Options other than Endometrial ablation?

[hathorisaskingaquestion]

The surgeon is suggesting this as the best option for my VV heavy periods and clots - have had drugs/mirena and can't have mirena again because of side effects.

But DP and I would like kids. If possible. Might not be, but we'd like to try.

So what other options are there - because from what I've seen on the internet and Dr Google if I have the ablation my chances of getting pregnant will be almost nil?

I would seek a second opinion from a consultant gynae at another hospital as you would like a family. Endometrical ablation is usually offered to women who have completed their families.

Does this person have any idea as to why you are having such heavy periods in the first place?. Both endometriosis and fibroids can cause heavy bleeding to arise.

He did a very quick internal scan and said everything looked normal.

I know this makes me sound like a wimp but I didn't like his manner.

He was abrupt and he didn't talk TO me he talked AT me.

And I think he just made an assumption - youngest child 10, 42, lets get her out the door.

And I did say "But I've a new partner and we'd like to try again for a family" and he just said "at your age and with your history I wouldn't recommend it"

And then turned away and wrote down what he was going to do (!) while saying it out loud. Which was him talking to me.

And then it was ushered out quick smart by the nurse.

How horrible, poor you. I'm very lucky not to have met with a doctor like that, not sure how he has learnt that bedside manner.

I'm not a HCP, just a woman with heavy periods like you, so you have my sympathy. AFAIK, not only is it very difficult to fall pregnant after an ablation, it is also very inadvisable. Did the gynae expand on why exactly pregnancy is not recommended for you? If his reasoning was explained, then it would make things easier to understand. Frankly, telling a woman that she can not have any more children is a pretty devastating blow to deal, so he should have been a lot more sensitive.

Are you ttc at the moment? Obviously, Mirena and cerazette are no good if you are ttc, and you have already said that the side effects of mirena were no good for you. Have you tried tranexamic acid or mefenamic acid from your GP? I can't take these, but they were the first things that my GP suggested?

For me, I'm going to give mirena a go, and if that doesn't work, then go for an ablation. I'm pinning all my hopes on the coil though, but am dreading the effect it will have on my skin. As my family is complete, it's a much easier decision for me.

I just had a miscarriage, so we're waiting before trying to TTC again.

I've had tranexamic and mefenamic acid. They didn't work.

Mirena worked but the side effects were awful - no sex drive (zero, literally none) boobs leaking milk, horribly bloated, very very grumpy.

Cerazette was a disaster. I bled every day for the 6 months I took it.

If I could just get pregnant and stay pregnant it would be so much simpler I could get the ablation after.

His bedside manner was atrocious.

I too am a fellow sufferer and I know what you are going through - I feel my heavy periods have taken over my life! Like Madsometimes, I have finished my family so the decision is easier for me. I am currently on tranexamic acid and mefenamic acid but they're not very effective.

I have not been advised the coil but instead I am having the depo contraceptive injection (I'm due to have the 2nd one next week) but so far this has only made the problem worse - 4-week long heavy periods with 4 days off before it all starts again!). I would rather have an ablation so I shall be asking the nurse about it next week when I go along for the depo injection. I really would like a permanent solution to this problem without a hysterectomy.

Has anyone had an ablation and would share their experience? Does it stop your periods immediately and permanently? Sorry - don't want to hijack your thread hathor as I realise your problem is different. Also sorry to hear about the abrupt manner of your consultant - totally unacceptable in my opinion.

I thought you probably would have tried all the conventional treatments, because it's rare to get a gynae referral without having given them a go.

I'm also really sorry for your mc. I suspect that this doctor is not going to be able to offer you anything other than an ablation. Maybe give your body another year of ttc and then take it from there? Are you anaemic? I'm guessing you are...

yy to heavy periods taking over your life. I will not go out on a heavy day unless I absolutely have to, and need to be within easy reach of a toilet at all times. I always use double protection, and much as I love my mooncup, it really is a chocolate teapot on a heavy day. A few months ago, I changed it, went downstairs to make a cup of tea, and then flooded through in the time it took to remove the teabag. Really horrible.

I'd love to know anyones experience of Endometrial ablation - hijack away.

And yes I am anaemic.

I have fibroids so have horrid periods, so looked into it from a different perspective (after the gynae recommended a hysterectomy, a little too drastic in my opinion).

There's a theory that fibroids and menstrual problems are hormone related (excess estrogen I think), so I messed about with my diet to reduce the amount of hormones in my system. I cut out all dairy products, caffine, wine, wheat, pork and refined sugar, and took to eating organic fruit and veg, different sorts of beans, pulses soya and fish instead. It did something, as my last period was a lot lighter and had far less clots in it, and the fibroids to feel smaller (they are huge), and the pain is now almost non existant. I'm waiting for aunty flo to return today, and I've had no PMS (which ds is thankful for). I've read about the effects of acupuncture on periods (which also agree that they are caused by excess hormones and 'thick blood'), which does look promising.

For some reason the gynacologists always offer the most severe form of treatment first. It's worth a try. The only problem is, is that I'm getting sick of beans and lentils.

hat,

Seek a second opinion and ask your GP to refer you to another hospital. Not all gynaes are as uncaring or unfeeling as the one you were unfortunate enough to see.

There is a cause for your heavy periods and bleeding and it is certainly in your interests to find out why it is happening. As mentioned both endometriosis and fibroids can and do cause heavy bleeding.

The fact too that you've previously used mefanemic and transexamic acid without success is also suggestive. This is what is sometimes given to women with painful or heavy periods when the root cause of this is endometriosis. In such circs it is not successful.

I had an ablation done about 3 years ago. Was made aware I could not have any more children. I had completed my family so for me it was ok. One of the best things I have ever done. I got my life back. I could go out without worrying and didn't have to carry loads of extra protection around with me. Some lucky people never get another period, I did, but it is very light and lasts only about 5 days. It has been wonderful for me but then I am not in OPs position, wanting another child.

I agree with Attila definitely get a second opinion it's really worth it. I had a bad experience with a female gynae with no bedside manner who made me feel like a piece of meat. I managed to get a referral to someone else who specialised in Endometriosis and keyhole surgery and was really glad I did. Don't be fobbed off.

I had endometrial ablation at the age of 42 and it has worked really well for me but I quite understand your concerns about having more children. I felt I had completed my family at the time. It's really important that you don't feel rushed into surgery.

Thanks all - I'll go back to the GP and get a 2nd opinion.

The gynae surgeon made me feel like I didn't matter. He had decided what the best thing to do was, and so he was informing me of what he was going to do.

In fact that's exactly what he said. I am going to ....

Not what do you want, here are your options, no discussion, nothing like that.

And yes, I'm 42 and my youngest is 10. But I have a new partner, and he has no kids so if I can I'd like to try again for a baby with him.

Interesting that the acids don't work with endometriosis.

my cousin had an ablation and it worked really well for her , it stopped her periods virtually straightaway, but she was of an age where she could accept not having more children, if you might want another child then it's not suitable at all.

I felt like I was 1 and being told what to do

Really feel for you. I was in a similar position with a pig of a doctor who kept pushing me to have a mirenal fitted which i def didn't want as I knew it wouldn't agree with me. Kept asking for an ablation which he eventually agreed to. Having an ablation was the best thing I ever did. My periods had been ruling my life.
Periods after the ablation have been very light although they are starting to get heavier which i think is down to my age (peri-pause).
Have a friend who is on depo injection and doesn't have any periods.
Hope you get sorted out.

The wearwhiteagain website is produced by the people who make the Novasure Endometrial Ablation stuff...there's other more impartial resources out there.

That said, I had the procedure last year (and am not connected with the company) and it's been totally life changing, I wish I'd had it done sooner. BUT it is only suitable if you don't want any more children... Prior to that I'd tried everything with the final option being Mirena which worked well for 2.5 years and then I began to suffer evil PMT and passing out with the pain, heavy bleeding etc. Definitely get a second opinion though as the doc sounds like a bit of a git.