Novasure procedure with Tubal Ligation

[Lizard66]

I'm a 41 yr old mother of two considering the Novasure procedure and just wanted some input from other people who have had it.  My doctor will not do the procedure unless I also get a tubal ligation with it so I wondered if anyone else out there had the procedure with the tubal??  Basically I've had heavy periods since after my youngest was born.  For the past 5 years, they have become even heavier with large clotting.  My doctor found a couple of small fibroids a couple of years ago and suggeted a D&C.  After the D&C I had very light periods with no clotting for about a year and then gradually last year every month it seemed to get heavier. I'm now back to no tampons and fearful of when my heavy day or days will be because I basically cant go anywere.  My doctor did another vaginal ultrasound and found what she thinks is Adenomyosis. The one main question I had is does it mess with your hormones in anyway like a hysterectomy would??  My doctor did explain this procedure does not work for everyone and that it would help with the bleeding but not the cramping.  I'm just fearful that if I get it and it does not work, I'll have to have a hysterectomy anyways down the road.  Part of me wants to just go straight for the hysterectomy so I won't have to deal with the bleeding or cramping but then I would have be deal with hormonal changes.  I've been to several forums about this procedure but could not find anyone that had a tubal also.  I'm not against having the tubal, in fact I've actually wanted one (since my chicken husband wont get the big V). If there is anyone out there who can help, I'd greatly appreciate it.  I'm so confused.  Thanks!

Liz

[DiannB29]

I have had both tubal ligation and the novasure, My youngest will be three in March so for 2 and a half years now, and I am happy with it. My periods went from 7-13days to 1-3 days then to maybe an hour or so of extremely light like pantyliner almost not needed. No hormone changes, ok well don't know if its just that I am still really in love with my hubby but i am actually MORE sexually active. As far as cramping a little prior to actual start of so called period now. Seriously an amazing thing for me. The less pain and cramping the better moods I was in and more productive at work, and not sure if it contributed to it but I have lost 80 lbs and kept it off started dropping couple weeks after last full period. AWESOME!

[RachelC0401]

I am 38 years old and do not want children.  Both my husband and I had made that choice years ago.  I also have diabetes and MS.  I had discussed this with m PCP and she sent me for an ultrasound.  They discovered what may either be a polyp or clot.  I have had some problems with my periods where they are really heavy for a few months (10-13 days long) with heavy clotting.  Then I would skip a month or have my period for only 4 days.  Over the last year the cramping and mood swings have been crazy!!!  So I went to an OB/GYN 4 days ago and she had discussed my options.  She wants to do a biopsy either in the office of he polyp/clot and stated that if I went for the NovaSure and tubal ligation she could then biopsy it then.  I'm very nervous as I have heard some scary stories.  She told me that she would do the procedure on a Wednesday and I would be back at work Monday.  She said to take the weekend to think it over and get back with her next week.  I think I'm gonna go for it.  This past summer we went on a weekend camping/canoe trip and wouldn't ya know it.  The proverbial "Mother Nature" decided to come along.  Most miserable weekend.  So yeah, I'm gonna do it.  I like going on canoe trips with my husband and friends and I don't want to have to worrie about another episode.  

[beckiof3]

same here i had my tubal with the nova sure on nov 25th 2011....as of right now i have not had any problems.....but i am just a month out....but i would suggest that anyone wanting to do this.....to do it....it was the best thing i ever did.becki of 3

[jlblmoon]

Liz,

Let me tell you my story, I was 22 diagnosed with cancer.  I don't care to explain what all happened back then, but I did have my child by the age of 23 and stopped all medical treatments for my cancer so that I could have my child.  Long story short, my son is so incredibly healthy, I am so proud and feel so blessed.  By the time I turned 25 yrs old, I had a tubal ligation done.  I pressed my doctor for 2 yrs.  He kept refusing until I finally told him, look, I have my one child.  I'm divorced, and I'm a single mom.  I am just being cautious, because I do not want another child.  So give me a tubal ligation.  My doctor finally did the surgery on me.  He cut my tubes in 4 places, and I have 4 O-Rings on my tubes.  The normal procedure in cut in 2 places & have 2 O-Rings, but since I was so adiment  about not wanting another child, my doctor made sure that my tubal ligation could not be reversed.  I have to say, I have never regretted my decision.  Now, at age 36, I have Nova Sure done.  Again, I kept a record over the past year of how my periods flowed, and I told my same doctor, to fix it.  I don't want pills to take for the rest of my life, so fix it.  One month, I bled for 10 days straight, another month I bled blood clots heavy for 5 days, almost fainting from the blood loss, another month, i'd bleed 2 days.  My periods were so abnormal.  I told my doctor, I couldn't take it no more.  So right before my 37 birthday, I had Nova Sure done.  Again, another successful surgery for me.  I do not regret this decision either.  Sure the first 3 months I had very & I mean very light periods, but after the 4 month I have no more bleeding, no more cramping, no more feeling of tiredness.  Best decision ever made.  I hope that whatever you choose, you feel in your heart is right.  I truly did not want another child, and my son is now 14 yrs old, and I am still a single mother and never remarried.  In the end, I made the right decision for my son & I.
Jen

[serialmommy5]

I had the Novasure procedure and a tubal ligation in Nov. 2009.  When I was in pre-op they offered me Versed (spelling ?) and I didn't want it  - I wasn't nervous because I had complete trust in my doctors.  I signed a release for the tubal ligation.

When the nurses came to get me for surgery I said I had changed my mind about the tubal ligation.  A nurse said I couldn't change my mind.  I tried to argue but they then sedated me.

Seven months later - I am still depressed that I was sterilized against my will.  I spoke to a lawyer who told me because I'm 47 there is no case because I probably can't have kids anyway.  

Since the procedures I feel awful, tired, bloated, angry, and, mostly, abused.  

What can I do?

[arcticcatsuz]

Hi, I just had a D&C & Novasure procedure done yesterday April 21, 2010 @ 1:00 pm outpatient surgery.  I am 46 yrs old & had been experiencing periods like every 3-4 weeks with heavy bleeding for one day & one night to the extent that it ruined my life. So far I can tell you that I have absolutely NO PAIN & very little spotting, not bleeding.  I don't even fell like I had surgery & I am the "Biggest Baby".  I usually faint when stuck w/a needle. I don't feel like I had surgery @ all.  Didn't have pain when they woke me in recovery either.  I slept well last night. I hope this all continues & hope I never get another period in my life.  So far @ this point, I would highly recommend this procedure.

[dana1221]

I just turned 40 and had the novasure with tubal ligation 3 days ago.. I am still having some pain and cramping but no bleeding. Also the gas pains from the gas that they use to inflate your belly is uncomfortble in the abdomen and shoulders. I would have to say it's not that bad so far and if this helps with the horrible menstrual cycles I had... then I'm happy with it.

I really don't think you want to go straight for the old fashioned hysterectomy and suffer through the hormone nightmares just yet. you are too young for that.

I'm sure it's too early to tel how this has helped me but I'm glad I tried something like this before the "big" decision of removing parts of my body.

dana

[dotnboo]

I'm 37...I have had my 2 kids & was not planning on having more.  I've had horrible periods from my 20s on.  I had heavy, long lasting periods with a lot of cramping & large clots. I had plenty of embarassing accidents & missed out on several activities because of my bleeding.  (I knew I had heavy periods but didn't realize that they were so so so abnormal until I started talking to friends & reading about what "normal" was.)  In 2000 I had polyps removed with a dnc.  For a few years my periods seemed to be better but then gradually got to be really bad again.  In fall of 2007 I skipped a period then had a super bad one for 3 weeks & should have gone to the ER but I didn't.  (In addition to the severe cramping/bleeding,  I had many clots including 1 the size of hamburger...eeeeewwwwwwwwwwwww how gross is that!!!???!!!)  I did go to my ob/gyn on Christmas eve & had an ultrsound the day after Christmas showing a thicker than normal uterine lining.   I had an endometrial biopsy that came back normal a few days later.  I was sent to a ob/gyn specialist.  I let the Dr. know that I had already messed around with the "waiting to see if it got better game" & I did NOT want to try a bunch of prescriptions to try to control the periods.  (I had done that in the fall of 1999 & didn't get my dnc until 8 months later in May of 2000)  I had already read up on the Novasure & was thrilled that the Dr. reccomended it before I asked.  I had the Novasure on 2/28/2008 & could not have hoped for better results.  My procedure was done at the hospital @ 8 a.m. with general  & I was in recovery watching The Price Is Right w/my hubby before 10 a.m.  By noon I was on my way home grabbing a coke & french fries from the drive-thru.  The only side effects from the surgery were that I was super thirsty....a little cramppy & tired the rest of the day...Advil seemed to control the pain.  Although I wasn't the driver, I was out & about on a few short trips the next day...we dropped off the kids at school, went to pick out a new washer/dryer & to a movie.  I took less Advil in the 3 days following the procedure than I would in 3 days during my period.  Even though the Dr & novasure website said people can usually get back to normal activities the next day, I was happy I took a long weekend to recover...I was tired & enjoyed my naps  I expected alot of gross stuff to come out but I've had minimal bleeding followed by slight pinkish discharge.  It's been almost a month & I actually used a phrase I never thought I would..."I think I have my period."  Timing is right & my usual symptoms are there except for bad cramps but for the past 3 days I've had some cramping with such slight pinkish/red dischargse  that it's less than what I used to consider spotting.  Hoohoo hope this is what it's always like!!!        

[Jen252]

I had a tubal and the Novasure procedure done. My tubal was done first (during my c-section) that's when my VERY heavy periods started with cramping. Come to find out they had left part of the placenta in during my c-section so I had a D & C. That did nothing for my bleeding. It stoped for about a week then was very heavy again (so bad I couldnt leave the house). So my next step was Novasure. I had a good deal of cramping after but no bleeding for the first month. Then once again the bleeding came back full power. Now my doc. thinks I have adenomyosis, and the only way to get rid of that is a hysterectomy. If I have it all to do over again I would go strait for the hysterectomy so I would not have to keep going back for surgery after surgery. Again I have heard Novasure is great for some, it was just a wast of time and money for me. I wish you the best, and hope everything works out for you.

[peekawho]

If you have adenomyosis, endometrial ablative techniques such as Novasure may not work as well.  It depends on how deeply the endometrial tissue is embedded into the uterine lining.  Unfortunately, there is no really good way to tell if it will work until you do it.   You might decide it's worth a try, or you may not want to.  

I had my tubes tied 20 some years ago, but just had the Novasure last summer.  So far, so good.  I just have intermittent spotting, which is fine with me.