Endometrial ablation: Lisa’s story

Lisa's story

Lisa is 44 years old and from West Sussex. She has lived for many years with endometriosis, a gynaecological condition that occurs when tissue similar to the lining of your womb starts to grow in other places, such as your ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Everyone experiences endometriosis differently. Some people don't have any symptoms, others experience symptoms rarely, and others have chronic health issues caused by the condition. Some of the most common symptoms caused by endometriosis are:

• Chronic pelvic pain
• Period pain that stops you from doing your normal activities
• Pain during or after sex
• Difficult getting pregnant
• Heavy periods
• Menorrhagia (heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding)
• Flooding (where this bleeding is so heavy it leaks through sanitary protection and clothing)

Life before endometrial ablation

Before surgery, Lisa struggled with extreme pelvic pain and menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding that lasts for longer than seven days) caused by endometriosis. She says: "The pain was unbelievable. I had substantial periods and a lot of flooding. I would bleed for three weeks, then I would have two weeks off, then it would come back, and the nightmare would start again."

Of all her symptoms, Lisa reflects that menorrhagia affected her life the most and was the driving factor behind her having endometrial ablation. The flooding would happen without warning, which resulted in feelings of embarrassment and anxiety. Lisa stopped making plans with friends through fear of flooding in front of them and in public. She also felt anxious at work after experiencing a distressing flooding episode in the office. She became isolated and unhappy.

"My body would give me no warning before flooding was going to happen. I was walking to work one day when I flooded and arrived soaked through. My clothes were ruined. Luckily, I had spare clothes at the office to change into, but it was extremely traumatic. I would also flood in the night and soak through my bedding and mattress. I stopped wanting to socialise or go to work."

Getting help with Circle Health Group

Lisa's doctor referred her to Miss Jenny Lo, one of our talented gynaecological consultants at Goring Hall Hospital in West Sussex. Jenny took the time to understand Lisa's situation and ensured she understood the treatment options available to her to manage and treat her flooding caused by endometriosis.

"Jenny was just fantastic," says Lisa. "She really took the time to understand my situation and presented me with a list of options – endometrial ablation was the best option for me. She told me that I might not be able to have children after the surgery, but I have a son who is 16, and felt okay with this possibility."

What is endometrial ablation?

Endometrial ablation is a procedure to remove a thin layer of tissue (endometrium) that lines your uterus. It is performed to stop or reduce heavy menstrual bleeding, which can happen when endometrial tissue thickens and becomes trapped inside your womb.

There are several ways endometrial ablation can be performed. In some cases, your consultant will place a long, thin tube with a light and camera attached to it called a hysteroscope through your vagina and inside your womb. They will use this to look inside your womb and insert specialist instruments through the hysteroscope to carefully scrape away and remove the endometrium.

In other cases, the tissue will be removed using radiofrequency. Your consultant will insert an electrical mesh into your uterus, and send electrical currents made by radio waves through it to destroy the lining of your uterus. Other techniques include freezing the lining with a thin probe or placing a balloon with heated liquid inside your womb. This is expanded until it touches the lining of your womb and destroys the endometrium.

Endometrial ablation is usually performed under general anaesthetic, meaning you won't be awake or feel any pain during the procedure.

Lisa’s life after surgery

Lisa's surgery went smoothly, and she was able to leave hospital on the same day as the procedure. She recalls being surrounded by a supportive team of nurses and healthcare staff when she first woke up in hospital.

"The nurse who looked after me when I first woke up was just lovely. She brought me a sandwich and even went out of her way to get me my favourite crisps, which I was craving. I was offered morphine but didn't take it because I wasn't in any pain. I was encouraged to get up and go for a walk and use the toilet before going home later in the afternoon. The entire team were very supportive and ensured I was fit to leave before I did."

Lisa has made a fantastic recovery

Lisa was told she might have some bleeding and cramping after surgery, which is a common side effect of the procedure. Most can leave hospital on the same day as endometrial ablation and return to their everyday activities within a week or so. Some people experience bleeding and cramping after surgery.

Lisa has not experienced any side effects from the procedure, which has allowed her to recover quickly and without complications. After taking two weeks off work to rest, Lisa was back to being active, socialising, and living everyday life as normal.

"I have had no pain or bleeding since surgery, which has completely changed my life. Endometrial ablation is the best thing I've ever done. I've been able to get back to being mobile and active straight away. I don't have to worry about what I wear anymore – to work or even to bed. It's given me so much freedom and energy back. I don't bleed during the day or overnight &- it's changed my life for the better."

Lisa would recommend the surgery to anyone struggling with heavy bleeding and flooding. She also recommends having the surgery with Miss Jenny Lo, with whom she has had regular follow-up appointments with since the surgery. She says: "I can't recommend Jenny enough. She supported me emotionally throughout the entire process. She's just fantastic. I would 100% recommend the surgery to anyone, and I can't recommend Jenny enough."

Why choose Goring Hall Hospital?

When you choose to go private with Goring Hall Hospital, you can expect

• Flexible appointment times and locations to fit your routine
• The freedom to choose which hospital and Consultant suit your needs
• Personalised, Consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Comfortable and safe private facilities maintained by expert multidisciplinary teams
• Support by the same compassionate clinical team from beginning to end
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to spread the cost of your care

If you would like to learn more about this procedure, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly.