Tell me about your UFE Experience

Hello Everyone! I'm new to the forum but curious to hear from anyone who had UFE. I am 32 with no children by choice, with an 8 cm fibroid. I'm scheduled for UFE next month and I'm somewhat excited about the possibilty of not having heavy periods and spotting between any more. I would love to hear from anyone with advice for the procedure and their experience good or bad. Thanks!

I had an UFE on March 24th and it has been a positive experience for me. I interviewed two Inventional Radiologist (two different practices) before I selected the practice I wanted to do the procedure.

I went to the hospital at 7:00 am, went in about 9:30 am for the procedure which was completed in about an hour. I have nine fibroids with one grapefruit size. The doctor was able to get the blood supply of all the fibroids and not my ovaries. I was awake but did not feel any discomfort. For recovery I was on a regular hospital floor. The pain meds did make me throw up (which I do easily) the day was not too bad. I was in pain but not awful. I was released from the hospital at 6:00 pm that evening. Some women do spend the night in the hospital if the pain level is too high but typically all released the next day. I took pain meds for five days afterwards with the first fews days with limited activity. Bed was the best place for me but could walk ok (walked dog). I took five days off work.

The fibroid shrinkage will take months but my continuous bleeding stopped after my first week of drainage (from the procedure). My first period started this week and I hope that it will be normal. I have not had a normal seven day period since last June. I know it was a good move for me because shrinking the fibroids gives me more options, which I really wanted. I hope it solves all my problems with the bleeding, bloating, and peeing. But even if I still need a hyst. it will help this whole decision making process. So a month later, I do recommend that others look at this as an option for treating their fibroids. The gyn/ob doctor does not this procedure so they may not recommend it. The dollar does not go into their pocket. But it is still a good option to research, in my opinion.

I hope this helps. Good luck!!

I had a UFE in 2000. The procedure was quite new then I was part of a follow-up study so I was tracked for three years.
I had a very postive reaction to the procedure. I stayed in the hospital one night with a morphine pump. It worked very well. Went home the next morning and had a lot of major cramping/bleeding for about 4 days. Then everyting settled down nicely. I would discuss pain management with your doctor to make sure you keep in top of it for those first few days.

I was 46 when I had it done so was already well on the way to menopause prior to the UFE. My periods became very light after the procedure and stopped about 6 months later. No more cramps or clotting or peeing my pants or anemia! I had no problems with menopause except for some hot flashes and insomnia.

The one weird thing that happened to me was about 3 months later when I "gave birth" to a large fibroid. No one had warned me that this was a possibility (evidently very rare) so I was totally in shock when this "thing" started to emerge from my vagina. TERRIBLE cramps and bleeding. Once I contacted the OB/GYN and he told me what was happening, I just went on bedrest for a few days and eventually it came out! It was DISGUSTING!!!!

So discuss what might happen after the procedure...it depends on where the fibroid is located. Mine was hanging down inside the uterus so once the blood supply was cut off it detached itself and came out!

In the end I was VERY pleased with having this done. I have now had to have a hysterectomy due to a large ovarian cyst but it was great not to have to take time off from work etc 10 years ago when my life was much more hectic than it is now.

Hi HCW:

Here is a link to our Options Success Stories: http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/forumdisplay.php?f=216 . You will be able to read other positive outcomes with UFE there.

Seeking out a less-invasive treatment is smart! I hope you are able to find the right answers soon. I am sending huge cyberhugs

Thanks for all the responses. I'm actually looking forward to this in hopes I will stop all this bleeding. I have to carry lots of pads and underwear with me when I go out. It's ruining my life.

I used to keep pads and tampons in my bra so I always had them with me in case I got caught without my purse! One way of increasing breast size without surgery!!!
Imagine my horror when I bent over one day and a tampon rolled out across the floor in front of my whole Grade 1 class!!!

I really appreciate the responses, it's nice to know others are going thru the same thing or have been thru it before. I just hope I'm not being too optimistic that this going to solve my bleeding issues. I would one day like to enjoy time with my husband again if you get my drift