anyone have uterine ablation??

[sick and tired 47]

I am 49, in perimenopause, on bioidentical progesterone which has helped some of my "menopausal" symptoms.
  However after 2 years of being on biohormones in which some menopausal symptoms are better, my cycles are more irregular( sometimes every other week), very heavy at times, bad cramping,back pain, ect... I never had a problem when I was younger- was very regular and not bad most of the time.
  My gyn has suggested  that I-

1. Either consider birth control pills to help cycles ( never been on before, don't really want to start at almost 50)
2. Consider an uterine ablation/D and C!!

She has told me it will NOT help with menopause symptoms or expedite menopause, just help lessen heavy periods, cramping,ect.

I hate to have a "surgery" but this is making my life miserable and considering my family hx - Mother had horrible menopause and spotting" into 60's before finally having hysterectomy. Sister had heavy periods and fibroids, had hysterectomy at age 40.
  
I had an routine checkup and ultrasound of uterus which  were all normal.

Feedback is greatly appreciated
YES-  best thing I ever did and no complications or
NO WAY, deeply regret this decision!

Thank you all !!!!

[sick and tired 47]

Thanks Jenny,
After the surgery day I had NO pain, cramping at all... almost like it was never done. It was just those first few hours after surgery. I found out from my friend, a nurse , they give you Ptoessum ( ?? spelling)  at end of surgery, the same drug used to induce labor .
Now, other than feeling a little tired( ?? from anesthesia) I have no complaints. The discharge is not so bad yet.
Hmmm...it gets better, thanks for the warning!
Happy Holidays to you!

[jennymcb]

How are you doing? Just take it easy, take the ibuprofen or whatever they gave you for inflammation. The discharge does get interesting, but does end!

[sick and tired 47]

Tadaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! I had it done today.  I really hope this procedure works!
  But really, some nasty, painful cramping  and back pain that a darvocet and Ibprofin just makes tolerable. Usually I have a very high pain tolerance level so I am hoping this  passes quickly right??
Otherwise so far so good, I am optimistic that this will help me. The preop nurse had same procedure several years ago and said it was the best thing she had ever done... and she tried the birth control method first to no avail.

[sick and tired 47]

I will be very happy with light, somewhat "normal" periods again instead of the very heavy and very long ( weeks) I have now.
Dr. is worried I will become anemic too,
I too am 49, can not wait til menopause is over!!

[jennymcb]

I had it done in October 09, little bloating afterwards, the discharge is nasty for a few weeks. I wish I could say no periods, but I had a very light (no tampon) period last month and this month I have a period, but no where near the bleeding that I had prior to the procedure. If my periods are this light until they end, then I have no regrets.
My aunt had this done at 47 and never got another period, everyone is different. Good luck.

[sick and tired 47]

Okay all! I am scheduled for the surgery dec 14th. Wish me luck!! I just want it to work without problems.

[sick and tired 47]

Thanks Liz,
I had a childhood friend who says the same thing as you... best thing she ever did. Good luck thru menopause, now that is a different story. If you find an solution  to all those issues let us know, there will be many of us eager to hear. It is easier to know we are all in this together.
Good luck, god bless.

[Liz50]

Well I haven't even looked at the boards for months and this am I decided to check in on some old friends in the HEpC forum...but I hit "menopause" instead.

I had a uterine ablation 16 years ago and I WOULD DO IT AGAIN WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED!

I had heavy, heavy periods for a few years in my later 30's and I was literally unable to leave the house for more than an hour or so..plus breakthrough bleeding during the month for several years. It just got worse and worse. PLus I felt pre-menstrual all the time (so fun to live with me)....at the very first (amd remember this was in like 1990, my only option was a hysterectomy and I wasn't having that (I had 5 c-sections so it would have had to be an abdominal one and I had no time for recovery)..so I just hung in there. By 1993 my doctor at the time was **** the ablation technique and was actually kind of a pioneer in the area. I was so excited to have an answer/solution to the issue.

The procedure did require some prep time for me (I had to have 2 Lupron shots to shut down my hormonal system and thin the uterine lining) and that wasn't pleasant, but the actual procedure and recovery were nothing. A couple of days of minimal cramping, a little discharge for a week or so and I have not looked back. No periods since then, no spotting, no mood swings (well, until I entered menopause a few months gao but that's a whole other story)....

SO, again, I have encouraged a lot of my friends with similar problems to seek a really good doc who does this procedure.

Goodluck!
Liz