I had UFE 7 days ago
Posted , 7 users are following.
I figured I’d write about my experience in case it’s useful to someone.
I had UFE on 1- 7cm and 1- 9cm fibroid a week ago today. I’m a fairly healthy 36 year old, no kids.
The procedure itself was pretty pain free. It lasted about an hour and I was given pain meds via IV so I didn’t feel much until the very end when the light cramping began. About 30 minutes later, however, the cramping became intense. They upped my pain meds but I didn’t feel like they were working. To make matters worse I had to keep my leg straight for 2 hours when all I wanted to do was squirm. Luckily the pain meds did put me out so that helped.
The procedure was outpatient unless my pain was unmanageable, in which case I would be admitted to a nearby hospital. I had to fight a bit to not be admitted but I was convinced that I wouldn’t be able to heal as well in a hospital. So they sent me on my way with pain meds.
I took the meds as soon as I got home and the pain was intense through the next day. It did get better every day and by the 4th day I was able to stop taking meds. Of course at that point I started feeling the effects of the pain meds on my stomach and I became constipated. They recommended Miralax, which eventually helped.
7 days out, I have a slight dull ache in the thigh where the procedure was done. I also have some terrible intestinal pain I wrote about in a different post. I’m not sure what that’s about.
I’ve had very slight discharge since last Monday. My stomach is not as flat as I thought it would be but it’s also not as hard as it was. I’ve lost 3 lbs though that’s probably just from having no appetite.
Though this is a minimally invasive procedure, the recovery is no joke. You’ll definitely need someone to take you home and stay with you for the 1st few days. If it hadn’t been for my mom and husband I wouldn’t have made it. I took two weeks from work and at first I felt guilty but now I’m happy I did as I was in no shape to go back today due to my stomach pain.
My follow up appt is in 5 weeks and I guess I won’t know if it worked until my next MRI or ultrasound.
Sorry, I know this was a lot to read but I wanted to include as much info as possible. Feel free to ask me any questions. I’ll try to update my progress every so often.
Thanks,
Jess
1 like, 12 replies
jay59548 jess03786
Posted
hi thanks for sharing your experience am about having this done . but mine are quite small and i wanted a minimally invasive procedure done as well. how is your recovery so far and do you feel it has worked ?
jess03786 jay59548
Posted
Hi Jay,
This past week was my 2nd week of recovery and my 1st week back at work. I feel like I'm getting back to normal. I think two weeks off from work was a good way to go. While i probably could gave gone back sooner painwise, it was nice to be able to rest a bit longer. Also, the antibiotics (cipro) did a number on my stomach and it took a while to get back to normal. This week i started spotting a lot more but nothing a light pad cant handle. Once in a while i feel some dull pain in the thigh where it was done and slight cramping but nothing crazy. All thats left of the procedure is a slight bruise on my upper thigh.
As far as whether it worked, it's hard to say. I still feel a bump/hardness when i lay down on my back or stomach but some of the pressure symptoms I had have gone away. I guess i wont know for sure until a follow up ultrasound or MRI.
If it did work then the few days of pain were definitely worth it.
Good luck with your UFE! Let us know how it goes!
Jess
jay59548 jess03786
Posted
thank you very much for the feedback and just waiting for a date but am thinking to have it done through my hands and not my thighs cos sitting still for few hours while in pain an not sure i can do that
Guest jay59548
Posted
How can they reach your uterine arteries from your hands...??!!! Are you sure they are offering that?
I have answered your other question. I had it done in the groin area.
jay59548 Guest
Posted
yes funny enough my work colleague just showed me hers it was done through her wrist. but did you have to stay still for 4hours before you can move
jess03786 jay59548
Posted
I've heard of this option too. some have said its more painful because its less direct than through the groin. I was afraid of having to lay still for two hours and it wasn't fun but chances are you'll be drugged up and sleep through most of it. Good luck!
Guest jay59548
Posted
oh wow that's incredible!
alisha29910 jess03786
Posted
HI, I am hoping you might be able to help. I am five days post op with ufe. I am having these pinching pains and it hurts to even press on the fibroid area. I dont want to start back up on the pain meds, but this pain is awful. I cant tell if its intestional, bladder related or just pain from the fibroids. I dont believe it to be infection because I have no fever. It hurts if I trunto use my abdominal muscles as well. Did you experience this at all?
jess03786 alisha29910
Posted
hi,
Sorry for the late response. No i didn't have these same pains but my stomach area was very sensitive for days after. It make depend on the location of your fibroids. Give the doctor a call. They'll be able to set your mind at ease. Good luck!
Thanks,
Jess
Biondina26 jess03786
Posted
Do you still want kids? I am similar to you with age and fibroid size and also had UFE. I am so scared because all doctors say basically the blood does not flow to uterus after UFE so chances of having healthy infant are hurt. But then others say it is fine and stats say to do it. What do you plan?
jess03786 Biondina26
Posted
Hi,
I knew going into it that it might make things difficult if I did want to have children. My gyn was trying to force me to make a decision ahead of tge ufe but all I really wanted was to feel better. Honestly, Im still undecided but we're of the mindset that if it happens, it happens. Both my gyn and the radiologist say that they know of women who had it done and went on to have successful pregnancies.
Sorry, this wasnt very helpful!
jess
Biondina26 jess03786
Posted
Jess, actually it WAS sooo helpful! Any insight and support honestly is very positive so I thank you! It's so nice to hear from someone who is my same age, and had UFE instead of myomectamy, and still might want kids. Are your doctors concerned about fertility or healthy infant? Because those are 2 different things - in other words, women after UFE can definitely still be fertile, but the chances of carrying a healthy pregnancy to term are much lower - so the baby has a higher likelihood of being born premature, not developing correctly because of placenta not having blood flow. Essentially, we have less blood flow to the whole uterus so allowing a baby to grow correctly seems that much more difficult. How are your periods? Mine were normal the first 6 months after UFE and then got very "gel-like" and an ultrasound showed there is fluid in uterus. I have no idea and between this physical situation alongside anxiety which i suffer from, I feel like it would be a self-fulfilling prophecy of having a baby with birth defects, and a life long struggle. Sorry for the brutal honesty. My husband and I are also of the same mindset "if it happens, it happens." What do you think about the pregnancy quality and the fact that fibroids/UFE seem to be a mystery to doctors? Have you been to fertility specialist? How long were you trying before getting diagnosed with UFE?