Hi all-

I am new to this board, but not to Healthboards.

I just found out today that I have uterine polyps. I have had heavy periods for the past few years now, but I try to just deal with it. As I'm sure many of you know it is not always easy.:( These polyps are new, I did not have them 2 years ago and therefor they are not the cause or only cause of my heavy periods. According to my Dr. they have to come out either in the hospital as in patient or in his office in combination with uterine ablation.

My Dr. says that he thinks I should try the ablation... it would be cryoablation done by freezing the lining and he says he does this in his office with light sedation.

I don't know about this. I am uncomfortable with the whole thing- both in office and freezing the lining.

I have 2 children and probably won't have more (I'm 42) but, I just don't think I am ready to emotionally close that chapter.

Has anyone else tried this procedure? What are your thoughts.

I have 4 friends that have had this procedure, and all said that the first 6 weeks were kind of weird because it was almost like your uterus was thawing out, they had lots of discharge, but after that they are all really happy. They all have almost no period at all and none of the problems that they had before. I have heard that doing it in the office is cheaper, but more painful because they only put you under slight sedation, where as in the hospital they put you all the way out...
All I know is my friends are all happy having done the procedure..
Do what is best for you!
Take Care!
Crazy

Thanks for the reply Crazy-

I am glad to hear that your friends were happy with it. I found an on-line chat that had very mixed reviews, but is sounded like most of them did the heat ablation and many of them were still having heavy periods.

Does any one else have any input?

I talked to my doctor about it today, she said that it does not guarantee that you will have no periods, but it does say it will diminsh them. Also, my friend said that having it done in he office is painful, especially the heat version. Her periods have slowed to a point that she just uses a panty liner, where before she could go through an overnight super maxi pad every hour and a half.
Anyway, good luck to you!!
Crazy

Thanks again CrazyLife-

Yes, I have spoken to a few people now who have told me DON'T do this in an office under light sedation. It is supposedly quite painful. I am thinking that I won't do it at all.

I am going for a second opinion on the polyps, and then will probably just have them removed and not do the ablation. If the polyps are either pre-cancerous or cancerous (very rare, but has to be checked for non-the-less ) then they can't do the ablation...so what if you have the ablation and then develop a dysplasia later on? I am not willing to take the chance.

Thanks for your replies...

Smyle

I had heat ablation and didn't have a period every again.............it's been so nice...and the ablation was a piece of cake