Microwave Endometrial Ablation?

allnurses Guide · Nov 21, 2005

My gyn has recommended water ablation for me.

I'm right there with ya on the ruination of stuff.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do . .. the idea of destroying the lining of my uterus bugs me.

steph

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 21, 2005

My gyn has recommended water ablation for me.
I'm right there with ya on the ruination of stuff.
I'm not sure what I'm going to do . .. the idea of destroying the lining of my uterus bugs me.
steph

as well it should. and ablations have a high rate of failure; many women come back to have hysterectomies, anyhow, if menopause does not being relief first. I know many who tried this and it failed. Not so sure I would bother.

I have not heard of microwave ablation, however. So I can't speak about it. Like with anything, you need the risks versus benefits spelled out completely, and preferably with two different professionals' opinions, before you proceed.

allnurses Guide · Nov 21, 2005

as well it should. and ablations have a high rate of failure; many women come back to have hysterectomies, anyhow, if menopause does not being relief first. I know many who tried this and it failed. Not so sure I would bother.
I have not heard of microwave ablation, however. So I can't speak about it. Like with anything, you need the risks versus benefits spelled out completely, and preferably with two different professionals' opinions, before you proceed.

I keep thinking about the risk of cancer . .. . . some cancer cells are set off by inflammation (thinking skin cancer here) and proliferate . .. . if you inflame and destroy the lining of your uterus, will that increase your risk of cancer later?????

I dunno - I get very anemic sometimes. Plus having period twice a month and bleeding like a stuck pig is not fun . . . but this too shall pass, right?

Funny, I was doing this in the months preceding getting pregnant with Danny . . . . . thinking peri-menopause. Maybe pregnancy is the answer:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

steph

jmgrn65, RN · Nov 21, 2005

as well it should. and ablations have a high rate of failure; many women come back to have hysterectomies, anyhow, if menopause does not being relief first. I know many who tried this and it failed. Not so sure I would bother.
I have not heard of microwave ablation, however. So I can't speak about it. Like with anything, you need the risks versus benefits spelled out completely, and preferably with two different professionals' opinions, before you proceed.

high rate of failures, I have researched this alot as I am having one on wed. success rate is over 90% I personally know of 3 women that have had it done and so far it has been successful for them, one of them has been a few years the others have been 6mos- 1 year.

andre · Nov 21, 2005

my sister had a thermal ablation done about a year and a half ago, with excellent results. i too had horrendously heavy periods, such that i had to be in the ladies room every 30-40 minutes, or i would flood.

i went to see my ob/gyn, and he suggested that i try the mirena iud before proceeding to surgery. the mirena contains progesterone (levonorgestrel) and was inserted during an office visit. i had one or two very light periods in the first few months after i had it inserted, and since then none. i have not had a single side effect or problem with it. had it not worked, i would have tried the ablation next, because i could no longer live with the bleeding, was becoming anemic--and, at 38, was not ready to consider hysterectomy.

he suggested that i leave it in for five years or until i start to see a return of unmanageable bleeding, at which time he'd recommend inserting a new one. best of all, because i was prescribed it for dub and not for birth control (had my tubes tied after my last baby), my hmo covered it--i only had to pay my office visit copay!

andrea

it has been suggested to me by my gyn that this may be the answer to my 12 day periods that often involve ruination of outfits, the bathroom rug, the upholstery in my front seat, (once) or a fabric chair in a nice restaurant (the same day). i know very little about it -- what do any of you know?
ruby

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 21, 2005

I am glad to see people pleased w/this. Several I know who had it, it failed. Like I said, asking your doctor is best.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Nov 22, 2005

I had mine done in 2002. At first, I thought it had failed, because I still had periods which were heavy and irregular, and they still went on for a week or more. But I never again had the kind of bleeding that made me 'gray out' at times because it was so extreme that I'd go through TWO SuperPlus tampons, an incontinence pad, and a Depends in half an hour. And over the past year-and-a-half, my periods have dwindled to practically nothing, and in fact I haven't even had one in 5 months.:) Whether that's due to the ablation, or just menopause, I don't know yet, but I do know that I'm not anemic anymore (my last H&H were 13.2 and 40, as opposed to 9.0 and 25.7 at one point just before the procedure) and my periods were much lighter a year after I had it. I also tolerated the procedure easily---I was back to work in only a few days and never needed anything stronger than ibuprofen for the cramping.

Good luck in making your decision.:)

Ruby Vee, BSN · Nov 22, 2005

high rate of failures, i have researched this alot as i am having one on wed. success rate is over 90% i personally know of 3 women that have had it done and so far it has been successful for them, one of them has been a few years the others have been 6mos- 1 year.

are you having the microwave ablation?

ruby

Ruby Vee, BSN · Nov 22, 2005

i had mine done in 2002. at first, i thought it had failed, because i still had periods which were heavy and irregular, and they still went on for a week or more. but i never again had the kind of bleeding that made me 'gray out' at times because it was so extreme that i'd go through two superplus tampons, an incontinence pad, and a depends in half an hour. and over the past year-and-a-half, my periods have dwindled to practically nothing, and in fact i haven't even had one in 5 months.:) whether that's due to the ablation, or just menopause, i don't know yet, but i do know that i'm not anemic anymore (my last h&h were 13.2 and 40, as opposed to 9.0 and 25.7 at one point just before the procedure) and my periods were much lighter a year after i had it. i also tolerated the procedure easily---i was back to work in only a few days and never needed anything stronger than ibuprofen for the cramping.
good luck in making your decision.:)

i'm glad it worked for you!