Mixed feelings about not trying UAE?

Hi, I am one week post-op. I had my uterus taken out on June 17 due to very large fibroids that weres still continuing to grow. My uterus was at the size of a four month pregnancy when I was operated on. I could have looked into the possibility of seeing an interventional radiologist that my doctor mentioned, but I read on and did some of my own research on UAE, and the research scared me, with all of the scary documented side effects. I am slightly curious as to if I should have tried to spare my uterus. I knew with this kind of surgery what I would have done. With UAE, there was a chance that I could go into ovarian faillure with my age, 46 or other organ failure. with this kind of surgery, a supracervical hysterectomy, I knew exactly what I was going to have done. Also, my doctor told me that if the ovaries and cervix were fine, he would only remove the uterus. I definitely don't want anymore children. The surgery went well.

I was wondering if anyone else out there has gone through the same feelings as me. I just kind of looked at the UAE as a type of experimental procedure. Someone else that I knew said that she tried to look into having the procedure, her uterus was the same size as mine, and the radiologist told her her uterus was too big.
Please get back to me on this! I still feel just slightly ambivalent that I did the right thng. Deep down I think that I did. I need some help here, some feedback, even though it is too late.

Thanks,
Solivia

Hello...
I wasn't given the option of UAE but even if I were I think I would have still chosen to have the hysterectomy. I'm 46 also and done having children, had my tubal ligation at 26. I had a few second thoughts as the day approached for my surgery but all in all it was the right thing to do for me.
In my opinion we are all just looking for a better quality of life...a life no longer ruled by menstrual cycles. If the hysterectomy is going to allow you a better quality of life then I think you did the right thing. That's just my opinion but it seems like all those other procedures they use to treat the symptoms are really only temporary fixes at best. I wanted the problem GONE. I couldn't be happier with my decision. You said in your post that deep down you knew it was the right choice for you...sounds like in your heart you know you did the right thing. Wishing you a good recovery and sending a big hug your way!

Hello Hystersister:


I asked my gynecologist about a uterine artery embolization, but she felt my fibroids were too big. I did not go to a IR, the thought of passing a fibriod scared me , I was uncomfortable with the radiation exposure, and I reasoned I rather have the utereus removed then have the UAE and see what happens. With the uterus removed I can go on with my life not wondering if the fibroids will grow back.


Like the post above I wanted the problem gone, not having the monthly crisis is wonderful. With the UAE I still would bleed not knowing how much, and when I thought about it I realized I have suffered enough.

I will be 45 in July and as it turned out no kids, but that is the way it happened and I am ok with that.

I feel great so far, and I am thrilled to know I will no longer bleed.

Hi I had my TAH back in January, and I looked into UAE after my TAH was scheduled, but I felt there was a strong chance of those nasty fibroids coming back, and I just wanted them gone once and for all. However, I felt done have children, and I'm sure I would have wanted to spare my uterus if I hadn't felt that way. Most of the doctors I talked to seemed to think they will alays grow back, so you're really buying time if you need to. I feel better than I have in years, and after reading alot of the stories on here, I really didn't have terrible symptoms like some of these poor women. My bleeding wasn't that heavy, I was just crampy most of the time, and looked 5 monthes pregnant. My energy has picked up so much, I can't believe it. The fiboids must zap energy, and I didn't even realize it until after my surgery. So, no, I don't regret my decision to go ahead with the hysterectomy.

I also explored UAE. Went to the radiologist, had the MRI, etc. I was told that with the size and location of my fibroids, there was a 50/50 chance of the UAE being sucessful. He said it could take 3 to 6 months to know if it had worked. And, then I could get more fibroids in the future. I didn't like the odds and didn't want to risk one procedure only to undergo a hysterectomy anyway. I have not regretted my decision. My uterus was 16 week size and I also had adenomyosis. You can't turn back the clock so take care of yourself and have faith that you made the right choice. Happy healing.

i was also uncomfortable with UAE, though my doctor brought it up several times due to my age, 38, and the fact that i have no children.

once she was convinced that i was sure about not having children, we talked more about all procedures. i didn't like how new UAE is, that you have to wait for months to see if it worked, and that new fibroids frequently grow back. many women have to have an ablation to stop the bleeding until the embolization takes effect.

it seemed too risky to my other organs and in effectiveness to me.

i am so relieved that i chose hysterectomy as they found endometriosis and adenomyosis during the surgery that we hadn't known about before. treating the fibroids alone would not have worked for me.

i truly think that even without those extra problems being revealed, i'd be comfortable having had the TAH. i wanted an absolute solution to my problems. i had forgotten what "normal" energy and painfree living are. i had my TAH just june 15 and the pain i feel now is not as bad as it was some days before and i know it will end soon.

peace and wellness to you,

Solivia,

I think what is mostly going on is that you are only one week post-op.

It takes some time to adjust to life uterus-free. We have so much fear and anxiety waiting for surgery and then it is over before we know it.

If you continue to have second thoughts about your hyst, I might suggest you see a counselor. Someone who is a trained professional who can help you through your doubts about your surgery. You do not want to live the rest of your life regretting your decision.

hi there, i was reading your post regarding uae. i tried that last november. it was not painful as they said it would be and i thought i was home free, but in 5 months i started bleeding again.(i am post menopausal), and had ANOTHER mri which showed that the uterine artery had found another route and basically the surgery didn't work.i had a total hysterectomy on april 21st of this year. so, if you passed on that surgery, be glad. possibly would have had to have hysterectomy anyway. my radiologist said that 20 percent of the times it fails. and think of all the money you saved. those mri's don't come cheap. plus the hospital bill and the dr. bill. w are still paying off our part of all of it.good luck to you, barb

Solivia,

I am 5 weeks post-op with a SAH.

I did extensive investigation looking at all the alternatives to surgery. I was excited about UAE and met with an interventional radiologist and a gynecologist who lectures on alternatives to hysterectomy.

I had no symptoms with my single fibroid, other than a distended abdomen. The radiologist told me UAE is best for stopping symptoms like bleeding and pain (which I didn't have) and could shrink the fibroid, but the bigger the fibroid the lower the percentage of shrinkage.

Together we decided to "wait and see". I never did get any symptoms from my fibroid, but it continued to grow.

I decided on the hysterectomy because I looked so pregnant and the UAE would not resolve that problem.

My uterus ended up weighing 16 pounds and was the size of a basketball.

I'm glad it's over. I'm happy with my decision. I hope you will soon be happy with your decision.

Regards,
Laurie

UAE was one of the options my doctor and I discussed. After reading about the procedure on the internet, however, I did NOT have peace about it and neither did my husband. Just yesterday, I spoke to a technician who helps doctors administer UAEs and she said that it is an extremely delicate procedure and there is a lot of pain associated with it. Personally, I didn't like the idea of someone trying to thread something through one of my arteries.

I'm having a TAH in a week and I'm glad the doctor will be opening me up and having a good look inside. Something tells me he's going to find some things that didn't show up in the ultrasound.