My first time posting but I have taken so much great advice from mumsnet over the years so thought I would put this out there on a Hail Mary! I’m having endometriosis surgery next week and would hugely appreciate any advice on recovery or to hear about your experiences that you’re willing to share.
I found out recently I have endometriosis. I had been TTC our first baby and getting nowhere but having unusual bleeding every other month, which my GP said was low progesterone but it just didn’t seem right. I have been in mild to moderate abdominal pain the last two years most of the time, but attributed some of the symptoms I now understand are endometriosis to a chronic bladder infection (my bladder seems to have a mind of its own, bleeding randomly, burning etc). I had two A&E trips last year with severe pain from burst cysts also but endometriosis wasn’t suggested.
I went to get the bleeding checked out privately and had a shock. He said the cyclical sludgy bleeding I get and the cramping is typical of endometriosis. The ultrasound showed an endometrioma, and my MRI then showed it’s on both ovaries, womb, “and other places”. I didn’t push because I didn’t really want to know I went into a bit of a panic about it being on my ovaries and visible at all on the scan. No visible bowel involvement thank god but it occurred to me that I do have some bowel symptoms that could be relevant so I sent an email on that. He said it’s visible on my sacro uteral ligaments and I’ve had terrible back pain the last 7 years which does flare with my periods. He said those ligaments are usually one of the first places it starts. The consultant suspects my bladder will be involved based on my symptoms but luckily my scan didn’t show anything inside the bladder. He said it’s also likely in the space behind the womb and ovaries. He said conception would be hard because of the position of my ovaries (stuck to nearby structures from endometriosis and it makes it hard for the eggs to reach the tube based on the angle. He’s going to release them), plus untreated endometriosis can make it a hostile environment. I’m beyond grateful to have finally gotten a diagnosis (and my insurance is covering the endometriosis aspect if not fertility) and to be seeing a proactive surgeon, but it’s obviously a shock and it’s not you want to hear when you’re trying to conceive.
I’ve been advised then to go straight into egg collection for IVF (two weeks after the operation) to capitalise on the two cycles post operation where ovarian function should be touchwood the best before endometriosis can start to recur. I’m having a laparoscopy, hysteroscopy and excision / laser removal surgery all in one go next week. I would be really grateful for anyone to share any tips they have on recovery or really just what their experiences were. I’ve been told a two week recovery but it sounds ambitious to me. Has anyone back to backed it with egg collection? I also appreciate that endometriosis is so different for every woman. I’m 35 FYI. Thank you xxx