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Post by Star on Oct 4, 2007 18:47:57 GMT -5
Hi Everyone,
You all seem so helpful and brave.
I am 26 and booked for my first laparoscopy tomorrow. I've already had internal ultrasounds to look for polysistic ovarian syndrome, and apparantly nothing. I was so convinced I must have that as all the symptoms fit but nothing! Now they think I have endometriosis and again, all the symptoms fit but if they don't find anything this time, what can I do? What's wrong with me? I've been suffering with horrendous, worsening periods for 10 years and the pill isn't really helping at all and the side effects are awful. I'm fat, I've aged, I'm always ill. I am terrified of what's going to happen to me tomorrow and how I'll manage recovering. I'm hoping there's someone around to reassure me and perhaps offer some advice as to what I can do if the lap reveals nothing? Also what are the chances I'll be infertile or have trouble conceiving later on if I have endometriosis? Are they pretty high? I'm not ready to start a family yet, and perhaps I never will be but I'd like to be able to make that decision. I'm sure I sound like every other scared, underinformed person who comes on here asking for advice so I'm sorry to bore everyone. I'm just really really scared!
Thanks in anticipation. Star x
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Post by ouchy on Oct 4, 2007 22:45:11 GMT -5
Hi. We all know the anguish you are going through. First, I'd like to say that I have PCOS and have never been found to have polycysts. You don't have to have cystic ovaries to have PCOS. It's actually Stein-Leventhall Syndrome, and the first case just *happened* to have polycysts, so they dubbed it "Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome." Like all syndromes, including endometriosis, you don't have to have all of the symptoms. There are hormones and case history that are also involved in both diagnosing and ruling-out PCOS. You won't know how you will recover tomorrow until you are recovering. Everyone has a different recovery, and even from surgery-to-surgery the recovery period can be different. If the lap reveals nothing, that also doesn't mean that you dont' have endometriosis--it depends on the location of the implants, the size (some are microscopic), and most importantly, the skill of the surgeon. Some surgeons don't feel comfortable removing endometriosis from the bowel, sometimes it is too invasive to remove from the bowel or other organs and another surgery is needed. You just don't know until you have it done. The chances of being infertile due to endo depend (according to my OBGYN/fertility specialist, anyway) on the location of the implants. He told me that in his experience, women who do not have endo on their tubes or ovaries are pretty much good to go without their fertility being affected. Then again, if you happen to have endo on the tubes/ovaries, that doesn't mean that you will have problems, either. Again, you just never know. A lot of us on here have PCOS or symptoms of PCOS, which are more of a fertility concern than endo percentage-wise in the population. You just never know until you are ready to try. Anyway, hope that helps. I know you're scared. I wish you a wonderful lap and a speedy recovery!
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star
New Member
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Post by star on Oct 6, 2007 12:03:24 GMT -5
Hi Everyone
Just thought I'd update on my first laparoscopy experience. So much for day surgery, I was in for 2 days, but that was mainly the anaestetic that caused that. I don't know if anyone's ever been pleased to find out for certain they have endo, but I do and I am! Its such a relief to finally have a name for it! I had lots of adhesions, my left ovary and tube were in a right state, and a few small spots of endo. Considering they only booked me in for the lap to shut me up and prove to me there was nothing there, this is a real result, I haven't been going mad for the last 10 years, I knew I didn't just have 'period pains'! I'm so pleased I found this site though as the lack of information given to me at the hospital was immense. Without this site I wouldn't have known I was going to bleed afterwards, what adhesions and spots were, that the doctor telling me surgery would take between 20 mins and 1 hour was being very optimistic, that taking a cushion for travelling home was a godsend, that my shoulders hurting was normal and so many other things they just don't bother to tell you. Thank you so so much! I'd just like to add that the blood pressure machines (certainly the one's I've experienced) are really viscious! I have so many burst blood vessels in my arm from them, so feeling like your arm is going to explode is normal! I'm hoping my endo is gone now and I can live a 'normal' life again. To have bareable period pains would mean everything to me, try spending 10 years telling your bosses you can't work because you have period pains, they all just think I'm a wimp! This is probably off topic so I'll try to post it somewhere else as well but does anyone happen to know if I have children, I'm sure that girls would have endo, as my mum also had it, we've just found out, and I'm informed that it is passed from generation to generation but gets worse each generation, that's certainly true from my mum to me, so I would hate to pass that on to a daughter. If I had a son, would he pass it on to his daughters or could that not happen? Thanks everyone, you're all amazing people, sorry if this message is rambling, these pain killers are wonderful!
Star xx
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Post by angela15 on Apr 6, 2008 21:50:58 GMT -5
I need to know how much scarring is caused from the incisions? and idd anyone gain weight after the laparoscopy? how long did the bloating last? thank you
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Post by cass on Apr 7, 2008 5:45:34 GMT -5
is it a diagnositc lap or are they excising? i couldnt really imagine someone gaining weight from a laparoscopy.
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Post by kaalkaj on Jun 12, 2008 14:07:30 GMT -5
I am scheduled tomorrow for my first laproscopy associatied with endo. I am so scared that they are not going to find anything. I am also scared that my physcian is not going to look further that my uterus and ovaries. What if he misses something by not looking further? I am a nervous wreck. My brain is half fried from all these damn pain meds they have me on. Tramadol, Percocet, Darvocet. Between the pain and the meds I am sleeping a good 15 hours a day. I haven't been able to work since beginning of April, am barely able to take care of my son. Thank god he is 8 and someone self relaint. I hate telling him that no he can't go out to play with his friends because I need him here to help me. My smoking has increased from a pack a day to almost a pack and a half a day from teh stress and dealing with the constant pain. My husband and I haven't have sex in 2 monthes I feel extremely guilty about that. I just want this all to be over. I know the next step is the laproscopy and while I am not looking forward to the fleet enemas I have to do tonight and tomorrow morning I am commited to it. Please, please God let them find something and be able to help me. I am somewhat different from most of hte posts I have read on this board. I am 30 with an 8 yo son of my own and a 17 yo stepson. I don't want anymore kids. If they find something and depending on how big it is then I want a full hysterectomy and a oopharectomy (sp?). Take it all out. I'm willing to go through menopause at 30 if it means I can work and take care of my home and family again.
Please anyone with advice? All my tests scans, xrays, ultrasounds have come back showing nothing but two cycts on my liver and a microscopic one on my right ovary. With all that is it possible they will find something? Please give me some hope!
Also advice about taking care of home and family. How do you do it with extreme pain? Unless drugged my pain normally is around a 6 on a 1-10 pain scale. When I am drugged its normally a 2 but I am so drowsy and out of it that its hard to get things done. It takes me 2 hours to do a normal days dishes because I can't take standing at the sink for more than 5 minutes at a time and I have to go lay down and rest.
My 8 yo is a responsible kid. He makes his own breakfast of cereal or toast and same with lunch he makes his sandwhiches or has a lunchable or something like that. We keep food in teh house that he can prepare himself. He is not allowed to use the stove or the oven only the microwave. He has been a huge help around the house with helping me pick up and he brings me up the laundry basket with the laundry from the dryer so I can fold then he carries the folded clothes upstairs to the appropriate rooms for their occupants to put away. He cleans his own room and makes his bed every morning. He loves to sweep and mop the floors.
I just feel so guilty that he has to do this. I never wanted my son to be a go-for. My perfectly capable parents did that to me when I was a kid. Megan please go get me this or go get me that. Now I am doing that to him. I am laying on teh couch with a heating pad against my belly and I send him off for something to drink, or the phone, or to answer the door because I can't get up. Yesterday I was in tears because he came in from outside and said that he had been praying for me to feel better. How do you deal with the guilt?
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Post by italialynn on Jun 12, 2008 15:09:37 GMT -5
I'm so, so sorry you are feeling this way right now. The best thing to do is concentrate on your surgery and the healing that you will need afterwards. I know it's so hard not to stress about everything, but try your best not to worry. Give yourself a good cry!!!!! I can't relate to having children and trying to care for them while being in pain, but I can relate to your situation. I have a farm full of animals, horses, dogs etc. that all require my daily care. It's non-stop most of the time. There are certainly some days when I can't simply get out of bed to help with the work. At first I felt so incredibly guilty laying it all on my husband, but I had to try and get over those feelings. Family and friends are there to help, it's ok to let them! There WILL be a time when you'll feel better and you'll be able to return the favor. God Bless your son for being such a brave boy! As far as the lap goes, you'll make it through ok. I remember how scared I was that they wouldn't find anything. I wanted something to justify the way I felt! I remember waking up from the anesthesia and feeling my stomach to make sure there were two incisions (I knew there would be two if they used the laser to ablate the growths). I'm sure they will find something. For now, take a deep breath. You'll make it through Remember to give yourself a good two weeks of rest to heal. And DON'T feel guilty for doing so. Good luck!
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Post by jobiwon on Jul 22, 2008 10:49:35 GMT -5
I had a lapo done in May. I was so scared that I was going to wake up from the anesthesia and be in tremendous pain. It was actually not bad at all. I was released the same day, and slept pretty much that entire night, and the next day I was ready to walk around a little bit. i did have to have a bag put in because I had the lap to remove a septum in my uterus so the bag was to hold my uterus from collapsing. They found the endo b/c of the septum. But really the only pain I REALLY had was in my chest and shoulders from the gas. That hurt worse than the pain in my stomach and that went away in 2 days. I was shocked at how well it went. I hope that all of you can have a good experience with your lap.. GOOD LUCK to all of you getting a lapo soon!
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lexie
New Member
Posts: 13
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Post by lexie on Aug 3, 2008 0:12:45 GMT -5
Can anyone tell me the types of Laproscopy procedures. Laser soounds to me rather like buring it off. Does this cause damage to nearby nerves through this intense heat. I have nerve damage already in my pelvis. What are the disadvantages of this or the advantages. OR the standard excisional.? I have read about and EVE procedure which is very gentle on the abdomen adn a quicker healing time. thanks
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lexie
New Member
Posts: 13
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Post by lexie on Aug 3, 2008 23:15:09 GMT -5
Hello all, I have had ultrasounds done and no-one has ever told me I hve endo. Does it show up on an ultra sound and if so fine but if it doesn't adn your doctor sais he wants to do a laproscopy to see then waht is the point if it does not show up on my ultrasound.? Should I just get the procedure done to see if I have? confused as it seems some women on the forum have been told for sure via ultrasound. I have had many ultrasounds, MRI"s and catscans and no one has ever told me this so maybe i do not have it.or could I? very confused adn frustrated here.............ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh----thanks lexie
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lexie
New Member
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Post by lexie on Aug 3, 2008 23:20:22 GMT -5
Is larpsocpy the best way to diagnose endo or should i just get another ultrasound again but have never been told it showed up. my obgyn said he wants to do a larposcopy but why if endo did not show up omy vaginal ultrasound...very very confused and frustrated. Any advice-thankyou-lexie
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Post by milagro74 on Sept 11, 2008 18:28:32 GMT -5
From what my doctor told me, is that endo does not show up in a ultrasound, mri or catscan. I had all those done and nothing was found, til i got my lapo, and i was full fo endo.............
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Post by ouchy on Sept 11, 2008 18:46:26 GMT -5
same here. even had a radioactive swallow w/ imaging that didn't show my bowels all twisted and tied together and glued to my pelvic wall from endo.
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Post by Sara1987 on Jan 20, 2009 17:15:08 GMT -5
Hi my name is sara im twenty one. I was diagnosed wiv endo via laparoscopy bak in june 08 the endo woz not removd then. I was then refferd to a speciallist that deals with endo. I went for my second laparoscopy in november 08 to have the endo removed. The endo was again not removed because not only was it on my urether bt it had spread to my ureter (tube cum dwn frm the kidneys to the bladder) its now 09 and iv just recieved my date for my next opp. March 16th 09. Cant wait!!
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Post by Sara1987 on Jan 20, 2009 17:21:24 GMT -5
Hi my name is sara im twenty one. I was diagnosed wiv endo via laparoscopy bak in june 08 the endo woz not removd then. I was then refferd to a speciallist that deals with endo. I went for my second laparoscopy in november 08 to have the endo removed. The endo was again not removed because not only was it on my utreus bt it had spread to my ureter (tube cum dwn frm the kidneys to the bladder) its now 09 and iv just recieved my date for my next opp. March 16th 09. Cant wait!!
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