Seeking reassurance

[sapphoa.livejournal.com]

I have always had heavy periods and slowly over the years (I’m 35) they have worsened; to the point where 10-day periods with large clots (I’m talking fist-sized if not larger on occasion) seemed the norm for me.

In March this year I bled so heavily that I ended up having a blood transfusion and was referred to a specialist who, after unpleasant procedures including a biopsy from my womb, conduced I had Adenomyosis. I was advised that the Mirena coil would be an effective way to treat this condition so I went ahead with this. The experience of having it inserted was awful for me (I fainted!) and then I suffered painful cramps and weird stabbing pains more or less continuously for the duration it was in. My stomach bloated up like a beach ball and I just felt generally unwell and tired. After four weeks of this the coil spontaneously expelled itself (I knew my body didn’t like it!) and I lost a lot of blood and, again, had a fainting episode and scared the life out of my poor husband.

Anyway, obviously the coil isn’t suitable for me and I am now advised that the next step would be something called ablation where the lining of the womb is basically destroyed. I am quite anxious about this procedure and while I don’t want more kids (it’s apparently dangerous to get pregnant after the procedure as it renders the womb too fragile) I am worried that it will be painful and then after it may not work anyway. The next, final, step following ablation would be a hysterectomy which fills me with fear too.

I guess I’m just wondering if anyone else has been through this, or similar, and if ablation is really that bad?
Thanks so much x

Comments

[archangelbeth]

I haven't had one, but one VP regular has. Let me dig up the URLs...

http://vaginapagina.livejournal.com/19137053.html is where that VPer is asking questions, so check the comments.

http://vaginapagina.livejournal.com/18315383.html is more of that VPer's research, which might be helpful to you.

http://vaginapagina.livejournal.com/19166056.html is a right-after-ablation post.

http://vaginapagina.livejournal.com/19524155.html is a report on the 3rd cycle after ablation.

*offers hugs and crosses fingers*

[storychick.livejournal.com]

I had an ablation done via the Her Option cryo method about 6 weeks ago. They gave me Valium, an anti-nausea drug, and I think a muscle relaxant to take before I got to the office and then a shot of Tramadol (painkiller) once I got there. I was reasonably coherent but feeling pretty damned good. They had me chill out in a comfy chair till they were ready then brought me back to an exam room.I think they might have numbed my cervix at that point, with a shot, but I don't remember exactly. I was having Essure done at the same time, so they did that first (only successful in one side unfortunately, and they poked around a lot trying to get the 2nd coil in) and that was quite uncomfortable, but the ablation was totally fine. All I could feel was the speculum and a tiny bit of movement. They were in there for.. 10 minutes? I was half asleep. It was no problem, no pain, just being kinda high.

Afterwards they send me home to recover, and I was in a decent amount of crampy pain, but I am not sure from which procedure. Once the Vicodin kicked in I was fine, had a nap. I was definitely quite tired, especially for first day or two, from the drugs, but by the next day I was taking only an OTC dose of Advil and 2 days later I was taking no painkillers and felt normal again, just a bit tired for awhile longer. I was caring for my children and didn't miss any time in my doctoral program, had the procedure on a Tuesday, had my kids back on Wednesday, and was in class all day on Friday y firwith my homework for the week finished.

For about a month after that I had discharge, in the beginning tons of it, that was watery and kinda pink-tinged. (If you've had a baby, its like the whitish clear stuff that comes out at the end of lochia.) Like serum. That was annoying, got old real quick, and I had to wear pads not tampons so I got a bit of moisture irritation on my labia. My first period was as bad as ever, as thluey said it might be, and I am just due now for my second period. I had a day of some pinkish tissue the other day and am beginning to wonder if that is all I get since I am a few days late and my temperatures dropped (I am charting to monitor my cycle). That was be... unspeakably fantastic.

Good luck to you!

[storychick.livejournal.com]

I had an ablation done via the Her Option cryo method about 6 weeks ago. They gave me Valium, an anti-nausea drug, and I think a muscle relaxant to take before I got to the office and then a shot of Tramadol (painkiller) once I got there. I was reasonably coherent but feeling pretty damned good. They had me chill out in a comfy chair till they were ready then brought me back to an exam room.I think they might have numbed my cervix at that point, with a shot, but I don't remember exactly. I was having Essure done at the same time, so they did that first (only successful in one side unfortunately, and they poked around a lot trying to get the 2nd coil in) and that was quite uncomfortable, but the ablation was totally fine. All I could feel was the speculum and a tiny bit of movement. They were in there for.. 10 minutes? I was half asleep. It was no problem, no pain, just being kinda high.

Afterwards they send me home to recover, and I was in a decent amount of crampy pain, but I am not sure from which procedure. Once the Vicodin kicked in I was fine, had a nap. I was definitely quite tired, especially for first day or two, from the drugs, but by the next day I was taking only an OTC dose of Advil and 2 days later I was taking no painkillers and felt normal again, just a bit tired for awhile longer. I was caring for my children and didn't miss any time in my doctoral program, had the procedure on a Tuesday, had my kids back on Wednesday, and was in class all day on Friday y firwith my homework for the week finished.

For about a month after that I had discharge, in the beginning tons of it, that was watery and kinda pink-tinged. (If you've had a baby, its like the whitish clear stuff that comes out at the end of lochia.) Like serum. That was annoying, got old real quick, and I had to wear pads not tampons so I got a bit of moisture irritation on my labia. My first period was as bad as ever, as thluey said it might be, and I am just due now for my second period. I had a day of some pinkish tissue the other day and am beginning to wonder if that is all I get since I am a few days late and my temperatures dropped (I am charting to monitor my cycle). That was be... unspeakably fantastic.

Good luck to you!

[annaline-39.livejournal.com]

My ablation went very well. I had general anaesthesia for it. I felt like I had angry weasels in my uterus the first afternoon that I had it. It was kind of like how a burn can feel, but was inside. They gave me naproxen for the pain. I basically just dozed on the sofa the first day. I still have a period (almost two years later) but it's so light that I can get away with a panty liner even on my "heavy" day.

I had had an ultrasound before the procedure and I had a thick uterine lining. I also had tried the Mirena and was absolutely miserable on it.

The first few months after my ablation my period was kind of erratic and there were times when I wasn't sure if I was going to stop spotting, but it did finally straighten itself out. My PMS symptoms are much less and I have a period about every 3-4 weeks.

[kuradi8.livejournal.com]

I also had profuse bleeding issues. My problem was fibroids which are similar but not the same as what you have. My Gyno advised against me against an ablation because she said it could mask symptoms and instead of nipping future problems in the bud, we wouldn't suspect anything until disaster struck.

Instead, she performed a D&C to scrape me out and start from scratch. Fortunately, that worked for me but if it hadn't, the next step would have been some kind of hormonal therapy. Apparently your doctor tried hormones (Mirena) first.

Since the Mirena didn't work for you, ask if another form of hormonal treatment might be better. Oral pill, shots, implants, rings, etc. Also ask if a D&C would be a less-risky option than an ablation.

My doctor was also very quick (a little too quick, I thought) to offer the hysterectomy option. Funny, while I am a strong advocate of spaying/neutering pets, I kinda freak a little at the thought of having it done to me. On the other hand, my friends who have had hysterectomies all agree that if it's giving you grief, "Yank it out and don't look back!" There are many degrees of hysterectomies. With/without cervix and/or ovaries. There's much to be discussed if you decide to go that route.

[lolabobs.livejournal.com]

I had similar problems to you - I had very large fibroids and, it eventually turned out Adenomyosis too. My consultant tried me with a Mirena too (thankfully I had mine fitted under general anaesthetic at the same time as they did a biopsy.) My body also hated Mirena and I went from periods similar to yours to constant bleeding and clotting and pain and... well many were my woes!

I perservered for months though and then went onto injections that I can't remember the name of, that faked menopause and were supposed to shrink the fibroids whilst giving me a chance to recover form the bleeding. They eventually stopped my bleeding but didn't affect the the fibroids at all. As this was the last resort for me after various medications, the Mirena and then the injections I was referred for hysterectomy.

(I was told that for me, due the type of fibroids I had, a D&C or fibroid removal weren't viable options.)

Because of this, I have no experience of ablation, but if you reach the stage of thinking about hysterectomy and want to ask any questions, feel free to give me a shout.