Embolisation next month - can I have your experiences please?

[SoftPillowAllNight]

I'm due to undergo embolisation for a large fibroid (10cm) next month. I'd love to know your experiences of success/failure; how bad was the pain?; how long before you got back to work; any long term effects that should be aware of? Does anyone regret having one?

I'm dreading the catheter more than the procedure as I get UTIs very easily. Doc has said he will put me on IV antibiotics to prevent/reduce this.

I'm also worried about the anaesthetic not being strong enough and me being half awake during the procedure.

Anyone with positive stories please?

Bump? Anyone?

I had an ablation. And it was fine. Sorry I know it's not the same it's better to get it treated! Hope it goes well.

Wait! I'm getting my terms mixed up! Do you mean stopping the blood to it with beads?

Sorry. I did have an embolisation! It was fine. I don't remember having a catheter. I wasn't fully asleep but sedated. Pain was bad the first night but manageable. I went back to work about a week later. I don't regret it all it made my periods much lighter.

@hopeishere - thank you, yes it's the blocking blood with bead procedure.

I'm getting a bit terrified as the date approaches. Did myself no favours by googling and reading up all the things that could go wrong

Did you have any post-op complications at all? And how long did it take for your fibroid to shrink?

No complications at all. Fibroid began to shrink immediately. I hi walnut felt fine about about three or four days! I passed a tiny bit of tissue about a year later. It was painful the first night but I was written up for morphine if I wanted it.

Just seen this post and wondered how the embolisation went. I have a 11cm pedunculated fibroid and considering embolisation? Did your fibroid shrink and how painful was it? Any info you could share would be really helpful 😊

@Powe5678 - hi there, it's been 6 months since my embolisation. The procedure went as well as it could and I had a very quick recovery. No painkillers after day3 and back to work in 10 days. Felt quite normal, no bleeding/clots etc.

I've had 2 ultrasounds since - at 2 and 6 months and the fibroid has shrunk considerably. It is completely dead and gone to 5 cm from the original 9cm. The dead tissue is likely to remain a 5cm ball. Overall it was a 63% reduction in volume which my consultant took as a success!

I would highly recommend this if you want to avoid surgery and can find a good interventional radiologist who can confirm that your type of fibroid is a good candidate.

If you have any more questions, Happy to answer.

Thanks so much for your response has been really helpful, so glad it was a success. Do you know what type of fibroid you have, mine is on a stalk and the radiologist has advised a risk of detachment but still believes I will benefit from the procedure? Did the radiologist go through your groin or arm, mine has suggested going through my arm so there won’t be the need to lie still for hours after? Not sure of your age but could you take HRT now the fibroid has shrunk or is there a chance of regrowth?

@Powe5678 - I am late 40s and I continue to take HRT. I have been told it is unlikely that I'll get new fibroid now hence the risk is minimal, but I plan to get ultrasounds annually to catch any new ones at an early stage and review HRT as needed.

Mine was via the groin and the lying still for 4 hours was the worst bit of the procedure. I wasn't given the arm option but won't you need to reduce movement anyway to stem blood and allow it to clot?

If your IR thinks your fibroid is a candidate then go for it. If it detaches it might either come out naturally or have to be removed - either is better than surgery. Mine was intramural so remains in the muscle wall.

I had mine via the arm. I have a teeny scar! I was sedated a bit.