Laparoscopy and hysteroscopy in less than a week - petrified

[hippopotato]

Hello,
Firstly I apologise this is like my third thread on the above subject in a month!

My laparoscopy and hysteroscopy is happening in less than a week. I'm petrified.

I did get a fair amount of comfort from my previous thread but as it gets closer and close to the date I'm struggling to function day to day as I'm just so so scared.

Firstly I'm scared of being or feeling sick after it. I will be requesting the strongest anti sickness pills they have but obviously that's no complete guarantee.

Secondly I'm scared of what they're going to find. I'm so worried that this time next week I'll know how my fertility really is. I've had the year from hell since finding out about my endometriosis and 'possible hydrosalpinx in one tube'. I've had months and months of crying and just complete terror to finding out my fate fertility wise. I'm not sure I even want to know at this stage as I just don't know how I'll possibly cope if it's bad news. I'm so scared my entire reproductive system is going to be f*cked and I'll have no options.

Please can someone reassure me (again - I'm so sorry I just need constant reassurance from people online who know exactly how I'm feeling!). My friends and family aren't really helping as they don't get it so I have no one in real life to talk to.

Thank you if anyones read my rambles again x

Oh and to top it off I'll be on my period too ☹️ lovely.

I had 4 days notice for my total hysterectomy and I can't pretend. I was pleased I had less time to stress. BUT. You know this is the start of your recovery. Without this you won't get resolution or progress. It is completely understandable it's stressing you out but it's the beginning of you getting better

I had a hysteroscopy due to a bleeding fibroid which on the day decided to excel itself. The bleeding wasn’t an issue as water is passed through to clear the area and I was told there was a bucket below. I didn’t have an issue with mine, took painkillers before just in case and talked through the procedure and pain relief available - none needed with just a couple of uncomfortable moments.

Hope it all goes well for you.

Nothing we say is going to make a difference to how you feel....
But here's my two cents. Many years infertile, nothing happening. Booked in for the surgery like yours, said goodbye to my lovely belly button. Came out, Dr said I had endo but clear tubes so none the wiser whether that was causing issues. He said getting pregnant would be the best cure for the endo (🙄) and said give it another 6 months and it would probably happen (despite not happening for years). Was a bit sore afterwards, mainly in the shoulder. Didn't feel sick at all.
Went for private ivf in Norway, lots of pregnancies, lots of miscarriages but 2 babies. One, I had lots of eggs but few fertilised and transfer day, we only had one embryo suitable. I almost said don't bother as I didn't want another miscarriage. He's now 6. Then we had a surprise natural 3rd.
This is my story, and honestly I thought it'd never happen for us. The surgery was barely a blip and my belly button looks a hell of a lot better than it did coming out of surgery.

You are in control if you know what's going on with your body. What ever happens, it's better to know than not. It's also better not to panic about it as the panicking is way worse than the actual event.

Endometriosis is very common and the majority of women who have it are able to conceive one way or another.

If you have a hydrosalpinx then they are generally very treatable. Even when they can’t be treated women can often still conceive.

I know what it’s like waiting around for an operation, it can completely dominate your life. All the best.

Ok look I am not a doctor but I've had the same procedure. No sickness although quite a bit of trapped wind afterwards . They found a large cyst wrapped around my ovary and ended up mangling the ovary trying to get it out but anyway 2 kids later I've had no further problems. I was 37 at the time and hadn't had any babies.
May I gently suggest you ask for some help with the anxiety this is causing you?
Wishing you well

@Sparklybanana

Thank you for telling me your story - I am very pleased to hear you were successful in the end but I also feel your pain for the 'journey' getting there.

🤬 the doctors saying to get pregnant to 'cure' the endo is so so harmful. I was told to go away and try and get pregnant but oh btw you are at a high risk of it being ectopic!
Really made me feel confident!!

Btw your story has made a difference to how I feel - I take great comfort from (almost) every reply I get as it helps me feel less alone. To see that your story eventually ended in success for you does give me more of a push to actually go ahead with this surgery 🤍🤍

@vincettenoir

Thank you - I came into this extremely clueless about hydrosalpinx as I'd never heard of it nevermind thought I'd potentially be facing a diagnosis of one! I really, really hope you are right and that I have built this up to be far worse than it is. 🤍

I had exactly this surgery yesterday. I haven't been sick at all, or felt nauseous. The pain is there but so far I've taken two doses of paracetamol and one of ibuprofen in just over 24hrs so it is not unbearable at all.

It is scary, but you will be okay. Feel free to message me if you'd like to talk about specifics.

@Puppypads

Wow that sounds nasty for you ☹️

I've read a lot about this trapped wind!! 😂 as long as im not sick I can cope with that lol.

Thank you for sharing with me - I'm pleased you went on to have your babies 🤍

Yes of course, although I think the gentle approach needs changing to me having a very strong shove to get help! I know I need to talk this through with somebody, I just feel so helpless and worry I'll end up with a therapist who has no experience and encourages me to 'just relax it will happen'.

Thank you 🤍

@October2020

Really?!! I'm so glad to hear you haven't felt or been sick!

I hope your surgery went well!!

Thank you so much, would love to message you please 🤍

I've had both of these done. I was actually relieved to be finally having it, but I was nervous the morning of and when I was taken down to theatre I was getting a bit worked up but I was really well looked after. I woke up feeling ok and there was no feeling of sickness at all x

Feel free to message.

I had to have an emergency laproscopy. I didn’t feel sick at all.

They did find some “mild” endometriosis when they looked at me.

I was more scared that it was an emergency. But everything was ok.

presumably this is a diagnostic laparoscopy? So just see what they say and they will make a plan with you once they have all the information.

I feel you xxx

Peppermint tea for the trapped wind, also get up on your knees on the bed and curl up bum in the air and rock about, that gets it out!! Just make sure nobody is behind you.

Who's doing your endometriosis surgery? Which surgeon do you have, are they doing wide excision for the endometriosis or ablation?

What are you the most worried about? The outcome, the recovery? The recovery? The going to sleep?

I had a laproscopy for endometriosis which caused a chocolate cyst. 3 months after surgery, I started IVF and it worked 😁 I didn't feel sick at all after. I was really worried about the anasthetic but it was totally fine

@Yutes

My endometriosis is already confirmed so it isn't a diagnostic laparoscopy. It is an excision of the endo I've got and potentially the tube if it does have hydrosalpinx ☹️

@nonstoprenovation

Thank you - I've got the peppermint tea bought already and waiting!!

Without being outing - it is nhs surgery but I researched the surgeon properly and requested him personally. I've met with him and have gone through his qualifications and I do feel confident with him. It is excision surgery.

I'm most worried I'll be sick after it and then I'm worried about the findings of the surgery and it turning out that I have to have both tubes removed, both ovaries are dead etc. i really am thinking the absolute worst :(

@SMBC2020

I'm so pleased your ivf worked 🤍🤍

I'm am sooo glad to hear this.. in which case you are in such safe hands if you have an excision surgeon. Your research and approach is 100% spot on and you have to be confident and really proud of the fact you have advocated for yourself.

I've had excision surgery and I'll slightly change my advice, the recovery was much longer for me as it really depends on how extensive the endo is, they still give recovery advice like it's laser and with excision it's way more involved.

So I would be prepared for a week of bed, then pottering around and a gradual recovery, not sure on work and life situation but give yourself 6-8 weeks if you can.

The issue is other people who have laser are up and about in a week or so, and that's the general and majority of the surgery's done in the UK.

I just want to let you know it's normal with excision to take longer, and make sure you ask for pain relief, I had liquid morphine for the first few days, then codine and gradually over the counter stuff, don't be worried about asking, but get the anti sickness in before each dose.

Also get stool softener, it's like a sweet liquid, with surgery and pain relief you maybe blocked up.

I also found ginger, and lots or fruit in the first few days helped me.

You'll be in safe hands and I'm sure the outcome will be good for you.

After my first GA in ages - laparoscopic surgery I did have issues with being sick. I have had two GA / surgeries since and have told the anaesthetist in advance and neither time I have been sick, they keep me topped up with anti-emetics. In my case they had the next dose ready in recovery and checked if I needed them. You can ask that they check if you are feeling sick when you are in recovery (they will probably do so anyway).

I have PCOS, Endometriosis and Adenomyosis. I also have 2 children. These conditions can make it harder to get pregnant, but they don't automatically mean you won't have children

@nonstoprenovation

Thank you so so much - I'm so happy and relieved to hear that I have done right!!

Is the recovery with excision longer pain wise or physically? I had open surgery at the beginning of the year and this took me a long time to recover (12 weeks and still not 100% now). I assume it will be easier than the open surgery??

Thank you again 🤍🤍

I had both at the same time, under general anaesthetic. Robert Winston did mine, and his staff told me I had nothing to worry about, with such a skilled operator! I wasn’t sick at all. Apart from local pain in the incisions, the only pain I really remember was in my shoulder - referred pain from the gas, they pump into your abdomen! I felt a bit delicate for a few days, but it was no big deal.

I’ve had similar kinds of surgery. I try and be matter of fact about it - whether or not im anxious about it doesn’t change that it has to happen. Whether or not I’m anxious doesn’t change the outcome etc

I can’t change the situation but I can change my response to it, so I spend a lot of time working though “if this happens then I’ll do that” etc and playing out the worse case scenario and what options I have.

i needed to feel I could advocate for myself well so I practiced this with a therapist I was seeing at the time. I also needed to be sure I had a full toolbox of ways to cope (ie distractions, breathing, meditation, music etc) so I knew exactly what to go to when I felt worried or apprehensive.

I've never had open surgery so can't really compare the two. I think that the surgery is the same as regardless of how they go inside they are still removing parts and mucking you about inside.

I had it removed from bladder, pelvic walls, pouch of Douglas, uterus, ovaries etc.. so basically these bite sized chunks from all the different places, so had pain everywhere not just in one area.

I'd say in 12 weeks I was feeling human, working, driving and recovered but still a bit tender.

For me week one and two were a shock as this was my first surgery and I felt like I should be coping better, but I managed to find lots of accounts online of others recovery and recognised I needed to give myself a break and relax into it.

Once I changed my mindset it got easier, I stoped trying to do everything like hoovering 🤣

I think we are made to feel ashamed or a bit drama if recovery takes "too long" but there isn't such a thing as too long! We are all different.

My bladder was very sore and flared up for about 6-8 months.

But I'm 2.5 years out and haven't had one single flare up of endometriosis so I really feel like it's been 100% worth it.

I also have had endometriosis and adenomyosis my whole life and took a while but I have two children, it can be done, we just take longer.

My first was 20 months to conceive, but that was back in ye olden days when there wasn't any ovulation testing or panic over it taking a while.