Essure permanent sterilisation

[toribones]

I had the Essure procedure in 2012 6 months after the birth of my 3rd child. I opted for permanent sterilisation as I was almost 40 and really didn't want anymore children, Essure seemed like the perfect choice as it had little to no down time and no hormones ( I was never good on the pill or anything hormonal). Within 3 months of the procedure I began to suffer with IBS and then over the coming weeks, excruciating joint pain, fatigue and a general loss of health. By January 2015 I was in a terrible state, my hair was falling out, my periods had gone from a normal 28 day cycle with minimal blood loss to 20 days with heavy blood loss, terrible pain, excruciating ovulation, skin problems, dental problems, debilitating bouts of chronic fatigue and many more issues. It was at this point, after countless visits to my gp, that I discovered many hundreds of women around the world experiencing exactly the same symptoms as myself, we all had Essure. Unbeknown to me at the time of the procedure to insert the coils, the only way to remove them is to remove the fallopian tubes, uterus and cervix. I had no choice other than face major surgery to get these thing out of my body. I am now a year post hysterectomy and pretty much back to good health.

As there seems to be a lot of controversy surrounding this product and a lot of mis-information, I was wondering if there are any other ladies out there that have had this procedure done and have experienced issues?

I had my procedure and hysterectomy done at the Royal Surrey hospital in Guildford, I was told that I am the only person that has had health issues with Essure, but I'm pretty sure that this is not the case!

That's what I thought about the ultrascan toribones. I have to admit the thought of a hysterectomy scares me although I know it would make me feel better.
Does everyone have to have a complete hysterectomy or are there other options?

Elliemillie there are other options available but it depends on placement of coils. That's why it is so important to have imaging done before any type of removal

I know this thread is a few days old now, but interesting reading.
I'm a Gynae nurse and assist with the essure procedure. Generally I find it is well tolerated, with patients stating only that they find it like a period pain when the coils are inserted. We only do it awake and with local anaesthetic if the patient requests it.
I do wonder if these problems are caused because the consultant using the device and consenting patients isn't quite up to scratch. Our consultants are very thorough and will always check if there is a nickel/costume jewellery allergy and if so will not go ahead.
It sounds as though this is the case for the majority of the patients here who have had adverse effects. In my experience patients we have treated have been pleased with the procedure. So surely the error lies with the patient not being given all of the information to make an informed choice rather than problems with essure itself?
Not looking to start a row here, just thinking about it. It's a real shame that people have had such adverse effects to something that should've improved the quality of their lives.

So surely the error lies with the patient not being given all of the information to make an informed choice rather than problems with essure itself?

What follow up service do you offer patients who have had this procedure, Tomkat, and will you be making sure that your patients are "given all of the information", including the fact that hundreds of thousands of women are now embroiled in lawsuits against Bayer, to enable them to make an 'informed choice'?

Sorry Godess just seen this.
I'm not a consultant, just an assisting nurse so the consultants role is to ensure the procedure is the correct one for the patient. Ideally the referring GP should've done the ground work in the first instance and deemed whether or not the procedure is suitable before referring.
Once the patient has had a chat with the consultant and comes through to us to get ready we always ensure they have understood the essure procedure, do not have a costume jewellery/nickel allergy and they have consented etc.
Follow up wise is a scan in 4 months time to confirm the coils are in the right place and essure has been successful. In the 2 years I've been there I've not encountered any women with problems, at least none that have reported problems.

Hi Tomkat

Sorry only just seen your comments. In my experience and many of the women experiencing problems with Essure, it is not to do with a nickel allergy ( although this has been the case in many), It is to do with inflammation. The component parts of the coils are not just metals, there is an inner part of the coil that is made of a group of plastics known as PET fibres. These PET fibres are KNOWN endocrine disruptors and myself and many of the women made ill by this device experience symptoms in line with autoimmune conditions and inflammation of the body. The purpose of these fibres is to cause localised inflammation of the fallopian tubes and the subsequent fibrosis that causes the tubes to block. Doctors against Essure in the US support this theory and agree that it is entirely possible that a systemic inflammation is possible, and this would certainly go along way to explaining the many symptoms caused by Essure!

In terms of you not seeing women coming back with problems, many women, again myself included, experience health problems not gynaecological in nature in the first instance and see a deterioration of the health over a period of months or years post implantation. As many GPs are unfamiliar with this procedure or the controversy surrounding the product, these women are NOT being referred back to the implanting consultant. If you then add to this the complete denial of the medical profession that this product is under researched and lacking in longitudinal studies for safety and efficacy, you begin to see a pattern of women seeking help at GP level being told that their health issues are unrelated to Essure.

The NICE guidelines for Essure state that due to the lack of long term study, physicians SHOULD 'Audit and review' ALL clinical outcomes but, this simply is not happening!! As you have stated, there is no follow up beyond 3-4 months, and this is to confirm blockage. There are many women that have symptoms of the adverse events listed in the Essure manual and are STILL being told that Essure isn't the cause!

My own consultant did not agree that ANY of my health problems were related to Essure but agreed to a hysterectomy nonetheless. Some of my symptoms miraculously disappeared immediately -post op and the rest have pretty much gone a year later, I finally have my health and my life back, but, she STILL does not accept Essure was the cause and that if it was, I am a unique case!

I personally know of approx 100 -200 women that have either had to face a hysterectomy to remove Essure, are awaiting surgery OR, who are experiencing horrendous health problems, struggling to find a doctor that will listen AND new women are finding us on a weekly basis desperate for help.

Hi
I had Essure when I was 46 and not told of about the Nickel or anything else in the evil devices. At the time if I had been asked I would have said no to being allergic to anything I could wear costume jewellery with no problems. Since Essure I am unable to take many medications and even since hysterectomy I cannot tolerate many medications and still a year after my hysterectomy unable to wear any jewellery even silver or gold. Just wish I had gone for the traditional sterilisation rather than satans springs

Hi
I had essure in Feb 2015 and had nothing but side effects I've now since had a hysterectomy of April this year , it was the nurse at the hospital that told me about essure not the referring gp and she said nothing about the side effects but how it was the easiest way to be sterilised

These stories are horrifying. I hope you're all well or recovered, mentally too!

Im having a diagnostic laprosopy in the morning, with the option of sterilisation vis tubes being cut at the same time. I'm going for it because once i'm conscious again, my only other alternative will be Essure. I was only on here to check recoverytimes (MN is my google, y'all!) so thanks for strengthening my resolve!

Hi we are a group of ladies in the Uk, who have been affected by essure, we are trying to get our stories heard, and hope to be in the Uk papers very shortly. If you would like to join us, you are most welcome. I am an essure survivor. This is so real.. thank you Jan

www.facebook.com/groups/1244777418925229/

So sorry about all your problems. I was sterilised the traditional method when I told the consultant at the hospital it was the only method I would accept he responded it is the only method they do. He said there are too many problems with essure and his department won't do it.

Good for you MrsPear! Glad to hear that the message is starting to spread :)
Which hospital was it ?