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
meredith_89190 nora71815
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It's 6 weeks after the surgery: 1st day I was pretty sleepy. I had femoral plugs in both sides of my groin. My fibroid were 2.6 in size. I had no pain from fibroids but the menstrual flow was extremely heavy it was alarming! I stayed home for 2 weeks after procedure and went back to work. I have a physically demanding job and I was fine. I was nervous I worried that I was just going to start bleeding with no warning but that didn't happen. I got the normal warning signs that I get before my cycle. Ok so this cycle came on schedule pretty uneventful 10000% less bleeding. Lasted 4 days with a few clots? I put ? Because I have no way of knowing if it's a clot or a fibroid passing , I have no idea how to differentiate. Anyways a lot of fatigue .. where I just crash .. and having a demanding job doesn't help. No pains...groins healing ( i ripped off steri strips after a month of not falling off ). Now 17 days after my last cycle I'm menstruating again. Clots? Again and cramping.. I did not cramp before UFE. Cramping a 3 on a 10 scale but I'm not used to this so it's aggravating, plus I have a cold . Bleeding is light/ moderate Not the drowning I was experiencing before. I'm still on this journey, headaches and uncertainty and there is not a lot of after stories so I hope this helps.. ohh and I'm still not sleeping well at night I had small fibroids, but a lot of them and they crushed my bladder
jess03277 nora71815
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Hello everyone, lucky I found this forum as I had my UFE 7 days ago. This was done to treat a large fibroid of approx. 10cm and several smaller ones. I didn't have much pain during the procedure, only at the end of it, and was feeling well enough the following day to be discharged. However, since coming home, I've been feeling very weak, and am unable to stand up or sit on a chair for more than 5 minutes. Overall, I've been able to control the pain with a combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen, but I also have fever, around 38 degrees C (100-101F), which makes me think I might have some kind of infection. I talked to the nurse about this, and she said not to worry if the fever is brought down by paracetamol (which it does in my case). Could I ask those of you who've had the procedure, how long did it take you to get out of bed for gentle walks/tasks? Were you completely washed out in the beginning, and if so, for how many days? I do appreciate that everyone's different, but I'd have expected to at least be able to stand and go for gentle walks at this stage.
angel368 jess03277
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I felt very weak for a long time after my procedure. I spent the first week in bed or lounging, I could hardly keep my eyes open.The second week I did light activities, but I would be extremely tired after being out for 30minutes and I still slept a lot. I went back to work on the third week but had to take it easy and came home and went straight to bed at the end of the day. Every week I became more energetic but it took about 8-10weeks for me to feel back to normal.
jess03277 angel368
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Hi angel, thanks very much for your reply! Phew, I was getting concerned, so glad to hear of others having similar experiences to mine!
I have got better over the past couple of days, the pain is a lot less and I've reduced the meds considerably. It was the feeling tired/not being able to get out of bed thing that was worrying me. I guess I'll have to take it easy for at least another week. Like some other poster on this thread said, advised recovery times have to be revised, it's quite unrealistic to expect to be back to work within a week!
angel368 jess03277
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I think your raised temperature will slow you down too, so just keep taking your meds, drink lots of fluids and rest. If you are worried about anything or things deteriorate see your GP or go to A&E. They probably won't find anything but it'll put your mind at rest. My doctor sent me for a whole bunch of tests and it was all fine. I think you had better consider being off work for 2 more weeks at least, this procedure really takes all your energy. Wishing you a good recovery.
vivienne34555 jess03277
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Destin1 nora71815
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HI I'm glad I found this discussion board, I had my UFE done last week 2/23/17. I agree with you in my case I ask all the questions and did research and had a few friends that had this procedure done. First off I really don't think some doctors/radiologist take this procedure as serious as a operation. I always have complications after any procedure with bladder retention due to the anesthesia. The day of my procedure I was given a IV for fluids and ask about a catheter and was told there was no need, make a long story short my procedure went well I was sedated but could still hear and what's going on and feel the contrast going in because it was warm I think after I ask what was that they gave me more meds lol. After the procedure all HELL broke loose first thing I needed to urinate and since I couldn't get up they gave me a bed pan and it hard to relieve yourself in front of people and laying on your back so that didn't work, as I was being push to my room the pain kicked in between the bladder retention and fibroid it was HORRIBLE. I couldn't understand why a catheter was not put in before and pain medication should be giving to you as soon as procedure is completed. I finally received my cath and morphine pump after getting approval from the doctor on call which seemed like hours of excruciating pain. I've had 3 kids with no pain med and this was worse then labor pains. Oh they also don't tell you about the gas and constipation afterwards, I was muser able until I called my OBGYN nurse and she suggested Miralax and it worked for me the next day I was so relieved. It's day 5 and I'm still cramping in my pelvis area but the 800 mg ibuprofen is good enough. I got the Oxycodone filled but decided not to use them since they cause constipation. I don't understand why these doctors prescribed stuff that have bad side effects. I opted to do the UFE because I didn't want to have a major surgery like a hysterectomy, I'm 50 years old and if I didn't have issues with the fibroid I would have waited until menopause kicked in. But I couldn't take all the issues anymore so went this route. I'm glad I did it but wish I was told and preparation was in place before I had issues after the procedure. I hope in the long run this was worth it.
vivienne34555 Destin1
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Sorry to hear your bad experience. Get plenty of rest and listen to your body. If you need to rest then rest. Like you I am glad I had my operation as I feel much better and don't look like I am six months pregnant any more and the horrible symptoms I was having have now gone. Just waiting for the fibroids to shrink some more😁
heather34376 Destin1
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Hope you feel better soon, UFE is a major procedure, it seems like people are discharged so soon afterwards with little if no aftercare. Can I ask how big were your fibroids, where were they situated & what type were they. Are you in the UK
heather34376 vivienne34555
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Hi Vivienne,
Glad you are feeling better after UFE. When did you have it done, how big & where / what type of fibroids did you have. Seems great so far that your tummy has gone down.
vivienne34555 heather34376
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Mine were huge about 10x7x5inches! Posterior and subzero us. However I did experience heavy bleeding when I did have period. But I checked with the Sister at the hospital that's because they were/are so big and they are breaking up and coming out. Better out than in I say😁 no bleeding in between like before or continously
heather34376 vivienne34555
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Beth0810 heather34376
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Where did you hear there was increased chance of infection with a larger fibroid? That's untrue.
vivienne34555 Beth0810
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Not really but did warn me they may get stuck coming out and I would have to go to the emergency dept to have them removed. Too be honest we did talk about the size and what could happen after the operation. I am not worried because I understand the size of them could have some complications etc. I rested well for four/six weeks after the op. Pampered myself and didn't stress out. Just let nature takes it course. I only went back to the gym 6 weeks and took it easy. My body had been through so much with the symptoms for the last year. I took some serious me time. No more stressful situations etc
vivienne34555 heather34376
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I had mine done early Nov 2016. I don't have don't another MIR until Nov 2017. I had a follow up telephone conversation with the Sister in charge of the procedure 3 months after the procedure. I can tell mine have shrunk a lot by the size of my stomach.
heather34376 Beth0810
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On here Beth, a lady had one early in february & has been poorly with sepsis. From a radiologist this afternoon, who said larger fibroids had more tissue to degrade. Can you tell us something different more positive? I hope so. What are your sources?
heather34376 vivienne34555
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Beth0810 heather34376
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Absolutely! I belong to the embo group on yahoo. I had ufe for my 10 cm fibroid in October with one of the world's top IRs for ufe. He's done thousands. Infection is incredibly rare and has nothing to do with the size of the fibroid. It's more to do with the location- submucosal fibroids that are unable to pass can cause issues. But size alone is NOT a risk, and infection is incredibly rare. Incredibly rare.
Join the embo group on yahoo. Over 20 years of experience there. Read the archives. Infection is VERY very rare. You should talk to an IR yourself after having an MRI. Best wishes to you.
heather34376 Beth0810
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Destin1 vivienne34555
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Destin1 heather34376
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HI Heather, I had six total 3 were 5cm the others were around 2cm the larger ones was lower part of the uterus compressing my bladder. I'm in the US. I think they were supersosal
Destin1
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