Strangely relieved after my lap - endometriosis finally confirmed!

[Ashleystar]

Hello,
Had my lap on Thursday and still in incredible pain and discomfort, but I had the adhesions cauterised. Turns out from the front view everything looked fine and healthy, but behind, my ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus were covered in adhesions and those dark cysts! Which totally corresponds to where I was getting the pain before the operation!

I need to see my gynaecologist in 3 months to go through my pain diary and see what to do from there. I am really hoping that now the growths have been removed (well, the more visible ones anyway!), my pill will keep things level and help with pain. If not, I think I would be willing to try a progestogen-only pill again, but diet strictly!

Looking forward to recovering...

Best wishes xx

[deedee7766]

endo is best excised, not burned (cauterization) - and endo experts are better at doing this, plus finding all the locations and forms, AND around delicate organs

if your pain does persist, you might want to send your records to an endo specialist for a free review

Painful sex / bowel movements can be related to endo in the cul-de-sac / pouch of douglas, located between the rectum and vagina.

These are some great sites, surgery can help. Endo can get worse without surgery

centerforendo.com (they're great!)

endometriosissurgeon.com

endoexcision.com

pelvicpain.com

endo-resolved.com

erc.activboard.com/

endo101.com

johnleemd.com

endometriosis.org

naprotechnology.com

fertilitycare.org

[Eva37]

aww, so pleased your finally got your dx :hugs: hope you feel easier soon.

[alaskaflygirl]

It's so much easier to deal with the pain when you know exactly what the culprit is, eh?

Sorry to hear that the adhesions and endo were so developed, but congrats on getting it attended to!

[Ashleystar]

Thank you so much for your replies and help! It IS much easier to cope with emotionally and psychologically when you know there is a cause and you can tell the doctor "I have this, now I need proper treatment!"

I am going to make an appointment with my GP tomorrow to give her the hospital letter and to ask for some help. I had very low blood pressure after my operation, and since leaving hospital I have been going dizzy and tingly in my hands and arms frequently, which is not normal for me, so I want to get that checked out. I even stoppped taking my painkillers today to see if it was them! I am in discomfort and the position of the stitches makes wearing trousers and even knickers very uncomfortable! I know it sounds minor but these things get you down!

Eva, I am pleased for you too, I hope you find some relief soon!

I do feel that in the UK, the NHS really don't take women's conditions very seriously. I was told I could go back to work in 3 days! Well tomorrow is day 4, and I need another week! I can't do very much, I'm in pain, unsteady, find that pretty much everything hurts, and the risk of getting injured at work would be too great! I work in a rather boisterous school... Although the nurses were quite nice at my hospital, there was a terrible "care assistant" who inserted a catheter in me (after I found it diffivult to pee due to the anaesthetic taking a while to wear off) and threatened and made me feel so scared and embarressed at 2.30am that I was screaming and a nurse ran in to see what was going on! I am still appauled by this woman and will be writing a complaint. It made me realise how vulnerable we are at times.

Still, other than that, I am looking forward to recovering and managing my endometriosis. xx

[Eva37]

ashley - sorry the care assistant was so awful.

I saw my gp yesterday, who said it takes about 4ish weeks to feel 'normal' after a lap. So why gyane say a few days, i dont know......... lovley nhs eh??

know what you mean about knickers, im still wearing some bridget jones knickers i bought especially. hope you feel easier soon.

[Ashleystar]

Thanks Eva.

I will definitely write a letter of complaint, I hope nobody else has to go through that!

I went to see the nurse as I was worried maybe my bp wasn't good. It was fine. She said I just feel so rough because I've had an invasive operation and I need to rest up. She also said she wouldn't expect somebody to be back at for for a week at least! I wish my gynae had been more reasonable with what he said back in Feb, because now I've messed my work around! Nevermind, I am glad I have taken a week off now to recover. Yesterday I thought I would try and go round town (with my fiance) and act "normal", but I had to go slowly and at times it hurt a fair bit! Today I am resting up again, was just going a little crazy indoors when it is so sunny outside! Haha!

It's 6 days since my op now. I decided to only take painkillers when I must, since they make me feel worse and don't really do much for the pain.

I feel so happy today, like I am on the road to recovery. I am trying to learn about endometriosis, and I keep finding out that friends or relatives of my friends have/had endo! Also, I am convinced my great aunty on my dad's side had endo as she was always in agony, didn't have kids and never seemed well apparently.

Best wishes to all, thanks for the helpful comments! xx

[Eva37]

glad you are recovering well, ashley

[Ashleystar]

Thanks Eva! I hope you're starting to feel better than before your op! Are you still sore etc? You had your lap a week before I had mine...I'm curious!

xx

[Eva37]

yes, i am still sore. But gp said it is natural, as my insides have been moved around.

..... tmi..... still a bit constipated, but not as much now i have been given senna and milk of magnesia.

been out for a little walk today, which was great. How you sleeping?? i still have trouble getting comfortable - i can lay in my right side now (my left is the worst for bruising/discomfort) but need a pillow under my knees.

[Ashleystar]

Aww, I totally understand.

I have been able to sleep but since the op my sleeping pattern is very disturbed, and I can only sleep on my right side with a pillow supporting my stomach. On my back, I can feel my tummy too much!

I also have had awful constipation lol! But I have found the best thing for it is pineapple. Not as harsh as orange, good for you and tasty! Strawberries are good to, but pineapple is cheaper, and even the tinned rings or juice works!

At the moment I am just a bit frustrated as it itches where I'm stitched up, and they are starting to move a bit - possible starting to dissolve. I have to be very careful with bending etc as it is painful! It is all just very annoying! I'm so glad I had the week off work. There's no way I could have gone back 3 days after!!!

Did your GP or gynae discuss treatment options? I have to go back to my gynae in 3 months to have a review of everything. It's confusing. I feel like a newbie, as I never thought I had endometriosis so I'm now reading up to understand it! Soulcysters is definitely the best support system I have found!

I got really fed up the other day and decided to go out and walk around town for most of the day (slowly)....bad idea...felt so broken the next day! I'm not a patient patient lol! xx