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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:
JamAtkins · 01/10/2018 21:04

I have a mirena

birdladyfromhomealone · 01/10/2018 21:34

I had it done privately 15 yrs ago by GA, Stayed in for 2 days.
Also had tubes tied at the same time.
Felt quite unwell afterwards and exactly 4 weeks later had a period :(
For the last 15 ears periods have got heavier again but won't have it done again.
My friend had hers done around the same time and never had another period! Jealous? Me ? much!

Slidyslide · 02/10/2018 08:17

I had mine done 3 years ago aged 35. It was done under GA and I stayed overnight due to effects of anaesthetic. I bled on and off and cramped for about a month but this turned out to be due to an infection so as soon as this was treated I was ok again. Haven't had a single period since and don't get pain etc any more but do still have PMT etc- I can live with that if it means no periods!

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SueDunome · 02/10/2018 10:12

JamAtkins I also had a mirena, but had the ablation after the mirena stopped working for me.

SueDunome · 02/10/2018 10:14

Oops, posted too soon. They took the mirena out as part of the procedure. I think this is standard practice now, though not sure.

JamAtkins · 02/10/2018 10:23

I had the mirena before but it didn’t have much effect on the bleeding. It was better but not much. They took it out before the procedure and put a new one in straight after

BadPoet · 02/10/2018 17:38

7 years ago at 36. Have had spotting exactly twice since recovery. I had a GA, that's what was recommended and it would have been my preference anyway. Recovery went fine, was back at work the following week (although iirc I was starting a new contract and just picked a week later as start date). DH had vasectomy a couple of months later.

Now at 43 I've had 7 blissful period free years but I do wonder how I'll know when I'm peri-menopausal and wish I had thought to ask at the time. I get PMS but no aches of any sort at all. But I'm typically not great at knowing that I'm PMS-ing so unsure whether I'd spot any changes (I mean I feel rage most of the time but that's pretty normal for 2018, right?)

Original poster
ObiandMillie · 02/10/2018 19:11

Thanks everyone. I think now I'm leaning more towards a general - I'm losing my bottle a bit with a local!

And that's a really good point about knowing when you're perimenopausal - I hadn't thought of that & will ask my consultant.

OP posts:
Original poster
ObiandMillie · 02/10/2018 19:15

BadPoet I just googled the symptoms for perimenopause .... don't worry; there are lots of symptoms - not just irregular periods - so it looks like you won't miss it!

Hot flashes
Breast tenderness
Worse premenstrual syndrome
Lower sex drive
Fatigue
Irregular periods
Vaginal dryness; discomfort during sex
Urine leakage when coughing or sneezing
Urinary urgency (an urgent need to urinate more frequently)
Mood swings
Trouble sleeping

Sounds a joy Hmm

OP posts:
OhWhyNotGinAndTonicPlease · 02/10/2018 19:18

I had one for adenomyosis (though I think I had / have endo as well) and while it did stop the heavy flooding periods I had dreadful burning pain in my womb at period time.

I ended up with a partial hysterectomy (I insisted on keeping ovaries and cervix).

Sorry not to be adding to the success stories.

BadPoet · 02/10/2018 19:27

ObiandMillie AND anxiety, don't forget that! Yes, there are lots of symptoms but I think the irregular periods (if you had previously been regular ofc) would be the most obvious and direct one to present to a GP, the others might all be (and have been, by many accounts) explained away by life stage, post childbirth etc. I would still ask your consultant. I never looked back - I hope it's as smooth for you.

FlamingJuno · 02/10/2018 19:28

I have fibroids and adenomyosis. Had a microwave EA under GA in 2010 aged 47. It didn't work - as in, made no difference at all. I had bleeding for 6 weeks after, that stopped then 3 weeks after that I had a period. Three weeks later another, all as bad as before. Saw the consultant for three month check up and he didn't seem surprised as he said "I always act conservatively" Hmm. He suggested a repeat but at that point I couldn't face any more ( I had an infection and contracted MRSA between the hysteroscopy and EA - private hospital Hmm ).

Three years later another consultant suggested hysterectomy but by then I reckoned I could wait it out to the menopause and that happened a couple of years after that.

I can't recommend it and I don't know anyone else who has had it done.

Tattletale · 02/10/2018 19:31

I had an EA just over 2 years ago. No PMS symptoms now and haven't had a period since. It was done under GA, Local wasn't offered.

FlamingJuno · 02/10/2018 19:31

Oh and to add, I have had several pelvic ultrasound scans since then and all have shown no sign that the operation was carried out. Fibroids and adenomyosis still there, no shrinking or scarring of the uterus, endometrial thickness normal for my age at 4mm less than 6 weeks ago.

Conseulabananahammock · 02/10/2018 19:33

Had in under ga however I was getting sterilized at the same tine. My bleeding was constant for 2 years every day. I mean flooding daily. Lost so much blood I became anemic and nearly passed out. Haven't bled since the op.
However. If you are on the younger side please please read up on post ablation syndrome. I am now living with horrific pain and waiting for a hysterectomy. Also if you have a tilted uterus or odd shaped uterus again please read up. I am not kidding when I say the pain I have is worse than childbirth. Mine has failed and basically blood is pooling between the burnt layer of uterus and the back wall. It has nowhere to go and therefore causes extreme pain,bloating and misery. I wish I had never had it .

BirdieInTheHand · 02/10/2018 19:35

My consultant was insistent that I had the mirena fitted post ablation unless DH had the snip because a pregnancy would be so complicated

Conseulabananahammock · 02/10/2018 19:36

Oh I got it last year when I was 28.. just so you have the full picture

Jengnr · 02/10/2018 19:44

I had one in July (the day England played in the Semi Final) Went well, straightforward procedure was home well in time for kick off. Had a week off work resting, all fine. It seemed to work, first period was some brown flakes and (manageable) pain. Then a couple of weeks ago I went back to flooding and clots so it’s looking like a hysterectomy for me.

I’m glad I did it though. Had it worked it would have been a straightforward solution to a horrible problem.

BG2015 · 02/10/2018 22:45

Jengr hysterectomy was the best thing I ever did.

Had it done through key hole and recovery was 6 weeks. It's been brilliant and I've worn WHITE trousers loads over the summer!

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