Fibroid embolization experiences

Thank you! Have you or anyone you know ever looked into freezing your eggs? A lot of people are suggesting that I should look into it before my procedure.. Which isn't really possible as it's a lengthy process but now I'm worried that maybe it's something I should have done!

Hi everyone! Here's an update. I went to see the doctor last week and he thought that it would be better for me to try Esmya than to have an embolization so now I just started a new thread here with millions of questions about Esmya instead. Gah! Hormones! 

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. Fibroids, what is it good for eh? :-/

Hi I am 10 days post op and I would recommend it to anyone seeking non surgical the worst thing about having it was the Morphine it made me so sick but was worth it. I refused Esyma cos by the time I was offered it I had already had Zoladex and Endo Abalation so I felt the Gyn had wasted enough of my time (14 months) so I insisted I wanted Uterine Fibroid Embolisation the Gyn don't want patients to have this procedure. The procedure itself is easy I would say and even if it doesn't work I will just have it again.

The only other thing I would say about it is be prepared for the tiredness after you leave hospital. Good luck

I had embolisation in 2005 for a 10 cm fibroid in my uterus as I was bleeding very heavily. The procedure went well and stayed in hospital for 3 days. The fibroids shrunk fairly quickly. I was very pleased as I lost a lot of weight and my periods were under control. Early Last year I started to bleed heavily again and went to my doctor who did an ultrasound to find out there is a 6cm fibroids in the uterus again, I don't know if it's the same fibroid starting to grow back ? I'm 49 and Also going thru perimenopause and the past few months the bleeding has calmed down and I don't feel heavy anymore, don't know what is happening? I. Going back to my doctor for another scan to check if everything is fine as I can't feel the pressure in my abdomen anymore. I don't know if the menopause is shrinking the fibroids as my periods are ver light and last 2 days..... But honestly the embolisation was a life saver for me as I was suffering a lot and I looked like I was 4 months pregnant with this fibroid. 

Hi I just had a embolization 9 days ago. My fibroid was 9.5 cm size of a grapefruit. Im 46 done having children but still did not want hysterectomy. I was really struggling due to fibroid bloat and it was on my uterus and bladder causing my uterus to be same size as fibroid. Never heavy periods though. I opted for fibroid embolization because it was least invasive. I really researched the and asked who the best Dr. at the hospital was and had the surgery done. I can tell you I didnt have any pain at the hospital I stayed the night I did have a pain pump and was instructed to use it as needed but I really didnt. The cramps started for me on the 3rd day but I continued with motrin 600 I didnt want to take any narcotics. Its manageable but not painfree. I feel like Im getting my energy back and Im happy I chose this I would recommend it.

Hi all,

I'm looking for a little honesty. I had UFE 7.5 weeks ago for two large fibroids (largest was 10cm). I have heavy periods, but horrible bladder problems are my main complaint. I had an MRI at 4.5 weeks and the larger fibroid was already 7.5cm - a 25% reduction in one month. However, I've had no symptom relief ;other than feeling less bloated). I've had one period that was very heavy, and my bladder is making me miserable. Still having episodes of urinary retention and getting up to pee three or four times per night. I'm scared to drink anything away from home.

Both my IR and the doctor I saw this week at the fibroid clinic told me I am being way too impatient and I should not expect to see any relief for at least three months. But, I go on this site and read all these stories about women who felt better within a few weeks. I'm getting very down that the procedure will not bring me any relief b/c I've had nothing yet, which seems out of tune with what everyone here says.

Is there anyone who didn't see results for several months - but who did finally see results?!

I'm 46 and have always been confident, energetic and positive. This whole fibroid experience - and the conflicting info I get - has made me turn into a weepy, lethargic pessimist. I used to run half-marathons. Now walking to the train makes me miserable.

I can make it if there's hope. Can anyone share a story that shows me there just may be light at the end of this tunnel?

Thank you!

Hi there,

Just for background, I'm 41 now, had my uterine fibroid embolization 5 months ago, and so far so good. Meaning, flow is easily 60% less than it was prior. The procedure itself was easy enough; however, for me, the pain afterward was severe. I had allergic reaction to the morpine and spent the next 10 hours itching, sweating and eventually vomiting, terrible nausea, and relentless pain. Going home I had constant pain for about 73 hours, was on Tylenol 3 and ibuprofen and could not find any comfortable position, standing, sitting, lying down, just a bad time all around. That said, after the few days of awful, I felt ok. I've had 5 periods since, and the result so far is very encouraging. I've stopped buying the giant pads, don't have to worry about soaking through (which I was, often), and I have more energy than I've had for a long time. I'm assuming it's because I'm builing up my blood stores - my gyno said this would happen. The only issue I've had is a more intense pain with my period now, that I've dubbed UFE pain, because it reminds me of the pain post-procedure. It's not your usual menstrual cramp, goes from 0 to 10 really fast. Good news though, is that after trial and error the last few months, I've found that plain old Tylenol takes care of it really fast. So now that I've adapted to the new pain and how to deal with it, I'm good. Bottom line is, I recommend this procedure if you're bleeding like crazy and don't want a hysterectomy, and are not planning to be pregnant. It was painful and miserable for a few days, but 5 months in, I'm experiencing it as a success and glad that I did it. Hope this helps!

Well I can tell you that my experience was not on the pleasant side at all. I went for the procedure on last Wednesday. That part went well with no complications. Went up to my room after procedure and was ok. They kept me on a steady dose of dilaudid, so I rested most of the time. Had to keep leg stockings on to cut risk of blood clots (DVT). The pain was actually worse than I thought but because this was new to me I wasn't sure what to expect. They did tell me it was going to be painful the first few days and then lighten up. As it came time to discharge me the next day my pain level was still too high. So then they introduced and vicodin into the regimen as well. Still no relief. So without a fever or signs of infection they released me and told me to rest and take the meds. Within two hours I was back at the E.R. THE PAIN WAS UNBEARABLE! I couldn't walk, stand, sit, lay down, or anything without crying literally out in pain. At the E.R. they gave me a double dose of Dilaudid and a dose of vicodin. IT DID NOT TOUCH IT. I dozed off and within 15 mins. the pain shot me back awake. The admitted me. DId a cat scan of the abdomen to ensure nothing was cut, or poked, or pinched by procedure. Test came back that all was well and intact. They then discovered that the surgeon did not do a satelite block before the procedure which is standard. This was actual nerve pain! The nerves in imy stomach were going haywire! with pain shooting from my hips down the front of my legs to my knees. At one point my knees had buckled. So they immediately scheduled me for that procedure. It was called a hypogastric block. Within the hour of having it done it was the first relief that I had since the procedure and I was able to get some sleep. But by late night the pain started to intensify. It wasn't the same but it still hurt pretty badly. They increased and changed my pain meds and sent me home the next day and told me to follow up. About 24 hrs later I started feeling back to the normal fibroid pain that I'm used to; but am not pain free like I thought I would be. So for everyone out there. Please make sure to talk to your your surgeon specifically about nerve block because there are no meds that can make this sort of pain go away. It has to be done by procedure. I have dealt with a lot of pain on many different levels in my life; but I can honestly say this one surpassed them all. It absolutely would not stop. I couldn't sleep even heavy dosage meds! So that is my contribution to future patients. Be on the alert.

 

Personally, I decided against this procedure. I am 25 and want to have children. My gynaecologist did not think this would be the most fertility preserving treatment nor the most effective. He has had patients struggling to fall pregnant or having miscarriage after UAE - it cuts blood supply to fibroid but also uterine blood supply... plus it may only shrink the fibroid a little bit. Plus the recovery is apparently very painful. Yes it is least invasive however I wanted to definitely get rid of my fibroid and hopefully fall pregnant one day.

Hello hi had fibroid embolizion just over a year ago and it as not worked for me still getting heavy periods and pelvic pain and pressure feeling in my stomach. It was very painful and was of work for 4 weeks .they have gone down by about 2cm but not enough to give me relief.