Need Advice on Endometriosis and Laparoscopy plz

Pippin31

Hi,
Yes, yes, yes!!! I just had the same exact procedure 4 weeks ago. This was my 2nd lapro. Anyway, they will put you completely under for this operation. They make 2-3 small incisions in your abdomen. They will insert instruments through your vagina to manipulate your pelvic organs to get a better look. Again, you will be totally under. After your lapro is complete, they will do a bladder scope. I was asleep all the way through all of it, so I can’t tell you exactly what they do during that procedure. You won’t feel it while they do it, however it is a bit uncomfortable after you wake up. It will hurt a little to urinate. Make sure they proscribe you anti-biotic too for the after care of the bladder scope. Now, as far as recovery pain from the lapro. It all depends on what they find and how much they look around. My first lapro was severely painful. Then again, it was a gyn who did it! She was all over the place and my recovery was difficult. For my 2nd lapro., I had a reproductive endroconologist do it. He is a fertility specialist. The recovery from his procedure was so much better because these types of procedures are his specialty. I still had extreme pain, but it was more localized due to adhesion being cut. With my first one, I felt like a truck ran over my whole stomach. Make sure your doctor is very experienced in this surgery, trust me your recovery will be a lot easier.
I have been diagnosed with IBS. I also experienced bladder problems as well. I was put on Lupron for 2 years which made the pelvic pain, bladder problems, and so on... disappear. But to the doctors surprise, no endometriosis was found nor was there any evidence of me ever having it. They didn’t see it the first time either, but the 2nd doctor was convinced I had it because of the symptoms and the Lupron fixing the pain. I am still undiagnosed. My symptoms include; “twisting” pain in lower right side. Usually starts mid-cycle then eases up after period is over. It would go away for as long as a year then come back. One day it hit and never went away. When I was late for my periods, the pain increased. Felt like I had a really bad bladder infection (urine never showed infection) urinate blood sometimes, felt like things were swelling in there and going to drop out, and my white blood count was always elevated when pain was high.
Anyway, like I said, they thought it was endo from the symptoms and Lupron helping, but it wasn’t. Bladder scope showed nothing either.
Make sure you discuss your doctors expertise with this procedure. Ask about medication alternatives before surgery as well. I took Lupron, however many choose not to because of the side effects. I was desperate!!! I ended up taking it after my first procedure because I refused to take it first after everything I read. I don’t know if I regret it or not yet. I had some side effects that include weight gain, hair loss, memory loss and hot flashes. But the pain that made me wish I were DEAD went away! I don’t know if the trade off was worth it because again, I still read such horror stories. Educate yourself about the medicine should you decide to try it!! Make sure you write all of your questions down before your doctor appointment. Sorry this is so long, but I have so much to say on the topic. I could still go on about the lapro. Endro, Lupron, etc..., but I will wait to see if you have more questions.

Kristykg

Hi, I just had my 3rd lap done 2 weeks ago. I've endo for over 10 yrs now and the surgeries are now coming closer and closer together. I believe that has alot to do with scar tissue and adhesions from the past surgeries. This time, they took out my right ovary because it was attached to my side wall and removed endo on my left ovary. I agree with the above poster, make sure your dr has experience in this type of surgery. My Dr is a regular ob, but has never caused any more pain than the normal gas pains. Yes, you will have plenty of gas pains as they will bloat your stomach up with alot of gas to allow them moving room. Even this time around with an ovary removal, I never had to take a pain pill. But that is my dr. Not all ob's are experienced in this type of surgery. Ask about his experience, otherwise, you are likely to have much more pain than needed. I, too, could go on and on about this. I'm 35 and choose not to have the hyster yet, as I have no kids and would like that opportunity. Good luck with everything and let us know if you have anymore questions

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kristine gawthrop

dmbfan

I'm going through a similar dilemma...my Doc. has recommended a lapro. "just to see what's going on" I know I have IBS and I know it's worse around my periods, but I'm not sure if endo is the problem. Is lapro "routine" enough to get it done "just to see"? I felt like my doc. was considering it a pretty routine procedure. But from the sounds of things you are all writing, it's really not. This is the first time I've seen this gyno. and I'm not that familiar with her any suggestions? I'm really worried about recovery time....I'm a very active person and the thought of being laid up in pain for days because of a procedure I didn't really need makes me a little leary.

[This message has been edited by dmbfan (edited 05-27-2003).]

sweetescape02

dmbfan ~ A Laparoscopy is a fairly common procedure, especially if the doc just wants to have a look around. I just had mine done last Monday and had my post-op and stitches removed today. There is some discomfort involved but not really any severe pain. To be honest, having my stitches removed today was more painful than the whole recovery thing. I was able to shower and walk around normally the same day, I was just a little tired.

Like the others said, your recovery time will depend a lot on what the doctor does in there. I scared myself silly the week before worrying about the pain, etc. but I am very glad I had it done because I would never have known the extent of the damage had I not had the laparoscopy. Good luck!

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~ Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad. ~

Kristykg

DMBFAN:
I would have to agree with the above poster. A Lap is a very common procedure to have a "looksie". Alot of things/illnesses cannot be detected with x-rays/scans or things of that nature. With a Lap, they can actually see with their own eye. As far as the pain goes, there is nothing to worry about. I did not recover as well as the above poster, it was the next day before I could actually shower and the moving was quite slow for a couple of days. But I must inform you that the more you walk around and release the excess gas, the better and quicker you will feel. You may even experience some gas pains up around your neck and shoulder area as the gas moves upwards. Just pop a few tylenol and grab a heating pad, and it will be okay. If you are experience painful cycles, like I was and many do on this board, this experience will be a piece of cake...nothing too it. I was back at work a week later after having an ovary removed by way of lap. Granted I was very tired and prob should have stayed home, but it went well. Good luck with everything and don't worry yourself sick.

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kristine gawthrop

jessilynn68

Hi ther e- I have had both a cystoscopy and 3 laps, but not at the same time. I have endo, and interstitial cystitis. IC is a chronic inflammation of the wall of the bladder that makes you feel as if you constantly have a urinary tract infection, but don't. Not much fun. I don't know if they are linked, but one theory about endo is that its auntoimmune, and IC is definately autoimmune. So is IBS, though I don't have that. I do have problems with bowel movements at my periods, but I don't think its IBS. That is very common with endo.

I don't know about having both procedures together, but each was ok for me. The laps caused pain for maybe 3 or 4 days, and the cysto was easier than that. For the cysto, they inflate your bladder with fluid, and then take pics of it. The first time you pee after will hurt like you can't believe after, but it gets easier very quickly. Good luck!

deb30

Hi. Laps are very common-I've had 21 in ten years plus a few major surgeries for endo. Two years ago I had part of my intestines removed (they blew out during a lap, they were kinked becuz of the endometreosis) and also had my appendix removed and surgery on my kidney! Labs are fairly easy to recover from and you don't want to ignore endometreosis--it can cause alot of problems in the future if you have it and don't have it removed! Still don't know whether I'll be able to have a baby-I'm down to only one ovary now but still hopeful!!! Good luck!!

~mizzunderstood20~uk

Hi,
Thanks So much for all your replys, im seeing my gynocologist in a few months, but im being put on the contraceptive pill as my gyno said this can help the symtoms of endometriosis, has the pill helped anyone else's endo symtoms?
Ive decided to have the laporoscopy although i have CAH as well, so im worried about havin any type of surgery because of that but my endocrinologist will be there so hopefully it will be ok.
Also my gyno said that if they find endo on my bladder (or anywhere else) when i have a laporoscopy then they'll take it away but im worried it'll cause more pain to wherever they take it away from ie. my bladder.
when they take endo away, do they cut it out?
Also i wondered if havin a scan on my stomach would show the endo if i have it? http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/confused.gif
Thanks Again

deb30

Hi! They use lasers to burn away the endo. I've had spots removed off my bladder, liver and kidneys! I was on the pill to help with my endo and it did some with my period but I was still suffering pain everyday! After I had part of my intestines removed cuz the endo kinked them and destroyed them they removed my right ovary and fallopian tube and I have been pain free since last Sept. Good Luck!

shell1

I just found out that they found one tiny little spot of endo when I had a biopsy done because of break through bleeding. I don't know if it has anything to do with it, but I have to pee every 15 or 20 minutes. I am also having mood swings and no energy at all, and no appetite. I just started taking a low dose estrogen birth control pill and the doc said that it should clear up the sypmtoms and the spot of endometriosis. I sure hope it works. It feels like I am having 24/7 PMS.

johannashinzato

i'm 30yrs old and i'm getting lap done this week and i'm terrified of general anesthesia...just the thought of having a tube down my throat with a ventilator horrifies me...my gyn is looking for endo...can they give me local anesthesia???how long does this procedure last?????

jules1

Mine only lasted for about 20 minutes, and they found that I had severe endo and zapped it in that time.

I was SO nervous before my lap. Don't worry about the tube, you'll be asleep the whole time and won't even know its in. You can ask them to give you some medicine to relax once they have your IV in... and TRUST me, you are relaxed after they give you that medicine I was totally out of it, and was talking nonsense. I barely remember getting wheeled into the surgery room.

And I was WALKING around after it was over. I woke up and was SO thirsty. Once I got something to drink I was fine. They make you stay until you go to the bathroom, and anethesia makes me not be able to go to the bathroom that easily (which I didn't know, I just thought something was wrong - so if its hard for you to go, even though it might hurt a little, strain a little and you should be able to go). Since it took me awhile to go, I was walking around the recovery room hoping it would help. The nurse was freaking out, but I kept telling her I was fine. Very little pain. Esp compared to your pain if you have endo, or if your pain is severe enough for someone to suspect endo.

And Shell1 - I had to go to the bathroom ALL of the time before my lap. I don't know what endo has to do with it, but I used to go ALL of the time. Now I don't have to

~airforcewife~

johanna ~ don't worry, it's a very simple procedure, just like jules said. The tube is placed down your throat after you're asleep and removed before you wake up. The only trace will be a minor sore throat for a few days after. I walked into the surgery center at 7 and was back in my living room by 11.

My biggest fears going in were the tube down the throat and the IV, but neither turned out to be a problem at all!

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~ Proud Military Wife & Mother Of 3 Beautiful Children! ~

[This message has been edited by ~airforcewife~ (edited 06-23-2003).]