Posted by Phillipa on April 24, 2008, at 13:28:25
In reply to Re: Thanks to those who helped me with menopause, posted by Phillipa on April 24, 2008, at 13:23:20
Here it is and the lady I know that had it done said it was nothing and done in docs office. Love Phillipa and no complications. No not put out either.
A common problem
Every year about 650,000 American women have hysterectomies. This operation involves surgical removal of the uterus. Many of the women who have this operation do so because of heavy or prolonged periods.An alternative
Endometrial ablation offers an effective alternative to hysterectomy for patients suffering from heavy or prolonged bleeding during their period. It is often chosen when other medical treatments have failed or are otherwise undesirable. This procedure involves the removal of the lining of the uterus, which is the source of the bleeding.According to recent studies, most women feel that endometrial ablation relieves the problem with their period. Up to 90% of women who have this procedure are satisfied with the results. After the procedure, the women who were satisfied with it reported lighter periods or normal periods. Some women said that their periods stopped completely after endometrial ablation.
Tests
Your physician will take your medical history and perform a physical exam to see if endometrial ablation is right for you.Other tests could include some blood tests, uterine lining sampling (biopsy), and hysteroscopy and/or ultrasonography. These procedures are usually done in your physician's office and are quick and relatively painless.
Drugs
For 1 to 2 months before the procedure you may have to take medication, possibly injections, to decrease the thickness of the endometrium (uterine lining). A GnRH analog may be used for this purpose. Thinning the uterine lining exposes the lower (basal) layer of endometrial cells; this is the tissue your physician will remove with electrosurgery. The day prior to surgery, your physician may choose to place a laminaria to gradually dilate your cervix the night before your surgery.What to expect
Endometrial ablation is an outpatient surgical procedure; this means that you will enter the hospital, have surgery, and usually go home the same day.The entire procedure usually takes only 15 to 45 minutes. You will then be taken to the recovery room for rest and observation, and will be allowed to go home when you have fully recovered from the anesthesia. It usually takes an hour or two to recover from anesthesia.
The procedure
Endometrial ablation is performed during a procedure called operative hysteroscopy. A narrow viewing tube is inserted through the vagina and the cervix into the uterus. A tiny camera attached to the viewing tube (hysteroscope) allows the uterine cavity to be shown on a TV monitor during surgery. Your uterus is filled with a harmless liquid to make the procedure easier. The lining of the uterus is then burned away or vaporized, using a heat generating tool inserted through the viewing tube.Your physician may decide to perform a laparoscopy at the same time to rule out other conditions that could require further therapy.
Afterwards
Your doctor may advise you to:
-Avoid strenuous activity for a period of time, usually 24 hours following the procedure.
-Refrain from sexual intercourse for a specified period, usually 2 weeks or until the discharge stops.
-Schedule an appointment for about a week after your surgery.
In addition, you may experience some of the following:-Frequent urination during the first 24 hours; this is normal.
-A small amount of bloody, watery discharge for up to 6 weeks following the procedure. It is impossible to evaluate the effectiveness of your surgery until at least three months postoperatively.
-Some cramping, for which your doctor may prescribe or recommend pain medication. Many over-the-counter medications such as Motrin, Aleve, Advil or Nuprin.
-The anesthesia may cause mild nausea and vomiting.
Rarely, more serious problems such as cardiac arrest (heart stoppage) and pulmonary arrest (no breathing) have been caused by general anesthesia.Rarely, the viewing tube can puncture the uterus and injure the bowel. This seldom happens, but if it does your physician will generally stop the procedure and postpone it until the puncture heals by itself. Another possible risk is fluid overload. If your body absorbs too much of the liquid used to fill up your uterus during the operation, the procedure will be discontinued.
It is unlikely that the operating tool will puncture the thick uterine wall, but this is a potential risk.
The bowel could also be damaged by heat from this tool. Infections developing from either of these rare complications could require additional surgery.
Can I still get pregnant?
Probably not. Most women cannot have children after this procedure. Because there is still a slight possibility of pregnancy, however, you should continue to use contraception until you have entered menopause.
Endometrial ablation is a safe, effective alternative to hysterectomy. You may also wish to learn more about another alternative, laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy.
Some Medical Terms
Endometrial Ablation Removing the lining of the womb. Removing the uterine lining will decrease your menstrual flow or even stop it completely.
Endometrium (Uterine Lining) The cells that line the womb. This tissue sheds in response to the hormonal changes of your monthly period.
Electrosurgery Instead of a scalpel, a heat-generating electrical device is used to burn-away, remove or vaporize tissue in this type of procedure.
GnRH Analog This type of drug acts like a natural hormone your body produces. It produces hormonal changes which decrease the thickness of the endometrium.
Hysterectomy The surgical removal of the uterus.
Hysteroscopy A procedure used to see inside the womb, using a viewing tube inserted into the vagina.
Laminaria A laminaria is a small rod-shaped pieced of dried seaweed, that when placed in your cervix provides for more gentle dilation of your cervix minimizing the risk of cervical tears.
Laparoscopic Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH) A simpler form of hysterectomy (LAVH) used the laparoscope to avoid a large abdominal incision.
Laparoscopy In this procedure, the physician inserts a viewing tube through the skin to see inside the body. Other tubes can be pushed through the skin to introduce probes or instruments; in this way a number of surgical procedures can be performed without a large surgical incision.
Ultrasonography A procedure used to "see" inside the body, using high-pitched sound waves. This is a little like radar or sonar.
Uterus The womb.
Uterine Lining Sampling (Biopsy) In this procedure, a small piece of tissue is removed from the lining of the womb and analyzed in the lab.
poster:Phillipa
thread:825155
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20071116/msgs/825191.html