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Original poster

Has anyone had endometrial ablation for heavy periods?

44 replies

ObiandMillie · 01/10/2018 08:10

I'm pretty much decided I'll have it, but just wondering about a couple of things and would be interested in hearing about your experiences.

Did you have local or general anaesthetic? If you had local, how long did the procedure last and how painful was it? I really wanted to avoid a general, but another thread on this has made me worry about whether I'd tolerate it with a local. If you had a general, what made you go that route?

For those of you whose periods have lightened, do you still get your other usual period-related symptoms or have they eased as well? (e.g. cramps, pain, headaches, nausea, etc.)

OP posts:
ApplePenPineapplePen · 01/10/2018 08:46

I had a GA don't think LA was an option. Immediately after I was unwell due to the GA and it was a few days before I was right in myself. A few weeks of watery discharge then nothing since (coming uo for 2 years without a period now). I still get abdominal and lower back pain but less than before. Less now but I am on HRT patches for last 6 months anyway. I wish I had got it done sooner. I had a few years where heavy periods, pain, nausea and low iron dominated my life. I was eventually diagnosed with adenomyosis and I suspect I have some endo also.

Original poster
ObiandMillie · 01/10/2018 09:50

Thanks Apple. It's heartening that your other related symptoms have reduced as well. That's something I can't seem to get a clear answer to.

OP posts:
KatyN · 01/10/2018 10:08

I have! I still have a period. It’s about 4 days long but needs a super tampax. However before my ablation I was about 7 days and using a super plus and a sanitary towel every hour.
I was told I might need a second one because I was quite young (!! 40!!) and my lining might grow back before the menopause hits.
I had a general. I was out in a day. I spend about a week recovering at home, I think I got an infection too. Eugh.
I’m no longer aneamic, thank goodness.

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Original poster
ObiandMillie · 01/10/2018 13:57

That sounds a real improvement Katy. It's good to hear positive outcomes!

OP posts:
6demandingchildren · 01/10/2018 14:21

i had it done under local, i was the first at the hospital to have it done (first appointment was cancelled due to them unable to turn the machinary on)
but it was great as i had spotting instead of periods for the first few months and for the past 3 years no periods at all.

widgetbeana · 01/10/2018 14:42

I'm jumping on board here as I want this done.

My life has been plagued by my periods, endometriosis diagnosed at 19, super heavy bleeding and very long natural cycle periods (14-16 days).

I have tried so many hormonal treatments and had laser treatment, with varying degrees of success.

My gyn said my best option was have a family and then a hysterectomy! But when he said that ablation didn't exist. My family is now complete, we knew that from the moment dd2 was born, but they wouldn't consent to me having ablation until my youngest was at least 3. She is now 3 and a half so I'm booked in to see Gyn again soon and I'm going to ask for this. I am only 35 so not sure how to will go.

Anyone had it done below 40?

Nacreous · 01/10/2018 14:45

I had a rellie who had it done, I think around age 41 and they have never had a period again and are utterly delighted with the result.

I can’t remember which method of ablation they had though as I think there are multiple sorts (microwave wand, balloon and possibly one other?) which have different efficacies, perhaps?

NellieTheElephant1 · 01/10/2018 14:57

I had it done 4 years ago and it has been life changing for me. I was chronically anaemia with flooding and clots every month affecting every aspect of my life. Now I have a small amount of dark brown loss for 3 days only needing a panty liner.
I had a GA and felt fine the next day, no cramping or nausea. Some watery discharge for a few days afterwards. I was lucky enough not to have painful periods (just VERY heavy) so cant comment on that aspect.
Good luck if you decide to go ahead, I highly recommend it!

Kenworthington · 01/10/2018 15:07

I had it done under GA 3 years ago, just before my 40th. The recovery - I was sore and bloated and had watery bleeding for about 3/4 weeks. Since then- I’ve not had a period since, no discomfort, no pain and (this is the weirdest one) no pmt! Go for it, it’ll change your life. It’s the very best thing I have ever done

Darkestnight · 01/10/2018 16:08

This is what I want done to. But having a ultrasound in a few weeks to see if it's fibroids

fitflopqueen · 01/10/2018 16:17

I had one, GA - daycare. Was ok after but didn’t really work for me. Returned to heavy bleeding quite quickly. Had partial endoscopic hysterectomy 3 yrs later - best thing ever, wish I had had that 10 yrs earlier

WidoWanky · 01/10/2018 16:22

Me. I had a general. Out the same day. Some spotting for a couple of weeks i think but nothing for a few years now.

Best thing i ever did. But i did have another coil at the same time. My gp requested that!

I can leave the house now. Best thing ever!!!

Heatherjayne1972 · 01/10/2018 16:37

Yes. Do it!
Changed my life. I still get pmt tho and then nothing happens
Was done under general - I asked if I could be sedated and have local but it was a big no
Didn’t even have much pain. Was a bit crampy for a few days but the strongest painkiller I had was nurofen
Didnt even have any time off work was done on a Thursday recovered Friday ( my usual days off) back to work Monday

MumOfTwoMasterOfNone · 01/10/2018 16:39

My consultant has tried to persuade me to have this done at 33! He's a lovely man and he has treated my cervix and inserted the mirena coil which made matters worse, so he said the next action is ablation. I'm not sure I'm ready for it. DP has had a vasectomy so that side of things isn't a concern necessarily, but I just don't think I'm ready to be effectively sterilised. DP made the decision about his sterilisation largely alone as he has 2DC so was definitely done but I'm not 100%. It would be great if I could avoid the misery of a horrendous 8 day long period every 27 days though Grin

Chesntoots · 01/10/2018 16:58

I had it done in June and apart from watery bleeding for a few days, I have had no periods since. I was also sterilised at the same time.

I've had a couple of spots but apart from that, nothing. Hopefully it will stay that way!

JacquesHammer · 01/10/2018 17:17

Have you been referred OP? Bear in mind it might be a lengthy wait.

I’m currently in a massive battle with my PCT to actually get treatment.

Original poster
ObiandMillie · 01/10/2018 18:53

Thanks everyone. It seems that general anaesthetic is more common than local.

Yes I've been referred and had hysteroscopy, scan and so on. The consultant is happy to do ablation. Have also tried and failed with the pill and Mirena etc. So this seems to be my last resort. Tranexamic acid does work to a certain degree, but I still get awful cramps and pain, albeit with a slightly less heavy flow.

OP posts:
pigglepaggle · 01/10/2018 19:38

I had it carried out about 10 years ago. Had a couple of other things done at the same time so had a GA. Up to a year afterwards I had lighter periods but over time they came back very heavy as before.
I wasn't in much pain after the operation but still suffered from PMT etc each month.

It wasn't that life changing for me but I know it can make a big difference.

BG2015 · 01/10/2018 20:18

I had it done in September 2016 for heavy periods (I had fibroids and the Mirena stopped working)

I took paracetamol and my cervix was numbed (not GA) it wasn't a nice experience- about 2 minutes of intense pain but bearable.

It didn't work for me and by December I was bleeding heavily again. I had a hysterectomy in June 2017. At 48 it was the right thing for me.

I hope it works for you.

EustaciaVye · 01/10/2018 20:22

I had one at 37 after years of heavy painful periods. Think 14 days super plus tampons and pads.
I had a general anaesthetic- wasn't offered local. Out the same day. Felt like crap for a few days and fine after that. Still have periods but they are light and 5 days.
Definitely recommend.
My problems have returned due to adenomyosis so will need a hysterectomy soon but would hesitate to go for EA

EustaciaVye · 01/10/2018 20:22

Problems now are pain related

SueDunome · 01/10/2018 20:28

I had this done this year under GA. Although I had a GA, I was in hospital for three hours in total. I had some discomfort the first evening, but manageable with paracetamol. It took a few days to get over the GA though and I ended up taking a week off work.
MumofTwo Please don't have this procedure if you're not sure that you've completed your family as it is not possible to get pregnant afterwards, due to vastly increased risks of miscarriage and other complications.

Icequeen01 · 01/10/2018 20:33

I had a hydro thermal ablation about 8 years ago. I was suffering terribly with uncontrollable flooding and terrible anaemia. I had the ablation as a day patient under a GA. It was life changing. I didn't have another period for about a year but when they did return they were incredibly light and short lived. I had hoped the ablation would carry me through to the menopause but unfortunately my periods kept going until I was 56. I've finally gone through the menopause now but I could not have imagined going through all those years the way I was before the ablation.

JamAtkins · 01/10/2018 20:34

I had mine under LA. I was told to take painkillers before I went in and had local injected into my cervix then lovely gas and air during the procedure. I think it took 90 seconds. I stayed in about an hour.
It hurt for a couple of days, like a bad period pain. I had paracetamol, ibuprofen and codine and they said to take them even if it wasn’t that bad in case the pain ramped up. I have had no periods at all and the low back period pain I had is gone too. I had a coil inserted at the same time in lieu of sterilisation. I was 40 and she said if I was younger they would like to sterilise but I was unlikely to conceive naturally anyway so I could just have a coil.
I was told I would bleed for about 4 weeks but it was just watery discharge stuff. Not very nice but not full on bleeding like a period

Noname99 · 01/10/2018 20:50

Can I hijack please ...... I’m booked in in November but can I asked what people did about contraception afterwards?

widowanky My consultant says I can’t have a coil after ablation? What coil have you got and would you mind telling me if you are in the uk?

My consultant is saying that as I have not gone through menopause, there is still an outside chance of getting pregnant and you can’t have a coil after ablation. I really don’t want to go on the pill. Consultant suggesting sterilization (clips) but I’m trally worried about pain afterwards. Lots on google about women having chronic pain afterwards. Dismissed by consultant as “no medical evidence”

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