Ablation of my Uterus

Ablation of the uterus

For a few months now, I have been meaning to post and help someone else who is looking at ablation as a solution to issues their body is having.  Keep reading if you are just plain curious too.  

If you don’t know what that is, don’t Google it!  LOL

Before Christmas, I had my follow up appointment for my ablation procedure preformed a few weeks ago.  I thought I would share too much and make you a fun little list of things I learned from this experience…..

Shall we get started….

-read all the pre-op instructions carefully.  In fact, read em a couple times.  Maybe even have someone else read them and explain them to you.  They matter!

-even a small sip of water will have you waiting out your digestion in the waiting room.  Delaying your procedure.  Yep, that was me.  Go ahead and read item above for the reason this happened.  

-They DO put you to sleep.  It was a glorious nap in which I felt NOTHING!

-Have someone to drive you home afterwards (I did read that part correctly) so yay that my hubby was there for me!  

-wear comfy, easy-on clothes.  The nurse put my clothes back on me afterwards.  Thank goodness I thought through this beforehand and was wearing stretchy leggings (not compression)

-Crocs approved!  Nurse also put on my shoes for me.  Slip-on is the best option.  

-You get to ride in a wheelchair out to your driver.  I joked that he was just my Uber driver.  He wasn’t.  He was (and still is) my husband.  

-The meds pre-op soften your lining of your uterus as well as your bowels.  No one tells you about the diarrhea.  I am telling you now!  

-I am a non-stop talker post operation.  And no, a video was not created!  Though it might have been just the ticket I needed to becoming TikTok famous!  Dang it!  Missed opportunity!

-The staff at Parkhill Clinic in Fayetteville are amazing!  Patient.  Compassionate.  Even with lil’ old me that didn’t read directions well.  

-Dr Hix prays over his patients before they are knocked out.  You will cry.  I did.  

-post-op your abdomen might feel like someone is sitting on it.  They aren’t.  In my case it was a very dull, annoying, heavy like pain.  

• Use a heating pad!  Sleep with it!  Sit with it!  Cuddle with it!  
• Sleep the day away!  Clear the schedule afterwards and really the day afterwards too!  It’s the best healing for your body.  Plus you don’t feel that annoying pain when you are sleeping.
• Minimal bleeding afterwards in my case.  Everyone is different.  (And for those that don’t read….no tampons…I listened here.  No mistakes)
• Cramping was also minimal.  This was my concern going in and how bad it would be.  It was no different than my monthly cramping had been.  The cramping prior to the procedure due to the medication given to me was MUCH worse.  
• Takes a bit for your appetite to return.  Meds requiring food were a challenge.  A handful of almonds worked well for me.  
• Ginger Ale and Sprite were my friends as well.
• As others found out I was having an ablation done, the constant theme from each one was “Best thing I’ve ever done”.  
• Day 2 is better than day 1.
• Set alarms on your phone for all the meds.  I had 4 prescriptions.  And being down the first day it was a lot to keep up with and co-administing with my husband.  Alarms helped us both know when and what I needed to take.  
• Rest is the best thing.  I was tired for several days from the smallest thing.  This had more to do with the anesthesia than the procedure.  Don’t rush back into things too fast.  
• Give yourself time to heal.  You feel great on the outside and things appear great.  We forget how much is happening and healing inside still that we don’t feel or see.    
• 3 weeks out, I will add that my monthly showed up.  I was discouraged but during my appointment I was assured that it actually takes the lining about 3 months to fully heal and adjust.  It is less and not as fierce so my hope is restored in the procedure.  
• In 3 months I hope to join the others in saying “best thing I’ve ever done”

If you made it this far, you either really love me or you are thinking of having one yourself.  I am always open to questions and only know how to bluntly speak the truth of my own experience.  No sugar coating here.  Ask away!