Ablation and sterilisation

[monkeyblonde]

I'm not sure where is the best place to post this so here goes...

Basically since puberty my periods have been heavy, since having 2 DCs (one vaginal and one C section) they have gone to a whole new level. Last year on various scans I was diagnosed with ovarian cysts, fibroids and adenomyosis although I'm not sure that they are clear exactly what is going on.

I had the Mirena fitted last December and have basically bled non stop - a mixture of the brown tarry discharge to full blown golf ball sized clots.

I have been seeing a gynaecologist for the last six weeks who has recommended and booked a Novasure ablation and sterilisation for me. I was happy to give this a try but after researching have come across various failed ablation cases where they have had to undergo hysterectomy which is something I'm trying to avoid at 39.

Can anyone offer me any advice or experience please?

I had ablation and sterilisation as I was flooding for a whole week and my cycle was only 21 days long!

I won't lie, my 6 hour discharge turned into a 2 night stay as I was in so much pain and groggy from the GA. One of the incisions got an infection so I also had to take antibiotics. I was off work for 2 weeks and then did a further week on half days as I was just exhausted and in one meeting I apparently went white then green and I really felt ill - it passed and I was fine though.

However I am now 6.5 years and apart from a "skid" mark on my knickers a few days of the month it is fantastic. I now have a tiny bit more bleeding on day 1 but still don't really need to wear a pant liner I just wear black cotton knickers.

I bleed everyday on the mirena for 6 months (not heavily though) then still had a light period on it.

So for me it was utterly worth it I got my life back!!!

Have you been offered Esmya? I had terrible periods due to fibroids and Mirena was useless for me (I expelled two of them). I took Esmya tablets which shrunk my fibroid small enough to have the fibroid removed through keyhole surgery. But apparently it's possible to take Esmya indefinitely to keep the fibroid small. Fibroids were my only issue though, I don't know if it would work if the cysts etc are the main issue.

I didn't want to consider ablation as I was a bit younger (36) so I wanted to keep my fertility (although it doesn't seem to have worked, but that's another issue).

Is there a reason you're against a hysterectomy?

I was offered an ablation, but wa told it may not work and I'd need a hysterectomy so just went for the hysterectomy, and I'm 36. I retained my ovaries, so menopause a while off yet. It was 11 weeks ago, and I'm feeling so much better now.

I had Novasure a year ago. I was out of hospital a couple of hours after the procedure and was off work for about four days. This was more of a precaution then necessary as I was absolutely fine.
I had light brown discharge for about three months and since then have not had any periods. It has been a success for me so far.

Mine was Novasure too, the consultant was insistent on sterilisation too because if you do manage to get pregnant post ablation it's very serious/life threatening.

I am prone to getting spasms etc. so I suspect that was why I reacted so badly plus I always vomit after GA!

From your experiences it sounds as though some of the bad stories I have read are rare and hearing your views is just what I need.

I guess I just feel too young for a hysterectomy! I'm 40 this year but in my mind I'm mid twenties.

I've also put on 3st+ since the birth of DC2 3 years ago and (forgot to mention in original post) I'm anaemic so my energy levels have been zero. I've been on iron tablets for the past 3 weeks or so and already feeling better . I'm actually looking forward to making plans whereas before I was so down - I'm hoping that I can attribute my 'depression' to the anaemia as I have not felt the lows since taking the supplements. It's also great to feel as though I'm taking control of the situation rather than feeling out of control of my own body.

It seems that you have all had varying recovery periods but nothing too prolonged. I'm going to update my progress as I go - only just over a week until the procedure!

I would buy some floradix or spatone to take instead of the iron - it works much better without being bunged up.

Ablation is really worth a try, if you don't then what is the alternative? Surely the only other offer on the table is sterilisation anyway?

I will be honest I really cried on the day prior to the op, accepting my fertility was going to be over was a process of grief - I was 38 but have 4 DC and the youngest was 5. My head accepted it was sensible but my emotions struggled.

Ablation worked for me, best decision ever. My energy levels are back up and I'm not afraid to go out for fear of flooding. I wasn't offered sterilisation with it'though I am older; 44 at the time of the procedure.
Recovery time is nowhere as long as a hysterectomy.