Hematometra after ablation anyone?

[Anonymous]

I had a uterine ablation a little over a year ago and the doctor used novasure. At first I was absolutely thrilled-my gushing periods had completely stopped and my cramps were barely an issue any longer. Fast forward to about 8 months post surgery and I have started to have cramping all month long with about ten days of cramping being worse than any I have experienced. When I described it to my doctor she mentioned hematometra and has recommended I get a pelvic ultrasound to see if that might be the problem. It sounded like the only long term solution might be hysterectomy. Does anyone else have any experience with this that you could share?

[Anonymous]

No. Had an ablation with no negative after effects. Explain the problem you're having. Symptoms please.

[Anonymous]

I was going to have an ablation but the doctor told me that what you described is a possible side effect. He said something about the tissue growing back and blood getting trapped and it is very painful. I chickened out. This could be what you are having. He said hysterectomy was the cure.

[Anonymous]

wowsers. Ok the, ablation is out for me. Heavy periods it is!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was going to have an ablation but the doctor told me that what you described is a possible side effect. He said something about the tissue growing back and blood getting trapped and it is very painful. I chickened out. This could be what you are having. He said hysterectomy was the cure.

OP here. After I described it to my dr she said it could be that. The symptoms are cramping pretty much all month long. For the most part, just something that makes me feel worn out and kind of cranky-I kind of always feel like I don't feel good. Then, every few weeks (and I guess I need to start noting down dates) I have horrible cramps and backaches that wake me in the middle of the night and have me up for hours. I take 800 mg of ibuprofen at a time and use a heating pad when I am at home. it helps some but not tons. It is the worst cramping I have ever had. It feels as if my insides are actually contracting. It lasts all day for about 10 days. If I take enough ibuprofen, sometimes I can at least have it in the back of my mind and not all I can think about if that makes sense. After a number of days of this I will have a tiny bit of spotting of what looks like old blood. I am really disappointed (and hurting!).

[Anonymous]

Anyone? I would be interested to know if anyone has experienced this and if they found some way to manage it other than hysterectomy. The dr did tell me that they could open the cervix and drain things out, but I would assume the pain would end up coming back again after a few months?

[Anonymous]

I am the pp who said I chickened out. The doctor I went to was very good. He said that for most people the procedure went well. He said he had two patients that ended up having a hysterectomy because of this side effect. He said the women described the pain as extreme and it sounds like this is what could be happening to you. Sorry for your pain. Every month I have very heavy periods and wish I had the ablation but then I always think about this possible side effect and decide I will just live with it. I wonder how common this is. Perhaps this procedure does not have much data of tracking women with negative outcomes. Has your doctor had patients with these symptoms? Perhaps you should get a second opinion.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for responding. I have been looking on line for possible places to connect with others who have experienced this and the closest I found was an ashermans support board. I clearly did not do enough research before doing this and am so upset with myself. I want to gather as much info as I can before making the hysterectomy decision so a second opinion is definitely on my list. It would be great to find people who have experienced drs with this. I will be talking with my dr again in the next few days and I plan to grill her about any other exp she (or her partners) have with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for responding. I have been looking on line for possible places to connect with others who have experienced this and the closest I found was an ashermans support board. I clearly did not do enough research before doing this and am so upset with myself. I want to gather as much info as I can before making the hysterectomy decision so a second opinion is definitely on my list. It would be great to find people who have experienced drs with this. I will be talking with my dr again in the next few days and I plan to grill her about any other exp she (or her partners) have with this.

grill her for what purpose? It's a known risk, and she can't confess her sin and clear your body of the problem. Perhaps you need to investigate how this complication is diagnosed and if there truly is no other option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for responding. I have been looking on line for possible places to connect with others who have experienced this and the closest I found was an ashermans support board. I clearly did not do enough research before doing this and am so upset with myself. I want to gather as much info as I can before making the hysterectomy decision so a second opinion is definitely on my list. It would be great to find people who have experienced drs with this. I will be talking with my dr again in the next few days and I plan to grill her about any other exp she (or her partners) have with this.

grill her for what purpose? It's a known risk, and she can't confess her sin and clear your body of the problem. Perhaps you need to investigate how this complication is diagnosed and if there truly is no other option.

I am the pp that responded that I chickened out. The other poster is being a little harsh. I can understand why you are upset. The ablation is promoted as being a simple procedure that can be done in one day and then all your problems are cured. I had the procedure scheduled and had all the preop blood work done and the endometrial biopsy first. (My dr only did ablation sunder general) It was at the last appointment before the procedure that he went over the risks. The one about the chance the tissue grows back and traps the blood and causes severe pain and results in hysterectomy really jumped out at me. I just felt that given my luck my tissue would grow back. I am sure it is upsetting to think that now you may need a hysterectomy. Some months I would like to have a hysterectomy just to stop all the heavy periods.

[Anonymous]

Op, how old are you?

[Anonymous]

Oh, you read what I wrote wrong. I love my ob/gyn and do not blame her for this. At all. I have been with her a long time and she has truly helped me. I mean I am going to try to get more info from her and her partners to make sure they can think of no other options then hysterectomy or this draining procedure that may or may not work. I just meant I am going to try to ask more questions this time. I knew other people who had the ablation without issues, read up on it via internet, read all info dr gave me but just feel like I should have done more research. So instead of jumping on me and being nasty, just go away if you have no actual experience with this and nothing helpful to share. Thanks.

To the other pp I am early 40s.

[Anonymous]

OP again, it may be a known risk but I either missed that or just based on the other info I had heard did not think it would actually happen. So yeah, stupidly I am a little surprised. I do not deny being oblivious and having made a mistake...but if I had comprehended this might have been the outcome for me I never would have done it. But hey, thanks for kicking me while I am down and being nasty to a stranger who is sitting here with a heating pad and a uterus that feels like it is going to explode.

[Anonymous]

I think data needs to be collected on how many women end up having a hysterectomy after ablation. Because it is a newer procedure I don't think there are enough statistics.

[Anonymous]

I had a Novasure ablation in 2003. In 2007, I had awful cramping with no bleeding. I was diagnosed with cervical stenosis with hematometra. The ob/gyn I was with at the time attempted to dilate my cervix but instead perforated my uterus. I went on-line and found the Asherman's website and thru them the surgeon who was able to correct my cervix without a hysterectomy. It is now 2014 and I again have cervical stenosis with a hematometra but it was handled by the same surgeon who corrected my cervix the first time. This time he just needed to dilate the cervix. It was an out-patient procedure. No hysterectomy needed. Don't let the doctors scare you into believing that a hysterectomy is the only option available.