was old and out dated, that allergies made no difference. I told her I still wanted my tubes tied. She rescheduled again, ‘to give me time to consider Essure’. A total of four consultation appointments later, the doctor finally told me that she knew Essure was a better option, and since my medicaid only covered that clinic that my only choice was Essure because she would not do a tubal. I had no other option. My troubles started right away. I was awake for the procedure, and although I was given medication and a local anesthetic, I felt everything. I ried the entire time. I was told the pain would subside in about a day. I could not get out of bed for a week. I bled constantly, and the cramps were paralyzing. After two months the bleeding stopped. But the migraines began. I was informed at a 6 week follow up that my medicaid would not cover the dye test. Its has been a year and seven months since I was implanted. I suffer from chronic migraines, debilitating cramps, and bleeding for as long as 8 months at a time. My hair falls out at times, I have a constant rash at different parts of my body. Cramps, pelvic pain, and back aches are never ending. I can’t be intimate with my husband because I am either bleeding or it is too painful physically. I have no energy and am so depressed that I don’t even.feel like myself most days. I can say with all sureness, that Essure has ruined my life.