Endometriosis

Again courtesy of Kahilia

Well, first of all, everyone is so different. It really depends on what they find and what they do. My first few surgeries were about 4 hours long and they operated on my ovaries. I had pretty severe pain after from the procedure itself. It took me about a good two weeks to feel better. My last lap last was less invasive and took about an hour. My pain was minimal compared to the first few and I was only under for about an hour and my ovaries were not operated on. I was feeling better in less than one week. Depending on what type of job you have and what your responsibilities are, you may be out of work for less than one week or for a few weeks. Also, be prepared for the fact that if you are a mess inside and your pelvis is frozen, they may have to open you up for a full cut (laparotomy) and that can take six long weeks or more for recovery. Your doc should talk to you about this beforehand and if they don't, you should ask them about it. Please remember, even if they just do a laparoscopy and you only have a few small incisions, your insides just had surgery and you need time to recover. Don't overdo it and listen to your body or you will regret it.

Gas Pain: In order for the surgeon to get a good look inside of you, they will fill your belly with gas. It allows for separation of the organs and a better view. They will relieve some of the gas, but you may see people complaining of gas pain. The gas is trapped inside you and often pushes up to your shoulders. A lot of people will have extreme pain in their shoulders. This is normal. For me, the pain meds don't touch the pain. Some people do better sitting/standing/walking to work it out, but for me, I have to lie flat. As soon as I sit upright, the pain is unbearable. Figure out what works best for you and stick with it. It may not bother you at all or it may bother you for the first few days. For me, it's usually gone by two to three days.

Incisions: Your doctor will tell you how to take care of your incisions and what signs to watch for regarding infection. Listen to them. If you have any questions, no matter how small or what time of day or night, call your surgeon - that is what they are there for. Each surgeon uses a different amount of ports. You will definitely have one in your belly button and then one to three others. They are tiny and usually around your bikini line. Some will use surgical glue and some will use old fashion stiches.

Pain Meds: Your doc will give you some meds for pain. It is important that you keep on top of them and not try to be tough. Once you allow the pain to break through, it's harder to get it back under control - trust me on this. Take your meds as prescribed and if it is not enough, call your doc and let them know. You may not be totally pain free, but you should be comfortable.

Caretaker: If possible, I'd recommend having your hubby or someone there with you 24-7 for the first few days. It may be tough for you to get up and around. It's tiring if you are alone and need a drink or your pain meds - the tiniest movements can be painful and tiring.

I know you had a question about skin endo - I have no idea how to answer that one. Write it down and be sure to ask your doctor about it.

Is your doc an OB/GYN? Sometimes a regular OB/GYN is not adept to treat endo. Typically reproductive endocrinologists, pelvic pain specialists, or uro-gyns are better equipped to deal with endo and proper removal. Check out Liz's post Good Resources if you would like a second opinion before surgery. Also, hopeful has a list of endo specialists (which are few and far between) that I'm sure she'd be willing to provide to you via e-mail.

Good luck to you and let us know when your surgery is scheduled and how you make out after. It's normal to be nervous. Talk to your doc about all of your concerns in your pre-op appt. Take Care