my Essure experience rocked!

[tyrsalvia.livejournal.com]

So I think I can officially say that Essure is awesome.

I was told not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before - no water, even. By the time we got to the hospital in the morning, my mouth was really dry. This was the worst part of the actual procedure!

I wanted to provide a detailed account for anyone who is thinking about getting Essure. I can so far say that this has been a wholly positive experience, and if you're thinking about permanent sterilization - Essure is the way to go! Comments and questions are welcome.

I got to the hospital at 7:30, and waited to be admitted. I had kind of a surreal experience as a girl next to me was getting prayed over and squirted with holy water by a priest, and chanting the Lord's Prayer and stuff. When it was my turn, I answered a few questions and made sure they had all my info. They gave me a bracelet, and sent me to the outpatient surgery clinic.

I was nervous, but by this time the vicodin and valium they'd had me take were starting to sink in, and I wasn't panicking or anything.

I went into the outpatient surgery room, where they took my paperwork and had me undress and put on a gown and little booties and a hairnet. Then they put me in a bed. I met a few different nurses and answered a number of questions about my health, whether I had any allergies, etc. They gave me a little red bracelet to go with the hospital one that listed my allergies (sulfa, latex, septocaine - a dental anesthesia). I talked to the anesthesiologist, and went over my history and pain tolerance and stuff. Then they gave me an IV in my hand, which was fairly easy (needles freak me out, but this was ok). They let my partner spend a little time with me, which was nice. He was really sweet to drive me there and help me stay calm on my way into this, and just generally made the whole thing a lot easier. *loves*

After Fox left, there was more bustling about as they couldn't find my paperwork. They gave me some more ibuprofen and an anti-nausea drug (I was feeling a little off due to stress I think). I guess the valium had me pretty well by that point, because I fell asleep a for a few before they finally found my papers and woke me up to start things.

They walked me into the operating room, and then had me lay down on a bed. They found me a pillow, and covered me in warm blankets. They had an arm rest for my left arm (with a blood pressure cuff on it). They sorta removed the bottom half of the bed so my ass was right at the end of it, and they arranged each of my legs on individual rests - these weren't like the stirrups used for pap smears, rather they were larger leg rests that had a channel to put my leg and knee at an exact angle. They gave me an oxygen mask.

I remember asking when the drugs would start, and being told "about now." ...And then I don't remember anything for a while.

I also had them remove the tiny remnants of my hymen, because they have been kinda in the way sometimes. I woke up when she was sewing up the incision she'd made there. It didn't hurt, but it's a very strange sensation to feel someone sewing up your vagina. Eek! Apparently my stitches will dissolve.

Anyways, she packed me full of a little gauze and put me in a ridiculous pair of what can only be described as fishnet hotpants, with a menstrual pad. Then they removed the oxygen mask, transferred me to a regular bed, and wheeled me out to the recovery room. I woke up all the way, and then they removed the IV and told me I should use the bathroom (and remove the gauze). Then I got dressed in my own clothes, and sat in a big comfy chair. They called my husband, who came to pick me up, and together we walked back to the car. I was a little unsteady, but not much, and nothing hurt whatsoever.

They gave me a piece of paper with photographs of my implants, which is awesome.

Now nearly twenty four hours later, I've been taking the ibuprofen 800 constantly, and nothing hurts at all. My incision hurts a little, but I have some lidocaine jelly to put on it, and it's fine too. I've taken a couple more vicodin, and slept a whole lot, and that's it. When the pain meds start to wear off, all I feel is a mild backache kinda like menstrual cramping.

I can honestly say the month of hormones they had me on to time my period has so far been the worst part of this process. Knock on wood, here's hoping that my good luck holds and that the HSG (dye test) in three months goes just as easily.

Comments

[ehlasandra.livejournal.com]

Just a question out of curiousity, feel free to not answer :)

I take you didn't have an ablation as well- any particular reason? I understand that there might be medical reasons to not have one, but I always thought that the best part about being sterile would be not menstruating and the no-babies part was a bonus.

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

I can't speak for the OP, but to the best of my knowledge, essure is an entirely separate procedure from ablation. Ablation (a brand name is Novasure) is often done for heavy periods, and essure is a method of sterilization. Had you heard of them being done at the same time?

[ehlasandra.livejournal.com]

Yes, I am completely aware of exactly what Essure is and what an endometrial ablation consists of. And I have heard of sterilizations and ablations being done together- I think because there are many that wouldn't want to menstruate when there is possibly no purpose (some might have medical reasons to continue? not sure).

http://mediwire.skyscape.com/main/Default.aspx?P=Content&ArticleID=160828

Just one of the links I found, once I'm at my home computer I can locate the links I usually refer to.

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the link, I was aware that they can be done concurrently. I think most women wouldn't choose ablation even after permanent sterilization because ablation is another medical procedure, with separate side effects and concerns. It also doesn't end bleeding entirely for many women -- I don't have statistics, but there is a percentage of women who continue to bleed or whose bleeding returns after a period of time.

Basically, I think most women are seeing sterilization as one thing, and menstruation (and things to stop it) as another.

[ehlasandra.livejournal.com]

*nods* I was just hoping the OP might share her thoughts as I am curious about personal reasons for electing to be sterilized and continuing to menstruate (if that is what the OP has decided to do).

[tyrsalvia.livejournal.com]

It honestly did not occur to me to have an ablation, but had it, I don't think I would have requested it. My periods are really light, usually two to three days at the most. My cramps are fairly mild, and are easy to deal with using over the counter pain meds if any. I kind of find that I like bleeding every month, and not just for the no-babies reassurance. I like that it is a sort of monthly time to get rid of stress in the form of blood.

So I guess it would seem that having an ablation would be an additional painful thing that would create more recovery time, and I don't really see not bleeding as anything I'd really want anyways.

Taken from a post I made to sterilizationqa a couple of days ago:

My reasons for sterilization are diverse. The most basic reason is that I have a pregnancy phobia. While I'm marginally more ok with the concept of parenting than being pregnant, I am still not interested in having kids. The frivolous reason is that pregnancy hormones make the bones in your feet expand causing you to need bigger shoes - and at a women's size 10.5 or 11 already, if my feet got any bigger I'd be stuck wearing men's shoes and drag queen shoes (and this would make me very sad, I am highly fond of ridiculous shoes). The last reason is that I identify as genderqueer; I am not comfortable considering myself completely female, and the ability to become pregnant really screws with my gender issues.

Of these, only the last might possibly gain anything from an ablation, and as stated before, I kind of enjoy the monthly reflection on my health and body.

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

I know that my reasons aren't the same as the OP's, but I know that when the doctor and I were discussing treatment/management options for adenomyosis, endometrial ablation was one brought up and then kind of dismissed. For one reason, only about half (http://women.webmd.com/Women-Medical-Reference/Endometrial-ablation-16200) of women fully stop having periods, and younger women are less likely to stop menstruating. Add to that the fact that younger women are often prescribed gonadotropin-releasing drugs (which can be pretty heavy-duty medications) for a couple of months before the procedure as well as the separate risks from the procedure... I can say that it definitely wasn't worth it to me to have it done as a sole procedure. And if I ever find a provider willing to sterilize me (which is a whole separate issue), the risk/benefit analysis may not be worth it even then.

[marionravenwood.livejournal.com]

I haven't had essure, but if I did I wouldn't have ablation. There's no reason to: I have light periods that last about two days and I don't have cramps. I wouldn't want the proceedure to be any more complicated than it absolutely had to be.

In addition, women who want to be sterilized are also probably more likely to want to get their period every month as proof they're not pregnant.

[vegaenglit.livejournal.com]

cool. im thinking about going with essure once im done having kids.

i didnt realise they put you under for it. when i was reading about it, it seemed more like getting an IUD.

and another silly question - will you stop menstruating after the procedure?

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

Nope, despite an egg never making it down to the uterus after essure (or a tubal), menstruation continues per normal.

[tyrsalvia.livejournal.com]

I realize this may be confusing, because I was pretty out - but this was not general anesthesia. I think she called it "local stand-by" or something like that. The main difference is that I was awake enough that I could hear things and was somewhat in and out of consciousness. In medical terms, the difference is that I did not have a breathing tube and I did not slow my heart rate down so much, which meant that my recovery was much easier and there were far fewer risks.

My understanding is that this really varies from place to place. From what I've read over at sterilizationqa, some people are sedated as I was, some people are sedated somewhat lighter than I was, while others have no sedation at all and rely only on the pain medicines they've taken beforehand and an injection or two.

[marionravenwood.livejournal.com]

They don't have to put you under for it. There are different levels of anesthesia available for essure, from nothing to local to general.

[kiteless.livejournal.com]

I'm so jealous of you! I want to get this done, but can't because of my nickel allergies. Ugh why cant they make one without nickel!

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

ooh, essure has nickel, good to know. i found out about paragard's nickel content the hard way, but at least that can be removed easily. i can't even imagine a reaction to the essure, you'd need an emergency bilateral salpingectomy, which doesn't sound like a good time!

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

intense, horrific, terrible, very bad, awful itching and irritation. any irritation you've ever had from a nickel-containing piercing or piece of jewelry, x150, inside your uterus. it's bad news. my experience: http://community.livejournal.com/vaginapagina/8552344.html

[vegaenglit.livejournal.com]

dammit!!!! i cant even use "nickel-free" hypoallergenic earrings - only pure silver/gold.

damn damn damn.

[free-me07.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear it went so well! :)

[marionravenwood.livejournal.com]

I have to say, I love the idea of essure but I'm really, really put off by the HSG requirement (which I realize you haven't had yet). I don't understand why women getting essure in the UK and Australia have their blocked tubes verified by a plain pelvic x-ray, yet for some reason HSG is required in the US--it makes me mad. I think I'm actually more afraid of HSG than the actual essure proceedure.

It's really ironic, since HSG is usually used to diagnose the cause of female infertility.

[tyrsalvia.livejournal.com]

I didn't realize the requirements were different per country. There's no way to just get a pelvic x-ray in the US for this?

I'm not particularly looking forward to the HSG either, but I think the two combined are still likely to be somewhat easier than a tubal (knock on wood!).

[marionravenwood.livejournal.com]

From the Essure UK website: (http://www.essure.co.uk/consumer/c_faq.aspx)

"You will need to visit your doctor 3 months after your Essure procedure to have a test performed. This evaluation is a plain pelvic x-ray exam to make sure that your micro-inserts are in the correct location."

From the Australian essure website (http://www.essure.com.au/whatisessure/FaqIndex.aspx#faq8):

"Like vasectomy, there is a waiting period after the procedure, typically three months, during which you must use a different method of birth control to prevent pregnancy. You should not rely on the Essure micro-inserts for birth control until you have had a pelvic x-ray three months after your procedure, and your physician has informed you that the results are satisfactory."

(The Australian website goes on to explain that HSG is sometimes used as a second test if the plain pelvic x-ray does not clearly show blocked tubes.)

From the American essure website (http://www.essure.com/Home/Understanding/QuestionsAnswers/tabid/59/Default.aspx):

"During the first 3 months following the procedure, your body and the micro-inserts work together to form a tissue barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg. You will need to use another form of birth control during this time. After 3 months, your doctor will perform a special type of x-ray test called an HSG to confirm that your tubes are completely blocked and you can rely on the Essure micro-inserts for birth control."

Seriously, WTF? If I were you I would just refuse the HSG and demand a plain pelvic x-ray instead. Or, if you can't get that, just wait six months instead of three and don't do any followup at all. I know that sounds crazy, but About 99% of women whose tubes are open [at three months] will have blocked tubes within 3 more months (http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:PyQE2ozfbnkJ:www.managingcontraception.com/QA/show_item.php%3Fitem%3D1727%26type%3Dqna+essure+procedure+blocked+tubes+months&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us&client=firefox-a) (for six months total).

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

my guess is that while a pelvic x-ray can show that they're in the tubes, it can't show that the tubes are completely blocked. an HSG uses dye, and will show that the tubes are either completely blocked or not completely blocked -- and that's a very important distinction. if you consider just looking from above, which is what an x-ray does, versus using liquid to see if it can flow through, the liquid seems more detailed and foolproof to me.

[kat144.livejournal.com]

May I ask you how much it cost you? I wanted to have IV sedation, but when I found out the price (the doctor told me $4,000-$5,000 on top of the $3500 I was quoted to have it done without sedation in the doctor's office) there was no way I could deplete my savings that much! (My insurance pays for it, but I'm still responsible for 10%, plus have about $150 left on my deductible. For the office version, and counting the HSG test later, I'm already looking at about $700-$800 out of my pocket--adding $500 is just not doable!) Some people have suggested to me that this price is quite high, though...

[tyrsalvia.livejournal.com]

My insurance paid for the whole thing, actually. I didn't pay for anything except a $10 co-pay for the HSG and I think $10 each for the vicodin and prescription strength ibuprophen and valium they gave me.

Essure????

[drod141.livejournal.com]

Don't mean to burst your bubble girls, but I had the essure implants done a year ago and guess what?? I am 7 weeks preggo. It hasn't been confirmed about the placement of the embryo, but my doc said that if it were in the tubes I would be in alot of pain by now. Not feeling a thing. Nothing seems to work for me. I got pregnant on the paraguard after having it for 3 years which made it my 4th child. Now this!!! A 5th!!!! Don't get me wrong, I love my kids, but I was done after my 3rd.

Re: Essure????

[montybaby1.livejournal.com]

i feel for you, i have a good friend who has tried everything to stop getting pregnant, she was on her 5th baby by the time she was 27!!! She didnt want more than 2, but she told me that obviously her kids were coming along for a reason and embraced them rather than growing to resent them, one of her biggest fears. I have no kids myself and dont desire any so im gonna try this essure and hopefully it will take properly. My friend eventually had a hysterectomy after a long talk with her doctor and her 9th baby. She is now happy in the knowledge she can no longer have more after the more permanent solution of having no womb. She still has ovaries to produce hormones so she isnt shoved into early menopause, i dont know wether this would be an option for you? All the best with your new baby x