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.
Hi all!
I am new to this group and to endometriosis. I am a 30 year old female and have had horrible, irregular periods for the last 6 years or so with pain off and on for many years. The last 6 months or so my pain has become constant and really bad and pain with sex is horrible. My perivious doctor kept insisting that the pain was from my IUD even though I didn't have any issues with it for close to 3 years and switched my birth control method 3 times over the last year or so. I finally found an amazing doctor who doesn't make me feel like I am crazy. He said my symptoms sounds textbook endometriosis and explained my options to me: do nothing, switch birth control, laparoscopy to diagnose/ remove, or hysterectomy. I wanted to avoid surgery so I opted to try a different birth control for 3 months which made my bleeding and pain worse so I set up the diagnostic/ treatment laparoscopy.
My question is what should I expect with the surgery? I've read a lot about it online but haven't really been able to find good first hand accounts. I know it depends on what all is done while in there but I'm wondering what I'll feel like post-op, what happens during the surgery (I've seen some horrible youtube videos that involve "uterine manipulators"), and what the recovery is like.
Thanks yall!
For surgery, wear loose fitting clothing so it doesn't aggravate your incisions, and ensure you have someone to drive you home after.
Directly in relation to the endo...go into surgery knowing that it will not be guaranteed to help you and most people have symptoms return within 2 years. My self personally...I was left in worse shape than before i had my surgery...i couldn't walk right the pain was worse tenfold...until exactly 3 weeks after my surgery, the pain just disappeared into thin air. I was happy, I could move and walk and be normal.... until it started to come back (i had surgery January 2016) It is now back with a vengance...keep in mind my now option is trying for a family so im off BC for 2 months now which has played a huge factor in my issues being more painful...but before I got off BC, the pain was no better after surgery. I did have a month or two of normalcy but mentally prep yourself for it coming back. You will be in lots of pain but everyone is different, I did research before my surgery and some people got better, some people it came back for, some people took long to recover, some took less time to recover...i took 3 weeks, you will likely be different as well. Everybody is different and is affected differently so take what people tell you and learn it, so you're prepared, but also work on finding what helps you personally. Exercise after surgery will likely hurt as well....i just started trying to work out and holy hell the pain! This is almost a year after surgery too...if you're active work with a professional on finding small gentle work outs to work you're way back up to a full workout that works for your body.
Honestly, just make sure you have comfy spots for yourself to relax at home in your bedroom and also living room when you want to get out of bed...have movies, books and entertainment on hand so you dont have to strain yourself too much too fast by moving, be patient with your body and take things slow.