Endometrial Ablation Procedure (Full Version)

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Penpen -> Endometrial Ablation Procedure (10/10/2007 6:28:01 PM)

Has anyone heard of this or had the procedure? This is one of the possible options my gyn gave me to help with my heavy and crampy periods. I am in the process of having tests done (ultrasound scheduled tomorrow) and return to dr on 11/2 to discuss my options. If all tests come back ok, this procedure called "NovaSure" is an option the dr said we could discuss. He gave me a pamphlet on it. I want to hear from women that have had this done and their experience, pain, recovery time etc.

Thanks!
Pennies



PrudentWife -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (10/10/2007 6:52:12 PM)

I believe this procedure is only done on women who are done having children. You won't have periods after it. I know one woman who had it done and she's thrilled with the outcome.



landabee -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (10/10/2007 7:25:49 PM)

I underwent the procedure in January.

I'm so happy that I did.

I had a quick recovery, with only one set back that was quickly managed.

I have had no periods since.

Many women are rendered unable to support pregnancy... but that does not mean that you cannot conceive. However, it is HIGHLY dangerous should that occur.

As I am :


1. Single and celibate
2. Finished having children, regardless if I marry again

... it is not a problem for me.

I am 41 and was severely anemic following a heavy menses that began on the day before Thanksgiving and did not cease until the procedure at the end of January.

I had the surgery on a Friday........ returned to work on the following Tuesday. The pain was not horrible. In fact, the horrible cramping with bleeding was worse. I did take the pain medication for 48 hours, though.

My procedure was done as an outpatient surgery. If you have more questions, you can pm me.

I do not check this board daily, though.

Blessings,



Roberta_ -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (10/10/2007 7:34:04 PM)

I've thought about talking to my OB/GYN about this procedure.
We don't have any insurance, so it's kind of out of the question.



agapetos -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (10/11/2007 5:24:52 AM)

This is the site you want! It covers all types of ablation and will answer many of your questions I think ~ or you'll be able to post questions if it doesn't.

I had a mea (that'd be the one where they nuke ya[;)]) in November 2004 ~ I was having very heavy periods and had a couple of fibroids. Since then I've had 2 days (in December 2004) of very light spotting (if I hadn't used a panty liner, no one would have noticed light) and that's been it.

I've had no pms or cramps since.

There are varying degrees of success. Some women will still have bleeding after their procedure, but it will be much lighter and they are able to deal with it so hare happy. Some have no bleeding. Some have very little change in their periods and need to look at other options. I had a very good surgeon (who helped develop the technique) and I attribute that to the outcome I had.

I had to have an injection to help thin the lining of my uterus a month before the op and that sent me into my very own mini-menopause[:'(] That was pretty grim for me. My op was carried out under general (though it can be done under local) and the worst thing was my reaction to the anaesthetic. The pain was minimal and recovery fast ~ walked to my local supermarket (5-10 minutes) about 24 hours after the op. Was going back to the gym within a week.

If you are married or thinking of it, you may feel you want to look at one of you being sterilized. I think they consider that most of the ablation procedures will sterilize a woman, but pregnancies have been known to occur and these can be dangerous (for the babe and woman).

If you are still young, it's possible that parts of your uterus will grow again and you will start to have regular periods. However, I wouldn't look at that as a negative point ~ you should have years when you don't have problems with periods before that happens. If it does happen, you can look at other options. I was in my 30's when I had mine ~ it's possible that I'll experience bleeding again.

I had a nightmare of a job trying to find info about ablations ~ especially the mea because it was so new and so few women had had it.

Bottom line. Think seriously about having it. The chances of some improvement are good. The chances of nothing are low. You're not dealing with the physical trauma of having to have surgery if you have a hysterectomy and nothing is being removed from your body as in a hysterectomy. If the ea doesn't work then look at a hysterecomy or IUD.



Room2Grow -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (10/11/2007 8:52:55 AM)

If this is what I am thinking of (Insert balloon, fill with "boiling" water to burn out lining of uterus and then deflate)- I have not had it, but my mother did and I took her in for the procedure. It took a few hours (with anesthesia, etc), but was wonderful. It was outpatient and we went shopping on the way home. She had it done over ten years ago and had one very minor spotting incident a few years ago (there was nothing wrong, needed no medical attention, just a period trying to return), but never has had a return of the horrible cramps. The only thing she did not like was being put into chemical menapause before the procedure, but a few weeks of that v. over ten years of pain- she's very glad she did it and I will have it done in a heartbeat when we are sure we are done with children and if my cramps continue to get worse- mine are like labor pains, which might be why I handle labor so well[;)]



agapetos -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (10/11/2007 8:57:01 AM)

Jennifer ~ there are different methods of ea now ~ not sure how many, but the balloon one is just one of them. They take minutes now, even with a full general (unless you're like me and react[;)]).

As a side note ~ the applications of using microwaves in surgery are increasing into other areas. It's so amazing...



Penpen -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (10/11/2007 10:25:43 AM)

WOW! Thank you so much ladies for all your responses. I am 39 years old, married for 18 years, and have 2 teenage boys. We are done having children, as DH had a vasectomy 10 years ago. This sounds like it could really help me with my period pain and bleeding. I am also anemic, which makes it so hard to even function. I am on my way in about an hour for my ultrasound.

Thanks again for the info. I'll keep you all posted on what I decide to do.



PrudentWife -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (10/11/2007 11:41:51 AM)

quote:

If this is what I am thinking of (Insert balloon, fill with "boiling" water to burn out lining of uterus and then deflate)-


They now do them with lasers too. I don't know if that is what Agapetos is referring to when she says 'microwave.'



Roberta_ -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (10/11/2007 3:06:37 PM)

Thanks agapetos for the link!

A friend of mine had the "balloon" one done a few years ago. She said that it didn't take away her periods, but she, like me, had such horrible periods that she is glad she had it done. Even though her periods came back, she was only going through one to two pads a day and only for a few days. That was better than going through 10+ pads somedays and bleeding for over a week straight. That's the boat I'm in right now. I'm thinking about checking out how much money the surgery costs vs. how much money I spend on pads. I'm also anemic.



PrincessDonna -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (10/11/2007 7:38:26 PM)

My mom had one done a few years ago. She was 43, I think. It didn't work for her and she had a complete hysterectomy two months later. She wasn't sorry she tried it, but it didn't work for her. She did have large fibroids, so maybe that had something to do with it?



agapetos -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (10/12/2007 6:46:49 AM)

quote:

I think. It didn't work for her and she had a complete hysterectomy two months later.
Your comment made me think ~ as I recall for the procedure I had anyhow, you had to give time to allow things to settle down ~ my memory is telling me that 6 months was the guide.
quote:

She wasn't sorry she tried it, but it didn't work for her. She did have large fibroids, so maybe that had something to do with it?
Fibroids can cause problems with several of these procedures. I was so fortunate to have such and experienced surgeon operating on me. I had seen 2 others to discuss having this and they experienced doubts because of the fibroids.
quote:

They now do them with lasers too. I don't know if that is what Agapetos is referring to when she says 'microwave.'
They're 2 different procedures. Laser ablations have been around about 20 years I believe. Microwave ones less than 5.



PrincessDonna -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (10/12/2007 9:53:37 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: agapetos

quote:

I think. It didn't work for her and she had a complete hysterectomy two months later.
Your comment made me think ~ as I recall for the procedure I had anyhow, you had to give time to allow things to settle down ~ my memory is telling me that 6 months was the guide.
quote:

She wasn't sorry she tried it, but it didn't work for her. She did have large fibroids, so maybe that had something to do with it?
Fibroids can cause problems with several of these procedures. I was so fortunate to have such and experienced surgeon operating on me. I had seen 2 others to discuss having this and they experienced doubts because of the fibroids.


Hmmm...her doctor seemed to think they waited long enough. She had the ablation, bleeding stopped for a week, maybe two, and then she was right back where she started...constant, clotty bleeding.[:'(]



agapetos -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (10/12/2007 10:07:48 AM)

quote:

Hmmm...her doctor seemed to think they waited long enough.
Her doctor is the one who knows best what her treatment should be. As you said, she did have fibroids and this may have been the deciding factor. I'm wondering if there was any other issues too as she had a complete (I'm taking that as you meaning she had her ovaries and uterus removed, not just her uterus) hysterectomy?



PrincessDonna -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (10/12/2007 10:14:38 AM)

She has three sisters. Two of them had complete hysterectomies in their 30s for similar problems. My mom also had endometriosis, so that may be why they did a complete.

I am 27 and will likely have a hysterectomy at some point, unless I am healed. It seems to run in our family.



um_lilly -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (10/17/2007 10:56:47 AM)

I used to be a sufferer of endometriosis. I had a hysterectomy because of this issue. I never had the ablation procedure but a friend of mine did. Her periods started again after a year and a half and she ended up with a hysterectomy.



Penpen -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (10/17/2007 6:24:20 PM)

Thanks you all for your responses.

I found out today the results of my ultrasound: Seems I have fibroids on my uterus and ovarian cysts. Does anyone know if this could cause my symptoms and if the ablation procedure could take care of my pain and heavy periods?

I see my Dr. again on 11/2. He wants the ultrasound repeated in 6 weeks.



agapetos -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (10/18/2007 1:57:28 PM)

Fbroids can cause heavy bleeding and a lot of pain. I think cysts can cause pain, not sure about the bleeding though.

I had fibroids and still had the ablations ~ but not every doctor will be happy to do this (and depending how many and their size it may not be adviseable). I was very lucky in that my surgeon was so experienced at the procedure.

Find out what your doctor thinks about you having one, and why, and maybe think about a second opinion ~ or even finding out (yes, by asking the doctor directly) how much experience he's had and would a more experienced surgeon be prepared to operate?



Roberta_ -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (11/2/2007 10:36:11 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: penniesfromheaven
I see my Dr. again on 11/2. He wants the ultrasound repeated in 6 weeks.


How did the drs. appt. go?



Penpen -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (11/7/2007 6:29:44 PM)

Hi everyone. Thanks again for your responses and prayers. I went to the Dr. on Friday and he did not do the biopsy since I was experiencing severe cramps. He did examine me (which was dreadfully painful) and said everything seemed "ok". He went over the results of the ultrasound, said that I do have fibroids on top of my uterus and some ovarian cysts. He believes the fibroids are what is causing the cramps and heavy bleeding. I have an appt for a follow-up ultrasound on 11/23 and a an appt for the biopsy on 11/30. In the meantime, the Dr. prescribed some pain meds for me to take if the cramps are too bad.



Room2Grow -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (11/8/2007 8:41:48 AM)

I don't know what he gave you, but when mine were acting up terribly, my doctor gave me Cataflam- it was WONDERFUL. It took a lot of pain away, and made periods a little lighter. My mother had the procedure for the same reasons as you and has had one period (very, very light) since and that was ten years ago. Very simple procedure v. an invasive surgery- I hope you get the answers you need from your next appointments.



Memaw. -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (11/8/2007 10:17:49 AM)

This is something I am going to talk with my doctor about having done.
I went without a period for 2 months and now I have had a very heavy clotty period since Sept 27. I am scheduled for an endometrial biopsy the 19 of Nov and I just want this to stop. I have been on hormone therapy since Sept 30 (two different ones) and they are not working. I had a pelvic CT on Sept 27 and the doc told me I had ovarian cysts (which I guess is not uncommon) but I wonder if that is not some of the cause of all this?



jayben -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (11/10/2007 11:52:48 PM)

I had an endometrial ablasion (laser) done this past April, because of anemia due to very, very heavy and clotty bleeding. It was absolutely the best!!

I'm 35, married with two girls and wasn't planning on having more children, so that was never an issue.

I read and heard some negative things about the balloon one (boiling water), plus I didn't like that I would need to take medication to induce a mini-menopause before the procedure, so I opted for the laser one.

It was out-patient, I had general anesthesia (my Dr. said it wasn't necessary but I begged him for it). I had it done on a Friday, I was a little achy Saturday, but that's it really. I don't really remember, but I don't think I took any pain medication and I've never bled since, it's great.



Penpen -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (11/30/2007 11:39:39 AM)

Hi everyone. It's been a while since I posted last. Please pray for me today. I am having an endometrial biopsy. I had one about a year ago and I was not pleasant. My appointment is in about an hour and 1/2. DH is meeting me there to hold my hand doing it. [:D] I've had 2 ultrasounds, 6 weeks apart, to look for changes etc. They showed uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts. Once the results are back from this biopsy, the Dr. will discuss options, which the endometrial ablation procedure is one of them. Please pray for me today though, I am feeling a bit anxious as the time gets closer. Thank you for your prayers :D I will post when I get home and let you all know how I made out.



landabee -> RE: Endometrial Ablation Procedure (11/30/2007 10:01:32 PM)

((((((((((((pennies)))))))))))))))))

Praying that all went well and that you are resting comfortably.



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