endometrial ablation

[gingeme]

Good evening. I am having an ablation early October due to extremely heavy periods. Has anyone else had one ? Please could you tell me what to expect and what length of recovery should I expect please ?

[dontknowwhat2callmyself]

I had the procedure a year ago and it was the best decision ever. I bled lightly for six weeks afterwards but since then I've had NO periods. I took a few days off work after the op. I think outcomes can vary from person to person. I purely had a thick womb lining no cysts etc... so I'm not sure if that's why it was very successful for me. Hope all goes well.

[gingeme]

Thankyou. Yes I just have a thick womb lining but I also get pretty bad cramps before my periods does it help to settle that too ?

[puddingisgood]

I had mine over a year ago for heavy bleeding and it has been brilliant! No regrets at all. I had two days off work and felt fine, just a little tired. (And my job is quite physical.) Now I have a light bleed rather than a bloodbath.
I would say that cramping in first two days of period are possibly a little worse than before though, for me at least. No cramps before period, but never did have. This may depend on method used? Not sure about that. But still worth it for me.

[gingeme]

Sounds good puddingisgood. I'm a CM and don't want to let my parents down by having to take loads of time off ! A light bleed or none at all sounds like heaven to me

[puddingisgood]

I'm in childcare too!

[gingeme]

Ah cool . Youll understand about time off then.

[dontknowwhat2callmyself]

I was told it wouldn't help reduce period pain but I thankfully never experienced pain just horrific blood loss.

[gingeme]

The only way to reduce the pain is to have a hysterectomy which I asked for back in June. Was told no they wouldn't fund it. Went for my appt last week to ask for the ablation and I asked why would they not fund it? The gynecologist told me because I had not tried a coil or ablation

[TheFairyCaravan]

I had one about 5 or 6 years ago. It was one of the best descions I have ever made. I had back ache for a few days, but I have bad back anyway, and light watery bleeding for about 5/6 weeks.

I had very light periods that were virtually pain free. About a year to 18 months ago they started to get more painful and heavier, but nothing like they were before. I could still wear something of a light colour whereas before I'd live in black or navy when I had my period.

[gingeme]

Thefairycaravan do you mean a watery period for 5-6 weeks after ? It didn't stop you doing stuff?

[spidey66]

My mum had it about 18 years ago. She was having really, really heavy bleeds lasting 2 weeks at a time, using towels and tampons but still leaking heavily after half hour or so even at night, when she'd have to change the bed. Two weeks later she'd go through the same again. Unsurprisingly she ended up anaemic. She was offered it as an alternative to a hysterectomy and it improved her life 1000%. She recovered really quickly. I can't remember exactly all the details-it was several years ago, we were living in different countries and she died a couple of years back so I can't check with her. However, I do know she was delighted with the result and as long as you're not wanting babies I think she would have recommended it to anyone.

[gingeme]

Oh wow spidey thankyou for sharing that and it sounds like it really helped your Mum. I'm just waiting eagerly for my letter with my date now

[TheFairyCaravan]

Yes, gingeme. I was able to carry on doing stuff, it wasn't heavy.

I honestly do recommend having one.

[gingeme]

[RocknRollNerd]

Another one singing the praises of this. I had mine 3 and a bit years ago and it has truly changed my life. I was at the stage of having to plan work trips etc around AF as the pain was crippling and the bleeding so heavy. I had tried everything (mirena, mefanamic, tranexamic, stopping being a teenager, waiting until after I'd had a baby etc). I actually came on the day before the op so still had very bad pain the day of the procedure - but god love IV paracetamol. The only problem I had was the GA wiped me out for 5 days or so afterwards (apparently they do the same to my mum). If I'd not been floored by the GA then I'd have gone back to work on the Monday (had the procedure on the Saturday morning).

[gingeme]

Ah so unlike a smear it doesn't matter if your having your period ? That's good because mine are so irratic right now I was worried they would tell me the procedure would have to wait till I finnished !! I'm very glad to hear it helps with the pain too. I'm in soooo much pain every month and get hormonal migraine too

[RocknRollNerd]

It didn't matter to my consultant - I rang in a panic the day before (I'd come on early) and they said it was fine. It may be worth checking but I assume that Gynaes deal with people having their period all the time, (tmi but I'm guessing they just clear you out with suction and crack on with the surgery at hand)!

My only regret is that I wasted 5 or 6 years after having DS fannying around trying mirena, seeing if childbirth had helped etc when I could have had it done much sooner.

[gingeme]

I wouldn't even consider a coil tbh ! I've tried just about everything else and applied for a hysterectomy ( I have 5 dc so no more children thanks) and was told it ain't gonna happen unless I've tried an ablation or a coil but I think the main reason the ablation appealed to me is it won't be filling me with hormones !

[gingeme]

Does it help with thrush ? I get thrush after just about every period ! So if it makes my periods lighter/stops them it should stop the thrush ??

[pearlgirl]

Don't know about thrush but I am another one singing the praises of this - my quality of life has improved so much - although I still get some tenderness around ovulation and when I would have bled it is nothing like the dragging contrast pain I had and the relief of not worrying about leaking etc is great.
I had a spinal and was up and about next day but took it easier than a normal day but was back at work after the weekend ( had it done on the Thurs).

[FreeSpirit89]

My mum had it done a few years ago, she had light bleeding did a few weeks but was up and about in no time. She was at the birth of my son 2 days after she had the procedure.

[gingeme]

Thankyou ladies.
Has anybody had a bad experience of the ablation? I would like to hear both sides please ?

[gingeme]

Anyone?

[gingeme]

I take this as a good sign then

[ChickyEgg]

I had one last October and was told I could have the procedure two times if needed. I don't think I will be having it again. It didn't stop my bleeding. For months I was still having periods coupled with pain, which I didn't have before. Admittedly it wasn't a heavy period but normal flow iykwim. And they were irregular. I had a mirena at the same time and still have gynaecology problems which now include cysts. Next time I will be insisting on a hysterectomy!