that I'm having the laproscopy (which I can't spell) that I've been avoiding for almost three years now. Some of you know what's been going on with me, so much pain, and throwing up, and painful sex, and just plain blahness... I saw my gyne last Thursday, and this is what she's decided. Of course, I have to go for an ultrasound first (just to make sure there's nothing *else* going on like cysts or something) but then it's under the knife for moi. And yes, I'm scared to death. Wanna know what scares me the most? That they'll open me up and not find anything. Since I was 14 I've been told I *probably* have endo... I've been told this so often that I've just assumed it was true, and have probably even said on here that I do have it... not that I was purposely lying or anything, it's just the most natural assumption. I have basically all the symptoms, it seems like the most logical thing. But that doesn't make it a *for-sure* thing. So what happens if they cut me open and find there's nothing? I'm so afraid of people thinking I've been lying about my pain for all these years, that really scares me. My parents already think a lot of stuff goes on *in my head* (if you catch my drift) and I really don't want to add this to the list. It's not that I want endo, I really don't... but at the same time, in a way, I'd like SOMETHING to be wrong so at least I don't look like a big fat faker. Does that make sense? Here's the kicker though. I'm in school right now, right? Full-time fourth year university. Can I take time off to recovery from a lap? (plus she also wants to do another D&C at the same time) No, I can't. She's told me I can expect a 2-3 week recovery period... I can't be in bed that long. So I have to wait until school is done and I'm back home -> the end of April, beginning of May. I have to just go on like this until then. I know there's nothing else I can do, but it's frustrating. The last four months or so have been a nightmare... I want to get this overwith. But like I said, I'm scared of the results. There's so much going on in my head right now lol I feel all .... I don't know.... weirded out. *sigh* I don't know why I'm posting this long rambling thing on here, I'm sorry. I'm sure no one wants to be reading all of this blabbing.... anyway that's my story.
I am so sorry you are going through this. I know what you are going through. I had a lap about 6 or 7 years ago, and I was also afraid they wouldn't "Find" anything. It was not that I wanted to be sick, just that I was so miserable, and finding something would at least explain it. I was actually RELIEVED, the first thing I said when I came out of the drugs was "Did you find anything?" and the doctor said, "Yep, endo, just like your mama. We removed 4 implants behind your uterus and from your bladder and intestines." I WAS relieved. (My mom also had endo and it wasn't discovred untill so late that all they could do was a complete hysterectomy and remove her ovaries.) I would say I didn't need 3 weeks to recover. I would say more like a week. I went home the same day, and was eating that evening, and doing stuff around the house in a few days. They told me 3-6 weeks for a C section, and the lap was nowhere near as bad as that. The only reason you would need that long of a recovery time is if they find a LOT of stuff and have to do a "laporotomy" which is surgically open your belly to get in there better. This isn't really common with endo, especially on such a young womyn! They almost always do a D&C with a lap, and it isn't a big deal. I've had several, and the recovery isn't bad. Talk to your professors about taking about a week off. They should allow that, I mean you are having surgery. I had urinary tract surgery in my Junior year in college and had complications and had to stay in the hospital 4 days and then stay home for a week, and the college was VERY understanding. My doctor had to write a letter explaining the procedure and what had happened and the time I would need off, but the University was very good about it, and I went to a Jesuit College, not known for being all that empathetic. Have your doc write them a letter, they have to let you have time to heal. He should write it for the MAXIUM time he thinks you may need to be off, then if you come back early it will look better! Good liuck. Hugs and healing, Maggie
Aww honey, I'm so sorry that you've had to deal with all of this. The positive in it though, is that now you can find out more of what is going on, and start feeling better. And that's a very good thing! I will keep you in my thoughts sweetie. Much love...
You will only be in bed a week at the most. But you may feel the affects for a few weeks after (basically no running, jumping, crunches, heaving lifting, things like that). I have had 2 laps done, and recovered pretty well. I went home the same day for my first, and was eating and doing well. My second was an overnight thing, because my gallbladder was being removed. I'm happy to answer any specific questions you may have about it!
i hope that the results show something for you. i know exactly what your going through...except your further ahead in the process. i've only been dealing with it for a few years now but not knowing whats wrong is really horrible!!
don't be so worried about proving that you have something wrong with you. Be relieved that you are going to have an answer. Good luck and take it easy!
I was terrified they wouldn't find anything when I had my first lap surgery. That's normal, we all feel that way. All those people telling me it was all in my head all those years, yeah, it gets under your skin and there's always doubts in the back of your mind... but you know what? If it was all in your head, you must be some kind of crazy to put your body through that sort of pain and torture for so long!! (((((hugs))))) It will be okay. I've now had three lap surgeries myself. It never gets easy, but it does get easier. I know now to trust what my body is telling me, even if nobody else in the world believes it. Talk with your professors, you should aim for taking two weeks off, but you might feel better sooner. No matter what, you have to rest after abdominal surgery, or scar tissue will grow inside you and stick all your organs together (it's called adhesions, and they are very very painful for some people). No climbing stairs or heavy lifting for at least a month. Make absolutely positively sure that your doctor is skilled enough to remove any and all endo she finds inside you, no matter where it is located!!! Most ob/gyns are not skilled enough to be doing lap surgery! Any endo left behind will continue to cause problems. Really, get a second opinion, and ask lots of questions. Read this and take a list of all the questions you need to ask your doc. I cannot stress how important it is to have someone very highly skilled with lap surgery do the procedure. My first doctor wasn't, and I had to take it upon myself to find a specialist and have another surgery only six months later to not only take care of what the first doctor should have done, but to fix the damage caused by that first surgery!!! Surgery performed by an unskilled doctor can cause more pain than you have ever experienced yet, in the form of adhesions. Believe me. You want to make sure you have the single most highly skilled surgeon within a reasonable driving range! okay, in case you don't click my link, here goes a big long c&p... but check out the website, it's very informative.
and make sure to ask if she excises the endo or uses laser... most specialists do not believe laser is effective at all, it leaves any deep endo behind, which continues to grow and cause problems. Excision, complete surgical removal of the endo is the only proven effective treatment. Ask her what if she finds endo on your ureters or in the culdesac, these are common places for endo to be located, but very tricky to remove it from. Ask what her standard procedure is following the lap. If she normally prescribes Lupron or BCP, RUN as fast as you can to find a doctor who knows how to effectively remove the endo that is inside you!! My lap surgeries were every bit as bad as the cesarean as far as recovery goes (at least I wasn't traumatized and suffering ppd at the time..). My entire insides were gunked up with junk, and my most recent lap required six tiny incisions to get to it all, but my doc is a world-famous specialist and did not need to resort to laparotomy (being cut wide open). That's his website I linked to.
Thank you for the info. However, this thread is over a year and a half old. I haven't seen a post from the OP in about that long. I hope she is OK. I know she has a lot going on in her life.
LOL - sorry, I should always check to see the date on the OP, huh? why do people bump old threads anyway? well, maybe it will help someone else in the same situation....
