Post Fibroid Embolisation
Posted , 102 users are following.
If my experience can help I would like to share this to other sufferers of fibroid.
Having decided not to try for a family after having had 4 failed IVF's, I just like my life back without pain, bleeding & generally miserable every month.
I have ticked all the boxes that my gynae suggested pills, Zoladex, hysteroscopy-failed mirena or not even had it despite undergoing most uncomfortable impromptu procedure.
I cannot fault any of the staff who dealt and performed my procedure, they were excellent.
However, soon after the procedure my pain was not managed properly & I was in agony. I suggest that premedication of Voltarol, paracetamol @ anti emetics should be in place. Then as soon as the procedure is completed a bolus of 10 mg Morphine from the PCA should be initiated.
Diet wise eat less & high fibre to avoid abdominal discomfort.
Rest is vital.
The first week was I called 'a week of pain'.. The cramping was severe and round the clock pain killers, had to take 'oromorp' prescription.
Second week, things are getting better but constantly tired.
Third week, cramping started & slightly bleeding still very uncomfortable, guess this is my normal cycle time & already showing signs of fibroid shredding.
I'm still in this week of recovery and hoping that with what I have gone through the result is good in three months time.
UFE is less invasive but should be treated as having had major procedure because whilst there is no open wound, things are all happening inside you and only you can feel the pain!
8 likes, 279 replies
natalie77791 nora71815
Posted
I just had uterine fibroid embolization on 9/11/17 and I have to say it was very painful. My BP shot up and I was diaphoretic probably due to pain. I was given dilaudid via IV but I feel I should have been given morphine. I feel as though pain management needs to be reviewed for this procedure in the future. I'm currently having some clots and bleeding. I feel tired but not sure if it's because of the Percocet and Zofran. I sleep a lot. I'm feel as though my abdomen has gone down some but I could just be imagining it. I'm glad I chose this over myomectomy but it definitely should be taken as seriously as far recovery and general sickness because this procedure is no joke.
Destin1 natalie77791
Posted
Hi Natalie, yes you are correct it is very painful. My pain was a 10 and above until I got my morphine pump. I also had no energy for at least 2 weeks. For some reason I feel these Doctors are not understanding the seriousness of the pain after the procedure. I had no restrictions and don't undrstand that. Well I hope you feel yourself again. Oh I just went to my 6 month check up my uterus was at 20 weeks before the procedure now it's at 8 weeks, and I definitely can tell the difference.
anita99765 natalie77791
Posted
Hi Natalie... my fibroid is HUGE 23cm and I've been referred for embolization. I'm in the UK. I'm interested to follow your recovery so that I know what to expect. Hope you improve daily.
christi3000 nora71815
Posted
Hey it's Christi checking in. I am about 2 months post and I feel great!! I have had some fibroid degeneration pain (cramping and tenderness from the fibroids shrinking) but it hasn't been unbearable and is normal. My periods have been getting better and my stomach has shrunk. I no longer feel as if I am laying on grapefruits when I lay on my stomach. I am so relieved that I had this procedure. Dr. John Lipman is one if not the best in the business. I hope you all are recovering well and I want to encourage those who are thinking about the procedure...DO IT! It has been so worth it. I do have to keep reminding myself not to worry when on my period as I used to be so scared of bleeding through. It will take some time mentally to get used to not stressing about my cycle but I look forward to it and I am thankful for the freedom.
vivienne34555 christi3000
Posted
Glad you are feeling much better, yes it takes a while to see the difference but yes, it worth everything that I went through. A couple of weeks ago I wore WHITE trousers for the first time in 18months, I still wore a panty liner because I was a little anxious. But nothing happened! I was over the moon. Last summer was horrible my nice clothes didn't fit comfortably and because of my fibroids I was regularly having to go to urinate very often. Now I don't and my clothes fit. I still get some cramps 9 months after my op and that's the fibroids shrinking.
Sheila12345 nora71815
Posted
I am glad to hear most of you are recovering well after your Procedure. I just had my 6 mth MRI follow up on my fibroids. I got to see the images myself as my dr was showing me how the oxygen supply is cut off to the fibroids and they were all shrinking half in size. He said it would take another 6-12 mths for them to completely disappear then scar off. No new fibroids have grown to my surprise and he said I should be good for about 5 years which is around the same time I should be in menopause. And I hear once in menopause if I have any new growth that they would shrink. I never had any issues with my period as my fibroids were growing outwords instead of inwords of my uterus. This procedure was definitely worth it. I suffered miserable like most in the first week but got my energy level back at week 3.
I enjoy being on this thread and sharing our experiences together. Stay strong, be happy, be healthy
❤️
vivienne34555 Sheila12345
Posted
deana13606 Sheila12345
Posted
Hi Sheila, I have just had UFE for a 13.5 cm large subserosal fibroid (growing out of my uterus), but my IR says that due to the size and location it won't shrink enough in order for me to avoid myomectomy. I would be happy if it could shrink half in size, but he doesn't think so. So I wanted to check with you, as your fibroids were also growing outwards and you had great results 6 months post procedure, how large were they?
Thanks a lot for your reply!
Sheila12345 deana13606
Posted
Hi Deana,
First of all, I'm a little confused. When they did the UFE procedure they made a small incision in my upper thigh and a catheter or really thin tube is inserted in me all of this done while I am awake. It cuts off the supply of oxygen to every single fibroid In me. So if the doctor got them all correct all of them could not grow anymore because there is no more oxygen in them. Thus that is why they die off then shrink and scar to the lining of your uterus. Why is your doctor now saying that he does not think the fibroid will shrink if he correctly cut off the oxygen supply to them? To be honest I don't remember exactly how many centimeters because the doctor and I were looking at the MRI together discussing everything. I had around 10 in me and I could see them in the MRI but the biggest one sat on top of my bladder. Maybe perhaps for some reason it did not work on the biggest one you had or maybe it will take a long time to shrink. I am not exactly sure in your case but I saw the MRI with my own eyes six months later and there was no oxygen to them and they all shrunk by about half so far. In my case the doctor did cut off the supply of oxygen to all of them.
deana13606 Sheila12345
Posted
Hi Sheila
Thank you very much for your reply!
I just had the procedure last week, but IR said that the fibroid is too big (I have a bump in my stomach) to sufficiently shrink so that I can avoid myomectomy. I saw the picture after the procedure and it looks like the supply was completely cut off - that's not the issue - the issue is that he said that due to it's size and position (out of uterus) it won't shrink enough, so that's why I asked you how big was your fibroid, as yours was also on the outside of the uterus.
Thanks again!
Sheila12345 deana13606
Posted
Hi Deana,
I don't remember the size of my biggest fibroid but I do see my doctor in two more weeks to go over HRT and can double check the exact size then.
deana13606 Sheila12345
Posted
deana13606 Sheila12345
Posted
I just wanted to check whether you saw your doctor and had a chance to ask him about the size of your biggest fibroid?
Thanks so much!
Sheila12345 nora71815
Posted
Are you sure? The dr who did the procedure said I could get an MRI 3 mths after the procedure and my regular primary dr suggested 6 mths in between. I would ask to get it sooner if you wanted to know. It's a good feeling seeing the difference yourself on the MRI.
vivienne34555 Sheila12345
Posted
asila_j vivienne34555
Posted
Hi
My care plan included OB-GYN visit after 6 months for ultrasound. Thank God the fibroid had shrunk to less that half their original sizes and everything looks fine. Another similar checkup is scheduled one year from the procedure. I don't think I will be sent to MRI.