To ask for some reassurance about my endometriosis surgery this week

[NommyChompers]

Sorry - posting here for traffic. I am having a 10cm endometrioma removed tomorrow and I’m feeling really nervous; I’ve never had surgery before. The doctors haven’t had time to give me a proper explanation about it other than to say they will try to do it keyhole. I’ve only spoken to a doctor for about ten minutes total so far so want some of your stories so I know a bit about what to expect and for some reassurance. Thanks 🙏

Bless you, it is nerve wracking I know. I’ve had two laps for endometriosis.
You should plan to rest and do very little for around a week and to be on the low activity side for another week after that.
Drink lots and lots of peppermint tea after the surgery to help with trapped wind. Buy a hot water bottle for when you get home.
And take every painkiller that is offered and don’t be afraid to ask for something stronger if you need it.

Best of luck

Honestly there's nothing to worry about with surgery. They start the anaesthesia and you know nothing til you wake up! Not to make you nervous but just Cos I didn't know to expect it, you might have a slightly sore throat for a while afterwards

I've just had a laparoscopy for different reasons. I've come out with one incision between bellybutton and hip and one in my bellybutton.

I was a day patient. Walked into the surgery room myself, laid on bed and they put in a cannula. I was expecting the general anaesthetic through there first, but they gave me a gas through a mask to help me drift off. That was quite strange as it made everything slow down.

When I woke up I was given a lot of anti-emetics as GA makes me sick, then morphine for the pain. Had about 45 minutes in the recovery room as I was very sick feeling - others came and went a lot more quickly. Felt very very thirsty and had a sore mouth from the tube - that lasted all day.

Wasn't allowed to leave before I'd had a wee. Eventually they gave me oramorph for the pain I was in and to help me relax enough to wee. I was in hospital at 7am, surgery at 9 and then out at 4.30. Again, others left more quickly as they managed to wee!

Very sore the next few days. Incision in my side is definitely the most painful and still sore 10 days after the op. But all bearable.

Good luck

Could I just ask what your symptoms have been please?
Got consultant appt next week and im convinced its endo

Good luck btw

Thanks for lovely replies so far. Symptoms just pain and discomfort and constant feeling of a large something sitting in my abdomen. Apparantly 10cm is quite big - has anyone had a planned laparoscopy that ended up being laparotomy (open tummy surgery) or know if that is a real risk or just a really small one. As it’s my first there was also a mention of finding more smaller endometrioma lesions that hadn’t shown up on ultrasound. Your stories are all really helpful - the unknown is the worst bit I think

I don’t really know much about endometriosis and the chance of needed more surgeries in future - how long can most people go between having surgeries? I need to make a list of questions to ask the doctor I think

I echo what @LapinR0se says. Also, bring loose fitting clothes for afterwards as tummy was bloated and a little sore. I'm sure you'll be fine.

Take a pillow and leave it in the car to hold against your stomach on the way home, also peppermint tea as they pump your abdomen full of air to be able to see what they are doing and it gets trapped under your shoulder blades. The peppermint tea helps relieve it.

Definitely plan to do nothing for several days. The rummaging around can kick off some pain for any other endo deposits.

I have a scar just below my belly button from the camera going in then 2 small incision marks over my ovaries.

They also made sure I could wee before they would let me leave. I went in for 8am ish then came out at 6pm because I took a while to come round from the anaesthetic and I vomited a bit too. Take every pain med they give you.

@WithAllIntenseAndPurposes for me, excruciatingly painful periods/ovulation, pains down my legs when on my period and fatigue. I had been on the pill to "help" with my painful periods since I was 16, but I had to come off it due to migraines at 26. That pill controlled the oestrogen so when I came off it my symptoms returned. On one period I couldn't walk. That was the point I went to see a female GP as I had been dismissed as low pain threshold by male doctors for years.

My diagnosis was 17 years ago and confirmed by laparoscopy but I had the usual scans where they could see the cysts.

Good luck.

I had emergency surgery for a ruptured endometrial cyst. I hadn't been diagnosed with endo before that so it was all unexpected. After the surgery I took the mini pill for about four months, then came off that because of the side effects (mood stuff). I did loads of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, dietary changes, and some other stuff. I have been symptom free (and successfully conceived with no issues) for eight years now. It isn't necessarily a life sentence.

I’ve had laparoscopy - it’s honestly okay!

Walked to theatre, woke up in recovery feeling not too bad at all. You wont know anything about it. Went into surgery at 6.30pm, felt okay to get up to go to the bathroom alone by about 8.30, then they agreed to discharge me at about 11 because I was desperate to be at home!

Keep yourself topped up on painkillers, and I found sleeping propped up helpful afterwards. I was a bit sore for a few days afterwards (loose clothes and dungarees were brilliant for that bit). You’ll probably have a slightly sore throat afterwards but nothing lots of cold drinks won’t solve.

I’ve got another bigger surgery coming up and I’m not worried in the slightest after my last experience. The surgery part is just like having a little sleep. Good luck!

Cross posts with slow typing.

I had 1 surgery, but I did have a chemical menopause at 28 to stop all the endo symptoms. I was able to overhaul my diet and my lifestyle and the biggest thing was I gave up work to look after my first son when I was 30. So on bad days I can just potter around, take it easy. That made a huge difference to my health but I am aware not everyone can do this.

My cysts were only 5.5cm and were reduced with progesterone meds to control the endo.

Thanks for the tips - getting some peppermint tea and will have hot water bottle ready. Yeah it’s so difficult to get a diagnosis - fortunately(?) for me my cyst was big enough you can see and feel it from the outside so I didn’t get fobbed off for months on end like some people :((

Thanks - feeling a bit reassured. So is 10cm quite big then?

oh, and yes I did acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. If you had told me to rub a dog's penis on my head to help with the pain I would have done it

I conceived naturally twice and have two strapping sons.

I had this procedure. It wasn't painful at all except for the trapped wind in my shoulder which felt like a bad stitch but passed in an hour or so. The stitches were so tiny as it was keyhole so I felt very little if any post operative pain. The main benefit was I then went on to conceive Dd which prior to treatment hadn't been possible. Hope it goes really well for you.

Ask your anaesthetist to remind the surgeon to decompress the CO2 gas thoroughly from your abdominal cavity through the laparoscope before pulling it out - it will make you much more comfortable and less “blown up” afterwards.
If they leave a lot of gas in, it can give you referred pain in your shoulder tip, from irritation and stretching under your diaphragm, plus make your abdomen look very distended. It takes ages for the gas to reabsorb naturally, and as it’s in your closed peritoneal cavity not your stomach or gut, you can’t burp it out.

I’ve had a laparoscopic procedure for Endometriosis which they didn’t know I had till they got in there. Woke up with a 6 inch pelvic incision as they’d taken my ovary. No follow up book and they’d briefly told me to try IVF but I got pregnant naturally a month later. 17 months and the pain, swelling and fatigue is back

If it turns into a laparotomy it won't be a day case, ask the anaesthetist about pain relief if that happens (some will offer nerve blocks).
If there's a chance of a laparotomy make sure the gynaes go over how your recovery differs from a laparoscopy

I had 2 laps for stage 4 endo, first one was just a look around and to drain a 15cm cyst, stayed in overnight and back to work after 3 days. Second one I was in theatre about 5 hours and had extensive excision including bladder and bowel, ovaries resected and tube removed, stayed in 2 nights that time and back to work after 8 days. I was terrified as had never had surgery before but it was fine. Good luck!

I had a lap for endo about ten years ago now. Worked really well. They removed my bladder from where it was stuck to an ovary and lazered some other areas.
I was in bed for a good few days after with referred pain in my shoulder from the gas they used to inflate the area they were operating on. So when they offer you painkillers take them in case the sane happens. Apart from that I was up and ok within the week. Good luck

I’m definitely getting the message about the pain relief :D I’m sure it will be straight forward as most are but you can’t help but feel nervous about hospitals

Hi there how did the surgery go as I am having the same one done next week.

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