anyone had endometrial ablation lately?

KeyMaster · Aug 6, 2010

I had a NovaSure ablation about 3 years ago. I had it as an OR outpatient on a Thursday and I was back to work on Monday. Some cramping over the weekend, but nothing severe. Prior to my procedure I had circulated dozens of ablations as an OR nurse, so I have seen both sides of the coin.

It has been one of the best things I have ever done for myself. Over time, my periods are almost non-existant. Maybe a couple of days of spotting now; at most 2 -3 days of much, much lighter than what I was used to.

I was 43 when I had my procedure. I have been out of the OR for the last couple of years, so I can't speak to any improvements over what I had.

celticmoonwolf · Aug 6, 2010

I had an ablation in June, 2007. Not the NovaSure, but still an ablation. It didn't work for me. I ended up have a total hysterectomy May 2009. Every woman is different. I think the older you are when you have it done the better your chances are of it working.

I was only 31 when I had my ablation. It worked ok for maybe 6 months and then things started to get worse and evetually they were worse than before the ablation, hence the hysterectomy.

caliotter3 · Aug 6, 2010

Don't know whether it was NovaSure, but had it in Sep 06. Has been relatively permanent. Only have had occasional "feelings" of hormonal changes since then. Wanted a hyst, but the doctor had other ideas.

Illinurse2010 · Aug 6, 2010

I had NovaSure December 2008 when I was 33. It stopped the clotting completely but after three months my periods were back to being heavy and lasted 8 days..I decided to take OCELLA birth control pills and now my periods are almost nonexistant, my skin is clearer, and other than one day a month of moodiness-- I suffer no other side effects.

kvisintine, BSN, RN · Aug 6, 2010

I had the Novasure ablation about 1 1/2 years ago. I occasionally have some light spotting and still experience other PMS signs (tender breasts, bloating, etc.). Prior to that, my periods were very heavy and lasted more than a week! I had the procedure as an out patient and was back on my feet the next day, with only some light cramping. I personally would recommend this procedure to my friends and family members

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Aug 6, 2010

I know you said recently but I thought I'd chime in. I had mine done in 2003. I went from having periods that lasted up to 39 days long with bad clotting and heavy bleeding. I'd stop for a day or two, start back again for 22 days, stop for 4 and go again. I never knew when I'd stop or start it was so erratic. EA was my last stop before total hysterectomy.

I went from that to not having a period since. Ok, I lie..i have had on a few occasions (can count on both hands how many times) of "spotting" of a very pale pink discharge..lasted for about 3 hrs and then stops. Other than that, no periods since. My doc did warn me that just because I stopped and have stopped for so long doesn't necessarily mean it can't start again. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. If I had to do it all over again, I wish the doc has suggested it long before he did.

Want to add, I still get a PMS's type episode about 7 out of 12 months a year, just don't end up with a period. And my PMS s/s are far far less intense than they were. Actually very UNnoticable PMS s/s..

twois · Aug 6, 2010

Had one in 2004 when I was 20. (Yeah, I know.) It worked for about a year, but I ended up with a TAH anyways in 2005. The ablation just didn't 'work' right and when the tissue grew back it was all atypical and bled heavily and I ended up more even more cramping and pain than I'd had beforehand. (The pathology report post-op showed that I had adenomyosis... which the ablation wouldn't have done anything for anyways and explained the monthly pain.)

BUT, I will say that I am likely an atypical case. And, again, the last 5 years may have really brought advances in the procedure... but I think the wide variability in outcomes is probably due to differences in individuals, not in the procedure. My gyn warned me before he performed it that there wasn't any clear way to predict how well it would work, but most women do have a very positive outcome from it.

Go check Hysterectomy Support Discussions, Before Hysterectomy, After Hysterectomy, Recovery - HysterSisters - that forum was my lifeline during all the ablation/hysterectomy drama.

SCnurse2010 · Aug 6, 2010

I had one in Jan this year and my results are similar to CT Pixie's I've had 2 episodes of very light pink spotting lasting no more than a day each. I had it done on a Thursday and went to work Fri and Sat nights like normal. I took regular Motrin for a few days and had some off and on mild cramping for about a week. I highly recommend it! Worst case it doesn't help and you're back where you started. Worth a try!

JB2007, ASN, RN · Aug 6, 2010

I had the NovaSure done about 4 months ago. I have not had a period since. I do have some mild cramping, bloating. breast tenderness, but I have not even had spotting as of yet. All I can say is so far so good.

BacktotheBeach, ADN, BSN, RN · Aug 6, 2010

Thank you all so very much!! I feel better about it now; I think I am going to go for it. I don't have any PMS issues, and I really don't want to start taking the Pill, so it really seems perfect. Hope I have as good results as most of you did. The doctor says it takes 90 seconds and I will probably feel normal by the next day. Oh my gosh, entering nursing school clinicals without having to worry about this will be so awesome!

Val

Burnt Out, ASN, RN · Aug 21, 2010

I had NovaSure done in August 2008 for pelvic pain and heavy bleeding. It substantially lightened my periods: I went from 6-8 days of heavy bleeding to 2-3 days of very light bleeding or spotting. It didn't help my pain though: I had a LAVH w/ BSO in Feb. 2009 due to endometriosis and adenomyosis-I'd exhausted all other options. I don't remember anything about the procedure-I was under general due to having some other things done as well.