How Maryland mother escaped death after IUD birth control nearly killed her

A mother living in Baltimore, Maryland shared photos of herself in a hospital and her story on Facebook last Thursday of how an intrauterine device (IUD) birth control inserted in her three years ago almost cost her her life in November 2017 after it went missing.

Tanai Smith, who had the IUD six weeks after delivering her baby, said she went for her annual checkup in October last year and was told that the IUD could not be found.

“They sent me to get two types of ultrasounds the same day and i was told once again that they didnt see an IUD. One day in the beginning of November i was at work i had a sharp pain and the bottom right of my stomach and the first thing that popped in my head was is this that IUD?

“I left work 3 hours early to go to the hospital … The doctor came in with a weird look on her face and said the IUD is definitely in there but its pushed up in your stomach so you will have to get surgery,” she narrated.

She underwent a surgery on December 13 and instead of one cut, she had three with one under her belly button and two on her sides.

“They was able to get it out but it was broken into pieces. I was told that it had moved up to my liver. When i left the hospital i was bleeding but my mom was told that it was normal. Overnight i begin to bleed heavier and the pain got worse. I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance.

“I was bleeding internally. After the surgery my mom was told that when they open me up, my ovaries was black and that they had to give me a hysterectomy. After the surgery i went into septic shock causing me to be in ICU for a few weeks. I died on that surgery table,” she added.

She said her organs begun to fail while in ICU and “I was on a breathing machine, I was on dialysis cause my kidneys wasn’t working right. Everything that could possibly go wrong went wrong.”

Tanai Smith said her parents were told that she wouldn’t make it but she did and is still at the hospital awaiting another surgery this week to amputate her toes which were affected by her failed organs.

She said at the beginning of her post that she wanted to tell her story because “I feel like I can help someone. I’m not here for people opinions but to simply tell my story.”

Her story generated over 28,000 comments on Facebook and was shared more than 40,000 times.

While others expressed their gratitude that she was alive, others shared their personal stories with IUDs. Some advised that she seeks legal help.

IUDs have always had side effects including irregular menstrual periods, changes in bleeding patterns or flow;
breakthrough bleeding, or heavier menstrual bleeding during the first few weeks after device insertion;
back pain; headache, nervousness, mild dizziness; nausea, vomiting, bloating; breast tenderness or pain; among others.

If you opt for the IUD birth control device, you have to always see a doctor and be sure it is well placed to avoid any complications.

Here are some comments to Tanai Smith’s story which was also shared on other social media platforms including Twitter by concerned users.