Ablation

Hi I'm new here. I had a hysterectomy several years ago - the bikini line type. Before that we tried a uterine oblation, where, under general anesthesia, they take a (then) hot roller and sear the uterine lining. It didn't hurt and was basically fine. I had several fibroids, and one was very large. Eventually what happened was that the bleeding and clots started again, and I opted for the surgery to put an end to it all.

Thank you for sharing your experience with us! Every post like this is important as it helps women do their research, and answers some of their questions!

Do I understand you correctly that you had the ablation to correct the fibroid problem without a myomectomy? I have one medium sized fibroid for which the doc recommended total hyst, as soon as possible. (What a surprise!) All my girlfriends are telling me to run, not walk, to another gyn who will consider a myo and an ablation. (Nobody around here does embolizations, and my insurance would never pay for it anyhow.) It sounds really good to me, but I do not want them varmints regrowing in there, and I thought by having the myo and the ablation at the same time, I had a real good chance of avoiding a repeat. Did you have the myo along with the ablation, and if you did, how did you feel right after, and how long before the fibroids regrew, and did they come back worse? I have searched just about every post on here for a situation like yours (at least the way I understand it) and I would love your comments and recommendations.

Thanks,
Judy Ray in Tucson

Judy Ray - I see your in Tucson. I know it would be quite a drive but there is an EXCELLENT doctor in Phoenix (far north to be exact) by the name of Jay Cooper, M.D. They have a website at: http://www.womenshealthresearchaz.com/ - they are currently looking for people to do a fibroid study with embolization versus hysterectomy. If I would you I would call, Berta Ford is the coordinator and very nice!!

I drive over an hour each way to see these wonderful people and am having my laproscopy on wed (1/16) - Just thought I would share!

Hi, I am so new here! Saw this post about uterine ablation. I too had that done in May of 2000 due to severe bleeding. At first I thought this is it! This is great! My periods were almost non-existant. Now, within the last 6-9 months they are back and stronger then ever with backache and cramps. Since November I have gotten it every two weeks and now my Doc is suggesting a hysterectomy. I am so very nervous about this and not sure what to do! Wish me luck in my search for information.

Do you suffer from fibroids also? I know that ablation is rarely successful when there are fibroids present, because the fibroids prevent the balloon, or roller device from deploying properly. If the fibroids are very small and not detected, I suppose the doctor might attempt the ablation anyway, but from what I have been told, ablation is not done in any case where there are known fibroids. I have a fibroid, and that is the extent of my knowledge about abnormal uterine bleeding. If that is not what you have, I know there are lots of women here who know about the other causes. If you know you have a fibroid, repost and I will tell you what I have learned and where I found it.

Judy Ray

I didn't have any fibroids at that time, that is why he went ahead with the themal ablation. I was supposed to be a good candidate. I don't think I have any now, the doc got called away right after the biopsy for an emergency. I will talk to him more next week when results are back.

FYI: Biopsies are painful after the thermal ablation! They have to go through the scar tissue to get the sample. Be forwarned!
I have had 3 previous biopsies with no problems whatsover but I just about went through the roof with this one!