as a first intervention mainly because of hormone issues. Of course, that may not help with the fibroids. I don't know much about them. I will say that if you have an ablation, just make sure you are vigilant in your pap smears and getting to the doc if your situation changes (you have bleeding - even light - when you haven't experienced it since the procedure, etc.)
I had an ablation that worked well for almost 2 yrs. It didn't stop my periods totally, but they went from deluge to just spotting. Eventually my cramping changed (I thought it was scar tissue), then my bleeding picked up a bit. They thought they were going to have do another ablation (it only works on 75 to 80% of women on the first attempt). They did the pre-procedure testing and found that I had uterine cancer. If I hadn't been so aware of changes, I may not have been able to diagnose the uterine cancer until it became much more invasive. They said the additional cramping was the cancer draping over the cervix.
That was why I had my total hysterectomy and bilateral oopherectomy at 43yo. I healed rather quickly from the surgery, but for me the more difficult part was getting thrown into immediate surgical menopause. I woke up one morning (about 4 months after surgery), feeling and moving like I was a 90yo woman -- knee, foot, hand pain. My doc said that estrogen (or the lack of it) plays a part in arthritis development, even though it's not acknowledged by most docs. Because of my BP, I couldn't take many of the common script anti-inflamatories. They made my BP go up to over 180/100, so I had to resort to Tylenol Arthritis strength.
The good thing is that now - 5 yrs out - I'm considered cancer free and have been feeling pretty darned good. My hot flashes have stopped and my joints don't bother me nearly as much (unless there is a weather change). I'm not taking daily Arthritis strength Tylenol anymore - just once in awhile. Since the cervical amputation shortened the 'area' down there a bit, hubby and I have learned to deal with that aspect, that along with the lack of hormones. It just takes a lot longer to 'warm up' to things.
There are a lot of things to consider above/beyond the surgery. Truthfully, I flew through the surgery and recovery. My hospital roommate (who also had the same procedure) and I were worried that as much as we were laughing, we'd rip stitches out. We had nurses stopping by to chat when they needed a 'pick me up' during the day because they said we sounded like we were having a slumber party rather than recovering from major surgery. I really think we were both giddy because each of our docs reported they were able to get all the visible cancer out, and the washes and margin inspections came back clean.
Tell your friend to check out Hystersisters.com. That site had a WEALTH of info, from getting through
pre-op stuff to healing and recovery.
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