Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

Original poster

Endometrial ablation? Who is a candidate?

25 replies

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 28/09/2013 22:36

I have very heavy periods. They last for 10 days and while days 1 and 2 are very light, days 3, 4 and 5 are hard work and exhausting. I need to empty my mooncup every 2 hours and am up at least twice a night to sort myself out. The last 5 days are manageable as the loss gradually reduces.

I've recently been scanned and have no fibroids. My GP wants me to have a mirena coil fitted but I'm not keen - don't like the hormones and potential side effects.

How awful would my periods need to be to qualify for endometrial ablation?

OP posts:

pigglepaggle · 29/09/2013 10:24

I've always had heavy periods and thought they were the norm and put up with them for years.
Mentioned it to the practice nurse who suggested the mirena coil and then booked an appointment with my GP who tried to push me into having the coil fitted. I knew it wouldn't agree with me and asked about having an ablation. I was referred to hospital and had the ablation along with a couple of other things- fibroid removal, biopsy for abnormal cells.
Go back to your GP and ask again about the ablation. There is a website and forum (USA based) that gives loads of information about the procedure.

Hope you get sorted :)

chocosaurus · 29/09/2013 10:52

You sound ideal so long as you have completed your family and have good contraception (pregnancy is a no no after this).

Just explain mirena is not acceptable to you and ask for gyane referral.

While I'm here I just have to say I have a mirena and is the best thing ever! But clearly not for everyone

RandomMess · 29/09/2013 10:56

I tried the mirena and the threads irritated me, had the feeling of constant low level thrush.

GP happily referred me for ablation, the consultant wanted one of us to be sterilised as an accidental pregnancy is very serious. My periods were a week long with 5 heavy days, lots of flooding and disturbed nights and I couldn't exercise so on a par with you.

Just be stubborn and demand a referral.

Original poster

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 29/09/2013 12:28

Thanks for the advice.

I've never tried a coil, just feel that it's not the thing for me.

Our family is complete. Would it be possible for me to be sterilised at the same time as the ablation I wonder? I will get back to the GP's and ask. We have private health insurance so that might make it a bit easier to get referred.

OP posts:

PoshPenny · 29/09/2013 12:33

have you tried tranexamic acid which is supposed to reduce the flow? I have been prescribed some, but no idea if it will work or not. It is a non hormonal treatment. in the NICE guidelines for Heavy menstrual bleeding, I think that is option 2 behind the merina coil. It might be worth you reading the full guidelines yourself if you haven't already, I found them very helpful.

PoshPenny · 29/09/2013 12:33

RandomMess · 29/09/2013 12:52

I had tried tanexamic acid but because you can only take it for 3 days in a row and I had 5 days in a row it wasn't altogether successful and if you're in a 30s it's still a long time to have to put up with it all!

Original poster

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 29/09/2013 15:13

I've tried that and mefanamic acid.

Both gave me blinding headaches which were more restrictive than the bleeding!

Good idea to look at the NICE guidelines. I do that this evening when I'll have chance to concentrate!

I'm 37 btw, so the chances are there's potentially many years of this ahead yet

OP posts:

chocosaurus · 29/09/2013 17:26

It's quite common to have a sterilisation and ablation simultaneously so go for it. Good luck

RandomMess · 29/09/2013 17:33

Sounds to me like you have a very good case to insist demand referral my op didn't go as smoothly as planned but it was still worth it, I got my life back!

Geordieminx · 29/09/2013 17:36

Can I ask what are the consequences if you fall pregnant after ablation?

RandomMess · 29/09/2013 17:49

Well it implants into your womb which has insufficient lining, I think in rare cases fatalities - I did read about many US cases where pregnancy happens and seems that it causes lots of complications?

Original poster

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 29/09/2013 22:52

Just had a look at the NICE guidelines and it looks like I should fit the bill nicely!

Now I'm getting the heebie jeebies thinking about it! I am a wuss and have never has any surgery - the idea of opting for it is scarey. But then again the thought of having periods like these for the next however many years is very upsetting.

Plan of attack: mention it to DH (he ought to know really!) and then see how soon I can get an appt with one of our nice lady GPs to talk it through.

OP posts:

chocosaurus · 30/09/2013 10:29

gerodieminx...

If you get pregnant after this procedure you have a high risk of ectopic, and also abnormal implantation such as placenta accreta or percreta. Not nice!

RandomMess · 30/09/2013 16:45

It's usually discharge from hospital 4 hours post op so not a biggie.

Original poster

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 30/09/2013 22:28

If I use our private healthcare to get it done, I'll be upset if I don't get an overnight stay!!

OP posts:

RandomMess · 30/09/2013 22:30

I was with NHS but fortunately in the local private hospital as I ended up having to stay in for 2 nights...

tammytwigg · 30/09/2013 22:39

Go for it, one of the best things I ever did no more weeks of hell had it in may and can honestly say never felt better. They did try to persuade me to have the coil , didn't fancy it having had ivf for my children couldn't see the point of contraception .i was a day case then had a couple of weeks of work physical job never looked back.

BreadAndJamForFrances · 01/10/2013 01:02

Just be aware - the doctors glaze over the fact that it doesn't work for everybody!
I had an ablation 6 years ago for awful heavy, painful periods that lasted for weeks, and after trying everything else. It never totally got rid of my periods, but they were lighter and shorter. However, they have steadily got worse and worse, and for the past 2 years they have been just as bad as before.
I cannot have a hysterectomy (which is what I would like) so I am going in next week for my second ablation. My consultant wants to start me on some new tablets too, so hopefully the combination will give me longer with lighter periods or (fingers crossed!) no periods at all!

RandomMess · 01/10/2013 17:24

I still have periods too but very very light and short and if they come back with the vegenance in the next 5 years or so I'll still want to have another one over hysterectomy.

Original poster

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 29/10/2013 16:55

So I've seen the GP today and while she was happy to refer me to Gynae, she's not sure that ablation would be the right thing for me, purely because of my age.

I'm 37 and the effects of an ablation could only last for approximately 5 years. Unfortunately I potentially have many years than that left of having periods.

She is the one at our practice who fits and removes the coils and she said that there would be no problem removing it after 3 months if I really wasn't getting in with it.

So mirena coil or mini pill seem to be my most realistic options at the moment.

OP posts:

SpottyDottie · 29/10/2013 17:03

I've just had the ablation. But this has come after trying the mirena and it not helping me fully because I do have fibroids.

One thing they do stress though is that you must not fall pregnant ever again afterwards. So a 'permanent' method of contraception has to be in place so I sent DH to get the snip

VivaLeBeaver · 29/10/2013 17:12

I was similar and had ablation 2 or 3 years ago. It's worked for me. I'd already been sterilised.

Vajazzler · 29/10/2013 17:16

I had an ablation at the same time as having a cyst removed from an ovary. Like BreadAndJam it worked at first but my periods are steadily getting heavier. I don't regret having it done at all. My family was complete and I had already been sterilised but I can see that I might need a second procedure in a few more years.

SpottyDottie · 01/11/2013 19:00

I had my ablation two weeks ago. It is taking me some time to feel better, I am very tired and still bleeding. Saw GP tonight as I'm getting cramps, feels like period pains. How long did it take for you all to feel back to normal?

Flip