Uterine Fibroid Embolization

I am considering Uterine Fibroid Embolization as opposed to a hysterectomy. I am scheduled for a consultation in a few weeks to find out if I am a candidate for this procedure. Does anyone have any thoughts on this as an alternative?

Hi Beag0904,

A UFE is an alternative procedure to a hyst. I was not a candidate due to the size of my fibroids and I have heard good things about the UFE procedure.

Here is a link that might give you some more info:

http://my.webmd.com/hw/uterine_fibroids/tv6671.asp

I have seen several ladies post on H.S. who have had a UFE. Hope they reply on your forum.

Best wishes. We Hyster Sisters are here to help if we can.

Mary

Hi,
I just had a hysterectomy (no problem) but would consider the embolization if I had the chance. All of my drs recommended the hyserterectomy. My fibroids were large and I spoke to an interventional radiologist about it. He said the UE works on large fibroids but the bigger they are the more painful and longer the hospital stay.
As an aside, apparently there is some competition between GYNs and interventional radiologists for customers.

Definately look into it. It did not work for me, but my problem in the end was mostly adeno, not fibroids, and even I had an extra year to decide thanks to the UFE. I do have to admit, it seemed the UFE was a bit more painful than the TAH during the first 2 days of recovery, but I was only on oral painkillers for the UFE, and able to go home after just an overnight stay, as opposed to a couple days and morphine drip for the TAH. Recovery time is definately a LOT shorter with the UFE, I don't remember exactly how long, but it was a week or less, as opposed to 6-8 weeks out of work for the TAH (the reason I am giving a range is I developed shingles during my recovery, which gave my case a uniquely long recovery time).

Make sure your radiologist has a history of doing this proceedure as it is relatively new to the field.

Hi,

I had the UFE procedure in February of this year. I had one 10 cm intramural fibroid in the fundus. Initially I had no symptoms but in learning more about fibroids, I decided early on I would probably look into UFE if I had problems - very difficult for me to leave my job for 6-8 weeks to recover from surgery and I preferred to try the least invasive option first.

Eventually I started having some heavy, gushing periods and some bouts of anemia. This didn't happen with every period but I was living in fear of it every month. I decided if it happened three times I'd have to take action as I don't have a job I could skip out on when I was soaking a super duper tampon every ten minutes for 6-8 hours.

So I had the embolization in February and have been very pleased with the results. I was told by my IR to expect the worst in terms of periods for the first ninety days. My first period was as bad as any pre-UFE and I had a second heavy bleeding episode before my second period. The second period and everything after that has been completely manageable - no more gushing, out of control bleeding - YAY!

I have also experienced some additional improvement over the last month. I used to have to get up every night at 3am to go to the bathroom since the large fibroid was compressing my bladder. I no longer have this issue either - now sleeping through the night.

I did not find the procedure itself to be that bad - many people will tell you it is very painful. There is some pain but it is pretty much controlled with medication. I was in the hospital overnight, rested comfortably at home for a week and then went back to work.

The only thing I would say that was negative about this is that it isn't 100% effective in resolving symptoms - and you don't know for awhile if it is going to work. It is about 80% successful for bleeding symptoms. So you have to live with some uncertainty for awhile.

I would certainly recommend that people look into it to see if it is an option. You need to be evaluated by an interventional radiologist to determine if you are a good candidate for it. I had to seek this out on my own - my gynecologist did not mention that it was an option. You can find out more about it on the webage for the society for interventional radiology - www.sirweb.org.

Hope this helps

Thanks for the info. I will be needing to make some decisions about my large 11 cm. fibroid soon. I have been trying to ignore it, but it has grown more and now I am anemic. I was wondering if anyone experienced weight loss after UFE? I have gained at least 7 lbs since the fibroid. Also is your tummy flatter? I always feel so bloated. Did you pass the fibroid and how painful was that? Thanks

I had the Uterine Fibroid Embolization, also called uterine artery embolization, sept.2002. Multiple fibroids, aprox. 16 wks sized uterus, bleeding ,anemia, etc was the reason. My doctor sugg. hyst. but was very open to the idea of the UFE.

It is done by an interventional radiologist NOT the gyn. It was a one day surgery, done in the xray department. I had sedation, was awake but VERY relaxed and almost no pain during the procedure. After the procedure I spent the night at the hospital. The pain for the first 4-6 hours after the procedure was intense. Even with the PCA pump I had terrible cramping!! I had the nurse call the dr. and got an extra shot of Morphine and that did the trick. I left the hospital pain free in the morning. I felt really fine within about 2-3 days. Went back to work after the weekend. I also should advise that you can get a large hematoma at the injection site!! I did. It looked awful but didn't hurt at all.

Unfortunately my fibroids, which were almost non-existent one year after the procedure, are back!! So I only had relief from the symptoms and fibroids for about 16 mths. And they have grown back VERY quickly. **** the estrogen, grow the fibroids HAHA.
I worked with a gal that had the procedure also and had no relief, but it turns out that she has a kind of fibroid that isn't responsive to UFE (outside the uterus).

So that is my saga. But it was a great idea and I would encourage anyone who has been told they need a hyst. to consider other alternatives. Esp. if you need to buy time till you can have a hyst. OR need time to get your head around the idea of it (like I did). Now I am more than ready and still haven't scheduled any surgery because of money, work etc. But as I get more anemic my option becomes time limited.

Good luck, do lots of research on any alternatives ( I found the British Ob/gyn site helpful, they have done UFE many more years than the US), ask about recurrence rates, complications, etc. And make sure if you choose UFE, you get an interventional radiologist with special training in this procedure!!!

I had the UFE done in September of this year. So far, I have seen a few positive results...bad clotting with periods, (which ended me up in the ER) have pretty much stopped, and I don't have to get up at ALL in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom (this absolutely AMAZES me each night to sleep all the way thru!!!)

Any questions, please ask.

Wishing good health to all.

I had my UFE in November 2001. I had three golf ball sized fibroids and the operation was a breeze. One over night stay (infection monitoring) and out the next day. Was awake but heavily sedated and afterwards - no pain at all. Didn't even have to take pain meds.

Hi,

New here and trying to read all I can about this procedure.
Have read lots on the internet about it but like to hear more testimonials from others on this procedure.

I'm 47, have multiple fibroids, and the usual symptoms.
Some of which have been going on for years, but I didn't know I had fibroids till I had to have a blood transfusion in the summer of 2002 due to severe anemia.

Of course every Gyno ( 3 of them) since then have recommended a hysterectomy. No one has mentioned the UFE as a option.

I started looking into it last month after hearing about Condi Rice having it done for Fibroids.

The more I have read about it the more confused I become. LOL

Just continued dealing with it thinking I was going to go thru menopause any day now. Well that hasn't happened and I have been getting anemic again in the past yr. Some months my period is worse then others.
I need to do something but am frighten of medical procedures.
So surgery (Hyste, etc) is out.
Besides, even though I'm not concerned about fertility I like to keep my body parts.
I want my symptoms to diminish considerably, improve my quality of life, avoid any serious side effects and move on with my life.

Hoping to hear from others with their info, knowledge, etc of the UFE procedure.


This is a great site.

You all seem really nice and helpful.