I felt exactly the same way, worried that after 20+ years of pain, infertility, etc. that they wouldn't find anything. I was relieved to hear that he found 10 spots of endo that he burned off and he also spent a long time cutting apart scarring that had fused my ovary, tube, uterus and bowel together. I am a teacher and I took four school days off. Had it done Friday and went back the next Thursday.

2 1/2 weeks later I am still 'healing' but feel pretty good. I have had bad cramps like my period will start but it hasn't.

Best of luck to you and let us know what you find out!

If you can avoid heavy lifting and stretching I think you'll be ok at 1 week. I was able to get out and about, just lifting, bending, stretching hurt a bit longer than a week. And getting tired easier. Being up and walking around is probably good for your recovery anyway.

Questions hmm mostly I would ask about "what if you find x" sort of scenarios and make it clear what you are ok with or not ok with (such as it is in any scenario ok to remove an ovary, tube, etc...hopefully not necessary though!). I think you already know what type of removal technique your doctor is using, that's the other big question I always recommend asking.

Okay great, glad to hear I shouldn't be down for too long. Did you need help after surgery? I live alone and my mom wants to take me back home after surgery (about an hour and a half away) but home life isn't exactly great right now and the holidays were rough, so I really don't want to go back home for another week. I don't really have anyone to take care of me here either though.

Also my doctor did say he would be using excision, and would only use the laser if the endo was in a really hard to reach spot. I'll make sure I stress to him that I want to keep my ovaries etc. there.

Yeah, you should be fine to go back to school. I'm a teacher and was back teaching a little over a week later. You may not feel great, but hopefully you'll be okay sitting there.

As far as having someone with you, I think it would be a good idea, at least for the first day or two. I spent the first night in the hospital (I know not everyone does) but really relied on the nurses to help me get up and go to the bathroom. My mom stayed with me for one more day and it was helpful for her to bring me stuff and just nice to know someone was there if I needed something. Perhaps your mom could just stay one day at your place? I even needed help getting dressed the first day...bending over was really hard. The first 24 hours are the hardest!

I'm sure they will tell you if they need a bowel prep, but you may want to ask. I think most people do need one.

Good luck! It is rough for a few days, but not too bad. I think the anticipation can be worse! Hang in there!

amber, no advice here, just kind thoughts: i am sorry that you have had such a long journey. i am so happy for you that you will soon have the confirmation of an official diagnosis. they will almost certainly find something, and getting it out of your body should feel fantastic! i wish you speedy mending.

love,
whitedeer

Okay, I wasn't sure how much help exactly I would need so I might have to go home for a few days. Unfortunately this is really bad timing because my grandma is staying with my mom and recovering from back surgery, so she can't be left alone which means my mom can't stay with me either. I am a little worried about the car ride back as well though.

Oh yuck I forgot that there was a bowel prep. I had a colonoscopy back in August and the prep was awful.

Yeah I definitely agree with help for at least the first 24 hours. Might be TMI but whether it was the catheter or whatever they did to my bladder the first night it was very painful to use the restroom and I got really woozy/passoutish so I was glad to have my husband nearby in case anything happened (it didn't). It was also nice to have someone to help sit/stand up without putting a lot of pressure on my abs.

The car ride was a little rough...I know you aren't supposed to while moving but I reclined the seat all the way back to keep the pressure off my midsection. The nurse helped me into the car and my husband helped me out.

I didn't have to do a prep, but my surgeon couldn't deal with endo on my bowel anyway...this upcoming lap I will probably have to do one cause we know it is on my bowel now and my new doc can handle it.