The discharge was merely "a nuisance," she said, but one that was affecting her life and her marriage. Ferrier wasn't on board immediately. She was otherwise healthy, wasn't in any pain, and wondered whether undergoing a procedure made sense. I'm a little bit of a fearful person to begin with," she said. But she eventually convinced herself not to "overthink it, it's a second procedure.
Its rates of success are, you know, way, way up there. So, let's go for it. About three days later, she woke up "moaning in pain" and told her husband she needed to go to the hospital. Although she lives less than 15 minutes from the emergency room, by the time she arrived, she had no memory of what happened. She relies on her husband's memory instead.
He told her about her blood pressure "bombing out," her sky-high heart rate, and being transferred to another hospital for an emergency hysterectomy. She had sepsis severe enough to require a medically-induced coma. She went home 10 days later, but within a week began to feel sick again. Doctors found an abscess, which Ferrier opted to let drain on its own, but she was soon back at the hospital as she continued to get weak.
Doctors gave her the strongest medicines they had and were even nervous to finally send her home in December in time for her youngest son's birthday. Ferrier says she has lingering consequences from her ordeal. She can't read more than a short chapter of a book without losing focus. She used to manage her family's finances, but now has trouble with math. She can't work because under any form of time pressure, "my mind goes blank.
Ferrier does puzzles to try to improve her attention span, lifts weights and, during warmer weather, rides her bicycle to improve her strength. It's difficult to assess individual consent discussions, but like Ferrier, other women interviewed by MedPage Today who suffered complications said they felt the risks were given short shrift by their physicians. She says many patients come to her with endometrial ablation failures.
Louie rarely offers an ablation, but when she does, she says she's upfront about its risks and the likelihood that it's a temporary solution. She doesn't offer it to younger women, especially those in their 20s or 30s, because of concerns about failure and post-ablation syndrome. She counsels them about the "high likelihood that they will require another procedure when endometrial ablation has reached the end of its effectiveness.
For example, she might recommend it to a patient who has young kids and can't commit to a hysterectomy now, but may be able to have the surgery a few years down the line. Or if a patient with a history of tubal ligation really wants endometrial ablation, she'll discuss the possibility of post-ablation tubal sterilization syndrome.
Not all doctors describe ablation as a temporary procedure. While she does encourage an IUD first, she said many don't want hormones, so ablation becomes a good option. In this method, a thin tube called catheter is put into the uterus. The thin tube or catheter has a balloon fixed at the end and that balloon is filled with fluid and heated. The heated fluid is the one that is used to destroy the uterine lining. This technique uses heated fluid. The fluid is pumped right into the uterus thus helping destroy the lining.
In this method, a doctor uses a probe containing cold temperatures. The probe freezes the lining. An electric mesh is put into the uterus and expanded. An electrical current from a radio wave is send to the uterus to destroy the lining.
Some endometrial ablations may be done with use of a hysteroscope. The tool allows the doctor to view the inside of the uterus. A camera may be attached to the tool to take and record images. The endometrial or uterine lining is the location where the egg implants after it has been fertilized. Therefore, when uterine wall is removed, it means that a fertilized egg cannot implant. Pregnancies occurring after having uterine ablation are usually not normal and it is essential that you consider using an effective birth control.
The thing is, even if the egg cannot implant on the wall, you still have the reproductive organs in place. Before you undertake the procedure, a doctor will have a consultation session. During the appointment, you will learn the benefits and disadvantages of having this procedure. The doctor will tell you whether you need endometrial ablation, or other treatment options are desirable. If it happens that you will have the uterine wall removal done, then you need to prepare for it. Here are things that will help you get ready for the ablation:.
If you are in Los Angeles and have menstrual bleeding problems, visit the Gyn LA clinic for treatment. Typically, our doctors will prescribe an intrauterine device IUD or medication to help alleviate your problematic periods. In this article, we will explore the endometrial ablation process and the factors to consider, which include complications, side effects, and recovery period.
Endometrial ablation refers to a procedure conducted to get rid of the thin lining of the uterus endometrium. Instead, your doctor will insert a small piece of equipment through the vagina to the uterus. The doctor has many ways to conduct the procedure, and the tools vary based on what method is used to destroy the endometrium.
The various methods the physician can use include:. Other endometrial ablation procedures are conducted by the use of a tool known as a hysteroscope. The tool enables your doctor to see inside the uterus. Factors like the condition and size of the uterus will assist in determining what endometrial ablation process is the most appropriate for you. You could decide to undergo an endometrial ablation procedure if you have long or heavy periods.
You may also do it if you are bleeding in-between periods. In some cases, the menstrual bleeding can be too heavy in that it impacts your day-to-day activities and leads to anemia due to a lower blood count. Heavy menstrual bleeding is defined as the kind of bleeding that needs you to change tampons or sanitary pads every hour.
On the other hand, prolonged menstrual bleeding is defined as the bleeding that lasts more than seven days. Problems associated with menstrual bleeding may be a result of hormone issues. This is true, especially for women that are approaching menopause or those that have undergone the menopause stage.
Other reasons are abnormal tissues like polyps, fibroids, uterine cancer, or endometrial cancer. An endometrial ablation process lessens menstrual flow or makes it stop completely. You might be incapable of getting pregnant after undergoing this procedure.
The reason for this is that the endometrium wall, whereby the egg gets implanted after fertilization, has been extracted. Nevertheless, your reproductive organs will remain intact. Note that your doctor may have additional reasons to recommend endometrial ablation.
Also, note that before recommending endometrial ablation, your doctor may generally begin by prescribing an IUD or medications to lower menstrual bleeding. Complications after undergoing an endometrial ablation procedure are not common. They may include:. There might be other risks you may face depending on your health condition. Ensure you discuss with your physician any concerns you have before undergoing the process.
You might not be capable of undergoing endometrial ablation should you have:. A few things may make it challenging to carry out particular endometrial ablation types. A few weeks before undergoing this procedure, your physician will explain how the procedure is conducted. Ask them any questions and discuss with them any concerns you have concerning the process. Also, before the process, your doctor:. The way this process is conducted may vary based on your health condition as well as your physician practices.
The kind of anesthesia to be administered depends on the process being performed. Your anesthesiologist will monitor your blood pressure, heart rate, level of blood oxygen, and breathing during the process. Generally, endometrial ablation is done following these steps:. The recovery process varies depending on the ablation type you underwent, as well as the anesthesia type used.
If you were an outpatient, you would need someone else to take you back home. You might need to put on a sanitary towel due to bleeding. Also, you may experience a watery-bloody discharge for a few weeks.
You might have nausea, intense cramping, the urge to urinate frequently, vaginal discharge, or vomiting for some days after the process. The cramping could continue for an extended period. Also, you may have other restrictions on your activities, including avoiding heavy lifting or strenuous tasks.
You may resume your usual diet except if your doctor says otherwise.
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