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
audrey59049 nora71815
Posted
vivienne34555 audrey59049
Posted
Audrey, you have to remember that everyone heals at a different rate. I agree with you, the cramps kicked after the procedure was finished too for me. Morphine was my life saver. Yes triedness does last for a while.
The Sister at the hospital was very helpful and gave me lots of good information on the procedure and after the procedure. My heavy cramps eased off after two weeks and week three I thought yep i am fine. However week four the cramps came back and I still had the tiredness. I phoned the Sister at the hospital and she said because my fibroids re very large and where they are situated cramping, discharge (bloody) and expelling fibroids would still happen. I didn't have an infection. Week five I am fine, no triedness still not back in the gym properly but I am doing regular exercise again but only low impact.
I suffered terribly with my fibroids 18 months before the procedure, my body went through a lot so I am now taking it easy, changing my lifestyle. Getting my body back and life..
heather34376 vivienne34555
Posted
Glad to hear you are out the other end. How big was yours & where was it?
vivienne34555 heather34376
Posted
I have on posterior pedunculated fibroid 3 x 3 inches. Large fibroid in my uterus is 10x7x5 inches and the largest fibroid 5inches and posterior and subservient.
Due to the size of them I still occasionally pass bloody bits which are fibroids. I am not worried as I checked with the Sister at the hospital. My stomach has reduced by at least half the size....and it was huge!. The aches and pains in had with excess bleeding has drastically reduced too. I am so far very happy with the results. I have to remember that it's only been about 13 weeks since I had the operation/procedure.
vicki66205 nora71815
Posted
Hi. I'm new on here. I also had UFE on Nov 28 2016. One of them is 18 inches. It started out three years ago as 2 small fibroid's 8 and 10 cm in diameter. But now holy crap. I've looked pregnant for like a year. Now since the UFE it's been extremely painful week two. The pain meds are helping but still it hurts a lot. I've been talking to my doctor that performed this and being told the pain is due to the shrinking process. Oh man I can't wait for this one to shrink and hopefully everything will get better.
vivienne34555 vicki66205
Posted
The pain is good that means they are shrinking as the oxygen is clsowly cutting them off. You only had the prcoedure 2 weeks ago so its in the early stages and in the leaflets I was given by the hospital expect oain for 2-4 weeks. Keep taking the pain meds (I used a hotwater bottle as the pain got less but you can use a hotwater bottle too whilst the pain is strong), relax and don't stress. I looked like I was 6 months pregnant before my operation and now 5 weeks later my stomach has shrunk to 4 months pregnant and I am back in the gym slowly but back doing regular exercise.
asila_j vicki66205
Posted
Wow that's huge. Mine were 12cm and 8 cm. 3 months later the larger one is down to 8.
To me, the first 4 weeks were ugly, but the improvement afterwards made it all worth while.
You have made it this far
Good for you. I hope you start feeling better soon.
heather34376 vicki66205
Posted
I love the way you put 2 small fibroids 8cm & 10cm - that's clinical considered large! People have procedures on fibroids the size of grapes that cause issues. 18 inches oh my goodness, that must be bigger than a full term pregnancy you poor thing> I know what its been like having a 13 cm one for many years not fun, but I'm bloated than ever now! Hope its reduced. At lease if it grew that fast hopefully it had a good blooed supply & it will shrink. My veins are thin & I'm not sure that UFE would result in much shrinkage for me!
vivienne34555 asila_j
Posted
The first high hurdle was the operation and then the first two to four weeks recovery. But it depends on your body, lifestyle etc. I am always in the gym soon I decided to completely rest for 6 weeks. And I went back to the gym slowly. No jumping about just light exercises.
I am not going to lie I was very stressed out for moaths before the operation which helped the fibroids grow. The day I had the operation I decided to leave stress at the door and say no more to it. My mind is different now which has helped me with the recovery.
My stomach has reduced by half and still reducing. I know it will continue to so I don't beat myself up because it's going down slowly😁. Also I have to remember my op was in November about 13 weeks. If I had a mymectomy my stomach would have shrunk immediately but that op is more invasive and recovery much tougher
vivienne34555 heather34376
Posted
My stomach was huge🙄 and the issues that went with it such as back ache etc etc have 95% disappeared and it has now shrunk to half.
Don't beat yourself up about recovery as everyone is different. I read that a woman went for a run 14days after her operation! Any questions/queries/issues you have do not hesitate to call your contact/nurse at the hospital where you had the operation.
I am a bit OCD and kept a diary so I am able to track dates and issues etc. Which made it easier when I spoke to the Sister who looked was assigned to me at the hospital
Deeceecola nora71815
Posted
Had UFE 12/12/16 pain meds useless percpcet 325mg. & Ibuprofen. 800 mg. Cramping. 😱 BP 140/93 (high for me 113/76), nauseous and headache. Zofran for nausea sideaffect: may cause headache. Feels like I've been kicked directly in my private parts with a pair of brand new steel-toed army boots. For some reason now I have horrible cramping pain be for I urinate and it takes much longer and there's more frequency. Is there a reasonable explanation and will this go away?
UFE27 Deeceecola
Posted
vicki66205 Deeceecola
Posted
So maybe your fibroid's are on your bladder ? After my surgery my pee flow slowed a bit but I take cranberry vitamins daily. It's way better. I was taking oxy for pain it helped greatly. My incision was in my wrist not groin area. My arm still sore. Maybe that's why your groin area hurts. Take the meds exactly like they say to it should help. Don't do much lay down and rest. Sleep it off as much as possible
Deeceecola vicki66205
Posted
Found out why I was feeling sick...can't take meds. Have problem with codeine and its derivatives. Makes me violently sick at the stomach. Finally blew chunks and. Took no more. BP 144/93.
vicki66205 Deeceecola
Posted
Wow. You'd think the doctors would know this about you. So now your taking something else for pain?
Deeceecola vicki66205
Posted
You would think so but they didn't consider oxycodone a derivative of codeine even though my body and stomache did.