Suspected endometriosis... Laparoscopy

[Emiloo]

Hi there ladies

Today I went to an endometriosis consultant as I suspect I have it after getting pain during DTD. After getting these pains for about 2 years, I decided to stop ignoring it and go get it checked out as it wasnt going away. The doctor referred me to the specialist, who said today, that we'll skip an ultasound and go straight to having a laparoscopy.... Im a bit scared! This is my first operation (other than getting a tooth pulled out under anaesthetic! I have been put on the waiting list which should take 2-3 months and have been told I should be off work for 4 weeks as I have a physical job (I am a nanny)

I am just looking for some advice, reassurance and be told what to expect really...

Once its been removed (if I do indeed have endo) would it affect TTC? That is what Im most worried about! Luckily they only think its mild as I only have pain during sex- OH doesnt think hes very lucky though, poor guy. We havent got the best sex life at the moment!

 

[dvc2012]

Hi

I was also told that I may have mild endometriosis after seeing my specialist for pelvic pain that would not go away. I had a laparoscopy done back in March and it is not that bad! I have three little incision scars, that's it. When I woke up, my throat was sore and my stitches were sore, but I was able to walk around and go out to eat. I took a day to rest completely while my SO took care of our 7 month old. The next day, I was able to resume taking care of him although it hurt when he kicked my incisions The healing process was not bad. In a few days, I felt fine. The stitches dissolved on their own.

I was told that I have very mild endometriosis. I also have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. I conceived my first LO with no trouble. I think everyone is different. You may or may not have trouble conceiving. It also depends on how severe everything is. My mom has severe endometriosis and she couldn't conceive. I was adopted. I'm terrified of secondary infertility, but I guess I will deal with it, if it happens, when the time comes.

 

[lucy_smith]

I had a laparoscopy just over a month ago and have been told I have mild endo. Many people who have endo have no problem with having a baby! The surgery is fine! I'd never had anything done to me until I had the laparoscopy, I came away with 2 incisions . One in my belly button and one on my kicker line, they are so small. I found the surgery recovery very easy. I had my surgery at 9 woke up properly at about 11 and wasn't in any pain at all! I was just sleepy from the anesthetic. And was more than ready to go home by 1

Good luck with the laparoscopy and if u have any questions you can always ask!

 

[Emiloo]

Thank you for your replies, you have put my mind at ease!! I thought 4 weeks off of work sounded like too much, am hoping that I'll be able to go back earlier as I need the money!

As long as it doesn't cause any trouble with TTC then Im happy.. you have both reassured me!! Im pretty sure its only mild as I only get pain during sex.. not at any other time!

 

[pushmug7]

hey there, hope you get well soon after the surgery.... im wondering what is the pain like from endo , can anyone tell me what kind of pain you have from endo...sometimes it hurts when me and dh have sex but only hurts when he hits my cervix (goes in too deep ) sorry TMI. could this pain be endo????

 

[lucy_smith]

I don't get pain during sex.... but now u mention it i do if he goes in too deep sometimes. I hqve pain when I'm on my period, its like a constant cramping the runs from the middle of my thigh up to my belly button.

 

[itsnowmyturn]

Endo lady here too.

Iv had 2 laps, recovery is quicker than u think, I only needed 2 weeks off work and I worked on a ward so very heavy.

U should be more likely to get pregnant after a lap.

The only thing that has helped my endo is zoladex which iv had for 6 months now, nothing else has ever touched the pain which I got every 2 months and rendered me useless for the duration.

Good luck and don't be scared its really not that bad

If u need to chat one on one feel free to message me

 

[Emiloo]

Thanks itsnowmyturn, I thought 2 weeks would be sufficient so am hoping I'll be able to go back earlier.

I read somewhere that it's easier to get pregnant the year after having a laparoscopy but then after that, it starts getting harder as the end starts coming back. I told OH and he just said "It'll just have to be harder then"

pushmug7- I get pelvic pain during sex, but not everytime we have sex. Its definitely more when he goes deep. But I dont even know if its actually endo yet.


I got a call this morning from the hospital this morning saying they can fit me in for an ultrasound tomorrow morning. They accidently put me on the waiting list for an ultrasound AND a laparoscopy! So, I'm gonna go for it as you never know they may find that its something else, so we'll see....

 

[itsnowmyturn]

Ultrasounds don't show endo at all they tend to use it to rule out other stuff.

Can I ask do u only get pain on deep penetration and no other time? If that's the case its usually quite normal I think. I get painful periods (extreme pain) when I had then, when I went on pills that stopped them I would get pain like clockwork every 3 months and it progressed in length then changed to every 2 months but like I said the pain rendered me useless, I wud be stood at work the pain would come on and I would be doubled over for how ever long it lasted and usually ended up in tears and feeling very ill like no other ill feeling iv ever had, also during this time if we fooled around orgasm would bring the pain on and also needing a wee in the night would bring the pain in and wake me up. It was ruling my life and when the month of the flare up came I would literally dread the whole month.
I by no means want to belittle your pain because I no its a horrid condition that can be debilitating for women, I just want to reassure u more than anything. One thing to also note is a very small amount of endo can cause masses of pain yet people who has very extreme endo don't always no and it gets found by accident or affects something else ie bowel. So never let any Dr make u feel that just a small bit of endo isn't enough to warrant ur pain (i had this and I wanted to punch them)
I wish u the best of luck with it

 

[Emiloo]

I got horrible period pains before I went on the pill... at points it did take my breath away. I remember walking to work one day and the pain came on so strong that I had to hold onto a wall!
As for during sex, I get deep stabbing pelvic pains, I dont think it is always when he is going very deep. We usually have to stop half way because the pain is too much! I dont get this everytime we have sex luckily- but alot of the time I do!

My mum also has endo, but I dont know if that makes it more likely for me or not..

 

[Emiloo]

(The Dr does suspect its only mild endo and if it is, he will laser it out there and then during the laparoscopy)

 

[itsnowmyturn]

Ah I thought u were initially saying u only got that one pain. Yeah I do believe that having a female relative with endo does make u more likely.

I don't no how ur Dr can say he suspects mild endo, he has no way of knowing. Also did he say he's doing diathermy or excision of it? Excision is supposed to be better (neither worked for me unfortunately) I think they both have good and bad points but its worth asking why he's chosen the one he has

 

[Emiloo]

Sorry, I think sometimes I expect people to read my mind lol!

I don't think he told me whether he was doing a diathermy or excision... however at points he was a little hard to understand!

 

[Emiloo]

The ultrasound and internal scan showed up nothing so still gotta wait for the laparoscopy! At least now I know for sure it isn't a cyst or something.

 

[itsnowmyturn]

Don't be upset about the scan they hardly ever find any endo in it

 

[shudknow]

Hi Emiloo...I am kind of in a similar boat like yours except that I would not really rate having sex to be painful. It is more like uncomfortable right now and not necessary a pain which stops me from having sex. However, my periods have seemed to be very painful. This last cycle I had to use heating pads on my pelvis apart from taking pain killers. I couldnt get out of bed and to be honest, the pains were not letting me be myself. I was always disappointed, angry and focused on the pain to go away - it is like the pain is in total control of my mood. The pain has seem to gotten worse with time because I dont recall having such painful periods. Also, I noticed that the pelvic pain comes on random days during the month as well but it is tolerable and not debilitating. I have also seemd to notice that my period has become lighter meaning first 2 days are heavy with lot of pain, then I spot for 4-5 more days...it is weird! My gyn suspects endometriosis as well and I am planning to get the diagnostic laprascopy done too but not sure when...

Sorry I didnt mean to hijack your thread. I felt since we had similar problems, it was pointless to start a fresh thread on this. Hope that is alright with you

Please keep us posted on what your doc says and what your laparoscopy turns out to be.

 

[itsnowmyturn]

Shudknow you sound very similar to part of mine. With periods I got week long ones and its really heavy to start with and I wud get pain that day a few hours before it came (i wud wake up and no I was going to have period that day)

Another thing thats debated whether its linked or not but I'm convinced it is is I had stomach problems as a child, in and out of hospital, test after test only for nothing to be found, I believe this to he the cells that would later turn into the endo cells maturing like they wud if they were inside the uterus, one of The theories of endo is that the cells that later become the endometrium accidentally implant elsewhere while ur developing in ur like womb and these act like they believe they should. For me this fits my problem perfect and explains why no surgery has worked and why I believe I have adenomyosis as well, which happens the same way. There are other theories too and all are correct (not just one) but each one can help to figure out the best form of treatment (not that the doctors take this to be the case)

 

[shudknow]

Shudknow you sound very similar to part of mine. With periods I got week long ones and its really heavy to start with and I wud get pain that day a few hours before it came (i wud wake up and no I was going to have period that day)

itsnowmyturn, that felt like me talking. That happens to me as well and then the pain worsens as my period starts. Sometimes I notice that my pain begins couple of hours before AF starts and it starts getting worse. What I hate about the pain is that it just alters my mood. I am so quiet during the first 2 days of AF and then from day 3, I am a happy person again. There is a day and night difference in my moods during my AF. However I have never heard of AF pattern changing and possibly becoming lighter with endometriosis. I have only heard of heavy flows but not lighter. I wouldnt necessarily say lighter AF for me, it is just that it is different than what I am used to. This is all so confusing No matter how muchI try researching on the internet, tehre are so many mixed opinions or articles about this. I figured it is best to hear about this from people..

 

[alanajade27]

Hi. Im going through this right now. Had a laparoscopy laat year to confirm endo
It was burnt off but undortunately im still extremely sick. I am waitinf for surgery to get it all cut out now. My pain is when im ovulating and at the start of my period. Immense pain and a lot of vomitinf

 

[itsnowmyturn]

My pain makes me feel very sick and I end up in the bathroom trying to figure out whether I need my bowels open or to vomit but iv never actually vomited (prob cos I focus on that I don't want to be sick)

After burning mine off my pain came right on time and 6 months later thy did excision and found it in the same places (another thing that goes with my theory of how mine originated). I don't really mind heavy periods I just don't like the pain lol.