Women Issues!

[Creed3]

Hi Everyone!
I remember recently seeing a thread started by someone about how heavy menstrual periods are. They said that they had a procedure where something was cauterized and they wouldn't bleed as much during their periods.
I have looked and can't locate that thread.
My Gyn has talked to me about possibly doing this procedure on me. He also told me that there is a procedure that can be done right in the doctor's office. I'm not sure if he is talking about the cauterizing or not. I would be put on Lovenox for a week before the procedure.
I just wanted to talk to other women who have had this done. My last two cycles have been awful. I think I maybe had about a week in between the two periods without any bleeding. I also passed quite a few clots. I couldn't go out and do much for about two days. Some months aren't too bad and I think that I can live with it, then I end up with a couple months where it actually effects my daily life. I am a photographer and I am going to be photographing a wedding at the end of this month. My period is scheduled to start right about then and I am afraid that it will be one of those horrible ones on the day of the wedding.
If you have had the above procedure or know where I can find the thread, please let me know.

Thanks & Take Care!
Gail

 

[Mary]

Gail,
I started a thread about heavy menstrual cycles, but it was Sherry who mentioned the procedure you have made reference to.
Maybe she will see the new thread and post her experience.

 

[Marguerite53]

no real info

no real info

Hi. I was starting to have real heavy flows, for me. I'm 51 and I'm missing every 3 months now after having been consistently regular since I was 13. I'm going to see my Ob/Gyn in the fall and ask him about this coincidence. The coincidence is that I got put on Diovan 80mg for blood pressure control. My BP wasn't really that high, topping out at 145/80. But 2 months into the Diovan, my periods virtually turned into a trickle. Very nice!! Have NO IDEA if this is relevant at all, but thought I'd mention it. How is your blood pressure?

Now I am no longer allowed to take Sudafed (cardio's orders), but the Ob/Gyn nurse told me to try taking 3 Advil and 2 sudafed for heavy flow. It helped some. PLEASE don't take Sudafed without express permission from your cardio!!

Good luck.

Marguerite

 

[Sagebrush]

Hi Gail, The procedure you are talking about is called a utine ablation. I had it last Novemeber and was experiencing the same things you were, heavy bleeding, clots....uggggg. I had been on coumadin for 2 years and they got worse and worse each month....so I said enough of this and since I can't have kids I was up for anything to fix this problem. This is a fairly new procedure probably 4 or 5 years old. I actually had to tell the nurse what is was when I had my yearly in March because I had the procedure out of state. The one nurse who had had it done out of state said she never has a monthly visitor anymore after the procedure and some women will only fill up a panty line(aren't you men glad to know this!!) anyhow I am so glad I had it done and I highly recommend it, but they do not promise anything...you could still have a monthly visitor but you won't bleed as bad because it kills the lining of the uterus. They either use electical currents to kill the lining or very hot water. I think it takes about 45 minutes for the procedure. This is not a birth control method because you can still get pregnant so they did a tubal ligation when they were in there too.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Faye,

Can you tell us how long you were hospitilized as well as recovery at home. My GYN gave me this as an option.......but he said it meant being in the hospital on Heparin, etc. We all know that is at least a 5-7 day visit!

At this point in my life......I just medicate and ignore it the best I can.

 

[Sagebrush]

Gina,
I had the procedure done on Thursday...put in the hospital Wednesday, got out of the hospital on a Saturday and back to work on Monday. It was hard because they (the vampires/phlobotomists) would poke you 3 or 4 times a day and I have very tricky veins to find but now I look back it was worth it. I talked them into letting me go home early because I have a inr testing unit at home. The recovery time it probably about 2 weeks and it was much easier then open heart surgery...but they also did the tubal ligation laproscopicly. I hope this helps....also the pms symptons are gone too, tenderness, back ache, tiredness, grouchyness....it is so worth it.

 

[Sherry]

Hi, Gail. Sorry I didn't respond here; I've had my head up my behind over these INR fluctutations, which is on one of the other threads.

Yes, my ob/gyn has offered me that uterine ablation for the past couple of years, but I was hesitant to go off Coumadin. Actually, I'm not sure why we have to be taken off because, as I understand it, it's not a bloodletting procedure at all, is that correct, Sagebrush?

Gail, I know what you mean: the heavy flow and clotting is absolutely maddening. Mary and I, both teachers, have discussed many times how difficult it is running a classroom and running back and forth to the restroom. Well, let's hope this procedure is one that we can safely have done. I'm planning to reinvestigate myself in October and will post when I find out something.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Faye,

Thank you very much for the info. It's great to know that you have come through the proceedure with flying colors.

You almost have me sold. The major PMS will go away you say? My hubby may have kiss the surgeon

I can relate to the non-exsistant veins. I have the same concern. After my MVR......prior to release.....they were going for an ankle draw I called the cards ofc begging for a release to go home. Thankfuly,l I was discharged. To this day......six years later. Many of the "choice" veins are still calcified!

 

[Creed3]

Thanks Everyone!

Thanks Everyone!

Thank you all for all of your information. I really think I am going to consider this procedure. Right after my OHS I didn't think I would ever undergo an elective procedure because of the coumadin and bridging therapy that would need to be done. I was always too afraid of throwing a clot. Almost three years of this menstrual bleeding is changing my mind. I need to talk to my gyn more about this. What strikes me a little unusual is that he told me a procedure could be done in the office as long as my pcp was ok with it. I wonder if this is the same procedure. I would think that with my health issues he would want to do any procedure in the hospital. I'll have to get more info from my gyn. I'm all for having the procedure in the docs office as long as it is safe. I would have to find out how they would start me back on my coumadin. Do you think that I would have to continue to take lovenox until my inr was in correct range? I would think they would do the same type of bridging therapy while you were going back on coumadin.

Thanks Again!
Take Care!
Gail

 

[McCln]

Gail

Gail

I know what you are talking about, I can't remember the name of the procedure, but it is done with lasers. It is done on outpatient basis and you are off work for a week. My gyno wont's do it unless I have serious problems, due to being a diabetic, besides the coumadin for the valve. I hope to not have many problems. He has me on depo-prevera shots for every three months. I still bleed a little, but not where I would become anemic. Good luck on the surgery.

 

[Sagebrush]

The main reason I had this done was to get off the birth control since I couldn't have kids and the birth control affects my inr......so I was going to have a tubal and then mentioned to my cardio Dr. Warnes at the Mayo that my bleeding was getting worse and worse. I then had a consult with a gyno surgen who suggested this utirne ablation. I then went back and had it done a year later.

Yes Gina your hubby will probably want to Kiss the surgen....I don't know anymore when it is my time of month because I honestly have NO SYMPTOMS!!! I only use one panty liner a month now....YIPPPEEEE !!!!!

I do believe it is a day surgery for normal people but because we are special heart patients I had to be on a iv antibiotic and heprin.

 

[afraidofsurgery]

3-month BCPs

3-month BCPs

There is a new oral contraceptive for 3 continuous months w/o a period called Seasonale, see http://www.seasonale.com/

Also, my OB/gyn is fine with me using Ortho Evra (BCP patch) for the same cycling, 3-months continuous. She gives me a sample pack to cover the extra weeks, since %#$ insurance companies won't cover a refill for the rx sooner than every 4 weeks (and the rx only has 3 weeks worth of patches).

Just thought I'd mention this as an alternative to the ablation.

However, as I'm scheduled for surgery on Sept 7th and (so far at least) have chosen a mechanical valve, I'm thinking maybe I should get the procedure done before surgery?? Jeez, that would make way too much sense. Probably I'll go with the 3-month BPC cycles.

Hope this helps!
Patty