Endometriosis Support Group

Sorry you are in pain but glad you've found your knight in a white lab coat.

The only way to diagnose endo is by laparoscopy. The 2 hour ride after should be fine. You will problem sleep through it/be out of it. The first day or two i've slept the whole way except to get up to use the washroom. I've had 6 laps. I just told myself before each one that whatever is going on will be gone when i wake up. I've gone back to work a week later but it takes a few weeks to feel 100% but each day should get better. Your recovery depends on what was done during your surgery (how many incisions you have and what was removed).
good luck
Hardest part was having to go through all the crap.
Really no easiest. You do what you have to do to feel better for however long that is and cherish that time.
Before your surgery put fresh sheets on your bed (you will be there around the clock for a week), wear big tshirts and loose lounge pants. You may have a sore throat from the tube that will be inserted down your throat to help you breathe during surgery. I lived off rice and toast for the first 3-4 days. Didnt' have an appetite but had to eat to get strength back and take pain meds. For me my post-op pain is never worse than the pain i would have every day so I would only need my pain meds the first 2-3 days if that. Take your pain meds at the prescribed time esp that second day (you shouldn't need anythign that first day because the meds they give you through iv during surgery will still be in your system. You should get your rxs at your pre-op appt so fill those before your surgery so they will already be at home. Stock up on movies and magazines. try to stay away from movies that will make you laugh because that won't be good.
hope this helps

Hi there,

I'm glad you are finally getting something done about your pain, it can be a very long road when trying to daignose endo and the quicker it is done the better! I have had two laparoscopies and am prob going to be needing another soon (boo) so in answer to your questions...

Everyone reacts differently to the surgery and it does depend on what they do when inside. My first they couldn't see anything and the second they found endo, cut it out and did other things too.
I really wouldn't recommend a two hour drive if you can possibly help it...can someone not come with you? You usually need an escort after an op with ga.

You will be quite uncomfortable, the gas they put in you is the worst bit I would say and be prepared to do alot of lying down!

Make sure your home is clean and bed clothes changed etc before you go in, anything that will make you more comfortable and relaxed when you arrive back home. Maybe make or buy some easy meals in advance so you don't have to cook or stand up for long.

Make sure you stock up on painkillers although the hospital should give these to you. Take in sanitary pads in case you bleed and make sure you have loose comfy clothing to change into.

My recovery time was quite long...I suffered an infection in my cuts the first time round which made my recovery longer but the second they had to cut quite abit out including some that was stuck to my bowel and I felt pretty weak for a while. I am a teacher and I needed to be physically fit before I went back (I couldn't take any risks) so I was off for about four weeks the first time and five for the second. This varies between people and I am sure it will have been less and more for others.

I hope it goes well when you do have it and please feel free to message me with any other questions you may have. You'll be fine don't worry, it is scary having an op and your nerves are completely natural. Just please try and get someone to come with you and look after you for at least the couple of days after.

Take care x

Thank you both so much. You've helped me to get my head in the right place. I'm just SO ready to get the ball rolling on this. I do have someone to bring me; so, I won't have to drive. I'll just ride.

I wish I hadn't been reading so many books lately. I should have been stock-piling them for my recovery. Oh well.

If you don't mind my asking, what were your symptoms that led to your doctors doing a laparoscopy? Are the multiple Laps you've both had/are having something to "look forward to" if I do get this diagnosis?

You're welcome.

Unfortuanatley for most but not all, multiple surgeries is often something to look forward to when dealing with endo. I had my very first lap after going two years of unexplained pelvic pain that would come out of the blue and then go away, landing me in the er several times. one that last er visit in 1999 a nurse mentioned endometriosis so i started researching it and made my doctor do a lap. After that i had surgeries when my pain would get so bad that my pain meds wouldn't stop it. Whenever that happened and i had surgery it ended up being that one of my ovaries was stuck to uterine wall so all my laps were warranted.

Did your pain always just happen out of the blue? Did anything seem to trigger it? Was it worse around that time of the month? Did you ever just ache down there without severe pain? I apologize for asking so many questions, and I know everyone has different experience.

I get very sharp, severe pain for "no reason" several times during the week. There's always a reason for pain, I know, but I haven't determined the agitator yet. I guess it could be this. The rest of the time I just have a dull ache in my abdomen and my lower back. Everything is intensified right before and at the beginning of AF's visit. Does that sound consistent with what you've heard of Endo symptoms or what you've experienced?

I've always been told that all of that was normal; so, I feel like I don't know what should and shouldn't be happening.

Don't apologize hun. That is what we are here for. It did just happen out of the blue. I never had painful periods until maybe 5-6 years ago. Yes, i used to ache down there every single day. Look into pelvic floor therapy. You are probably having that ache and lower back pain because your pelvic floor muscles are tight. Your symptoms are similiar to mine. All of this is normal for those with endo but not normal in general.

A couple tips I have for you is first of all take your pain meds every 4-6 hours ( or whatever yours say)....even if you don't think the pain is bad. For my first lap I didn't do that and once I got "behind" the pain it was really hard to get myself comfortable. For the 2nd and 3rd lap I took it regularly for the first two days and I felt so much better. Also take something like gas x for the gas pains. I do not know how it works since the gas is trapped in your abdomen but it totally does!!! Also I found I had to sleep in a recliner for the first several days and once I could climb into bed I had to sleep propped up for a few more days. I went back to work after 10 days for each surgery ( I have a very physical job...I'm a nanny...lots of lifting children!!!). But it took me up to 6 weeks to feel normal.

I dont know what you do for work, but I went back to work at 2 wks and prob could have went sooner, it sometimes matters on how much "work" they do in there. The drive will be ok, bring some pillows to put around you and a blanket and just sleep, maybe a throw up bag jic, I did get nauseous once.
If you are really anxious ask for something from your doctor to take with you when you arrive, I took a xanax and it worked great, just makes you relaxed, i would highly reccomend it, esp the first time.

Oh I forgot to add that I had an hour drive home after and it can be not fun but it's generally not horrible...mostly bcuz I was still feeling some effects from anesthesia and they let me take a Vicodin before I left the surgery room. I would second that you want to bring a pillow to hug on the ride and have a little garbage can or something handy in case you puke. I never did but still took that all three times just in case!!! Also I never really had much done during my surgeries and it still took me long to recover. After the first two weeks the worst thing was that I got incrediblly tired rather quickly! I had the best recovery with my second surgery. My third one the dr tried to make the incision in my belly button and couldn't cut thru all the scar tissue so besides that incrediblly sore "try" that took a day to stop bleeding I had a third incision above my belly button. Also I had all these books to read but found I was too tired to read....watched lots of movies and tv!!!