Lap for Endometriosis

[polkadotpixie]

I have a laparoscopy for suspected endometriosis today, just waiting to be taken down to theatre and I’m super nervous!

I‘ve had painful but light periods all my life but have always been given the brush off by GPs and given painkillers. I was diagnosed with an endometrioma after a CT scan for another issue last March and sent for an MRI which also showed scarring and fluid in my pouch of Douglas

I was referred to the Endometriosis clinic and I was seen last September and added to the waiting list and finally have a date today, 19 months since my referral

I’ve struggled with both primary and secondary infertility as well as pain and I’m really hoping surgery will help me with both the pain and my fertility issues🤞

Just feeling a bit anxious and worried what they’ll find in there, I think the plan is to drain the endometrioma, treat any endometriosis they find and divide any adhesions

Anyone know how long I'm likely to be off work? The nurse I spoke to earlier said a few days but that sounds a bit optimistic, I thought maybe 10 days/2 weeks? I have an office based job but it's very stressful (NHS operational role)

I was signed off for 5 days, think I was back to a desk job in the second week but taking it very easy. For me the first night was the worst, they don’t warn you about the pain of the trapped gas, I couldn’t lay flat and it was agony. Other than that as the wounds are very small it wasn’t a particularly long recovery once I was over the GA, but obviously everyone is different!

Ps should add mine was more for diagnosis purposes, only small amounts of endo were removed in the end as turns out bulk of it was around my bowel and the gynae consultant wouldn’t touch it

I'm having removal of endometriosis, drainage of an ovarian cyst, dye test and division of any adhesions. That's good that you only needed a week off, maybe I'll be back sooner than I thought

I’ve had 4 laps, the recovery has varied for all but on average I’d say two weeks, some less and some more.

Get the sick note to cover you for two weeks (I think they do as standard anyway) and then if you’re feeling well enough before then it’s a positive, and if you’re not you’re covered.

If you haven’t got any in already ask someone to get you peppermint tea to help with the gas pain (if you have any - I only had it once out of the four).

My lap for endo knocked me sideways and I took over two weeks to be better. The general anaesthetic made my head very fuzzy and they pumped me up with co2 to get a good look, and the gas moved up into my shoulders and was quite painful. I was a fit and healthy 37yo so expected it to be a week max, so was pretty surprised with the recovery. I had a polyp removed from my uterus, endo diagnosis and removal (in my pouch of Douglas, not major), and the dye to flush out my tubes.

I'd advise 2 weeks off sick and if you recover more quickly then so be it.

Hi OP. About 2 weeks for me too. I usually have endo removed, cysts drained and my bowel and bladder are usually fused.
Take care of yourself and get lots of rest. I always find the shoulder pain from the gas to be the worst part of recovery.

Thanks all 😊

I really struggled with the pain when I came round and they gave me tramadol but that didn't do much so they gave me morphine but I had some kind of reaction to it and had hives all over my face and my BP dropped to 95/43 so I ended up in recovery for 3 hours

I was supposed to be a day case but they decided to keep me in overnight so I'm on the Gynae ward now. I've still not seen a doctor so I have no idea what they found/did but I was in theatre for about 1.45 hours so I'm assuming they found and treated something

The gas pain is uncommon but bearable, I have bad period type pain but they gave me ketorolac & codeine which has worked much better than the tramadol & morphine so hopefully I'll get some sleep...I'm in a side room due to them having to COVID swab me as my temp was 38.4 after surgery so at least it's semi quiet! It's come back negative now but they're leaving me here 🙌

Uncomfortable not uncommon 🤣

Finally saw the doctor and he said they removed a 4cm endometrioma from my right ovary, treated endometriosis in my pelvis and my uterus was stuck to my large bowel so they divided the adhesions and my dye test was clear so my tubes are open

Pain is better today but I'm very bloated and unbelievably tired. I've just had some more bloods taken and if they come back okay then I can go home later 🙌

Hope you’re home now @polkadotpixie. Take it easy, that tiredness can get you even when you think you’re back to yourself. Be comfortably active but don’t push yourself.

I got out at 7pm yesterday but I've had to stay with my Mum because my husband has COVID 😩 Just want to go home to my own bed so it's not ideal

I can't get comfortable in any position and I'm really tired but my 4 year old DC is glad to see me! He won't leave me alone though and I could do with some peace and a rest 🤣

Hi I know this is an old post. Can I ask did you have any blood test or ultrasound? And did these pic anything up or only the CT scan?

I didn't have any blood tests but I did have an ultrasound which showed the endometrioma on my ovary. I then had an MRI to rule out a tumour rather than a cyst. It came back saying it was definitely an endometrioma and showed scarring and fluid in the POD so I was referred to the endometriosis clinic and eventually had the lap

Sorry, I had a CT (actually looking for kidney stones) which originally showed the cyst and I subsequently had both an ultrasound and then an MRI

C