Hi Monica! I just had my first lap a few weeks ago, and for similar reasons - the pain I had (and no pregnancies after over a year of trying) made my doctor strongly suspect endo.

For a lap, they make a small incision in your belly button, and a camera goes through there. The doc will look at everything to see if endo is there - this is the only way to find out and diagnose. My doctor also removed the endo that he found, so there were three other small incisions (less than an inch each) on my belly. He removed most of the endo and now I'm still trying to conceive. With the disease removed, the chances are better than ever for pregnancy as endometriosis can interfere, and left untreated, will likely just get worse.

I also had an HSG done at the same time, where they put dye in your tubes to see if they're clear.

Feel free to ask more questions - I'll tell you all I know :)

Welcome Monica, I had my second lap done March 3. They removed 2 cysts. The endo moved my ovarie, and attached it to my pelvis. In 1999 found out I had endo did all the treatments. When we were ready to conceive it took us about 2 months after coming off of b/c. We have been trying for second for about 3 yrs. Hope this lap. works. My dr. seems to think I will have no problems. How long does your stomach stay swollen? Does anyone know?

I've had about 8-10 laps (I've lost count). They aren't that bad and you are only puffy for about a couple of days.

I am going in for my 3rd lap on apr.8th. I also have had a miscarriage and I think the endo played a part in that although I didn't know about the endo until after I miscarried.
hugs

Laparoscopy was easier than getting my impacted wisdom teeth out! Recovery the next day is hard, but after a week you are back to normal almost. it's a non-invasive, fairly easy and successful surgery normally.

OH MY!! Is it normal to have to have so many laps. done?

Hey sweetangel. I have also just been told that I need a lap done to see if I have endometriosis and if so, remove it. I don't know if this is what I have yet, but my doctor strongly suspects it because I have severe pain and I've been trying to conceive for three years. I've had other tests done and none of them have revealed anything that could cause my infertility.
My doc said that if I have endo, my chances of getting pregnant will be higher right after the surgery, because the endo will come back over time.
I hope and pray that you won't ever have to worry about infertility, but I think your chances are better the sooner you get help. My doc wasn't shy about telling me that I had waited to long to seek help.

I had a lap last spring and I had had two previous surgeries prior honestly this was a cake walk compared to anything I had before. It really wasn't bad the worst part of the whole deal was bloating for a few days after, nothing too bad and the day of I had some gas bubbles in my chest due to the gas they use in your belly when they are doing the procedure but honestly it was sooooo not bad, and if you do in fact have endo they can easily remove it while they are there and it should help you get pregnant faster :0) I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers....try not to worry honestly I know that is easier said then done but I really do mean it when I say it is not bad. Hugs to you!

I agree, it's one of the easier surgeries to get thru. I had mine (the only one) last August and it was outpatient. The night after the surgery, I went to work. It's hard to stand straight up b/c I had a cut in my lower pelvic area, and one in my belly button. Afterwards (they cut out a lot of endo), I had more energy and a lot less pain, almost none. So, don't be scared.

My recovery from my lap was a bit longer - 4-5 days before I had the energy to do anything (the anastetic really knocked me around), and about 10 days before I could sit upright for long periods of time without feeling pain inside my abdomen.

The worst part was the gas left in my tummy. I wasn't at all bloated, but it travelled to my neck & shoulders and caused incredible pain for the first 2 days after surgery. I needed help to go from lying to sitting because it hurt too much to lift my own head!