I visited my OBGYN last November. I was asking him about a particular procedure. He asked me if my periods were still as bad as they always had been in the past. I told him I don't have periods--I hemorrhage. He gently described the procedure he was offering to me that would help my problem; he didn't guarantee anything but said as long as they were going to be in there anyway for the original procedure I wanted, he could do this one too. I was extremely concerned--though I trust him more than any Dr. I've ever dealt with in my life. It seemed too good to be true--what about side effects; or long term unknown results.

I was scared to do it--too scared to do it right away. I waited until I was through the holiday season and scheduled it for the end of January.

I received a general anethesia. My complications were that I was sick from the general; I had some pain. The nurse didn't give me pain med. because I was sick; I had some bleeding the first day. And that was it--no more periods since January. I love it! It has substantially improved my quality of life. I had the best summer ever--no worries about flooding on vacation, etc. I don't have the cramps at all either. I love my OBGYN--and trust him completely. I didn't complete the info with his name--I feel that's his business--I don't think I should give out his name without his permission.

When my doctor originally described it, it sounded horrible--the word "burn" in "burning the lining of my uterus" was terrifying. I did have some trouble with some type of infection for weeks after the procedure but I had several procedures done, including a hysteroscopy, & D & C and one other procedure so, it's hard to tell where my problem came from.

My Dr. did tell me it's possible but not likely that all bleeding would stop; but when I started bleeding again, he was sure at the very least it would be less than I used to have. He gave me all of the statistics available.

I have a dear friend who's periods were becoming worse......this year she had a hysterectomy. She was hemorrhaging each month. I believe this procedure saved me, at least temporarily, maybe permanently from a hysterectomy.

It was an outpatient procedure--The outpatient facility and staff couldn't have been nicer. I feel they did an excellent job, as did my dr.'s office nurse--I asked her many questions about this procedure. I was very disappointed that it was nearly impossible to find out ANY information about this procedure--either in medical books at bookstores or library, or on the internet.

I'm very happy about my ablation. My doctor was an expert at it; It has relieved my lifestyle problems. I highly recommend it to any woman with similar problems to mine.

Please note: my doctor informed me that this surgery would render my uterus incapable of carrying anymore pregnancies; therefore I needed to be positive that my family was complete.

For that reason alone, I wouldn't recommend this to a young woman, or someone who is even considering the slight possibility of more children. But it sure beats a hysterectomy!!!

Janice

Barbara
Editor, Women's Health at OBGYN.net
Barbara.Nesbitt@obgyn.net

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