Endometrial ablation - anyone had this procedure done?

[Marina]

Just had a hospital appointment to discuss a uterine polyp and the gynae has recommended this procedure at the same time as the polypectomy.
I do have really bad, heavy periods, so the promised outcome is very tempting, but I think I may be Mumsnet's Unlucky Alf when it comes to Obs & Gynae with anaesthetics thrown in. I am terrified of having either or both done, tbh :(. I am sure the nurses thought I was a total jessie today.
Does anyone know how long you are under for with these procedures and how long it takes to recover :(?

[hunkermunker]

Don't know, Marina, but wanted to say that I hope the op goes well if you decide to have it. I've not had these ops, but have had extensive laparoscopy lasering of endometriosis and adhesions, three times. Sounds like you've had a bad time in the past though

[Chloe55]

Like hunkermunker I have had lasering of endometriosis lesions. Is the op you are having similar? I am afraid I can't give you any experience on that particular op but my recovery time was about a week on bedrest then steady away for a few more weeks. The most pain I felt was due to the gas circulating my body post-op - I particularly felt uncomfortable over my neck and shoulders, I was not warned I would feel a pain like that and I thought they had dropped me whilst under GA

[expatinscotland]

an ablation should not require inflating the abdomen w/gas.

in the states, it's done under a regional block rather than GA, but don't know if that's the same here.

they're big into avoiding GA if at all possible. my dad had a prostatectomy under epidural and slept through the whole thing.

[sugarfree]

I had an endometrial resection which is slightly different but I was in and out in a day.
Had a G.A,it was done early afternoon and I was ok to come home in a taxi on my own at about 6ish.
Just took paracetamol for the period type pain and was right as rain by the next morning.
Didn't get rid of the periods altogether (one of the unlucky 20%) but I am now able to leave the house on days 1 and 2 and I don't have 12 day periods anymore.
Result as far as I'm concerned.

[Marina]

Thanks all :) - I think sugarfree's procedure is closest to what they have suggested I have, so hopefully an inflated abdomen will not be on the cards.
Expat, they only seem to offer the procedure under GA at the hospital where I am booked in. I think that is the norm in the UK, not sure why. Having said that, my father had a knee replacement op on a block, but he was also off his face on valium and was still blissed out when we saw him that evening.
Hunker, I had unpleasant complications after both c-sections that were to do with surgery rather than obstetrics :( :(
Different hospital this time, hey ho!

[expatinscotland]

i had an ACL reconstruction on regional block. i was completely spaced and at times the medication in my IV was adjusted so i fell asleep.

as stated before, my dad had a prostatectomy w/an epidural.

i mean, if they can do a major abdominal procedure like a csection under regional anaethetic . . .

[mamhaf]

I had this done a few years ago and was very pleased with the results - cleared up my heavy periods completely and the recovery time was just a couple of days - good luck.

[hunkermunker]

Marina - different hospital will hopefully make you feel more relaxed about this. FWIW, I woke up from my first surgery having had NO pain relief whilst asleep - I could whimper and that was it. They soon whacked some morphine into me, but it was indescribable - it is pain I can remember it was so bad. My second and third surgeries were at a different hospital and the consultant couldn't understand why I was so worried about the pain afterwards - turned out that he did this small thing of pain relief while still under anaesthetic which made quite a difference!