Post-UFE ....coming to terms with all that is happening inside me.

After struggling with fibroids for over 10 years, I finally decided 3 months ago to get the UFE done.  Before, I delve into my experience with the procedure, I want to talk a little bit about my journey.  I had an absolutely useless OB/GYN who didn't offer the UFE as an option, but almost exclusively pushed having a hysterectomy.  She prolonged my condition by using watchful waiting which is nuts.  She put me on Lysteda and that is after I got really mad because I was bleeding so much. She would have me do an ultrasound every year, but that was it.  When I said I wanted to get rid of them, she would say my only option was to have a hysterectomy.  I was firm and said I wasn't going to have that done.

So, in August 2017, I did some research on my own and found a lot of literature on UFE and set out to get it done.  This stupid OB/GYN kept stalling and sent me to another stupid OB/GYN who only wanted to convince me to have the hysterectomy.  I told both I wasn't going to even consider it until I had tried the UFE.

I then contacted the IR department, went for my MRI and got an appointment for the procedure.  MRI revealed that I had very large fibroids that had overtaken my enter uterus.  I gasp when I saw my film.  I was almost in tears, when my IR said it was okay and that he would get them all taken care of.  

UFE Journey:

Procedure went very well. But once I was off the epidural, that's when all things hit the fan.  I was in great pain.  So much pain.  I was constipated and very uncomfortable. They gave me more pain pills, but they weren't helping and that was because the pain was gas pain from being so constipated.  I couldn't eat that whole day after the procedure.  I was in agonizing pain that I had never felt before.  I cried until I couldn't cry anymore.  The nurses weren't helpful.  They seemed irritated that I couldn't manage my own pain.  My IR and his team came by but they too seemed perplexed as to the degree of my pain.  I felt so alone, but God was with me as one of the night nurses came on and got me some laxative and enema.  I still couldn't go but I was letting out gas, so my pain started to subside.  For the first time I was able to sleep after the procedure. 

By the next morning, I was relatively pain free. I was discharged with instructions and medications.  I went home and went on a long walk very slowly, and then I had my first bowl movement by the third day I felt so much better.  Luckily I took two weeks off, so that enabled me to rest and recover some more.  For the next week or so I experience no pain.  I went back to work after my two weeks and felt good.

First Month:

Hardly had a period and there was no pain just occasional discharge as expected as the firbroids started to dislodge.  I felt energized....no more anemia and I could sleep very well at night.

Second Month:  

Had my first real period and that's when things changed.  I started having more cramps ...really painful cramps and got back on my ibuprofen (600mg).  My period was not as heavy as I have experienced before UFE, but it was more than the previous month.  I didn't panic as I was advised this would happen. I got to know when to expect the pain and take my meds before it became too much.  Even with the pain, I still felt better off because I didn't need to take the Lysteda cause I wasn't bleeding like before and I could control the pain.  But discharging the fibroids was another thing.  I would have severe cramps then pieces of one would discharge.  It has been going on all month into my third month.

Third month:

Little or no bleeding, just discharging of fibroids and more cramping.  At times the cramping gets very painful, but this usually happens at night.  I control it by taking an ibuprofen.    Other than this, I am doing very well.  My stomach is shrinking and my clothes are fitting so much better unlike before UFE.

I just wonder how long will the discharging of the fibroids continue.  I see my IR for a post-op follow-up in February.  

It has been a journey and I am very happy that I chose the UFE as I see my life getting back to normal.  I recommend it for anyone who wants an alternative to the other recommended procedures.  In hindsight, I should have had it done years ago, but I trusted my OB/GYN and I regret that I did.  Many of these OBs don't present UFE as a viable option because they want to perform hysterectomies.  I never went back to my OB.......  

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