Guest guest Posted April 26, 2004 Report Share Posted April 26, 2004 Hi, I am scheduled for UFE on May 7th for numerous small fibroids that have been giving me a nasty hell of a time for the past year (major painful bleeding). I discovered a ton of helpful info about this procedure on the EMBO group. The group is for women who have had or are considering UFE. I highly recommend you check it out as the women on there can likely answer many if not all of you Qs. From my own research, and what my IR has told me, it seems that the recovery time from UFE is abt 2 weeks, but shorter for some, longer for a few. Some women have reported discharge for a few months after UFE, many women report nearly immediate relief from their symtoms (after the pain from the procedure ends--of course--which seems is usu 4-5 days for the worst of it, 2 wks in the outset). My IR says the shrinkage is not necessarily the measure of success, but the symtom relief (as that is what brings us to surgery anyway). He also does MRI with contrast both before and after, apparently if the fibroids " light up " with the contrast dye, they are " living " -or essentially still sucking blood from your system, but when they don't light up anymore--they have died). It seems most women in the embo group and in the studies I've read had some shrinkage by the three month post UFE follow-up, and many w/in a year saw 70% or better shrinkage. Again, keep in mind, total shrinkage is not necessarily the measure of success, if the symtoms stop, that is the goal and it has been acheived! It seems most women resume normal menses anywhere from one to six months, depending on the person--although be aware that there is a risk of early onset of menopause that is higher for women over 40-45, something you may want to research/consider. As far as sex life post UFE,(and this was a concern of mine too) all the women I heard from about this from the Embo group reported an improvement in sex. It seemed people waited abt one month after the procedure to resume, as one concern is to wait to avoid any risk of infection. My Doc said I must wait 2 weeks after, but after that, whenever I felt comfortable with it based on my own recovery. As far as pain management, my Doc said I'll be on motrin for at least 4-5 days, but after that, it's my call to take it if I need it. I believe this matches generally what I have read and heard from other women. In the end, of course,one's recovery is an individual thing. I hope this all helps, and again, I encourage you to join the embo group. Once there, be sure to check out the links and files sections too as they contain lots of useful info. Best of luck in making your decision... > Hi, I am new to this group. I wonder if anyone could give me their insight. > > I am considering UFE for multiple, symptomatic fibroids (back pain, clots, cramps) . Two gynecologists and two radiologists have told me that they consider me a reasonable candidate for this procedure. I am 50 and had a myomectomy for a pedunculated fibroid without complications 8 years ago. I am currently on daily Ayestin in an attempt to control the bleeding. > > I was wondering if anybody in this group who had UFE 1-2 years ago might not mind sharing their experience? The reason I mention this time frame is because I have read that takes time for the fibroids to shrink and for the symptoms to disappear completely. I know that the immediate post-op period may be painful and anti- inflammatories are required to control the pain. > > How long did you have to take anti-inflammatories until you were pain free? How long before the material of the dying fibroids stopped being expelled? How long until you got your period back? Did the procedure affect intimate relationships due to pain or discomfort that was different to what you had experienced with the fibroids? Did you have complications that you would like to warn me about? > > I hope this note is not too long. I appreciate and thank you in advance for your feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2004 Report Share Posted April 27, 2004 You should join the yahoo health embo group. These women are in the process of the same as you, or have gone through it. I had my UFE done 3 months ago for a 10 cm fibroid, very heavy hemmorageing and gushing, and some bulk symtoms. For me, it was the best decision I could have made. My bleeding has stopped! except for my periods, all of which have been on time, back to .normal. I am so pleased. My procedure went fine, no complications. I found a fantastic IR through the embo group and made sure I educated myself on everything. I can't answer for the long term, but for now, my periods are back, the gushing has stopped, and my bulk symtoms are improving slowly. Bulk symtoms take time to improve. Shrinkage can take time to happen. My IR said my 10 cm fibroid to shrink 50 % is excellent results. At the 7 week mark, he said it had already shrunk 3 cms and could harldly feel it. Even if the fibroid doesn't shrink as much as you would like, it softens greatly which means less pressure on surrounding organs. You can't rely to much on shrinkage results, but more on relief of symtoms. This is the success of the procedure. Not much pain after procedure. Very minimul. The 1st 24-48 hours, most of the cramping takes place, but this is controled in the hospital with the pain pump etc. Depending on where the fibroid is located is where your symtoms could be. Mine was directly crushing my bladder. I still pee frequently at night, but am so much better during the day. No more constapation, and sex feels so much better. Jen > Hi, I am new to this group. I wonder if anyone could give me their insight. > > I am considering UFE for multiple, symptomatic fibroids (back pain, clots, cramps) . Two gynecologists and two radiologists have told me that they consider me a reasonable candidate for this procedure. I am 50 and had a myomectomy for a pedunculated fibroid without complications 8 years ago. I am currently on daily Ayestin in an attempt to control the bleeding. > > I was wondering if anybody in this group who had UFE 1-2 years ago might not mind sharing their experience? The reason I mention this time frame is because I have read that takes time for the fibroids to shrink and for the symptoms to disappear completely. I know that the immediate post-op period may be painful and anti- inflammatories are required to control the pain. > > How long did you have to take anti-inflammatories until you were pain free? How long before the material of the dying fibroids stopped being expelled? How long until you got your period back? Did the procedure affect intimate relationships due to pain or discomfort that was different to what you had experienced with the fibroids? Did you have complications that you would like to warn me about? > > I hope this note is not too long. I appreciate and thank you in advance for your feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2004 Report Share Posted April 27, 2004 Thank you very much for your feedback. I hope that you continue to experience improvement. vervins2000 jenficks jenficks@...> wrote: You should join the yahoo health embo group. These women are in the process of the same as you, or have gone through it. I had my UFE done 3 months ago for a 10 cm fibroid, very heavy hemmorageing and gushing, and some bulk symtoms. For me, it was the best decision I could have made. My bleeding has stopped! except for my periods, all of which have been on time, back to .normal. I am so pleased. My procedure went fine, no complications. I found a fantastic IR through the embo group and made sure I educated myself on everything. -- In uterinefibroids , pm garcia wrote: > I was wondering if anybody in this group who had UFE 1-2 years ago might not mind sharing their experience? The reason I mention this time frame is because I have read that takes time for the fibroids to shrink and for the symptoms to disappear completely. I know that the immediate post-op period may be painful and anti- inflammatories are required to control the pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2004 Report Share Posted April 27, 2004 hi, thanks. Best wishes that all goes well and that you feel better. themis973 themis973@...> wrote:Hi, I am scheduled for UFE on May 7th for numerous small fibroids that have been giving me a nasty hell of a time for the past year (major painful bleeding). I discovered a ton of helpful info about this procedure on the EMBO group. The group is for women who have had or are considering UFE. I highly recommend you check it out as the women on there can likely answer many if not all of you Qs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2004 Report Share Posted April 27, 2004 Hi.. You mentioned the EMBO group..What is that? Is there a website that you could pass onto me? Thanks Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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