Re: hysteroscopic resection

[Guest guest]

Michele,

Have you had an ultrasound (or MRI--MRI might be able to detect adenomyosis) and an endometrial biopsy? You need to know whether you really do have fibroids or polyps or possibly both. Can't find that out without these tests. Polyps are a sign of thickening of the endometrium. You definitely should have it checked further and dealt with appropriately. Once you know a little more you'll be able to have a better picture of what might truly be appropriate treatment. If you have hysteroscopy the doc can do a D & C, remove the polyps (and possibly submucosal fibroids) AND get a biopsy all at the same time. You should discuss this further with your new doc as he/she sounds headed in the right direction.

As for endometrial ablation, there is one woman on the web who has created a website called " The Fibroid Place " who had this procedure done. Turns out she didn't have fibroids at all. But was told she did and recommended a hysterectomy for it too. She has lots of info on this procedure and can give you firsthand experience info as well.

http://members.aol.com/BdrCollie1/fibroids.html

Personally, I would recommend that you work with the new doctor you have and take one step at a time.

carla

[Guest guest]

-----Original Message-----From: Carla Dionne Sent: Friday, October 15, 1999 12:29 PMTo: uterinefibroidsegroupsSubject: Re: hysteroscopic resection

Michele,

Have you had an ultrasound (or MRI--MRI might be able to detect adenomyosis) and an endometrial biopsy? You need to know whether you really do have fibroids or polyps or possibly both. Can't find that out without these tests. Polyps are a sign of thickening of the endometrium. You definitely should have it checked further and dealt with appropriately. Once you know a little more you'll be able to have a better picture of what might truly be appropriate treatment. If you have hysteroscopy the doc can do a D & C, remove the polyps (and possibly submucosal fibroids) AND get a biopsy all at the same time. You should discuss this further with your new doc as he/she sounds headed in the right direction.

As for endometrial ablation, there is one woman on the web who has created a website called " The Fibroid Place " who had this procedure done. Turns out she didn't have fibroids at all. But was told she did and recommended a hysterectomy for it too. She has lots of info on this procedure and can give you firsthand experience info as well.

http://members.aol.com/BdrCollie1/fibroids.html

Personally, I would recommend that you work with the new doctor you have and take one step at a time.

carla

Dear Carla,

Yes, I did have both an ultrasound and an endometrial biopsy, ordered by the first doctor, in August. The biopsy results were normal.

As for the ultrasound, are you saying that the doctor(s) should be able to tell from the results whether the polyp is a fibroid or vice versa? What the second doctor saw is a copy of the ultrasound report which had a drawing of the growth's position in the uterus and said " fibroid or polyp. "

Thanks for the url; I'm headed there now.

Michele

[Guest guest]

Polyps are an " outgrowth " of the endometrial (uterine) lining. They are shaped a bit like teardrops and are almost always benign (non-cancerous) just like fibroids. Doctors don't know what causes them but they can be removed with hysteroscope just like submucosal fibroids can. If you are experiencing excessive bleeding and pain, it can be the result of the polyp(s). Good to hear you had an endometrial biopsy and that it was normal. But I do think they should be able to tell the difference between a polyp and a fibroid. I had both and they were differentiated on the lab reports. I don't know though. Perhaps not if it's too small????

Here's more info on polyps for you:

http://mayohealth.org/mayo/askphys/qa990125.htm#here

Mayo clinic info on uterine polyps. Terrific graphic.

http://www.gynalternatives.com/causes.htm

Although Dr. Indman and I disagree about a number of items related to fibroids and treatment options and outcomes (don't even get me started on what he has to say about female sexual dysfunction--the man is an albatross), he does have some good info on his site about polyps, adenomyosis, fibroids, hysteroscopy, etc. He's a rather condescending doctor though -- even in his writing -- so take any personal observations of his that disturb you or catch you off guard with a huge grain of salt.

http://www.gynsecondopinion.com/Fibroids.shtml

Section of Dr. 's book on fibroids and bleeding. You'll see that he describes pretty much what was recommended to you by your new doctor for the example woman's case on this page. The example woman had a small fibroid protruding into the cavity of the uterus causing bleeding. This is a good book and worth purchasing for more info.

Carla Dionnemailto:cdionne@...http://www.uterinefibroids.commember, /list/uterinefibroids

[Guest guest]

I'm 23 days post-hysteroscopic resection (also called a hysteroscopic

myomectomy). I had the procedure done on a Friday to remove a tennis ball sized

fibriod, and a tiny polyp, and was back to work on Monday. Minor cramping on

Friday, anesthesia grog on Saturday, but otherwise no ill effects from the

surgery.

My last pre-op period I saturated 59 super-plus tampons and several pads. My

first post-op period I used (without saturating) six pads. Since then I've had

minor spotting (probably sloughing off the tissue from the site of the

excision).

I'm thrilled about the it, and from what I can tell, my results are typical - if

you are lucky enough to have the right kind of fibroid. Mine was a single

sub-mucosal fibroid (which I've since found out was also pendunculated). My own

particular tolerance for agreeing to the procedure was one or two submucosal

fibroids. I don't know what the doc's tolerance was - although I do know that

my fibroid was the third or fourth largest she's done this way.

My understanding is that ablation is not a particularly effective means of

controlling bleeding - so I'd question a doctor pretty hard before agreeing to

that procedure as an alternative to removing all the fibroids.

I'd also ask for an office hysterectomy - it's a 15 minute procedure through

which the doctor can visually determine whether your fibroid is a fibroid or a

polyp, and whether your fibroids are the right kind and location for

hysteroscopic resection.

Feel free to e-mail me if you have more questions.

--

And she told me that in addition to small fibroids in the

>lining, I have in the uterine cavity a larger fibroid *or polyp*. Polyp?

>

> The one option the second doctor offered that sounds good is the

>hysteroscopic resection with endometrial ablation. But at this point it

>sounds too good to be true.

I've searched the archives

>but have found very little from women who have undergone this procedure.

>Have any of you had positive or negative experiences with this? Does the

>fact that my fibroid may or may not be a polyp mean anything?

What would be a realistic recovery time?

>

>Thanks,

>Michele

>

>

>

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