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Hello, I am having uterine fibroid embolization done today and I am freaked out.

Posted , 6 users are following.

wendy86210
wendy86210

The thought of having a catheter placed in my femoral artery and putting beads in my uterine arteries scares the hell out of me.  What if the beads travel elsewhere? What if there is damage to my arterial wall? What if a clot is thrown to my brain or lungs?? What if?  Ugh, no sleep and I'm dehydrated because they told me to eat or drink after midnight.  Who has had this procedure done? It seems to be fairly new or people aren't familiar with it.  Any advice or insight is appreciated.  Oh and prayers !  Thank you. 

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • maisie05
    maisie05 wendy86210

    Posted

    Easier said than done but try not to torture yourself with 'what ifs'. Let your surgeon or the anaesthetist know how anxious you are. Stay calm and stay strong, it will help your recovery. Keep in touch, let us know how you get on x

  • brooklyn50871
    brooklyn50871 wendy86210

    Posted

    Wendy! All the best. Make a list of all things concerning you and ask your doctor. Relay your concerns so they can give you more information about the procedure. Also ask them how  many times have they done this and have there been any complications in their practice. All the best.

    Let us know how it goes. 

  • linda96127
    linda96127 wendy86210

    Posted

     I hope this reaches you before your procedure. I had it done in July and I had the same fears as you. I had very little pain and the procedure was fairly simple. Just be brave. It feels good to be brave and strong. You will be fine! Prayers to you! 
  • Fibroid_Free
    Fibroid_Free wendy86210

    Posted

    It's normal to be nervous. Talk to your doctor about your concerns before the procedure starts. I perform this procedure all the time and can put you at ease about the fears you listed. 

    What if the beads travel elsewhere? -The beads will stay where they're put. The blood pressure pushing them forward will make them lodge in the tiny capillaries in the fibroids. They'll stay there until blood vessel cells grow over them.

    What if there is damage to my arterial wall? -It's extremely unlikely. We use equipment designed to work in the blood vessels.

    What if a clot is thrown to my brain or lungs? -Impossible. The doctor won't be working anywhere near your brain, and the clot could only get to the lungs through the veins. The doctor will be working in your arteries, not your veins.

    It seems to be fairly new or people aren't familiar with it. -I did my first UFE in 1997. It's been around a long time, and it's a routine procedure. 

    You'll be fine after a few days. And then your fibroid symptoms will start to go away. Best of luck to you.

    Suzanne Slonim, MD

  • ivette_85136
    ivette_85136 wendy86210

    Posted

    Hello. I got the procedure done on July 27 and I can't be happier. The pain last for about 3-4 days and I went back to work after two weeks. Two periods after the embolization and I feel like a different woman. No more trips to the bathroom every hour and wearing black clothes. You know what I'm talking about. Good luck!! Everything will be fine :-)

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