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

[WigWamBam]

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.

Hi Ellie
Regarding the contraception issue, I think the consultant just looked at my husband's "hard done by" face and thought it best not to ask!! Obviously birthdays and Christmas is not enough!!

I also want to know why all Gynae seem to be men.
My GP is just as bad - did not even offer me Novasure. When I told him about my nightmare monthlys and how I was struggling with really heavy bleeding his answer was that I was coming up to "that age" and that it was to be expected. I was gobsmacked and what made it worse that he wasn't some doddery old geezeer but looks about 30!

Bloody men - what do they know!
Take care
Lesley

Just a thought girls...

Ablation has been widely available in USA since 2001, and in the UK since 2005.

I found out about Endometrial Ablation/Novasure by surfing the net in my frustration with NHS and desperation to stop my womb from dominating my body. This procedure was not suggested or recommended to me. Then I had to have fisty cuffs with my consultant to get him to perform the procedure.

Any thoughts on why this procedure is not more actively promoted in the UK?

There was nothing mechanically wrong with me - it was simply a massive hormonal imbalance, but in 2009 there really should be no need for women who suffer DUB or any other associated menstrual issues to have to fight for a simply non-invasive procedure to be carried out to give them better quality f life. Queen Victoria died in 1901!

Votes for women - more female gynacologists please! Wonder what the state of play would have been if men had periods??

Lesley!!
Seems to be a time drag between post etc. Like QOD, you are a girl after my own heart!!

You are so right about that cliche 'coming to that age' if you read my previous post you will see that I wonder what would have happened if men had had periods and birthed children...

I do feel strongly about this and have done quite a bit research on net. It seems that because GP's were all males and could not offer a magic pill nor understand the true physical sufferings of women who had excessive bleeding, it was passed of as being 'all part of womanhood' because they could not impress us with a logical medical solution.

Even my 73 year old mother insists that there is nothing wrong with me - its natual to bleed to death every 28 days.... What bloody chance did I stand, yet I stood firm. How harsh the past has been on we females.

I remain resolute, this is 2009 and we deserve better, after all that we endure to ensure the continuance of the human race. Maybe we could start a campaign and manacle ourseles to railings or something ?? :-)

Regarding your poor hard-done-to husband, maybe you will feel better in a few weeks and more receptive to some normal activity. All joking aside, excessive bleeding as you and I have endured is enough to put anyone off the 's word' for life, but for some women it must be a godsend!

Lesley, did you try the Moon Cup? Or where you put off because of excessive bleeding. QOD seems to have got on famously with it, but she hasn;t had the heavy blood loss that you and I have.

I found this site very helpful

www.endometrialablationdiscussion.com/postop.html

ah, now see my gynae is.... drum roll ..... a woman!
But my gp who is indeed a man recommended to HER that she do the proceedure! Freaky deaky!

WHat i find odd is that once we tried to have a baby, all the things thrown at me where to try to get me pregnant, not to cure me. So, no let up of the side effects of shitty ovaries, a beard (LOL) and being a right fatty. Got an underactive thyroid too which can lead on to all sorts of fertility issues, but they didnt test me for anything, they just threw treatments full of more hormones at me

oh oh and i mean to say - dd means dearest daughter and dh apparently means dearest husband, except for me it stands for dickhead...

QOD you are outrageous!
hee hee

Hello QOD and Lesley
So how are you feeling ladies? i'm having some brown spotting this week, but almost nothing. I'm at day 16 of cycle and I always got some bleeding around ovulation so thats about right. feel fine, but can't get rid of that nagging feeling that I should be bleeding again by now! Guess time will be the greatest healer.

Hi again
Thank you for all your advice.
The latest with my 6 year period hell is that they seem to have calmed down!!
The last 4 periods have lasted a week {instead of 3} and,although I still bleed heavy for the first 2-3 days its still much better than before,and the clots are finally alot smaller and less scary looking! I,m praying that the coil has done its job,even though both fell out,it must have done something to my womb lining.
I wonder if my hormones have just levelled out? apparantly I wasnt producing enough progesterone.....
If my period ever gets that bad again,I will have to seriously think about the ablation.I dont ever want to go through all that shite again!

By the way....does anyone else think that the thermal ablation sounds totally horrific!!!
I asked my Doctor if I could have the Novosure and the practice manager said ," I dont think the PCT will fund it"
Always about the money...
To have this procedure done private,I was told it would be £3,000 and I,d have to travel to London.
I live in the North and dont have 3 grand.
3 GRAND for a ninety second procedure!!!!!!
keeping my fingers crossed ,my periods have calmed down.

only a man would think about a procedure for women which involves BOILING WATER!!!
What about inventing a ball crusher as an alternative for a vasectomy? those little tubes would have no chance in knitting back together now,would they?

sorry....just a touch of PMT there

Hi evenmoremiserablethanbefore,
I found out about ablation on the net after years of bleeding, pretty much the same as you. I was ill and desperate. I initially found Thermacare and it was that procedure I asked for, not knowing about Novasure. It was my consultant at Hexham who told me Novasure was more effective and a newer procedure. Of course I was happier to have that rather than boiling water!! I asked why Ablation had not been recommended earlier, as I had been back and forward, and I was told that there is a set path that NHS must follow (pill, coil, ablation, hysterectomy) so mirena was recommended first because it does not fundamentally change your body, whereas ablation is non-reversable. I rejected mirena because my blood loss was so severe that I just could not wait another year just to see if it might work. Hmmmm, I think funding did come into it. But £3000 is a fair price, its a full theatre job and anaesthetist etc and I would have gladly paid for it if I had to.

I have just had my third period since my op 13 weeks ago, I was amazed, not enough to fill two egg cups. Praise be - no more discomfort and embarrassments and anaemia etc..!!

How North are you? I am Newcastle upon Tyne and I found it easy enough to have done. You can write to me directly: [email protected]

Best wishes. x

Hi Angel...I live in Newcastle and am being considered for this procedure..could you tell me which hospital you had the procedure done in and who was your consultant and who carreid out het operation. I go back to the QE in July and think I will be put on the waiting list (was that long too?)..thanks and sorry for all the questions and Hijack!!!

Hi Cositjustisok,

I don;t know if we are meant to mention names on here, but email me as shown above and I will be happy to help.x

hello ladies! I am thirty ten today! woohoo
and for an early birthday present I got my first period yesterday!
Its been mild, not much loss, minor aching needing a couple of paracetomol, fabulous!
I had mostly stopped with the discharge, and feel fine mostly!
Hope the next ones stay like this!
waving to everyone on the thread

Happy birthday QOD...hope you had a lovely day. what a nice suprise to get your period too...reassuring that it is mild..thats jsut what you want.

I am waiting for my period too...not had the operation yet but have had the mirena taken out and am waiting to see if my periods return to the ferrocious state they where before the coil....if so I am having the ablation done..... Sort of know form the past that they will be as bad in a few months!!!! Hope everyone is recovering well.

Hello Ladies,

Well done QOD.Isn't it heavenly when you see how minimal your period is post ablation? My last period was so minimal that I could not believe my luck. Next one due on 25th May so I will keep posting.

I have noticed a very light spotting at ovulation and I know exactly when this is happening because I have been through IVF. But only very minimal.

I bought some tampons in Boots the other day(sad that I still go in there and automatically head for the feminine hygiene aisle) BUT.... I only bought a smalle box of super and a small box of regular!! If last month was anything to go by I won't finish either.

BLISS..... XXX

PS previous to ablation, I'd get pain and spotting at ovulation and then go straight into bleeding until avalanche due. so anaemic and so uncomfortable. I really can't believe this - its like a miracle and I keep going to bathroom expecting the worst but it ain't happening. Guess it is still early days - only had ablation on 2nd Feb and after at least 8 years of suffering its hardly surprising that I am sceptical. xxx

I am so pleased for you!!
I hope I can have the procedure and it works just as well.
I too have suffered for 7 years now....coils falling out....flooding for weeks....housebound...depressed...crying...
some light at the end of the tunnel though...thanks for posting your results

Hi all, just to let you know that I have recieved the date for my ablation...18th of August!!!! yikes not that long to get worked up about it really. Have my pre operation assessment on the 5th, feeling rather scared when I opened the letter as I was expecting it and new what it was. Will let you know how I get on. Btw periods have returned as bad as before so I know I need the op.... still scarey though!!

I,m so jealous!!!!
.....wish I,d have asked my doc to re refer me months ago,instead of stupidly thinking my periods would go light again after coil fell out....
hope it works for you though,let us know how you get on

Fab, I go for a discharge consultation on the 15th August, I am happy with the result, i take 2 parecetomal 1 day and maybe 1 the next, my mooncup never runneth over LOL and it's just GREAT
Keep us posted

i had the procedure done in november 2007 and my doctor did this under a local.it was like something out of victorian times,the pain was unbelievable and the after care was again not there.i was left in recovery crying and in so my pain ,i found it had to control my breathing and after a few hours ,i was put on oxyegen and morphine.i was discharged 2 days later,should have been on the same day.and 12 weeks of infection and 6 different types of antibioctics from severe infection.today i started to get the dreaded discharge after 3 days of the most awful pain ,same pain i had with the infection.would not recommend this method to anyone....