Endometriosis Support Group
Endometriosis is a common medical condition where the tissue lining the uterus is found outside of the uterus, typically affecting other organs in the pelvis. The condition can lead to serious health problems, primarily pain and infertility. A major symptom of endometriosis is pain, mostly in the lower abdomen, lower back, and pelvic area.
It's the eve of my surgery and I'm completeing my second colon cleanse in two weeks. Yuck. Last time was Golytely. This time is Miralax which isn't so bad comparatively.
They've already found endometriosis in my bowel so at least this isn't a "let's see if you have it" surgery. The surgical OB/Gyn and the RE will be removing my cyst and lasering off any endo they find. There are concerns about my right ovary but until they get in there they just don't know.
As far as the monthly rectal bleeding I get this surgery won't be addressing that, that will have to be a future bowel resection.
I'm nervous about general anesthesia. I'm more nervous about my poor husband having to wait for me to get out of surgery. I get to go go to sleep and wake up. He has to have anxiety.
This is going to sound crazy but I'm having anxiety about them not finding anything wrong. After years of doctors telling me that I was normal and even with the ultrasound of the cyst, the endo in my bowel and all of the pain. I'm absolutely terrified they will get inside and find nothing wrong. That all of this has been in my head. It's silly, I know.
It's not that I want endometriosis. I just want answers and relief. I want to know what I'm up against.
I'm going to go on a continuous birth control after and having never done well with birth controls I'm nervous about that. I'm not looking forward to this journey.
They've already found endometriosis in my bowel so at least this isn't a "let's see if you have it" surgery. The surgical OB/Gyn and the RE will be removing my cyst and lasering off any endo they find. There are concerns about my right ovary but until they get in there they just don't know.
As far as the monthly rectal bleeding I get this surgery won't be addressing that, that will have to be a future bowel resection.
I'm nervous about general anesthesia. I'm more nervous about my poor husband having to wait for me to get out of surgery. I get to go go to sleep and wake up. He has to have anxiety.
This is going to sound crazy but I'm having anxiety about them not finding anything wrong. After years of doctors telling me that I was normal and even with the ultrasound of the cyst, the endo in my bowel and all of the pain. I'm absolutely terrified they will get inside and find nothing wrong. That all of this has been in my head. It's silly, I know.
It's not that I want endometriosis. I just want answers and relief. I want to know what I'm up against.
I'm going to go on a continuous birth control after and having never done well with birth controls I'm nervous about that. I'm not looking forward to this journey.
It is 100% normal for you to be nervous! And as far you being nervous they wont find anything wrong, I also get that! You want to be validated and to get resolution as to why you're in pain!
Before I was diagnosed, I must've had like 50 ultrasounds and several MRI's and they saw NOTHING besides simple cysts! But when they opened me up, endo was everywhere (as I suspected due to pain), and diagnosed with stage IV. So, don't go on ultrasounds and other imaging testing. You are doing the absolute right thing to have a lap!
My best advice to you is what my father told me before my last surgery when I was panicking. Just pack like you're going to surgery tomorrow, shrink the world down around you, pop a movie in or put on a mindless TV show, get some food and water in you, and that's it. Just stay in the moment, and before you know it, it will be tomorrow. Anticipation is always worse than participation!!
Everything's gonna be alright! Please keep us all updated!!
Take care of yourself once you get home. Your incisions might be tiny but your insides have had their ass kicked. Stay comfy, move slowly, and trust me....take stool softeners. Keep us posted and good luck girl!!
Take a deep breath and repeat any mantra that will relax you! Hope all comes out well for you!
It's NOT irrational, it absolutely makes sense-- take heart in that you are not alone. You can do this,and so can your husband. Best to you, will hope for an excellent outcome!
Wishing you a great outcome and a speedy recovery. Allow the emotions to pour in, even the 'irrational' ones. It is totally healthy.
I hope you have some old gossip girl episodes to watch on your break...Georgina. :-)
Did they find a chocolate cyst? Tons of adhesions? Both? One?
These are also telling. My surgeons still have not 'found' endo other than chocolate cysts, adhesions, and buggered tubes. Dr Cook in California said many surgeons are not trained to spot endo properly AND the labs only test a small portion of the tissue, so if the lab doesn't know how to spot it, you will also get a false negative.
Both surgeons were convinced they removed some endo, but both pathologies came back negative. Still, I have been diagnosed with endo - without a doubt.
So even if your fears come true, sorry, it ain't true. You are stuck in this lousy club of ours. Lovely, right?