FOR WOMEN ONLY - personal question

[petrymom]

I am looking for help from all women who might have gone through this before. I have been having big problems with my cycle. My bleeding is very heavy and I tend to have large clots. I don't like to even leave the house in the first 2 or 3 days of my cycle due to the possible complications of the bleeding and the fact that I usually feel like a mac truck ran me over.

My family practice practitioner has recommended a uterine ablasion. I am done having children, so this is not an issue. Has anyone had this procedure or known someone who has???

Thanks and sorry if I have made anyone uncomfortable.

 

[Disney Doll]

My cousin's wife just had this done, had no problem with it, was in and out.

I am curious though if your monthly cycle is that heavy and you are done with children, why not get a hysterectomy?

 

[Planogirl]

My cousin's wife just had this done, had no problem with it, was in and out.

I am curious though if your monthly cycle is that heavy and you are done with children, why not get a hysterectomy?

I've been told that this isn't a good idea due to possible hormonal problems. It's supposedly best to keep as much as you can for as long as you can.

 

[floridafam]

I had one last September.

I had many of the same problems you are having. It just got to be too much. It didn't really give me the results I wanted for the first few months but maybe my body needed time to straighten everything out.

My cycles are not as severe as they once were and they seem to be shorter.

I would say go for it. I also had the Essure birth control procedure on the same day so that may account for some of my issues.

I know a few women who have had an ablation and they all seem to be happy with the results.

Well, we are about to get a huge lightning storm so I have to get off the computer. I'll check back in the morning.

 

[FreshTressa]

Also, it keeps your ovaries in place, which is safer if you get ovarian cancer.

I will be having one or the other this fall due to similar issues.

I think I'm going to try the ablation first and if it doesn't work go for the works.

 

[mantysk8coach]

I personally have not had it, but have heard wonderful things about it. I work in Public Relations for a hospital, and had to help one of our OB/GYN physicians put together a presentation on the procedure, so I learned quite a bit about it.

I see that you are in WI, so am I. The doctor that I worked with is considered one of the leaders in the area in this procedure.

PM me if you want more info. Depending on where you are in Wisconsin, maybe he could do the procedure!

Really, it sounds like I'm trying to solicit my hospital...I'm not! I just know what I learned from him, and he really seemed to believe in this procedure, and was excited about what it could do for women with problems like yours.

Good luck!

 

[floridafam]

Also, it keeps your ovaries in place, which is safer if you get ovarian cancer.

I don't get what this means. I was just talking to DH about maybe doing a hysterectomy in the future and said I don't mind if my ovaries are gone because then I can't get ovarian cancer.

 

[petrymom]

The way it is being explained to me is very much like Planogirl's response. I believe that a hysterectomy is end of the road last resort. A lot of times, they like to encourage hormones even instead of the ablasion. I have in the past (prior to being sure that I was done having babies) went this route. I don't tolerate hormones well. AND, unfortunately, it affects our intimate life at home.

Tried to talk to DH about my feelings/concerns and he is not being very helpful.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I plan on having the Novasure (ablation) procedure in a couple months for the very same reasons (heavy clotty bleeding). http://www.novasure.com/
It is suppose to be quick and pretty painless and much easier than a hysterectomy would be. It is a minor procedure. Dr. does them on Friday's so you can relax all weekend.

 

[powellrj]

I am looking for help from all women who might have gone through this before. I have been having big problems with my cycle. My bleeding is very heavy and I tend to have large clots. I don't like to even leave the house in the first 2 or 3 days of my cycle due to the possible complications of the bleeding and the fact that I usually feel like a mac truck ran me over.

My family practice practitioner has recommended a uterine ablasion. I am done having children, so this is not an issue. Has anyone had this procedure or known someone who has???

Thanks and sorry if I have made anyone uncomfortable.

I had it done about 8 years ago. It was great for a while, but the results didn't last forever. While they have never been as heavy as they were before the ablasion, they can still be very heavy.

I had it done on a Friday as an out patient, but I went back to work on Saturday. BIG mistake. I should have taken the weekend off. My Dr wouldn't agree that I needed Saturday off, but I really did.

Good Luck, I know its not fun to be where you are at.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

My OB/GYN doesn't recommend the ablation but suggests removing the uterus - leaving the ovaries intact.

I have this same issue but I havent had the surgery yet. He did put me on meds that stopped my cycle (not the pill but something else - I will have to look it up if you want to know) but the side effects were horrid - weight gain, headaches and ovarian cysts.

My doctor said he is 99% sure my problem is something called adenomyosis but it can't be accurately confirmed without doing a biopsy of the uterus and that cant happen as long as the uterus remains in your body.

Good luck!

 

[slmjam]

I had this procedure done 2 years ago and I am very satisfied with the results. I went from very heavy and then light to moderate bleeding for 3 out of 4 weeks every month; now it lasts for a couple days at the most and is very light. My doctor tried to convince me to have the procedure 2-3 years before I actually agreed. Now I wonder what took me so long!!!

Only side effect I had was cramping the first day. I had it done on a Thursday and was back at work by Monday.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[JESW]

Me!

I had a laparoscopy and novasure ablation back on June 8th. I was put under (my first time) and both were done in less than an hour. It was a bit uncomfortable the first few days after but nothing bad. My dr. gave me painkillers and I only took them the first night to sleep. For about 12 days I could feel a bit of tugging in my abdomen and I am not sure which procedure it was from.

I got the surgeries done due to real bad pain the two weeks before my period. Right now I am less than a week from my "due date" and I feel GREAT!!! What a difference!! I saw my gyno yesterday for my two week follow-up visit and she said I looked fine. I will see her again in 3 months to check again. While doing the laparoscopy she checked around and found out if I ever needed a hysterectomy she could go in through my belly button. Good to know but I hope I don't have to go that route.

May be TMI, but for almost 2 weeks after the procedure I had to wear a mini-pad due to small pieces of the lining coming out - nothing real bad and no clots. Also, when I wiped I would get a pinkish tinge - again, nothing real bad - nothing like a period.

I would HIGHLY recomend the ablation as it has made a BIG difference in my life already - before I would have 2 good weeks out of the month and then the other two weeks I was on my back with a heating pad on my stomach.

Good luck to you!!

Jill

 

[CF'er]

had the ablation and swears by it.
I hate my cycle and am done having kids and would love to get rid of my uterus. The dr's in my area have taken every uterus they can find it seems (I work in a hospital lab and see lots come in every day. In a plastic container that is.) The path at our hosp also wants hers out but can't find a Gyn to remove it. I figure if the "dr" can't get a "dr" to remove hers then I haven't got a snowballs chance.

Back to the original topic..... ablation. Go for it.

 

[wilderness01]

Not to be a downer to the person who posted but you can still get Ovarian Cancer even though you have had your ovaries removed. You can get the same kind of cancer on your abdominal wall.

 

[minkydog]

I had a Novasure ablation 3 yrs ago and it changed my life! I was suffering from heavy bleeding to the point of severe anemia every month. Not only was the period itself bad(I couldn't leave the house for 3 days each month) but the anemia left me weak &breathless with heart palpitations.

My OBGYN offered either take it all out or try ablation.Or do nothing, and hope i go through menopause before I bleed to death. I don't believe in cutting out perfectly healthy organs. Even unused organs serve a purpose. Hysterectomy is a very major surgery with a lot of potential side effects. We confrmed before surgery there was no cancer or abnormal tissue, just hormonal discrepencies which were leading to excess bleeding. The ablation was a breeze--I took the kids camping the next day! Three years later, i hardly have any period at all. I haven't bought a box of tampons in at least a year.

 

[luvdzne]

My friend had this done and she also swears by it. She had some cramping the first day, but by the next day she was feeling much better. She also suffered from heavy bleeding.

 

[FreshTressa]

I have the merina IUD right now which has made my periods stop completely. It has basically cured my heavy bleeding problem...However, I am very sensetive to hormones and the Merina uses progesterone.

I have gained about 20lbs since getting it and have terrible acne and a lack of desire.

So...I will probably wind up getting a hysterectomy because those side effects are not tolerable to me.

 

[petrymom]

Thank you all so much for your replies. You all have been so helpful. I have grown to respect the opinions of my fellow Dis'ers!!! Who knows maybe I will have this problem under control by the time we vacation at Disney at Christmas....

 

[Happywanderer]

I had the same problem you had. We tried hormones but that didn't work. My dr.and I discussed ablation, but it was found out after a ******l ultrasound that my fibroids were to large. So, hysterectomy was the choice. I just had a hysterectomy, my ovaries were left. So, no premature menopause. It was the best decision of my life.