Thinking Endo

[MEKISS]

Hi Ladies

I've been TTC for 15 months & had my first FS appointment last month. The FS mentioned that I could have Endo due to the pain I experience with my period & the heavy bleeding. I have a follow up appointment on the 18/8/08 where we will discuss having a laparoscopy done. I may also need to have a hysteroscopy performed as a recent u/s showed a lump in my uterus.

I've never had an operation before & even though I am really looking forward to finding out what's going on down there, I must admit I'm a little bit apprehensive.

I would really like to know what you experience with your Endo & what a laparoscopy/hysteroscopy is like?

[branjie]

Hi, I had the same situation as you. When I had TTC for 1 yr, I went to a FS and they said that because I had painful periods, they would do a laparoscopy to check for endo, and I think for infertility they routinely did a hysteroscopy at the same time to see what's going on. Anyway, I thought it would be no big deal, as it was a day procedure. When I woke up, I was nauseas, and my tummy was really sore. I needed to go home and spend the rest of the day in bed. I also got a bit of sharp pain in my shoulder, as the gas they put in your abdomen to look around, rises up and can cause that pain. It didn't last for a long time though, and I was probably fine after a couple of days.

Anyway, when they did the op, they did find endo, and they lasered it at the same time. I asked the FS if we could then TTC naturally, and she basically said we could try but to come back when we wanted to do IVF. There was an issue with DHs test results too, so maybe she took that into account. So.. we went to see a naturopath, but the herbs she got me to take made be get the trots, and my period pain wasn't any better. After 6 months we went back and did the IVF, and I got pg first go. As pregnancy holds endo at bay, and my body seemed to know what to do, I was able to conceive naturally once AF came back after having my first baby.

It turned out great for me. It's definitely worth getting all the tests done, so you know where you stand, and if you do have endo, they will most likely get rid of it at the time. Good luck!

[gamsarah]

Hi,

I just had a laparoscopy for suspected endo within the last week, so I thought I would share while the horror is still fresh :yes:

Truthfully, the procedure itself is a breeze- you go to sleep, you wake up and you're full of holes! I was told by my doc to expect the gas pains only for up to 36 hours and that I would be alright with panadol the next day, but that was not not not true! The gas pains I got were like nothing else I've ever experienced- in my diaphragm and ribs and shoulders, they even made it painful to walk, painful to move, and because it's gas bubbles moving around inside your body, the pain doesn't just stay in the one place. It'll be one week tomorrow since my lap and the gas pains only subsided after 4 days. Even then I was still getting some discomfort in one shoulder and in my diaphragm, it just wasn't pure agony. On the plus side, the gas pains will distract you from any pain from the incisions and bruising in your abdomen!

After a couple of days when the gas pains subsided I started to notice pain that felt like it was in my cervix- I've had minor bleeding since the op, it was only heavy on the first day, and in the last 2 days it has been light enough to just use a panty-liner.

My one recommendation (aside from making sure you have plenty of painkillers and a partner willing to wait on your every need!) would be to see a doc who's willing to talk to you after the op or at least have you for a post-op appointment within a couple of days... My doc insists on a week before post-op appt and I still have 2 days before I find out what the hell is going on. It's pretty miserable just waiting :(

I wish you all the best. I have a friend with severe endo who went through a lap and several years later managed to conceive first go- her beautiful baby girl is 1 week old today. So there is plenty of hope if you are diagnosed with endo, I'm sure :)