Endometrial ablation - recovery time?

[MollyRedskirts]

I had a hysteroscopy yesterday, and a biopsy. I don't have fibroids, so my consultant has put me forward for endometrial ablation. I am THRILLED. I've been pushing for this for months as it's really my only option bar a hysterectomy, but I'm concerned about recovery times.

My DH wants me to wait until next year to have it, so he'll have holidays to take to look after me and the DCs while I recover. I think it'll be next year anyway, due to waiting times, but if they can fit me in sooner, how long does it take really to recover? DH works shifts, so if I'm lucky and it falls on his first non-working day, I'll have the day of the procedure and three days after to recover.

[Mysillydog]

I think that will be fine. It's often done as a day case, and you will need someone to be with you on the day of the operation, and ideally the day after. The recovery is usually quite easy because there are no stitches to heal. I had a weird discharge for a few weeks and cramping for a few days, but tbh it was a doddle compared to my horrific periods.

[Heatherjayne1972]

Go for it It's life changing ( in a good way)
Was day surgery
the pessary they give before hand was the worst bit
Afterwards things are a bit sore and crampy. Bit of watery discharge for a couple of weeks maybe three
I didn't need any painkillers or time off work
You'll be fine

[FiveShelties]

I went back to work the following day and was fine. Hope it goes well for you

[MollyRedskirts]

That sounds very positive, thank you all for replying.

I'm in two minds whether to ask to have it done under general anaesthetic. I have a long medical history and at some point, I started to panic during any procedure that's longer than a blood test, which I think is down to how much medical treatment I've been through. I tolerated the hysteroscopy much much better than I thought I would - the worst part was having my cervix opened, but the biopsy itself was painless.

Can I ask as well please, if you don't have it under a general, what kind of sedation or painkillers are used?

[Chattermummy]

I had mine in 2014 and it was life changing however I found recovery quite hard. I couldn't lift my 1 yr old for about 3 weeks and I couldn't drive for about 2 weeks so needed help with school run and baby childcare. I had watery discharge for a month and first few periods were horrific but life now is much better. Good luck

[Heatherjayne1972]

My consultant would not consider any other option than general anaesthetic.
So yours may feel the same

[PikachuSayBoo]

I would have been fine to look after the kids the day after the op.

I might not have wanted to leave the house because the discharge was something else and smelt funny. Though I managed to go camping a week later.

[FiveShelties]

I also had a GA.

[TheFairyCaravan]

I had a GA, although my new consultant does them under local too.

I had terrible backache after mine but I have severe back and pelvic problems as it is.

I had mine done on a Friday, DH was back at work on the Monday.

It's a life changing procedure. I'm so glad I had it done.

[MollyRedskirts]

Ah, some mixed answers. I don't think I will be given a date before next year, especially as I need a smear first and I'm not booked in for that until November, but if they do give me a date before January, I think I will have to ask them to push it back.

I'm definitely asking to have it done under a general. I don't tolerate twilight sedation well, or local anaesthetics, or even epidurals or spinals. They always wear off too quickly (my csection was, um, interesting) but I bounce back very quickly from generals.

[RockNRollNerd]

I begged for sedation/local but my consultant wouldn't do it without GA. I tried to convince him I was relatively tough (I'd watched the hysteroscopy fascinated and demanding commentary all the way through ) and I'd had a gastroscopy with nothing and all 4 wisdom teeth out under local but he was having none of it.

If you bounce back from generals well then based on my experience you should be fine. I was fine 'down there' (let's face it nothing could ever touch the pain and agony of my periods) but the GA wiped me totally and I had no appetite for about 5 days and was very sleepy.