Laporoscopy for endometriosis

Hi ladies!

I have been lurking here for a while and I want to say that I admire each and every single one of you and wish you all nothing but the best.

My doctor thinks that I have endometriosis and has schedued me for the exploratory surgery in the middle of November. Have any of you gone through this?

Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!


~Vanessa

Re: Laporoscopy for endometriosis

Posted by scarletbegonia

Hi ladies!

I have been lurking here for a while and I want to say that I admire each and every single one of you and wish you all nothing but the best.

My doctor thinks that I have endometriosis and has schedued me for the exploratory surgery in the middle of November. Have any of you gone through this?

Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!


~Vanessa

Message edited 10/17/2007 4:23:52 PM.

Re: Laporoscopy for endometriosis

Hi Vanessa

I have had 2 laparoscopies, one here an one in the UK. It isn't bad, you will have a few stitches just under your belly button and a couple of other little tiny incisions in your belly. They will fill your belly up with air whilst they are in there to allow them to have a proper look, this gas in your abdomin might give you some pain in your shoulder blades later that day, don't worry it's normal. Honestly it isn't bad and they can see a lot of what is going on physically whilst they are in there. I had a blocked left tube and a little bit of endometriosis. I had the procedure at North Shore. Both the Dr's and Nurses were wonderful and very compassionate. Dr Rosenfeld made a video whilst he was in there which we got to see later which was kind of wierd, but interesting. Good luck, don't worry and I hope you get some answers

Re: Laporoscopy for endometriosis

Thank you for the replies ladies!

I have always had extremely painful periods - to the point where I pass out, throw up, and am basically out of commission for a day or so when my period starts. This has been happening since I was 13. Back then, my doctor put my on birth control pills to control my symptoms. I was on it for 15 years and went off last October. My periods have horrendous since about January (I guess it took that long to get all the pill hormones out of my body). I have had 3 very serious "period attacks" (as DH calls them) and went through a bunch of tests to rule out pretty much everything else - this is the last resort and the diagnosis that my doctor is expecting to come out with.

I know that endometriosis sometimes can lead to infertility problems and I am glad that I am getting this done now. If I am going to have problems getting pregnant, I want to be as pro-active about it as possible and want to be as informed as possible. I am very scared about this process, but I know that there is an incredible support system here, should I need it.

Re: Laporoscopy for endometriosis

Hello Vanessa,

I just wanted to say that I was diagnosed with stage 4 endometrosis. I also had my lap done by Dr. Rosenfeld at NSUH. He is the best when it comes to this procedure. The nurses are wonderful as well. It is not that bad just like the girls described it you will have 3 little scars below the belly button. I did not have any pain afterwards. If I never had it done I would never get pregnant both of my tubes were blocked. I wish you the best!!

Re: Laporoscopy for endometriosis

Re: Laporoscopy for endometriosis

Hi

I had it done 3 years ago - it is not to bad and was diagnosed with stage 4 endo - I never really had any symptoms. Be prepared for the shoulder pain from the gas because that was not to pleasant.

I went in early in the morning and I was home around 9 that night. I think i could have left earlier but the nurse was very busy. I think you have to pee before you can leave the hospital.

A piece of advice have them give you a pad or something just in case you are bleeding afterward - they didn't do that for me and it was messy. sorry if tmi

GOod Luck

Re: Laporoscopy for endometriosis

I did not have endo but had to have laproscopy for an ectopic pregnancy. I would take 2 possible 3 days off of work..I was pretty sore for about that time. I ha dthios done in June and it took about 3 weeks for the incisions to heal(I put bacitracin on them) As AP said you will have to pee before you leave which took me about 4 hrs. The gas is really bad I would ask if you can take gas-x or something like that.

Re: Laporoscopy for endometriosis

I had laproscopy for endo about 10 years ago. Like others have said, don't put it off. I was in extreme pain, but was lucky enough to only have mild endo, which they were able to clear up. I was on the pill for the following 10 years and also took herbs to try to control it. Good luck!

Re: Laporoscopy for endometriosis

Thank you for the replies everyone!

For those that had this done for the endo, did the symptoms subside after the surgery? I had an AWFUL day today with AF (I don't even know how I made it in to work)

I can't live like this anymore

Re: Laporoscopy for endometriosis

Post surgery I was on six months of Lupron Depot injections, so I went through metapause. I didn't get AF so it was great, other than the hot flashes!

Post my 6 months of shots and right after I got my first AF, the endo grew back severly and my original symptoms came back.

I am currently going through IVF to give me a more permanent solution. I could not get pregnant naturally.

This is not the case for everyone from what my dr says.

You should ask what your Dr's plan is for post surgery. Some people never go on Lupron.

Re: Laporoscopy for endometriosis

I had surgery and after 3 days I felt much better, went to work day 4 and by day 7 I was feeling myself. It made a BIG difference in my pain, now just hoping in will make a big difference in TTC

Re: Laporoscopy for endometriosis

I'm so sorry, Vanessa. I've been on this board for a few months, and everyone has been so helpful and so supportive. I hope you get the answers you need soon!