Endometriosis update and question..

[Stayseeliz]

I finally went to see another gyn yesterday after getting treated like garbage by the last one. It was a completely different experience. He really listened and did a exam, ultrasound, bloodwork, etc. He said I had several choices with the top two being the iud or an endometrial ablation. He said the pill and ibuprofen therapy only masked symptoms and he wanted to take care of the problem. He said his recommendation was an ablation since that takes care of heavy bleeding in about 90 percent of patients. He said the other 10 percent usually have another condition that requires a hysterectomy and we'll cross that bridge if we come to it. I think based on what I've read that the ablation would be a good option. We are done having kids and I'm sick of this bleeding. It's putting me under for 3-6 days a month. I'd love to hear from people who've had it done though. Thanks for any advice!

[lovinmomma]

I remember your last post! (I think it was you- lol) Glad to hear this went much better! I've had the ablation. It was a very simple procedure for me, but I do need it done again.

[Kim in Appalachia]

I'm glad you found someone that listened. I know that can be hard. And I hope the ablation does the trick. Thanks for the update.

[Cera]

I had it done 6 months ago. Best thing I have ever done. I went from 7 days of very heavy bleeding every (and 24 day cycles) to 2-3 days of very light bleeding (same cycle length). I wish I had done it sooner.

 

Also, it was fairly easy, no pain, no complications. The biggest issue was the anesthesia (it made me nauseous).

[cin]

Now see, I heard the pill inhibits the growth of it because it causes your body to NOT produce the hormones that make it grow. But endometriosis, at least when I was diagnosed, was a newer thing and every doctor I talked to had a different story. What I DO know is that the pill, with no breaks, means no bleeding or cramping. OR PMS

 

:party:

[Stayseeliz]

Thanks for the feedback. I want to go into this with my eyes open but I don't want to Google too much. I know it's time to do something.

[Pippen]

I'm glad you found someone who would take the time to listen. I was in the group that ablation didn't help. After a few weeks it was back worse than ever. I wish I would have moved on it all much sooner than I did. I realize that being at home meant I rode it out longer than someone working outside the home probably would have.

[Stayseeliz]

I'm glad you found someone who would take the time to listen. I was in the group that ablation didn't help. After a few weeks it was back worse than ever. I wish I would have moved on it all much sooner than I did. I realize that being at home meant I rode it out longer than someone working outside the home probably would have.

Did you move on to a hysterectomy? I think I have put up with more being at home. I just hide on the days I feel yucky. I've avoided and skipped do many events because of this mess.

[EducationX2]

Now see, I heard the pill inhibits the growth of it because it causes your body to NOT produce the hormones that make it grow. But endometriosis, at least when I was diagnosed, was a newer thing and every doctor I talked to had a different story. What I DO know is that the pill, with no breaks, means no bleeding or cramping. OR PMS

 

:party:

 

I heard the same thing. Although, I was diagnosed 10 years ago now! (Wow.... now I feel old...)

 

I had an ablation at 17, right when I was diagnosed. It worked.... for a little while. Then I went on the pill, and it worked pretty well for years. It isn't very effective now, and I've been seriously considering going for the hysterectomy. But I keep waffling. I definitely don't want any more children until I finish school, and I'll be in my mid-thirties by then. Getting pregnant with DD was a stroke of luck as it was, and I've always wanted to adopt..... but I'm not totally, completely sure that I don't want any more biological children.... :glare:

 

Right, completely off topic! To summarize.... :lol: for me, the ablation only worked for a short time, the pill worked for longer, but not forever. But I have a pretty severe case, and the endometrial tissue is all through my abdomen.

[Stayseeliz]

I'm hoping the ablation will work and buy me a good bit of time. I am 36 with borderline high blood pressure and a family history of stroke so I don't feel comfortable with the pill.

[Stayseeliz]

I decided to do a little research on the ablation and I never should've done that. People tell horror stories about complications, weight gain etc etc. Yikes!

[elfgivas]

your ob/gyn should be able to tell you how many he's done, and what the results have been. i had one done a few years ago. my ob/gyn told me that in his experience, it works best with a small uterus. i have had zero bleeding ever since.

 

i am just entering menopause now, several years later. the entering menopause did start weight gain, but currently i have battled it to a draw. but i can see how one might think the ablation caused the weight gain if one were beginning menopause about the same time. its odd; when i mentioned it to friends i was inundated with all sorts of old wives' tales, and concern about many different things. as a result i did tons of research, and questioned my ob/gyn closely. in the end, i discovered that there is a lot of misinformation out there.

 

of course, complications are always possible.... but i believe this procedure is much safer than many. mayo clinic is my first go-to site for info. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/endometrial-ablation/MY01113

[elizabeth]

I finally went to see another gyn yesterday after getting treated like garbage by the last one. It was a completely different experience. He really listened and did a exam, ultrasound, bloodwork, etc. He said I had several choices with the top two being the iud or an endometrial ablation. He said the pill and ibuprofen therapy only masked symptoms and he wanted to take care of the problem. He said his recommendation was an ablation since that takes care of heavy bleeding in about 90 percent of patients. He said the other 10 percent usually have another condition that requires a hysterectomy and we'll cross that bridge if we come to it. I think based on what I've read that the ablation would be a good option. We are done having kids and I'm sick of this bleeding. It's putting me under for 3-6 days a month. I'd love to hear from people who've had it done though. Thanks for any advice!

 

I had the procedure last year. I needed 6000.00 dollars worth of iron infusions to bring me to a decent hemoglovin hematocrit number prior to surgery. It is like being freed from prison. I could not leave my house 4-6 days a month. A miracle I tell you.

[elizabeth]

I had it done 6 months ago. Best thing I have ever done. I went from 7 days of very heavy bleeding every (and 24 day cycles) to 2-3 days of very light bleeding (same cycle length). I wish I had done it sooner.

 

Also, it was fairly easy, no pain, no complications. The biggest issue was the anesthesia (it made me nauseous).

 

And may I agree with all of the above. Often gas anesthesia makes one vomit, for days. It was awful in that regard. Otherwise, pain free and would do it again except ten years earlier.

[Stayseeliz]

I don't mind the issues associated with the actual prcedure. I can handle the pain, nausea, etc. But I am scared of long term weight gain and cramping, etc in the long run. I know people who are happy with the procedure generally don't post their experiences on the internet. And the bad experiences I read were also linked to people who had fibroids, etc and the dr has confirmed that I don't have those. I'm just a little freaked out about it. I'm done with being confined to my house for a solid 4 days at least every month though. The pain is awful too. The stabbing pain is back and that stinks.

[elfgivas]

1. i had no pain afterwards. at all.

2. i had mild cramping for 4-7 days immediately after, but nothing compared to what i had been living with.

3. ask the doctor about any potential weight gain... the fast internet look i had made me think it was not a common outcome, and more linked to other issues.

 

there are different ways of doing it. i had the hot water one, which has the best coverage, and i am glad i did it that way.

 

fwiw,

ann

[Stayseeliz]

the brochure the dr gave me was the Novasure so I think that is the technique he uses. I don't know why some people report a long term weight gain. That doesn't make any sense. But usualy if anyone experiences weight gain with anything at all I will too! I gain weight so easily.

 

I need to ask the dr about the safety of this after having had c-sections. When we talked about it the other day I did tell him that I'd had four sections but I read other places that it's not safe to do after a c-section. I need to quit reading info about this!

[texasmama]

I don't mind the issues associated with the actual prcedure. I can handle the pain, nausea, etc. But I am scared of long term weight gain and cramping, etc in the long run. I know people who are happy with the procedure generally don't post their experiences on the internet. And the bad experiences I read were also linked to people who had fibroids, etc and the dr has confirmed that I don't have those. I'm just a little freaked out about it. I'm done with being confined to my house for a solid 4 days at least every month though. The pain is awful too. The stabbing pain is back and that stinks.

I had a Novasure ablation this past April. I have not had any bleeding since. I also have had no cramping, weight gain, etc. No bad side effects at all. I believe I received too much IV anesthesia and vomited all day after the procedure until I got some Phenergan. I had no recovery time after getting past the anesthesia. I took two ibuprofen the next morning after the procedure for the heck of it and probably could have skipped that. No pain at all afterwards. My doc said that I was the perfect candidate for the ablation. She said that people who are not good candidates are those who have tremendous pain during their cycles (indicating some other issue) and those who have had tubal ligations. She no longer performs ablations on those people.

[Stayseeliz]

I had a Novasure ablation this past April. I have not had any bleeding since. I also have had no cramping, weight gain, etc. No bad side effects at all. I believe I received too much IV anesthesia and vomited all day after the procedure until I got some Phenergan. I had no recovery time after getting past the anesthesia. I took two ibuprofen the next morning after the procedure for the heck of it and probably could have skipped that. No pain at all afterwards. My doc said that I was the perfect candidate for the ablation. She said that people who are not good candidates are those who have tremendous pain during their cycles (indicating some other issue) and those who have had tubal ligations. She no longer performs ablations on those people.

 

That's interesting. My main complaint is the stabbing pain I have during my period on my right side. I also have really bad cramps but the stabbing pain is the worst. I also have gained twenty pounds since July mostly around my middle and I'm having a hard time getting it off. My flow is really heavy too but my worst complaint is the pain. I wonder if I was really accurate in my description of my symptoms when I saw the Dr. I was very nervous and distracted. I got word that my husband had passed out while I was at the Dr and ended up leaving there and took him straight to the er. Maybe I didn't explain myself well to the Dr. I've had a tubal which this Dr knows about.

[texasmama]

As my doc explained, most of the "post ablation syndrome" issues are from people who have had tubal ligations. In your shoes, I would explore this further. I'm not a medical professional, just passing on my conversation with my own doc, but I think it bears a closer look.

[Stayseeliz]

I'm going to call the nurse in the morning and talk to her for sure.