Ladies...Novasure??? Anyone???

[ckmommy]

We went for my annual with my ob/gym this afternoon. I have been having very irregular, long and heavy periods after the birth of my last DS. I went into the office with a laundry list of questions and problems that I wanted to talk with the Dr. about. I talked with the nurse when I first arrived. One of her first questions was if I was having any problems? My answer...uhhh, tons!! What a way to start the afternoon off!! The Dr. came in and did his thing, then talked to me about some options with my period. In a nutshell, they were--do nothing, go on the pill (I had my tubes tied after DS was born, so he did not think this was want I wanted), hyterectomy (I am 32, he felt I was a bit young for this), or Novasure.

Novasure is a burning of the lining of the uterus. This will lead to a very light or no period. It is an outpatient surgery. There are no hormones to take and it looks safe.

Has anyone had this done? I have been trying to read up on how long this lasts, but have not found any info. It seems to be pretty new. I am a bit nervous about something this new.

Any info any of you can provide would be great!!

 

[Poohnatic]

I'm surprised they didn't give you a packet. I went to the Novasure website last month, and they sent a packet, but I also got one from the Gynecologist, this one has a cd rom in it.

Your story is identical to mine, and my doctor recommended the Mirena if I'm not a good candidate for the Novasure.

Check out their website. I'm swimming in info right now, just have to get some tests done, and get the a-ok from another specialist.

Suzanne

 

[ckmommy]

I'm surprised they didn't give you a packet. I went to the Novasure website last month, and they sent a packet, but I also got one from the Gynecologist, this one has a cd rom in it.

Your story is identical to mine, and my doctor recommended the Mirena if I'm not a good candidate for the Novasure.

Check out their website. I'm swimming in info right now, just have to get some tests done, and get the a-ok from another specialist.

Suzanne

I got the info packet from my Dr.(without the CD). I went to the Novasure website, but it did not have much else to say that was not in the packet. I also have been on the web all afternoon looking up any info I could find. With it being so new, I cannot find much out about long term effectiveness. Meaning, do I have to have this redone every year, 5 years, never??

Just curious, why would you not be a good candidate? What is Mirena??

 

[Poohnatic]

I have had previous DVT and clots and a lot of chronic issues. My doctor, seeing my extensive medical history, said I need to get a cardiologist to sign off on any surgery. This is a first. Never had any heart problems, but I do have severe asthma and allergies, so I think she was being extremely cautious.

Mirena is an iud that releases a very small dosage of one of the ingredients found in BCPs. Not thrilled with the idea, but supposedly, 90% of women who get this IUD stop having periods for up to five years.

If you want, PM me and I'll send you the CD Rom once I've viewed it.

Suzanne

 

[minkydog]

I had the Novasure procedure done about 2-1/2 yrs ago and i couldn't be happier. I'm going through perimenopause and my periods were overwhelming.So heavy it was interfering with work. So heavy I couldn't walk from the kitchen to the bathroom with out messing up the floor So heavy that i was seriously anemic and we were discussing blood transfusions. My GYN offered me the same options--BCPs, hysterectomy,or ablation. He and I decided that removing non-cancerous organs was not the best option for me and I don't handle hormones well, so ablation it was.

First of all, the procedure was a breeze. My doc does it in outpatient surgery, so you go in, go to sleep,and in about 2hrs you go home. I had some cramping that day, but mostly I just slept it off. The next day i took our 3 kids camping in the mountains for 4 days. There was some discharge for the first 4wks, but after that my periods regulated again and were lighter than ever. At this point, I have not needed a tampon in over 2yrs, Just panty liners for a few days. Some months i don't even need that.

I don't know how long it lasts,but I figure if it will get me through the next 3 yrs I'll probably be in full menopause by then so goody for me. Since you have your tubes tied you won't have to worry about getting pregnant--that's very serious. My only regret is that i didn't do this when I first started having trouble, but waited until I had some heavy-duty medical problems.

 

[ckmommy]

I had the Novasure procedure done about 2-1/2 yrs ago and i couldn't be happier. I'm going through perimenopause and my periods were overwhelming.So heavy it was interfering with work. So heavy I couldn't walk from the kitchen to the bathroom with out messing up the floor So heavy that i was seriously anemic and we were discussing blood transfusions. My GYN offered me the same options--BCPs, hysterectomy,or ablation. He and I decided that removing non-cancerous organs was not the best option for me and I don't handle hormones well, so ablation it was.

First of all, the procedure was a breeze. My doc does it in outpatient surgery, so you go in, go to sleep,and in about 2hrs you go home. I had some cramping that day, but mostly I just slept it off. The next day i took our 3 kids camping in the mountains for 4 days. There was some discharge for the first 4wks, but after that my periods regulated again and were lighter than ever. At this point, I have not needed a tampon in over 2yrs, Just panty liners for a few days. Some months i don't even need that.

I don't know how long it lasts,but I figure if it will get me through the next 3 yrs I'll probably be in full menopause by then so goody for me. Since you have your tubes tied you won't have to worry about getting pregnant--that's very serious. My only regret is that i didn't do this when I first started having trouble, but waited until I had some heavy-duty medical problems.

Wow, those periods sound much worse than mine. I believe I have gotten very anemic (headaches, lightheaded right after my cycle, then for about 2 weeks) and my cycle has been so long--7-10 days, with 3-4 days being very heavy (only making it 1.5-2 hours between changes). Luckly I have not had too bad of cramping.

Thank you for your imput on how things are going for you. I had been looking for people that had this done--long term, and I could not find anyone. Two and a half years is a long time. I would hope it would last 5 years. Maybe I would only have to get it done one or two other times.

Thanks again for your story!!

 

[MamaLema]

I don't know your medical history, but I'm surprised he didn't mention Mirena. I had problems identical to yours and Mirena has changed my life.

 

[MamaLema]

Wow, those periods sound much worse than mine. I believe I have gotten very anemic (headaches, lightheaded right after my cycle, then for about 2 weeks) and my cycle has been so long--7-10 days, with 3-4 days being very heavy (only making it 1.5-2 hours between changes). Luckly I have not had too bad of cramping.

Same here. I became very anemic also. At night, I would have to get up every 2 hours to change those big overnight pads. I really thought I was the only one

 

[SnowWhite33]

I recently had this done, Dec 20,2005. Procedure was done on Tuesday, I was working on Thursday, but I also had the Essure tubal done. I've not had any bad side effects at all so far. I know, for me, I'm really glad I had it done.

 

[Christine]

My cousin had these exact problems and she ended up getting a Mirena IUD. She had had it for 3 years and is still just THRILLED with it. Her period is scant to nothing. Prior to that she was "flooding" and miserable for days (and anemic).

I don't know a thing about Novasure, but if you wanted to try something quicker and easier (placement in the doctor's office) then you might try this.

 

[Skatermom23]

Just wanted to give this a little bump! I am going through all this myself right now and would love to hear from others who have made the decision.

 

[tigercat]

I thought my dr. was going to suggest albation but she (the specialist) just wanted me to have a hysterectomy(sp) instead. I am not in favour of taking out things that are not a danger to me I said not. I have had very bad periods in the past----the same as an above poster, I was flooding so bad that I couldn't do anything that wasn't near a bathroom. At night I lay on a pad that I had made up and changed myself several times a night. But that all stopped last Feb. I have been fine since. They still want to take my organs out and they keep talking about my blood levels. I am it seems showing signs on anemia and there is bleeding somewhere but they don't know where. Oh well I will have to see.
tigercat

 

[minkydog]

I thought my dr. was going to suggest albation but she (the specialist) just wanted me to have a hysterectomy(sp) instead. I am not in favour of taking out things that are not a danger to me I said not. I have had very bad periods in the past----the same as an above poster, I was flooding so bad that I couldn't do anything that wasn't near a bathroom. At night I lay on a pad that I had made up and changed myself several times a night. But that all stopped last Feb. I have been fine since. They still want to take my organs out and they keep talking about my blood levels. I am it seems showing signs on anemia and there is bleeding somewhere but they don't know where. Oh well I will have to see.
tigercat

What reasons does your GYN give for recommending hysterectomy(other than anemia)? Sometimes there are structural problems inside the uterus which make ablation not a good choice. If there is no cancer, no fibroids, no uterine abnormality, just heavy bleeding, I would think you'd be a good candidate for ablation. Ask your GYN. If you aren't satisfied with his answer, egt a second opinion.

 

[disney50fam]

hmmm I think I need to look into this after having 5 kids all by c-section.
My Periods are Horrible... I have very little craping ( or maybe I do just can't feel it threw all the scar tissue) But I bleed like crazy having to change the super plus tampons and pads almost every hour for the first two days and when I think I am all done with my period. I still spot brown blood for almost a week after!.I hate it its horrible and I have ruined so many nice undies because of this!!

 

[disney50fam]

hmmm I think I need to look into this after having 5 kids all by c-section.
My Periods are Horrible... I have very little craping ( or maybe I do just can't feel it threw all the scar tissue) But I bleed like crazy having to change the super plus tampons and pads almost every hour for the first two days and when I think I am all done with my period. I still spot brown blood for almost a week after!.I hate it its horrible and I have ruined so many nice undies because of this!!

 

[Skatermom23]

I recently had this done, Dec 20,2005. Procedure was done on Tuesday, I was working on Thursday, but I also had the Essure tubal done. I've not had any bad side effects at all so far. I know, for me, I'm really glad I had it done.

Did you have it done with a local or did they put you under?

 

[tigercat]

Sorry minkydog for not replying earlier. Bizzibee my dd had a baby on Wed. morning and I was with her the whole time. I don't have heavy bleeding my period is not bad at all, that's why I couldn't understand all the fuss. I go to see her in Feb. again so I guess I'll see what she says.
tigercat

 

[FreshTressa]

I have the merina IUD and have had it for a year.

On the plus side...I have no cycle at all. The heavy bleeding, in fact bleeding altogether has stopped. So, those symptoms were cured.

The bad though is I now have acne and an increased appetite. I feel like I could eat a house. I have decreased energy so I don't enjoy working out as much.

I"m going in for the Novasure ablation in one month. Wish me luck!

 

[Skatermom23]

Good luck! I had mine back in April and it was a cake walk! Really...I don't know why I put it off for so long. The operation wasn't nearly as bad as my mind had made it. Life has been really good since!