Anyone have endo eblation and/or tubes tied?

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SandyInNJ63
SandyInNJ63 Member Posts: 104
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

I'm looking for personal experiences from anyone who has had an endometrial eblation and/or had your tubes tied.

I'm 45 and have been having irregular periods for the past 18 months or so.  My doctor had recommended this to me when it started, but the ablation sounded a little extreme for the problem I'm having...so I put it off and decided to see if the irregular bleeding continued, which it has.

When I saw him a month ago for my annual, I told him I'm still bleeding at odd times of the month, sometimes there brown spotting, sometimes there's particals (not clots), and for one cycle recently there was an unusual amount of bleeding (for me) and for an unusual length of time (for me).  I can get my period anywhere from 10 days from the last one up to 45 days...my last one being 13 days past the last one. 

Not only is this getting old, I'm concerned about pregnancy too being I can't take the pill and we're really not using anything else except withdrawl.

I've had a pelvic and transvaginal ultrasound a few weeks ago, which only showed a small fibroid.  So his plan is to do a D&C, biospy to rule out any malignant pathology, perform the ablation, and then tie my tubes, because he said it would be dangerous to get pregnant after this procedure so they do that at the same time.

He told me the ablation should slow or even stop my cycle, which is great.  But the big benefit for me doing this would be getting my tubes tied and not having to worry about pregnancy any longer, which I'm hoping will make me want sex more than I do now.

So, if anyone has had either of these procedures done, I'd love to hear how it went for you, did it correct your problem, what was your experience recouperating, and were there any complications...because i'm still on the fence about this and i'm meeting with him again on Friday.

Hugs,

Sandy

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited July 2008

    Sandy,

    I am also 45, and just wanted to pop in and say HI.  I don't have experience with ablation, but I hear it is a good solution for bleeding issues, from other women who have had it done. 

    I am going to see a gyn onc on Tuesday, the 22nd, and I think I will ask for a hysterectomy, because I am being evaluated for a THICK endometrial stripe, due to Tamoxifen.  

    I see that you are on Tamoxifen, but since you are being so closely monitored, I wouldn't think there would be any problems.  I don't know a lot about these issues, but I think if I didn't have so many complicated issues myself, that may be what I would do.  I was dx'd with Premature Ovarian Failure at age 35 and could never have kids, but now that I have this thick lining, which scares me, because the ultrasound report read that the lining was "complex", and I think that is bad.  I also have fibroids, so I have been getting the tv u/s every year, so I guess there is no reason to be worried.  I was told that I need an endometrial biopsy, but now I am thinking that I should just have all these parts removed, since they never worked right anyway.

    Sorry for going off on a tangent about myself, but I just wanted you to know that I'm thinking of you and will be praying that all goes well.  Please post and let us know how everything goes!

    Hugs

    Harley 

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  • SandyInNJ63
    SandyInNJ63 Member Posts: 104
    edited July 2008

    Hi Harley - I used to be on Tamoxifen, but stopped it about 3 years ago.  During that time though, I did have thickening of the endometrial lining.  As a result, I've had 2 previous endo biopsies done.  Based on the results of my last u/s, it doesn't appear to be thickened at this point.

    You're probably doing the best thing, because you'll probably end up having endless biopsies like me, not to mention all the worry in between.  Let me know what your doctor says.  Some aren't too quick to do hysterectomies, my friend had to go to several doctors (and she was in her late 40's!) to find one that would do it.  Good luck to you :)

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  • Dejaboo
    Dejaboo Member Posts: 2,916
    edited July 2008

    Hi Sandy,

      I have not had my Tubes tied.  But I did have an Endometrial Ablation (EA) 3.5 years ago.  I had it for extremely heavy periods.

    It wasnt successful in making them end (the Drs call it unsuccesful) For me it was a success as I could now leave my house & Bathroom!

    I have not heard much about women having the surgery who did not have heavy periods.

    The surgery was pretty easy pain wise- especially compared to BC surgery (I think)   It was an out procedure.  I was in alot of pain in Post Op.  More then I expected.  I was able to get that under control.  But stayed 2 hrs longer then the normal Patient.

    I felt pretty good within 3 days.  On my 2nd day I almost went out to see a Friends Band Play- felt good enough- But did not have the energy.  For me that was the biggest SE of the surgery.  It wiped me out for a full 6 weeks.  I wasnt expecting that.   As far as Energy- I had more 4 wks after my BLM with Expanders.   But I went into surgery Anemic...So maybe that was part of it-energy wise.

    One thing that I was concered about when I had my EA- was monitoring for Uterine cancer...If I recall it may be a little harder to detect after an EA.

     Here is a Link to a EA forum.  Maybe you can find more info there.

    Endometrial Ablation Discussion - Message Board - Yuku

    Feel free to pm me if you have any questions. Good Luck deciding what to do.

    Pam

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  • SandyInNJ63
    SandyInNJ63 Member Posts: 104
    edited July 2008

    Pam, thanks so much for that link!  It's exactly what I was looking for...the experiences of other women, rather than the clinical description of what to expect. 

    I am going to ask my doc several questions, one being something you brought up actually, which is: would this procedure be recommended for someone without heavy periods (only had that one heavy one to speak of).  I'd really like to have some blood work done, I haven't had my hormones checked for nearly 2 years I think...and of course, I'd like them to rule out cancer. 

    Thanks again for the info though..good stuff!

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  • roseg
    roseg Member Posts: 3,133
    edited July 2008

    My officemate had an abalation and it worked for her!

    She could hardly leave the house and things improved. 

    It's my understanding that they aren't so good for people with lots of fibroids, but it doesn't sound like that's your problem. 

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  • Shirl
    Shirl Member Posts: 20
    edited July 2008

    I had an ablation and it worked great for me.  I had no side effects at all afterwards.  I had my tubes tied app. 15 years ago and from what I can remember, it went great to.  I had my ablation because I was bleeding extremely heavy and often.  It was after my ablation that I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  After having a P.E.T., a tumor was found on my thyroid which was also cancer.  I'm great now.  Everything was found early.  I wonder though if my thyroid was the reason I was having such heavy bleeding.  After the ablation, I had a couple of light periods and then none at all.  Good luck to you!

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  • iodine
    iodine Member Posts: 4,289
    edited July 2008

    Since I'm so much older, my experience is a bit different.  Had my tubes tied by lap in my mid 30's, had constant bleeding, D and C, and finally a  abdominal hyst, leaving my ovaries.

    Lap tubal was a breeze, abd. hyst was just more abd surgery and all the things that go with it.

    Know this isn't helpful, but I sure would ck into a hyst, if it were I.  That made it possible for me to take tamox with fewer concerns.

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  • SandyInNJ63
    SandyInNJ63 Member Posts: 104
    edited July 2008

    Shirl, like you, I had wondered if my wacky cycle had anything to do with my thyroid, or some type of hormonal inbalance.  So that's something I'm going to discuss with my doctor and see if we can rule out anything else like that. 

    A hyst kinda freaks me out though, I'm hoping it really never comes to that.  It's more a mental thing for me, sort of like they already removed one of my female parts (left breast) and to have to remove anything else I think may have an dramatic pychological impact on me.

    Again, thanks for sharing your experiences, it was really helpful.

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  • peggee
    peggee Member Posts: 25
    edited July 2008

    I had a 'Novasure' endo ablation 3+ yrs ago due to excessive menstual bleeding which caused severe anemia. 

    I had a bad experience with the procedure.  Severe cramping, passing huge clots and no relief from monthly bleeding.  I lost blood (ranging from staining to full bleeding) daily for approx four mos after procedure.  I then had a D&C to  'clean things out'.   That too provided little relief, and I did end up having a hyster/oopherectomy about a yr later. My other option would have been to have blood transfusion(s) to compensate for  constant blood loss.

    I later learned through genetic testing, that I have a blood clotting disorder, which also could be why the procedure didn't work for me.  It also means no hormone replacement or tamox (and pretty much any other drug that lists blood clots as side effect).

    Like Shirl, it was after this that I was dx with bc.

    Sandy, don't have the hysta unless you have no other option.  It threw me into sudden onset of menopause, which is no picnic.  Hot flashes more severe than you can imagine, and I have not slept thought the night since then.   I feel like I went from the frying pan into the fire !

    peggee

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  • SandyInNJ63
    SandyInNJ63 Member Posts: 104
    edited July 2008

    Peggee, I know those symptoms very well..having been on Lupron gave me exactly the experiences you describe with a hysta, so I'm in no hurry to ever go through that again.

    I've made a decision though, even before speaking with my doctor.  After going onto the message board that Pam directed me to, and reading the good and the bad, I've decided:

    I'm going to go ahead with the D&C so I can get the endometrium checked and rule out anything bad...again! (3rd one in 5 years)

    I'm going to get the tubal so I don't have to worry about an unplanned pregnancy, being my husband won't take the steps to plan a vasectomy, I guess it's on me.....

    BUT I'm not going to get the ablation.  There's just too much about it that worries me, and I really don't think it will help my situation.  If I were having constant heavy periods, I'd do it, but that's not my situation.

    Thanks for all the info, it helped me come to these decisions.  You ladies are awesome :)

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  • Dejaboo
    Dejaboo Member Posts: 2,916
    edited July 2008

    Hi Sandy,

      Im very glad to hear the EA Message board was helpful in helping you decide.

    Best of luck with your D & C & Tubal.

    Pam

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