Is this a failed ablation? Reason enough for a hyst?

Hello,
I hope all are doing well. It's nice to see so many women helping other women.

Here's my problem and I hope someone can help. I had problems w/ periods for years. I finally got to the point last year where I was bleeding so heavily and so long each month I finally called the doctor.

In Oct 07, I had a D&C, partial fibroid removal, and endometrial ablation ( Thermachoice ) performed. I still have periods that last 7 days. ( Down from 28 days long and heavy, clotty etc. ) But still none the less I have bleeding.

My doctor had told me that I would have 2-3 days of spotting and would only have to use mini pads or liners.

I know that it is considered a success because it's lighter and lasts not as long, but the spotting afterward is starting up again. Not only that, but I have extreme cramping now that I did not have before.

Oh, I had cramps, but not this situation. When I get ready to urinate during my period, it feels like someone is SQUEEZING my uterus and bladder where it hurts to pee so bad it's very intense. I have to pee all the time and absolutely DREAD going during my first 3-4 days of my period. Is this normal? Once my period is over, this mostly goes away. I do have twinges of pain and cramps at other times of the month, as well as what I think is probably mid cycle spotting.

Sorry for the long post, but I tried to give as much info as possible.

Would the pain be reason enough for a hyst? Am I being a baby about the pain? It's been 8 months since my ablation and I'm not really optimistic about my results.

Thanks so much!

I don't know if this makes a difference, but I also had a Tubal done during the ablation.

Thanks!

It is a difficult decision and I know you want to make sure you've given the ablation adequate time. I went through the same thing. I also had the Thermachoice and my bleeding improved. In fact, I had no bleeding for the first 4 months. But, I had the same killer cramps all along that you describe, even with no bleeding and then light bleeding after 4 months. I went back to the doctor and he knew it was probably adenomyosis. He said it might be time to consider a hysterectomy, but the choice was mine and only I knew how much it was affecting my quality of life. I hated to give up on it so soon, but I knew with the bleeding starting back up (3-4 days out of every week) and the horrible cramps, I just couldn't see waiting much longer. I had my hysterectomy exactly 6 months after the ablation.

I think if the pain is bothering you, it's probably enough of a reason. You are not being a big baby! Those killer cramps really hurt. It's worth talking to your doctor and seeing what he says. Good luck making your decision and hang in there!

I experience the same thing after my ablation. The ablation, and other procedures I also had done at the same time that caused adhesion on my cervix to the point it closed it up and blood could not exscape so it sat in there and she believes that is what started my adenomyosis. She reopened it couple of times to drain it, and removed some adhesion. It took twice for that to work. Before I had my ablation I had very heavy bleeding, and clots that would never end atleast it seem, and the pain wasnt too bad. But after my ablation it lasted maybe a year and I started to get severe pain but no bleeding at first. When I was due for my period the pain was so bad even when I went to the bathroom it hurt to like you described, and it was so intense to the point it was hard to sit on the toilet or sit. The pain kept getting worse like 6 month before I had the surgery, and I started having bleeding again, and started to last long again, I had pain that was so bad only thing I could do is lay in bed and a month before my surgery I couldn't go to work, and living on vicodin for the past 3 to 4 month before my surgery. Only you can know what is best for you. I hope for the best for you, and everything works out the way you want. Good luck in your decision. For me it was the right choice.

I'm no ablation expert, but I'm the proud owner of a failed NovaSure ablation. I waited and waited for my results to be positive. I had my procedure in December 2007, and did not stop having periods. They were a bit lighter, but I had cramping (I'd never cramped before) and my cycles went down to 21 days from 28. After 11 months, I finally had a "light" period. Well, it was about half what it was before, but still lasted almost two weeks. The next few months were like that, and I was glad that I finally had SOME positive result. But in April I completely skipped a period, and in early May started bleeding and haven't stopped. I saw my ob two weeks ago, and he put me on the pill, which didn't stop it but did reduce it. I went back today and got a depo shot to try to shut everything down, and I'm seeing a specialist next week for either a repeat ablation, or a referral for a hyst. I'm leaning toward a hyst; I don't think a repeat ablation is going to make any difference.

I've been bleeding like this all my adult life. At 47, and three live births out of six pregnancies, I'm done. I'm tired, I'm ready to give up my angry uterus.

I don't do pain if I can help it. I, too, had adeno after ablation (no bleeding at least). The hyst was the only solution. At first I thought I was being a baby as well, until the cramps became a daily companion. Once the hydrocodone was a daily companion, I was desperate. I feel great now after LSH/BSO.
Best of luck in your decision-making.

i had the same thing. had the thermachoice in Feb 07, and hyst Feb 08.
My bleeding lessened for a few months but then was back to what it was ( and i was told, "the younger you are, the ablations are less effective") I'm 36
i am glad i had my hyst (except for the darn PMS that returns monthly to remind me)

And this is EXACTLY why I came looking here.......

I went to my GYN today after my liver doc told me my uterus was enlarged on CT as an incidental finding. My GYN looked around, felt around and sent me to ultrasound (haha that rhymes! :P ). Anyway, no fibroids, normal sized uterus, multiple ovarian cysts and a measurable endometrium. The last bit means I has a failed ablation. Next step.... hysterectomy!

YAY!!! Yank it out! Be gone vile weed!!! I, for one, am absolutely thrilled about getting my hysterectomy. I am sooooo tired of the issues. So, July is when I will get my life back.

I am 36 and can't imagine how any of you waited longer than that. That makes you stronger than me.

I am just grateful that it will be done the same year as my ablation..... deductible is already paid.

Wow! Thank you to all of you who responded! I guess I'm definitely not alone that's for sure.

I'm going to see how this next period is for sure and see if it's any better/different. I had the procedure in Oct 07, and I'm thinking I'll give it until I have my regular yearly exam to make any decisions. ( Unless it gets significantly worse before then! )

I have been very worried since I was 33 when I had this done and I'd also heard that there is more chance of a regeneration. Plus the doc was not able to get the entire submucousal fibroid.

This sounds terrible, but I almost wish it was worse so I could have more reason to take it out. Some months are horrible and other months are just bad like usual. That makes the decision harder I think. I'm sick of bleeding and planning vacations around this. Sick of wearing pads. I've had my period since I was 12 and it was always heavy, clotty, and long. I've had enough.

Have a great weekend!

Looks as though a lot of people had the same experience. I was like you and did not have luck with the ablation. I never went without the bleeding. I bled for 2 weeks after the ablation and then started a regular monthly peiod after that. Felt like I had nothing done except that the cramping was worse by 10X. I went 2 1/2 yrs before deciding to have the hyster. But, am so glad now that I did. I don't think your being a baby about the pain. I know mine was so much worse it was debilitating.