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Original poster

Does anyone have any experience of endometrial ablation, particularly the Novasure method?

122 replies

WigWamBam · 05/01/2008 17:47

Have been offered one of these as the best treatment for dysfunctional uterine bleeding/menorrhagia, but the consultant didn't give me a lot of information and Googling has just terrified the wits out of me (I know, Googling any health topic is never a good idea!)

I've searched the archives and found a few postings, but would really value any experiences anyone may have.

OP posts:

saralou · 08/01/2008 20:54

it could be worth going back to your gynae and getting them to explain everything. note down questions on a piece of paper and take it with you!

45nanny · 09/01/2008 10:27

Hi WWB , i am going to be having this done in march and like you am a little worried . I couldn't find out much about it ,so im glad i came across your post . I had the M coil in and still have very heavy bleeding and dreadful pain . I havn't stopped bleeding now since the middle of Nov dispite my own Dr putting me onto norethisterone(this did slow things down ,but didnt stop them ) Thank god my partner is so good ;our sex life is nil and has been for over a year now. Things got a lot worse since i had the M coil in , weight gain, total change of personality and still very heavy peroids. I cant wait to have this done a little sad that i can no longer have children , but at 45 i think i,m too old now anyway . Just want a normal life back. God luck , when are you due to go in .Where do you live. jules.

Piggy · 09/01/2008 10:30

I think I'm right in saying that Marina had it done. I posted about my shocking periods a while ago (I was piglit then) and she and others gave me loads of helpful advice. I'll see if I can find my thread.

hertsnessex · 09/01/2008 10:32

i had this done in july 06.

think carefully - and even askfor counselling if you think you may ever possibly want any more children. i didnt and it wasnt my best decision to get ahead.

on a brighter note its an easy procedure and relativly pain free.

Original poster

WigWamBam · 09/01/2008 10:35

Jules, I'm in the Midlands. Am meant to be having it done in a couple of weeks.

I suppose it's the not being able to have children that is making me a bit wary - odd, because I know that I don't want more children and I'm too old anyway. I think it feels weird because the choice is being taken away from me. And it was quite a shock to find out that it would rule children out, as the gynae didn't actually tell me about it.

Saralou, I guess I've found out everything I need to know by researching it, and there's not much practically that the gynae could tell me that I don't now know. Plus I don't really have a lot of choice in the matter now; I either have this done or go back to having heavy, never-ending periods - which isn't an option. I just wanted to hear from other people that everything would be OK, I suppose.

Thanks all [amile]

OP posts:

Piggy · 09/01/2008 10:36

Here

Original poster

WigWamBam · 09/01/2008 10:37

Thanks, Piggy, that would be good.

Herts - really, I don't want any more children (my dd wants me to, but that's another question!). And as I said, I'm 45 which makes it very much more likely that I couldn't even if I wanted to. It just feels odd, that it won't be my choice anymore.

OP posts:

Original poster

WigWamBam · 09/01/2008 10:39

Thanks, Piggy

OP posts:

hertsnessex · 09/01/2008 10:42

if you dont want anymore kids - then go for it as it solves all heavy bleeding probs. i havent had an AF since. and no monthly pain/cramps either.

good luck, hope it goes well.

45nanny · 09/01/2008 10:50

WWB , i think like you the choice of having no more children being taken away from you make me feel a little sad. I shouldn't have more as i have a downs child and the risk of another at my age is very high. But its the thought that i would no longer have the choice.
Hope all goes well with you . I'm in Beds and my dr seems pretty sure its the best thing . He is trying to avoid a HYSTO because of the long recovery time, at least with the novasure , i can be in and out (hopeful) and return to taking care of my lad pretty quickly.

Piggy · 09/01/2008 11:02

I completely understand where you are coming from. I absolutely completely and utterly 100% do not want any more children. Yet I won't consider the ablation just yet because it means I can't have any more children.

Where's the logic in that?

Original poster

WigWamBam · 09/01/2008 11:24

Logic?

Who needs logic?

I think the other thing that makes me reluctant is that I don't want to admit that I'm getting old. Hysterectomies and the alternatives to them shouldn't be the kinds of things that I need to be thinking about; I'm just a spring chicken.

OP posts:

hertsnessex · 09/01/2008 13:28

im only 28 - i had just turned 26 when i had it done. its not about admitting you are old as that isnt the case. even though i partially regret my decision as i did want more children (i had a mc in the march b4 the op). the fact i now live EVERY day pain free is better for the children i do have. some decisions have to be made - and i live everyda for the children i do havev not for the ones i dont/cant have.

Original poster

WigWamBam · 09/01/2008 14:02

Oh gosh, that would have been a much harder decision to make than mine. I'm an old crock and completely past it and it's still hard enough to decide.

OP posts:

45nanny · 09/01/2008 15:27

Oh Herts , your decision was a brave one at a young age , i had only just had my first child at 27 and i feel lucky that my heavy bleeding has only been over the last few years. I know in my heart it is the right decision to have it done ,so i can get some quality back in my life and become less of a pain ridden dragon to my two children and my partner and his daughter.
WWB , are you saying you are passed it , gosh that makes me feel old now ,prehaps this op will make us behave like spring chickens again when we have had it done . Keep posting ,it will be good to know how you get on . :-) jules.

hertsnessex · 09/01/2008 18:00

it certainly makes you feel better. mine wasnt for the heavy bleeding alone - it was to stave off having a hystorectomy as i have endo/pcos/cysts and severe pain - by not having periods - it bought me more time (less blood = less adhesions). so i was faced with 2 evils and choose the lesser (for now).

go for it - i felt better after as i wasnt in as much pain - it certainly makes you realise what pain you were in. as long as you are sure your family iss complete then go for it. i couldnt/havevnt seen any down sides from the op.

Original poster

WigWamBam · 09/01/2008 22:45

Am certainly happier about the idea of it now than I was when I saw the gynae last week.

Still wobbly but probably not going to chicken out of having it done now.

Thank you ever so much

OP posts:

hertsnessex · 10/01/2008 09:41

hope it goes well WWB, pleae let us all know. Will be thinking of you.

evenmoremiserablethanbefore · 12/12/2008 22:02

Just seen this thread and am desperate for advice!
Can I have Novasure ablation done under local anaesthetic?
if so where?
I will pay private if I have to.....
I am shit scared of GA but need to stop this horrible way of life {living on the toilet,screaming at the kids coz I,m anaemic and have no patience,NO SEX LIFE coz I,m knakkered all the time...
should have bought shares in 'ALWAYS' towels
and I dont have one pair of decent knickers,they are all ruined coz of accidents [given up buying expensive sexy ones years ago....]
had all the tests done and nothing sinister apart from a few adhesions...
had the Mirena twice,but it came out both times.
Am booked in for my 1st Depo jab,but dont really want it.....I feel I dont have many choices

fortyplus · 15/12/2008 00:21

Hi - if you click on the'old threads'at the start, one of them was mine! I had mine done under GA at the BUPA hospital in Harpenden. Are you in the UK?

fortyplus · 15/12/2008 00:23

And by the way - it's been about 20 months since I had it done and it's been BRILLIANT!! Just SO liberating not to have to worry about all that bloody mess all the time!

fortyplus · 15/12/2008 00:25

Sorry I'm not really answering your question... In the USA about 75% of these procedures are done under local anaesthetic. Here it's mostly GA. I asked about LA but consultant said he doesn't recommend it. From when I looked at the clock as I was given the GA till when I woke up was less than half an hour. I had no ill effects at all.

45nanny · 16/12/2008 20:53

Me too , i'm an old poster, have my op in april and can say its the best thing ever.
I have had no more bleeding at all . Thank god i had it done when i did as my mirena had grown into my womb lining and had let out all the 5years worth of hormones in one hit . My doctor wasnt suprized that i had been in so much pain and it explained the really heavy bleeding . All wonderful now , i get a odd discarge occassionally , most months i miss it completly . So good luck to you all that are going to have it done.

ANGEL61 · 11/02/2009 14:33

Hello Girls,

I had Novasure Ablation done last Thursday 5th Feb, and whilst I was bleeding very heavily too (blush) I went into surgery with a lot of cramp and discomfort and when I came round I was pain free! I have kept my Ibruprofen levels topped up over the last few days, and today I am drug free with only mild cramping. I suffered from horrendous bleeds for years, and had to firmly resisted Mirena Coil because I am not impressed with the results and the experience of my friends with it. In Nov 08 I bled for 23 days, 7 of which were extremely to obviously anemic during December and of the dreaded Ferrous Sulphate with all their nasty side effects too. Previous examinations reveal nothing physically wrong with me, no fibroids or endometriosis - clean as a whistle as my consultant told my partner.... It is purely a hormonal issue for me and he reassured us that it was Mirena or ultimate hysterectomy. I was desperate, and I googled and found out about Ablation myself - it was not a recommended option. And yes, I even had to fight to have an Ablation performed. So it now a week after the procedure and all I am experiencing is watery bloody discharge, and only a thin pad for protection is required. What bliss!! I am praying for success, at almost 48 I feel young enough to want to live the rest of my life fully. I will watch this site and post my progress. x

QOD · 26/02/2009 19:30

Hi ladies, I am having this done on 2nd April privately, good old insurance...
What sort of return to work are you lookin at?

cheers!

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