Uterine Balloon Therapy(Ablation)

sloppychops

I have been having problems for more years than can remember with heavy periods and have just been diagnosed with PCOS(Polycystic ovarian syndrome).
Also every time i have a smear it comes back with pre-cancerous cells and im referred onto the Colposcopy unit (i bet they are sick of the sight of me).
Anyway the other day i went for another biopsy and my gynecologist
mentioned Uterine Balloon Therapy as an alternative to a hysterectomy(which i thought had become the last resort)

http://www.monlezun.com/therma.htm

I am due to go back to see gynecologist in 2 weeks time to have another biopsy and scan and to discuss more on this treatment.
Has anyone had this done and what was the outcome,did it reduce/stop bleeding as im 99% sure this is the road i am going to take and if it fails i know i will need a hysterectomy.

It would be great to hear from anyone who had had this done in the past.

Ted_Hutchinson

Cavaterm thermal balloon ablation was as effective as hysteroscopic endometrial resection to treat menorrhagia, both resulting in a significant reduction in menstrual blood loss and high patient satisfaction.

Thermablate EAS UBT is a new generation of endometrial ablation. Two years clinical observation shows that pain can be controlled by oral medicine for UBT group. The blood and discharge disappearance of UBT group is shorter than Transcervical Resection of Endometrium. Two years after the surgery the improvement of blood flow and dysmenorrheal released is much better than TCRE. However it probably will take longer time to show its long term effectiveness.

shykins

sorry i havent had it done so cant help u there but my gynae has suggested to me i have this done for heavy frequent periods i have been havin.. i also routinely fail smear tests and have had cauterisation before

i have done quite a lot of reading up and everything i have read has pointed towards it being pretty successful altho of course nothing is definite

have been quoted up to 20weeks before i have it done so if yours is after then i will let u know how it went

x

sloppychops

Thank you Shykins.All gynecologist said was if i was to go ahead with this procedure it could take a couple of months before i get it done.
Mind you i will try anything as im totally peed of now as my life revolves around my bleeding constantly.I was getting used to the fact i would probably have to have a hysterectomy but only wanted it as a last resort,which it is if the balloon ablation doesnt work.All i could think of was 38 years old was far to young to have a hysterectomy but after reading other forums its surprising how many even younger women go through this.

Claudie

Hi sloppychops

I have read quite a bit about the procedure out of interest really as I had similar issues - I ended up having a full hysterectomy for various other reasons but thought that sounded like a very good alternative.

There was a thread about hysterectomy earlier and I posted a link to this article

http://archive.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/2004/5/11/117897.html

It was followed up with some really positive press locally but I can't find more links.

Claudie

sloppychops wrote:

Thank you Shykins.All gynecologist said was if i was to go ahead with this procedure it could take a couple of months before i get it done.
Mind you i will try anything as im totally peed of now as my life revolves around my bleeding constantly.I was getting used to the fact i would probably have to have a hysterectomy but only wanted it as a last resort,which it is if the balloon ablation doesnt work.All i could think of was 38 years old was far to young to have a hysterectomy but after reading other forums its surprising how many even younger women go through this.

I understand completey how you feel - it is a nightmare. There is quite a long thread on here somewhere about it but I can't find it at the moment.

It discussed time of work - loss of earnings etc...worth a read if you can find it!

But hang on in there - it will get better!

shykins

i agree sloppy... i can never plan anythng as i never know when i will have a period, how long for etc etc...everywhere i go has bags of ST's etc there.. i know i dont have it as bad as some people but as u say your life revolves around it in the end

my feel is that if it can help i will sure as hell try it... some of the sites i read said some people lose their periods altogether.. could i be that lucky??!!! pleaaaseee!!!!

as u say if it doesnt work u could still opt for the hysterectomy but this has got to be worth a try as the recovery time is so much less..

by the way my gynae did at first suggest a mirena but due to complications i cant have that .. have u discussed that with him as its sposed to reduce periods too
x

sloppychops

I actually had the Mirena for just over a year and had more problems than enough with it(must of been very unlucky as apparently it helps others dramatically) and eventually had to have it taken out.
I have been on endless amounts of different pills etc and nothing has worked and 1 of them Norethisterone made my problems 10 times worse and i was taken to hospital after collapsing and given a blood transfusion as i was losing so much.

shykins

what a pain... sounds like the ablation is definitely the next step for u ... gynae says he cant fit one to me cos of the tilt of my womb etc etc

its fortiutous u posting this today as i was looking for more info having spoke to the gynae today to confirm i would have it so thanks

x

SparkyG

I had a microwave endometrial ablation (MEA) in November 2005, for intolerable heavy periods, and it was the best thing I ever did!:j

I have private health insurance (self funded), so was lucky to get it done very quickly and efficiently. I had a general anesthetic, but it was very light, and I went home a couple of hours after the op. Slight 'period' type pains that night, which was dealt with by taking paracetamol, then a discharge for about 10 days after. Apart from that, nothing!!! Absolutely marvellous, and NO periods ever again.

I can't believe how it has change my life. No worrying about unexpected periods and heavy bleeding. I feel like a new woman:j

HTH. Very best wishes, and I hope you get sorted soon.

SparkyG

sloppychops

Well been back to hospital today for a futher biopsy and have been given my date for the Balloon Ablation.I am having it done on 23rd April and while im knocked out they are going to do another hysteroscopy and biopsy and also sterilise me at the same time.
So at least i will get it done all in one go and was very surprised i got told what date while i was there.