Post Fibroid Embolisation

Hi I am 3 weeks plus 4days post op ( 29/6/2016) when i had my procedure it was painful the first 4 days , i found most of the pain is due to not going for a poo but after going to the loo pain subsided. But only thing I am worried about is the bleeding no sign of stopping any time soon any one else had the same problem ? For the first 2 half weeks it was only spots of blood now i think this a period but it been going for 10 days no sign of stopping feeling a bit light heard sometimes and bit peed off .

Hi I had my op done last Monday (28/06/16). The pain I experienced after was the worst I had felt in a long time. For a good 3-4 hours after the op I was in severe pain and on morphine right through the night during my stay in hospital. Was also sick but not surprised really. However the next day felt good/well so discharged home. Before leaving the consultant prescribed painkillers (codiene, diclofenac and paracetamol) but advised only to take if I was in severe pain. I think there was only 1 day last week where I didn't take paracetamol but at least once a day I was having to take it. Didn't have any at the weekend and this morning I am up early as the pain was pretty strong .

I know not everyone is the same but I was just wondering if anyone out there who has had this done whose bladder feels differently? I feel there is a huge pressure in mine especially when wanting to have a pee. I can't really explain it except to say that feels like my bladder is going to fall out (a bit extreme I know but cannot find the words to describe the sensation).

Other things that I want to know about are:

Bleeding - at the moment I am passing a clear substance with only a slight tinge of red. So not worried about that. Just want to know how long after the op is a normal period meant to take place? From what I have read it seems that I should expect them to be VERY heavy initially. I have already been diagnosed as being mildly anaemic.

Passing fibroid matter - not worried about that in general but the consultant advised me to be aware of passing fibroids which may have been on stalks as they can drop off as a whole fibroid. Has anyone had this happen to them? How do you know if this does happen/are there any signs/symptoms? I have been warned that something like this happening will require a hospital visit as it will need to be extracted.

Bowels - I don't seem to be able to go as normally as I did before I had the op done. I didn't have my first bowel movement until last Friday (the one prior to that was Monday morning before the op). Even now it's still not great. Has anyone else had bowel trouble?

Fatigue - I have read quite a few posts where people have said that after 2 weeks or so they started feeling very tired. I haven't done as yet but is this due to the fact that if you're bleeding heavily then you're going to feel drained anyway or should I expect to feel tired regardless?

Physical activities - I normally go to the gym 3-4 times a week. Is it going to be ok to go next week providing I am cautious about what I do? I have been signed off work and am due to go back next week so thought I would try and get back to the gym as well.

I realise how lucky I am as it seems some people who have posted on this forum have been through far worse problems than I am going through at the mo . I am just concerned about what still may be yet to come and would be grateful for any advice from those who have experienced any of the things above which I have mentioned .

Thanks for reading.

hi wendy,

its different experience for different people. the pains and discomfort will be over. for the period, the bleeding may still be heavy for the first two months, but the 3rd may be lighter and shorter. in my own case the pain lasted for just a night, the night after the ops. it was terrible. it was like labour pain. again to avoid getting so badly anemic, i think you should go on good iron tabs and multivitamins for the next 3 months. i was very very anemic too, because before the ufe procedure, i used to bleed like my intestines would drop and for between 8 -10 days. my fibroids were many and very large. but thank God, its a past experience now. this is my 3rd month post op. my energy has returened. i go for my usual work and dont feel week and tired like before. my period is lighter and shorter. my blood level is back to full and normal count. i look healthier and am nolonger sick. am only dealling with some discharges presntly. am not worried about it because my doctor warned me about it. its part of the fibroids dying off. just eat healthy foods, avoid lots of suger and eat alot of fruits. it will help. also be patient with your healling process. things will get back to normal

Just had my UFE on 9 days ago. I had pain the day of, but after that period cramps. I stop bleeding on day 7. Only problem I have is I dont sleep at night. I had to have a laxtive. My doc is in Maryland. Went to see him today. He said I look great. My stomach has went down a lot. Im happy I had it done. I think its about how your doctor does your procedure.

I'm 3 weeks post UAE, and wanted to read what to expect in the weeks to come from you all, and to also share my experience. The tumors were so bad I could barely walk due to back pain. The uterus was so enlarged that it was compressing the vien in my back, stop proper blood flow to me legs. I was in really bad shape for the past 3 months. This procedure was absolutely neccassary. The procedure was absolutely awful but so worth it, kind of like child birth. It uncomfortable for months and painful for hours, then beautiful at the end. 

Once they were done and cleaning me for recovery, I had not yet received the post procedure meds ( I don't think they intended for me to be awake before they had the chance to give me IV meds) and it went all down heal from there. The level of pain I was in was never less than a level 10 or above. With a combo of morphine, duladid, and tordal, I was still at a level 10 all night 

I was sent home the follow morning with oxycotine and oxycodone plus ibuprofen, pain was still at a level 10. My gyno (not my radiologist) gave me a Rx of tordal (Rx level ibuprofen) after day 3, still at level 10.

I ended up in the ER, due to excruciating isolated pain on the very lower right side and I had a fever. I thought it may have been an irritated adhesion from my c-section and because I started bleeding. I'm not sure if it was a cycle because I had my cycle the week previous to the op. But actually, it was sistemic pain from the massive size of the largest tumor, and I have 7 tumors. I was treated with 8cc's of morphrine IV, than an hour later diladid, and then sent home with a Rx of dilaudid. Needless to say, I was still at a level 10 pain. I'm now about about day 4.

For the remaining of the time, I took what ever I had in my home plus what was prescribed by the doctors to try and get some relief. The pain was so servere, it would wake me serveral times during the night. The only good thing is that, even though the pain was not subsiding, the pain meds were making me sleep for about 85% fo the day. Only to wake for more meds. I did not have an appitie to eat, either I was in too much pain, just not hungry, or not awake to eat.

I pretty much stayed this way for the entire 2 weeks I was off, and I took 2 additional days of the next week to rest. What I ended up finding out was 1), I had more fibriods than what we orginally knew I had, 2) I have a pain receptor issue. My body does not take to pain meds like the average person, so even though we all had an extemely high pain level, mine pain level was a bit unnormal.

I'm in week 4, and all I can say is thank you so much to my wonderful team of nurses and doctors. I can wear shoes again, I'm walking without nerve pain in my back and spine. The tumor that would always poke my in my right bottom rib is not poking me anymore. I don't feel full like I've been eating all day when I haven't. I can drink whatever I want and I'm not running to the restroom every 30-45 mins. And I'm not fatigued. Yes it hurt like hell, but it was soooo worth it.

How are you doing now?

Can you tell me how you feel after the procedure?

23 November 2016

I had abilateral Uterine Fibroid Embolisation on the 21st two days ago at 3.30pm. I was awake during the procedure and once I reeled my anxiety in and compared the procedure to the dentist mentally, it was fine and it was pain free. A tad schemish at the beginning when there is some pushing but I couldnt feel anything. I even watched some if the procedure on the screen. I only had some modeeate cramping as I was told I would towards the end of the procedure. I returned to the ward at 18.30 hours. My procedure was a little challenging as I have small veins.

I had decided to try and manage without the PCA ( morphine pump) unless I absolutely needed it. I had cramping similar to early labour pains or strong menstrual cramps. It was manageable. I ate and drank and in the morning asked for my catheter to be removed so I could walk around and go home. I found it better to move about and rock as though in early labour. This alleviated any trapped air/wind which relieved the intensity of the cramps. It was really ok and by four pm I was home after an hours journey and I had even carried my over night bag out of the hospital as there was no available parking for my partner and he was by the front door of the hospital with the engine running (as it was visiting time.) I made good

my escape as there is no quality rest in hospital I am drinking plenty and managing my cramps with Naproxen 500mg and Rabeprasole to protect my stomach from the Naproxen and I am absolutely fine and pain free? I have bruising and am slightly tender at the puncture sight as to be expected. I would do it again without hesitation. My only downfall was that I could of done with a stronger non opoid write up as I did not use the pump. The nurses can only give you what you are written up for and there was the presumption that I would use the pump. Consequently I got by on minimum pain relief the first night. I didn't get rid of the pain enough to sleep well. I could only have 100mg of diclofenic and paracetamol! I wish I had taken my prescription meds in. My advice is to see how you get on without the opoids and to arrange an adequate pain relief alternative. Morphine makes me sick and out of it. So not for me unless of course I cannot manage the pain. Reading the reviews on this feed made me very anxious and as we all have different experiences I therefore wanted to post my positive one. At the same time I understand that we all have different experiences. I will repost in a few days time with a further update. But so far - whoop all done and my five fibroids the largest being 7.5cm are shrivelling up as I write. I WAS the equivalent of 14.5 weeks gestation with my uterus being pushed to the left. So glad I pulled out of a hysterectomy and have had this alternative. PS I took senokot and a softener the day before and after my op. Glad I did.

I had my embolization on Oct 28 2016 almost three periods ago and I highly recommend it.

I am 47 years old. I had two fibroids 12* 11 cm and 8 * 7 . My uterus size was 24+ gestation weeks.

Thankfully pain was managed with morphine for the first 24 hours, among a list of other medications. It was not nice but it was endurable. For the next week I was on Advil. I was given tramadol TPN but I didn't use it.

I took 3 weeks of sick leave. I also had pneumonia and was tired all the time.

 

The first period I immediately felt the difference. No more bleeding, no more watery discharge.

By the next period my bowl movement had returned to normal and I was no longer feeling agitated, constipated and bloated all the time.

I have lost 3 kg since the procedure. I am not on a diet. If anything I am back to eating wheat bread which was too much of a problem for me before the procedure.

Today I had an ultra sound (three days before my third period) and the Doctor is very pleased. My larger fibroid had shrunk to 8 cm. I was told that it would take a year to completely disappear but so far I am so happy with the results.