Had a laparoscopy today.

[realhousewifeofdevoncounty]

Hi all. I know there are a few endometriosis sufferers on here so I thought I'd see if any are around! After getting increasingly bad pain before during and after my period in my hips, legs, pelvis,back, vagina and rectum since September, and a long history of very painful periods; I had a diagnostic laparoscopy today. They found minimal endometriosis, but the areas affected (uterosacral ligaments/nerves cervix etc) explained why I was getting the pain. They have successfully ablated all the lesions they have found.

They also repaired some kind of omental herniation into my cs scar? I can't reall remember what she said about this as I was
still groggy.

So I am chuffed in a way really, the extent
was minimal so hopefully my fertility won't be affected and my mind is at rest, at least I know now what it is, my symptoms will hopefully disappear and they fitted a mirena at my request so they are unlikely to return whilst that's in situ.

Anyway I just wanted to share as I was so unsure about having it done, I was worried I wouldn't find anything and I'd still be stuck with the pain, but I feel so much better now I know what's going on and at least it seems it was easy to treat. I know that's not always the case with endo. So just wanted to encourage anyone offered a lap to get it done.

One question for those who have had treatment, how long did you take off uni? At my original assessment the reg I saw was really vague about how much time I would need of, so I just booked off 2 days. But today my consultant heard I was a student so asked me if I had anything important on. I have an essay due in and an exam next week but I was just planning to brave it out. However she looked aghast and said I would be far too sore for an exam so gave me a sick note for 2weeks!
I got home and was in pain, feeling stressed and still all over the place with the drugs. The essay etc was playing on my mind and I
couldn't rest so I called the uni and they said as far as they were concerned as long as I have a note I have extenuating circumstances and get a generous extension on my essay and miss my exam and just keep my current grade average. But if I turn up, my grade counts full stop. So not really sure what to do! I'm feeling the guilt and thinking I am being a wimp for taking so much time off. Plus I won't be able to improve my (decidedly average) grades if I don't sit the exam, and I could just study flat out?

Do you mind if I ask how long anyone else who has had treatment took off working etc and am I just milking it a bit? Sorry for epic post!!!

[realhousewifeofdevoncounty]

I mean how long did you take off WORK! Duh!

[realhousewifeofdevoncounty]

.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

I was advised to take two days off work post op. Felt better about a day or so post op - the worst thing about my lap was the pain in the shoulders because the CO2 gas travels upwards

Bad practice to talk to you about their findings soon after surgery. I would complain about that particular aspect. You should have been given an appt about a week post op to discuss the findings properly.

Although it was classed as a diagnostic lap, at least they treated the causes. Endo can recur however, it may be that in the future you will need more surgery.

[realhousewifeofdevoncounty]

Yeah they said they didn't really need to give me a follow up appointment, and to contact her if I had any questions, though I have looked through the stuff they gave me to go home with and I can't find any contact details! They made me feel like I'd be a bit of a nuisance if I did ask for a follow up. She did take the time to have a good chat to me after, and tbh I was eager to find out so preferred to speak to her sooner rather than later, as I hated lying in recovery not having a clue what had gone on.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

I'd still put a written complaint in to the consultant when you are feeling up to it. Their procedures need to change.

Awful to talk to you when you're still groggy, its poor practice to do that.

[realhousewifeofdevoncounty]

I've just spoken to her secretary, and she had copied me into her letter which explains in detail their findings and has said that I can contact her secretary to arrange an apt to discuss the findings if I want and tbh I'm happy with that. It wasn't so much the dr that made me feel ill at ease, but the whole day surgery process. I felt like I was on a conveyor belt and the nurses weren't very warm or friendly! Felt like they couldn't wait to get me out of there! I am a medical student and I was bored waiting to go in so I asked if I could read my notes. I had my CS there and I am further along in my training now so would understand them better and would be a useful learning experience. They said no that I have to write a letter to read my notes. I think it's odd that at my teaching hospital I can go onto a ward and read anyone's notes I like, but I'm not allowed to read my own?! Anyway I think that put their backs up a bit, which seems a bit ridiculous to me.

You were back to work quick Atilla! Maybe I am milking it a bit, but I have decided to take full advantage of my sick note and just take it easy for a change!

[tunaday]

Glad the cause of your pain was found and treated. I was told to take 3 days off work but needed longer. I felt like I'd been blown up like a balloon for about a week and couldn't get normal clothes on. And my stomach muscles felt really sore for about 2 weeks, as if I'd been kicked in the stomach. Even turning round in bed was very painful. I do have a very low pain threshold however. I'd take your full extention allowance so you can really recover without the stress of having to study/work at the same time. I also had quite heavy bleeding afterwards which no-one had informed me about. I thought something had gone wrong and contacted the hospital who told me it was quite normal. Wish they'd warned me about that beforehand. You're not being a wimp at all. When I went for my follow-up visit I told the consultant that it was a bigger deal than I'd thought and he said well it's quite invasive and generally the human body doesn't like being prodded about. You rest up. Hope you feel better soon.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

I had my op done on a Saturday so did not go back to work until Wednesday.

The first day post op was the worst; after that I felt a lot better because by that time (Monday) the residual pain from the CO2 gas had worn off. Also I had a good surgeon who was well versed in also doing diathermy (using an electrical laser or needle) as well as lap type surgery. That also helped.

Good luck with your studies and I wish you better soon. Take as long as you need.

[realhousewifeofdevoncounty]

Thank you! I'm mentally not all there as I really need to take strong codeine to keep the pain at bay, but they make me feel really weird and forgetful. So doubt I would take in anything if I tried to do any studying.

[orangeflutie]

Hi I'm glad your lap went well, shame the medical team not so good.

I've had two laps now. Endo was found during the first one and also a cyst which was aspirated. The same cyst recurred though nearly a year later so had another lap last June.

I'm currently having more pain due to recurring endo plus another cyst so will be having more surgery! I'm going to ask for my left ovary to be removed as I don't want to keep having surgery every year.

I also think you're not a wimp. I had a lot of pain and discomfort for a good ten days after surgery and it took two weeks to feel more normal.

I recommend you take all the time off that you need. BTW I had to take a lot of codeine too as only drug that really worked and also felt like a complete space cadet:) Also beware of constipation. You'll probably need some movicol to help with this.

wishing you a speedy recovery x

[realhousewifeofdevoncounty]

Thanks orange - I have a good supply if movicol as I suffer anyway and have already started on it!

Tuna - it is quite an invasive procedure yes! I made the mistake of going to see one and scrubbing in as a student while I was waiting for my op.( I had also got to know the patient beforehand and asked her consent) It was pretty brutal tbh. I had to hold a rod that was inserted into the woman's vagina and hold her uterus anteverted (like me her uterus was retroverted) while the surgeon looked and worked behind it. All I could think was ouch this is going to hurt when she wakes up, and ouch I'm going to be having this done soon! Just because there is a small incision it doesn't mean they don't do a lot inside. I had a cs which is considered far more major surgery, but I was discharged from that on weaker painkillers than I'm taking now!