My Story: I share my story and my journey with you so that perhaps I can help raise awareness regarding this Essure device and possibly save even just one life. After all, that is what I have been doing for 22 years of nursing-saving lives. It all began on April 28, 2014 when I had these Essure coils and ablation done as a form of permanent birth control. I chose this option because I was told very little down time (get back to work sooner and to being the busy mom of teens sooner) and no surgical incisions so no general anesthesia.....Wow-okay. Sounded like the perfect plan for me. I had this procedure done and was home within two hours. I had some cramping at first but thought that was normal Then, one hour after being home, I developed the most intense, stabbing pain in my lower abdomen-I felt as though someone was stabbing me with a million knives. I lay curled on the floor in a fetal position crying as I am begging Howard to take me immediately to the ER. He had to literally carry me to the car and rush me back to the hospital. I had to receive potent IV pain medication for over 24 hours to just be able to tolerate the pain. A perforation was ruled out, and I was sent home. So much for going back to work in two days with little down time. I was out of commission for two weeks! But, the WORST was yet to come.......I went back to work full-time as a nurse, trying to care for my family and go about my daily life as before. However, I felt exhausted, tired, and sluggish. I was getting sick a lot with my sinuses and asthma. I had flare-ups and couldnt fight off any little virus or infection. I was on and off steroids and was losing weight as I had no appetite. I then woke up at the end of June having lost my voice. I could not get one word out of my mouth- my vocal chords were completely closed (yes-my hubby and kids did like the no talking part of me-haha). I had to go on complete voice rest for 10 days and high dose steroids just to be able to get a raspy voice back. I had my voice scoped on several occasions to learn I had a fungal infection attacking my vocal chords- more medicine, more missed work but most importantly, more missed TIME with my family....By this point, I had begun having severe fatigue to the point I would go straight to bed at 4:30 when I got home from work. My muscles cramped and ached continuously......I could not even stand having my clothes touch me....the spiral downward continued as I tried to get up and function normally everyday.....but I wasnt normal... my body was in a crisis...I went through the drills of seeing one specialist doctor after another, vials and vials of bloodwork being drawn, being told nothing showed up....no physician really knowing (and some not even caring!) what was going on..... in fact, most blamed the steroids or saying I just had a virus to its fibromyalgia to my favorite diagnosis of all.... ITS IN YOUR HEAD! I began to realize I was in the fight for my life and I had to be my own advocate.... I knew it wasnt in my head or any of the other I dont know what it is so we will label it this diagnoses....By this point, my joints became attacked with red, hot, inflamed joints all over my body.....I could barely straighten my legs because my knees were so painful and stiff. I was becoming a shell rather than a person who used to be full of life, working 40+ hours a week, exercising 4-5 days/week while running a household of 5 kids and a husband. I could barely hold my own head up at this point. I went on a dream family vacation in August to Hawaii (had it not been paid for, I would not have gone) and spent half the week in the hotel in bed. I laid there thinking, I am losing my life.....I have got to figure this out or I will lose my life. I continued in this crisis state, still seeing specialists, most not really listening to me except for my dear ENT, Dr. Dan Jacob, day after day. I began looking at timelines and thinking.... I was FINE until 4/28/14, the date of the Essure placement. I tried to bring this up to a couple of different specialists who quickly blew it off..... It wasnt until 9/10/2014, when I woke up for work, drove Abby to school and came back to get ready for work and looked in the mirror-RIGHT BEFORE MY OWN EYES I COULD SEE THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY FACE BEGINNING TO DROOP AND I COULD NOT MOVE IT. I tried to smile and only one side of my lips/face could make the smile. I had started having right hand/arm weakness two days prior at work. I was at the point that I could not make fist or hold a pen. I am a nurse and write everyday. What am I going to do??? I went to work and Dr. Dugan, my friend and MD I worked for, immediately brought me to the ER....I was worked up for everything-had numerous testing. I was a mystery. I kept saying, I think I am allergic to these tubal coils.....I think this is what it is....still, no one was listening to ME, THE PATIENT. I kept saying, MY BODY IS ATTACKING ITSELF AS IF I HAVE AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE BUT I DONT HAVE ONE! I finally couldnt go anymore and took a leave of absence....I did the research myself, printed articles regarding the Essure...I brought them to my doctor...thousands of women had suffered like me and were told the same things as me....and they had reactions to these coils like me. I was metal patch tested by an allergist which showed I was allergic to the chromium metal that these coils were dipped in. ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS I WAS HAVING WERE SIGNS OF METAL TOXICITY, INCLUDING THE FUNGAL INFECTION ON MY VOCAL CHORDS! I had to get them out immediately before it attacked my body further and before it COST ME MY LIFE! I had a total hysterectomy on 9/26/2014. I woke up in recovery and I had my right arm/hand strength back. And, I had a NORMAL SMILE. I was in tears-tears of joy, tears of relief....I told my sweet mom, Carol Peavy, that night in the hospital that this was the best I had felt in months....! Finally, finally, answers....finally, I was truly on the road to recovery. My body couldnt remove these Essure coils on its own so it did what it was suppose to do- attack whatever it could to fight off the foreign body and protect it. The problem is it fought the good things as well. I was in an autoimmune crisis for months. As one of the doctors told me after surgery, thank God you persisted...I told him IT WAS MY LIFE! THERE WAS NO OPTION! I wasnt about to lay down and accept this would be how I spent the rest of my life or be diagnosed with something I didnt have! Although the insult to injury has been removed and the surgery a success, I still am recovering from the months of emotional, mental, and physical stress my body has been under. I had to make the difficult decision this week to stop practicing nursing right now to continue this recovery to optimal health. I owe it to MYSELF and MY FAMILY to be the HEALTHIEST ME I can be......Those who know me know this decision did not come easily and one I struggled with and still struggle with- nursing has been a part of my life for 22 years! But, today, I need to nurse myself and put myself first along with my family for the first time in my life! We are only given one body and one life.... it is our duty to care for and cherish that body and life. We owe it to ourselves. I have learned this for myself......this journey has made this even more crystal clear. I could not have made it through these months without the power of prayer, the Lord above and many, many thoughts and prayers and support of true family and friends. I type this with tears in my eyes....tears of JOY...tears of BLESSINGS.....tears of RELIEF.....I thank God everyday for my life.....I was so close to death. I share this story not for anyone to feel sorry for me but so I can hopefully save another life.....
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 21:00:21 +0000
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