Another UAE story

[Guest guest]

To Vi and to Others,

I'm jumping in again, I just can't help myself.

First, to Vi: if having two periods a month meant that meno was around the

corner, I'd have had meno about 2 years ago. I had two periods in May, also.

But that wasn't the first time and it won't be the last. Sometimes I also skip

a month, so I guess perhaps it evens out in the end (maybe.)

Second: to all. I'm another person who had a UAE. THose of you who are regular

posters have heard my story before but I'm going to repeat it, briefly:

- diagnosed in 2000, no real symptoms (that I knew about) but I probably had the

fibroids for years before then

- went on vegan/fishetarian diet for a year, no change (bad or good) in fibroid

size or anything else (I'm still fishetarian but I also do dairy now.)

- started having noticable symptoms in early 2001. Pressure, inability to sleep

on my right side, difficulty emptying my bladder, not being able to pee at all a

few times (scary! bad!) urinary frequencies on the increase and an occasional

episode of male body part hitting fibroid and oh honey did that ever hurt.

- got told 'hyst' more than once, but I got lucky and found out about UAE and

after much agonizing, scheduled the procedure.

- I had my UAE on May 28th, 2003. My IR and the hospital staff were wonderful

and caring, and I was far more comfortable than I had expected. My urinary

difficulties were resolved immediately & I do mean immediately.

- I controlled post-op pain effectively with the meds provided and was never

deeply in distress, just tired and cranky for a while. I went back to work

after 5 days, back in the gym after 7.

- The pressure of the large fibroid (the largest was 10cm) went away. The first

time I had sex again w/my husband, I realized how much more comfortable things

were with just him and me and not all the fibroids joining the party.

- I now sleep through the night - almost every night. No getting up to pee (or

try to) 4 or 5 tijmes a night. No more panic in traffic jams realizing the

nearest rest room might be 20 mins away.

I think this is a terrific procedure, and also my experience with the IR was

fantastic.

Also, I don't feel that I have an 'emotional' attachment to my uterus - but it's

a part I was born with and it serves a purpose. In my case that has not

included children, but I can't imagine just throwing it away unless I had no

other choice. And lucky for me, I did have choices.

best to all on their fibroid journeys -

laurie g.