Endometriosis Surgery

Updated on November 10, 2008
L.M. asks from Rancho Cucamonga, CA
17 answers

I'm in the process of scheduling exploratory surgery for endometriosis. For those of you who have had the surgery: 1) how long was the recovery after the surgery; 2) what method did the surgeon use to get rid of the endometriosis that was found; and 3) how long did the surgery releave your symptoms.

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J.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had it in 2006
1) It took me 2 days to recover
2) He use the probe and he went through my belly button ( no scaring)
3) with in days the symptons were all gone and got PG in 2 months too.

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W.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi L.,
I had surgery for endometriosis in 2/07. It was a laparoscopy surgery - two very small incisions above the pubic line and through the belly button. The doctor has suspected endometriosis and knew there was a pretty good sized "chocolate cyst" (blood-filled) on one of my ovaries.
I didn't have a whole lot of symptoms, or at least I thought I didn't - but in hindsight I did have very painful periods. And I couldn't get pregnant.
Surgery concluded that I had stage 3 (out of 4 stages) endometriosis. He removed the tissue and cyst with lasers. They had told me 48 hours recovery but it took me at least a week and here's why: they pump your body with gas to help navigate through the organs and it's the gas that left me hurting for so long. I was in a lot of pain for a good two days - you'll need help getting up out of bed. The gas (which they said should leave your body soon after surgery) hung around for at least a week. I felt like a lava lamp. I took lots of anti-gas medicine to help alleviate the pressure. It finally went away.
I only had one period following surgery and it was far different from before. Not as thick or dark - more red and liquid-y (sorry if that's TMI). I got pregnant the next month and haven't had a period since (due to breast feeding).
Best wishes - you'll be fine. If you have any more questions I'm happy to share - just email me at ____@____.com. W.

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C.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have had this surgery twice. A tiny scope was inserted into my abdomen. And i had 3 riny cuts. My doc burned the endo off the tissue and removed any lingering adhesions from my previous surgery's.(C sections).
This did not last long, the relief that is. Because your body does not just stop. You have to have an ablation or a hysterectomy.
Recovery time was like 2 days. No big deal. But a waist of time to get the surgery unless you are going to take steps for it to not happen again.

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T.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi L., I had Laproscopy surgery in June 08. I have stage III endometriosis. I'm 37. My down time was probably only while I was in surgery. You do feel really gassey after surgery; bloated. But it goes away in about one day. It doesnt hurt at all. I could've gone back to work the next day but just relaxed two days. All was pretty easy with minimal down time. God Bless you!

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P.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi, I had the surgery a few years ago for infertility purposes. It was a laparoscopy, where they go in through a small incision through the belly button, fill stomach up with air. They made 2 other small incisions to be able to insert other equipment. They found a little bit endometriosis on my left fallopian tube, blocking it so eggs wouldn't be able to go through. And some below my uterus holding it down. They burned it off. I was in a lot of pain for a couple of days and subsided each day after. I was off work for a week. I worked with high schoolers at the time and a couple of weeks after my surgery they made me really angry and when I raised my voice at them, I bent over in pain.
It's the best thing to do to get rid of it. There may be some natural remedies, but I only know of one. I almost tried it. It's called Clear Passage Therapies. www.clearpassage.com
Not sure if they are still in business. They had a couple of offices around the country and supposed to have open one in CA a few years ago. It's expensive, but supposed to work. I heard about it on a news show.
Anyway, about the surgery, I know several people that have had it done. One of them recuperated better than me. A very good friend has had several of them.
A few months after my surgery my husband saw the exact surgery on the health channel I believe. Then one day I saw it. I couldn't believe that's what they did to me. So may be if you want to see exactly what's done, maybe there's a video online.
Good luck. Have someone help you for a few days. It won't be so bad if you're on strong med's. I'm a light weight and strong med's aren't for me, so that could be why I stayed in so much pain.

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K.J.

answers from Los Angeles on

I've had two laparoscopys for endometriosis. The first was when I was 17 and then I had to have it again when I was 19. I recovered over the weekend. It's not a difficult recovery. Mild discomfort, your belly feels jelly like and you might feel discomfort in your shoulder as well from I believe the gas trying to escape your body (It's been a while) Childbirth is what cured me for good, but since you are a mother and are still having problems then obviously that didn't work for you. My doctor used a laser to burn the spots that were problems. good luck to you.

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S.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

I've had it done twice, it's a day surgery and I don't remember being uncomfortable for any longer than a day or two. It was not even the incisions that work (they did it laporscopic), but my shoulder. Sounds crazy, but anytime they use gas in your tummy to blow it up so they can see all around, it pushes up on your diaphragm then hits a nerve that can cause should pain in some people. I just had to keep my upper body elevated and put a heating pad on it off and on. It's a good idea to get it cauterized if they find anything. It can cause infertility and painful intercourse. If you're planning on more kids, now is the time to get it taken care of. If you are extremely nervous about going under for the procedure, ask the anesthesiologist if you can have a little Versed right before the procedure. You won't care what they do after that.

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W.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had the Laproscopy done on a Monday and I was soar and crampy for about two days and then moved in to my new house on a Thursday, with help I did not lift anything heavy, but I was able to put things away and I was back to work the following Monday. I think the worst part of it was the gas they use to blow up your stomache to explore, take the Dr's orders and do not lay falt after surgery, that gas rises and traps in your muscles. My Dr. was able to scrape out Endometrial tissue that had attached to area's that it was not suppose to be. I had it done in September of 1997 and since then I have had four children and in the past year I would say I have just started to experience having some of the symptoms again. I would recommend it to anyone suffering with Endometriosis! Mine was severe too, at the age of 25 I had two different Gyn's tell me all that they could do for me was a Hysterectomy, I wanted children so thankfully I got a third opinion!
Good luck to you!
W. :)

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P.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

please don't try surgery first try alternative first and I have the guy for you a little pricy but worth it!! I also had problems and they wanted to yank eveything out and that was several years ago and today I am fine. If interested let me know it is worth it

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K.B.

answers from San Diego on

Hi L., When I was 25 I had the laproscopic surgery to find the endometriosis. I think they just burn it away or something, not really sure. He was not able to get all of it because of where it was located so my pain came back about a month later. The recovery time was a couple of days. I ended up having a Lupron Depot treatment which was a 6 month process. I felt no pain while I was on the treatment, but a couple of months later the pain came back so I had the treatment one more time. It worked again, but again the pains came right back once it was over. I ended up having to have a Hystorectomy in January of this year and the pain has been gone. They removed everything but my left ovary since there was nothing there. I don't want to scare you with my experience, but I just want to let you know what could happen. It may be totally different for you. I wish you luck and if you have any other questions you can email me at ____@____.com.

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B.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

Don't worry! I developed endo a few years ago and was scared of how it would affect my life. After over a year of increasing pain I decided to have surgery too. My doctor did a laproscopy which required a very small incision in my abdomen and then he basically lasered the affected areas and eliminated the lesions. It was an outpatient operation and I was home that afternoon with my husband by my side for the night. I was back at work 2 days later. I felt no side affects and no pain after about 2 weeks. It was a great decision. In fact, 6 months later I found out I was pregnant! What a surprise since the endo is what was keeping us from getting pregnant.

Good luck with your surgery. I'm sure it'll go fine.

B. D.
First time mom of one adorable son (he's 8 months old now)

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S.F.

answers from Boston on

Dear L.,
I had a long history with endometriosis, but tried for years and years to do everything natural to cure it (I can give you a list if you'd like!). Finally, after more than 20 years of debilitating pain during my periods at age 38 I went to see an expert with endometriosis and will be forever grateful that I did. At that time, I had lost my first pregnancy and was ready to do whatever it took to get to the root of the problem. The doc did an ultrasound and found two huge fibroids (one 7"! and another the size of a golf ball). The doctor also said that he was "sure" he would find endometriosis. So- I had the surgery a week later. He filled my abdomen with CO2 and made several small incisions for the instruments. The naval incision is where the camera goes, and in my case, I had two incisions low down and two higher up on my belly (more needed to remove the fibroids). As it turned out, I had only one area of endo, but he said at the size of a quarter, it was considered "significant". I believe he burned it off with a laser. He told me that my recovery would take longer than average because of the 3 hour length of my surgery and because the endo was in a very sensitive area (sounds awful, but it was way down in my abdominal cavity right next to my anus- ouch!). All that being said, as soon as I got home from the surgery I felt relief from many of my symptoms (bloating, back pain, etc). I felt completely back to myself in about 6-8 weeks. I have had no recurrence, but might be being "protected" by hormones, since I have been either pregnant or breastfeeding since three months after the surgery. I highly recommmend the surgery and also very highly recommend my doctor (Dr. Turner in Santa Barbara), who specializes in this surgery and often teaches other surgeons in his techniques. You need someone who is very meticulous, because even the smallest amount of endometrial tissue can cause you pain and you don't want anything missed. I wish you the best with your surgery- please feel free to email me personally if you have any other questions.
S.

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J.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Endometriosis is when the endometiom is growing outside of the uterous...I believe. I had this surgery done. You do have pain for a couple of days. But I feel like this was a nessesary surgery. Mine had grown and wrapped around some ligaments. But they cotterized it out. I wouldn't think that a natural med. Could go in and reverse the damage that endometriosis does. It grows inside of you. But I am always up for trying different things. J.

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T.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

L.,
I had surgery about 7 years ago. First they expanded my stomach with gas, then they went in through 3 small incisions, one in my belly button, 2 in my upper groin area. (A camera and the 2 surgical tools.) Once they identified the areas affected, they burned off the lesions with a laser. I had an extensive amount, so I was definitely hurting when I woke up. I was in pain for about 4 days, needed help getting up and down, taking pain meds. HOWEVER, this was SO worth it. If you have been going through the kind of pain I did prior to this surgery, I sincerely hope you get the relief I did from this procedure. I would arrange for help for your little one and plan to take it easy after the surgery so you heal properly. Also, keep in mind that each person responds differently to this procedure, so you may or may not have to go through it again at a later time. I have been lucky, having not experienced too many problems since then. (I have been pregnant 4 times since then and sometimes pregnancy can help prevent recurrences.)
If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact me!
Good Luck and God Bless as you go into this!
T.

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N.S.

answers from San Diego on

Hi L.,

I have a wonderful doctor who may be able to offer relief through natural methods.....It would certainly be worth a try before scheduling a surgery.

His name is Dr. Jaime Kaszer.....ph number ###-###-####. He has found that the cause to many, many symptoms in our body are the result of our nervous system malfunctioning.

Best wishes!

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M.

answers from Las Vegas on

I had a laparoscopy in 2002 and it took several days for me to recover. The incision did not bother me at all. The doc lasered the tissue and none of that caused any pain. My discomfort was from the gas. It spread into both of my shoulders in the front and down my back. It was awful. The only way I found comfort was in standing holding my arms up. Obviously you can only do that for so long. If it hadn't been for the gas pain, the procedure was a piece of cake. Not everyone has the gas pain. My best friend had the surgery done the year before and felt fine a few hours later. The surgery did not help my cramps at all, but I also have PCOS so that may be why I still have cramps to this day. I think what the surgery did do, was help me get pregnant when I was ready and for that I am thankful and would do it again in a heartbeat. Also, I have not had to have another surgery since then.

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