undecided... to do or not to do (ablation?)

Hi Everyone,

I am trying to see if anyone has had the new thing out that they call the "Hollywood Hysterectomy". This is where the go in and burn the lining of your uterus. This is supposed to stop your bleeding or at least slow it down.

I went in March and had a D&C down and cervical polyps removed and was told that by doing this it should stop all the extra bleeding. I had been on my period for three months. The surgery worked for a month and I have been back on it since.

I am 32 and have three daughters of my own and my husband has four girls. All of our girls are ages seven and above. Neither wants anymore.

I go to see the doctor today and am trying to decide which would be best for me to do. I have spoken with people who have had both procedures down and each tells the good and bads.

I am wanting to see if anyone had the new procedure done that had to wind up going back in for the full hysterectomy. I don't want to have to miss anymore work if this new way dosen't work.

Any insight would be great! Thanks

Hello! to HysterSisters!

I'm glad you found this site so you have a place to research, ask questions and get support from women who have faced making this same big decision.

I don't have any personal experience to share with having an ablation because by the time I found a doctor who took my symptoms seriously, my uterus was too large for the procedure to be viable. I do know there are women on this site who have this type of experience and hopefully they will be along soon to share. Meanwhile, you may want to browse through this resource area for information to discuss with your doctor: Hysterectomy Options Checkpoint.

It would be a good idea to get at least one more medical opinion to help with this decision. Remember that you can always have a hysterectomy if an alternative doesn't work but there's no going back once the uterus is removed--and there are plenty of women who wish they could make a different decision after it's too late. That's not said to scare you but rather to encourage you to explore options so there's less chance of having "what if" thoughts later.

I wish you the best with your decision! Know that whatever you decide, we'll be here to support you.

s

i had a novasure ablation last September, and was very happy until my periods came back a couple months ago, with continuous spotting in between! The surgeon who performed the ablation said it was time for a hysterectomy..so decided to see another for another opinion. She told me my uterus was enlarged to a 'borderline' size, where an ablation would not work, and she was suprised the other surgeon had attempted it! nice. she now says to go with a laprascopic hysterectomy, where the orignal surgeon recommends a total...or, as she says, i will not die, just be putting up with a bad situation until menopause..and at 54, how far away can that be! apparently in my family, 58...so now i am back to making the decision..

Thank you for all your insight. I spoke with the doctor and he said that he feels that the ablation is the best way to go right now. I explained to him that I am worried that this will not fix the problem and I will be back in there again. He told me that I can get a second opinion if need be, but he said that with my age he feels that this is the best way to go and if it dosen't work then he will do the "h".

Any advice?

Thanks

I had an Ablation done 5 years ago at 41. While it did not stop my periods...It made them lighter for me. On heavy days that meant 2 hrs with a Tampon & Pad. They lasted 7-10 days...But light for the last 5 usually.
That doesnt sound that great. But for me- I was now able to leave my house- before I could not for 3 days.

I feel it bought me 5 years...I am having a Hysterectomy on July 13th.
The % of succesful Ablations I think is pretty good.
I hear of many that turn out better then mine.
I think it doesnt work as well if you have fibroids (which I did then 7 Still do now)
Also I have heard if your Uterus is tilted it doesnt work as well.
So those might be somethigns you can check into.

My recovery from the ablation was pretty good. I had more pain then I expected for about 4-5 days- But Tylenol was all I needed.
I did feel very tired for 6 weeks after. But was still able to do all my normal things.

Good Luck with whichever you choose.

Hello!

I had the abalation done 5 years ago, 2 days before my 31st birthday. I was having really bad bleeding sessions that would prevent me sitting in a business meeting longer then 20mins before I would have to excuse myself. (so not comfortable)

I had smaller fibroids at the time and polyps. The surgery/recovery was a breeze and for the last 4.5 years I almost forgot I have a period when I would get it. Periods on average would last 2 to 4 days extremely light some days a panty liner alone would do.

That however diminished over the last 6months, possibly longer but it's around that time when things went back to how it was before and worse.

My daughter is now 18 and I am not interested in having any more kids so I with all the discomfort from the fibroids which has now amounted to over 15, I decided to have a TAH (July 24th).

If you have done all your research and you feel you want the hysterecomy, get a second opinion if your won't entertain the topic.

There is really no point is suffering or doing a bandaid fix, if you know what you want. It's irrelevant about age! Who wants to live through discomfort during the prime years of womanhood??

Best of luck to you, keep us all posted

I agree with you that the age shouldn't matter. I have been researching and looking into all the side effects. My mother has had it done and she has had severaly procedures done since then from side effects of having her "h" done, so i am aware of the problems that come with it.

My problem now is that all the doctors that I have called for a second opinion, I can't get in until september. This stinks!

well ladies,
I have decided that I would go the hysterectomy route because after looking into the abilation i was not a canidate for it because of my bleeding history and how painful periods are. i know that i am overweight and abilation was not an option. I am done having kids and am a mother to 5 wonderful children. my uterus is worn out and i really don't need it so why keep it I say. I told the doctor I am tired of being tired and having a heavy period three times a month. so for me i made my doctor see it this way because i have talked to several friends that have had ablation done and still winded up going the hysterectomy. so i decided to save myself a step and just go with one sugery and that is that.

HI Peanutab:

I had an ablation done in January 08 and I actually kissed my gyn when I went back for checkup. I went from two boxes of tampons and pads to two tampons per period. The procedure was short and the recovery was 2-4 days. I had it done on a Thursday and went back to work on Monday. The only advice is to make sure that you take pain meds right before you leave the hospital and have them ready at home when you get there. There was some cramping for a half a day. After that it was just being tired and sleepy. I also had some spotting for five weeks so I used the smallest panitliners and that worked for me. I have since had a hysterectomy, but that was because of other issues. Good luck with your decision.

Thank you all for your advice and answers. I am going to go ahead and have the ablation done. I will keep all of you posted on the outcome. I have prayed about this and I believe that I should at least try this and give it a chance to work. If it will give me some time then I will try it.