I'm having exploratory surgery next week to confirm a diagnosis of endometriosis. My doctor said that he will treat me with 3 months of birth control to suppress the painful flare ups, but I want to know for sure that endometriosis is indeed the cause of my pain and how much damage has already been done. I've got a lot on my plate in the week after surgery and am trying to get an idea of what I can expect. Anybody with "been there-done that" advice? Thanks much!
My surgery was Monday afternoon and I was actually in post-op for 4 hours before I even started to come out from under the anesthesia. By 5 hours post-op I told them I was ok so they could get me home before the pharmacy closed. I still feel like I've been kicked in the abdomen, but I'm moving around the house. I will learn more about what they found when I go to the doctor on Monday, but so far I understand that there was a little endometrial tissue and both tubes were blocked. Thanks for all your input and advice! Merry Christmas!
I had this surgery about 8 years ago and it really wasn't painful at all. They made two cuts about the 1/4 in long one above my pubic hair and one in my belly button, then blew up my stomach with CO2 so they could see. The only pain I had was in my shoulders the next day from the leftover CO2, but it was more of a dull aching pain. I ended up not having endometriosis thankfuly, but this surgery is pretty routine.
I've had 2 laps. The first one was in '98 when the doc did a lap/hysteroscopy to remove a fibroid tumor and explore regarding reasons for infertility. Turned out I had stage 4 endo @ age 28. In my case, the lap didn't do anything to relieve the endo pain, but thankfully, everyone is different. The hardest part of the proceedure was the CO2. It was really painful for me and I had a 3 hr car ride the next day...this I definitely DON'T recommend. LOL!! The second one was in '04 to check for additional damage before IVF. It was much easier than the first. I was sore, but not nearly so miserable. I hope/pray it goes well and they find something "easier" than endometriosis.
I had laparasopic surgery for endometriosis five years ago. My doc found quite a bit and removed as much as she could. The surgery itself, and the recovery, was a piece of cake. However, my pain was just as bad the next month. My doc told me that one woman can have a lot of endometriosis and very little pain while another woman can have microscopic amounts and be in excruciating pain. Unfortunately, there is no cure for endometriosis other than to remove the offending female parts.
Good luck!
I just had this done in October. My doctor suspected I had endometriosis, but actually went in to unblock my right tube. I ended up having a lot more endometriosis than he'd suspected (although I'm not sure which stage it was). The majority of it was in my right ovary and I also had beginning stages on my left side. He went in thru a tiny incision just above my pubic hair, one in my belly button, and because I had it on both sides he had to make tiny incisions on both the right and left side of my abdomen. The surgery was quick, but my recovery was a little longer because I reacted to the anesthesia - I was there and home in one day though. The doctor will/should tell you to sleep and sit while elevated so the CO2 can leave your system. Moving around is different for everyone - I was in bed for a couple days, but that's mainly because he tied my right ovary to my side so it was uncomfortable to move around (once he let it loose it was SO much easier). Many women can move around much sooner.
My doctor isn't putting me on birth control, but that's because I had this surgery so we can try for another baby. Just FYI, if you do have it in an ovary and they remove it, the first menstruation is painful - at least it was for me. The first day I could hardly move because of the pain. The pain pills the dr. gave me wouldn't even really help, but ibuprofen did. That's just what it was like for me.
Overall it really was a quick and easy procedure. Everyone's different though. I wish you luck and a quick recovery!
Hey E.,
I actually went through this myself several years ago and I must say it actually is pretty easy. I did not have a lot of pain after wards mainly just uncomfortable from the gas they blow your stomach up with. I was up and going the very next day. I could have gone the same day probably but I was sleepy from the antisetic and they tell you not to do anything that day. It truly is pretty easy for surgery and I don't think you have anything to worry about. Everyone is different but I know several people who have also gone through this and had pretty much the same outcome. Good luck!
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I had the exploratory surgery almost three years ago. It was a piece of cake and no problems the next day. Unfortunately, to my doctor's shock I had stage 4 endometriosis and had to have a a hysterectomy the next week. I had been seeing my regular doctor yearly but then she put me on birth control for the bad cramps. They took me to my knees the first three months. The pills made the pain so much worse for me. Went to a obgyn and she did the surgeries. Now I am 100% better. Sorry probably not what you want to hear. Good Luck!
