Poll: Endo Surgery - Yes or No?

HakunaMatata · 10-28-2008, 11:04 PM

Le sigh.

My doctor and I have come to the conclusion that it's likely I have Endo. I fit every single one of the symptoms perfectly. The hubs and I are still trying to conceive, but although the mattress mambo is great

...it hurts (sometimes during, always after).

SO...I'm thinking of getting the laparoscopic surgery to clean everything out. I know that it's just a temporary fix, but I figure if I can clean it out for now, maybe we can conceive. I know of two women who have PCOS and Endo and it worked for them. My question is - is it worth the money, pain, time, stress, etc.?

My other option is to begin Clomid. My gyno just had me take ovulation testing for 2 months to see if I'm ovulating and...big surprise...I'm not. I could take the Clomid and see if it induces ovulation, then maybe conceive, which would temporarily relieve the Endo as well.

What are your thoughts, Ladies?

OliviaLeigh · 10-29-2008, 09:58 AM

I had lap surgery in July to remove cysts & endometriosis. Discovered Endometriosis had caused damage to some ligaments of my uterus.

I had to have surgery. I could barely walk I was in so much pain and we didn't even have i-c b/c it was way too painful. I was also running a fever non stop b/c of pain.

Having surgery also causes scar tissue and you'll need time to recover. Weigh your options. I am glad I did it, b/c I was not functioning the pain was so unbearable.

It's really up to what you feel comfortable doing. Surgery is very expensive, painful, stressful and you'll need time to recover. If you aren't dysfunctional b/c of pain, I'd try other options.

I hope to start TTC again after my Lupron treatments. After all this, my body is in no shape to carry a baby and I'm still in too much pain to really TTC.

Good luck

Keep me posted on your decision! Also, check out the lots of posts on the Endo board - I know that helped me a lot during my decision making process.

Jbeth25 · 10-29-2008, 10:31 PM

Hi Evabear,
Hi had the lap sx 3 months ago and I am glad I decided to get it over with. I actually did not have a lot of pain and only got checked out after I went in for a MD visit once we knew my husband had male factor infertility. The doctor discovered I had PCOS and possibly endo. There was no way of knowing exactly if I had endo without the lap and during the lap, once discovered, he was able to laser it all out. I actually had it pretty bad, surrounding a lot of tissue and my ovaries, so without it it may have made it even harder for my husband and I to TTC. I just wanted to get it out of the way as one less barrier. I also heard that your chances of conceiving are best the next 6-12 months after the lap.

As for pain after the sx, the first day is pretty bad. I had trouble rolling and twisting. It feels like really, really bad cramps. I was pretty nauseated, but the pain pills made me more sick, so I could not take them. I was able to go out of town the next day and was up walking around. I had my sx on a thursday and was back to work on Monday and I work in a hospital and am on my feet all day. I was back to running in about a week.

Good luck on your decision.

HakunaMatata · 10-30-2008, 12:22 AM

Thanks to both of you for your replies!

Olivia - the pain is debilitating for about a week to two weeks out of each month. My lower back, as I type, feels like it's been knocked out of alignment and is barely holding on. I never leave work early but I had to today - just a few minutes early. I even went into the conference room to lay down on a hard surface (the carpets were cleaned yesterday, of course =]) just to try to relieve the pain. Not only that, but mattress mambo should be the best feeling in the world, but it sometimes hurts so bad that afterward I am either nearly crying or crying - no matter how gentle he is. It stinks because he always feels so bad and it sometimes stops him from even getting started because he's so scared of hurting me. I want to have sex daily, damn it! =] Oh, and don't even get me started on the cramps...it's awful! Fortunately, my insurance covers most of the surgery. I've had surgery before - for a Bartholin's cyst. That's a little bit less invasive, so I know I should expect a longer recovery with a lot more pain. I have researched my other options, with my doctor and on my own, and I can't do BCP or hormone therapy, because we are TTC. I'd rather just get this over with.

JBeth - thanks for the info on the recovery period. I'm very interested in that because my boss is being very understanding, but I don't want to abuse that (or make her think that I'm abusing it). I work in an office job, so my plan is to have the surgery on a Friday, spend Friday, Saturday, and Sunday recovering...and then hopefully be able to push through on Monday at work. Hopefully that works out. =]

Thanks again, ladies!

spoiledtcangel · 10-30-2008, 12:48 AM

I just had a lap done where they found endo and removed it had to do lupron so ttc is held for 3 months set to resume in december. I would definately suggest geting the lap to remove what they can of the endo this was my 2nd and in my post surgiclal visit my notes stated that I had none to minimal scarring so dont worry to much about that right now as long as you have a competent doctor who has done this procedure many times you should be fine.

I was in slight pain 1-2 days after surgery but havent had no problems since good luck to you in whatever route you choose

HakunaMatata · 10-31-2008, 01:58 AM

Well I went to my wonderful gyno today (Dr. Rigby will deliver my babies!!!). My back pain got so bad that I had to leave work again today, and I'm not going tomorrow. He gave me super strength Vicodin.

Anyway, they are going to call me tomorrow to schedule the surgery. I'm looking at November 13th or 14th. I am definitely going to do it, and Dr. Rigby is supportive of it. I can't wait to get this over with!

I'll post here after I have the surgery to update. Thanks again for the responses!