Had my laparoscopy on Friday...

[MrsPanda]

Hi all,

After first going to my GP with suspected endo in March this year, I finally had my lap on Friday. I was very lucky to be the first one on the list to go into surgery, so there wasn't really any time to sit around fretting as I was in my gown and stockings and in the anaesthesia room before I even knew what was going on! The surgeon came and spoke to me beforehand and was lovely - as was everyone who looked after me. If anyone else on here is in Kent I would definitely recommend you try and get referred to Pembury in Tunbridge Wells as they were brilliant.

When I came round, the surgeon came and had a chat, and said that they're removed a fimbrial cyst from my left ovary (which explains the pain I've been having) and some endo on my right ovary too. There was a lot of endo in my Pouch of Douglas, and some on my ureter as well (which makes a lot of sense as I've always been very susceptible to cystitis). He explained that he didn't touch this endo, as it was his policy not to remove anything that might be risky in a diagnostic lap, and I'd made it clear that my main aim at the moment is to get pregnant, so the focus should be on anything he could do which would make that happen.

The most interesting thing is that when they did the dye test on my fallopian tubes, the were apparently quite blocked. They're now completely clear tho, so he seemed quite confident that we can just get cracking once I've recovered and we shouldn't have too many problems conceiving! I don't want to get too excited tho, as I haven't been ovulating at all so I don't know if I might need chlomid to get some eggs going. We're going to give it a couple of months and see how it goes, though.

I'm feeling ok in general - quite battered and sore, and sleeping is quite uncomfortable as I have lower back probs anyway, but my husband is taking v good care of me. The one thing I wasn't prepared for was how wiped out the general anaesthetic would leave me. Even as I'm typing this my arms are getting tired, and I've still got some pains in my shoulder from the gas which I need to shift. I even felt knackered halfway through washing my hair in the shower this morning!

That's all I can think of to write at the moment, but more than happy to answer any questions from anyone who is preparing for a lap. I'm feeling quite positive, but just trying to focus on getting well and back on my feet!

Love and positive thoughts to you all

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Diagnosis21]

Aw Hun om glad everything is looking up for you i send you all the baby dust in the world, i also hope you recover quickly that pain the shoulder is really bad, i had my lap on wed last week and by Sunday last week my shoulder felt fine but i made my other half give me a massage in that area to help it feel better. Just try to rest as much as you can, I'm very impatient so has resumed back to my full on routine with looking after my son and doing full house work moving furniture ect. But i can't wait until I'm fully recovered to be able to do it all. Lol. Best of luck in recovery and conceiving

[kyla78]

That's really good news very pleased for you, look after yourself give your body chanvce to heal xx

[Bokkie]

Hi Mrs Panda,

Drinking peppermint tea is great for the gas pains in shoulders and ribs (that's where I had it the most). Thinking of you! X

[Hidden]

This is good news! In regards to feeling wiped out etc, it takes on average 12-14days before the anaesthetic leaves your body. Hopefully you will be feeling better soon, for now just rest as much as possible, also, you could try asking hubby to help in washing your hair till your strength is back. xx

[Misty81]

Just wanted to thank you for your post i received my appt last night (the 19th dec) and was really worried that Christmas would have to be cancelled but after reading your post I'm feel much more confident! My husband has said he will take care of everything and the sooner we get get a diagonises we want to try & get the baby making working so hopefully the laparoscopy can give us some insight to why nothing is happening so far!! I wish you well on your recovery and here's to 2014 being the year of the babies x

[LittleMissManx Moderator]

Ah what a lovely positive post to read Mrs Panda

I hope you continuing to feel better after your lap and are getting stronger and feel more human again day by day.

Here's to your dream of becoming a mum coming true very soon

Take care

Caroline, x

[Hidden]

Always sad to hear when someone else is diagnosed with endo but you must be relieved to have an answer to your pain. It's good that he managed to clear your Fallopian tubes out for you & that should really help with trying to get pregnant. When we were trying 10 years ago, they didn't know quite as much as they do now about endometriosis and unexplained infertility. Because endo is a suspected auto-immune disease it's believed that the body attacks the foetus in some women with endo. I recently read a post about one woman with endo who had been trying to get pregnant for years, until she had treatment to boost her immune system & hey presto, out popped the baby 9 months later. If I had known about this 10 years ago, I expect I'd have done something similar! There is a book on Amazon amazon.co.uk/Your-Body-Baby...

which is aimed towards those of us who haven't been able to conceive - and which might help you as well? If you are going to try for a baby, then making your body as baby friendly as possible can only increase your chances of a successful pregnancy. I wish you all the luck in the world & hope that you end up with a healthy, happy baby.

If there is anything else that I can help you with, please don't hesitate to ask. I'm an 'oldie' as supposed to a 'newbie' and have been around the block, several times, since being diagnosed 19 years ago.

Hope you continue to feel better & just rest as much as you can. It's amazing how rotten you feel after surgery & you just need to give yourself time to heal. Try to remember that although the cut is small on the outside, a lot went on on the inside. You have been battered and bruised on the inside & it all takes time to settle down again. Listen to your body & don't try to run before you can walk...baby steps.

Best of luck for the future

A x

[MrsPanda]

Aw thank you so much for all kind responses,

We're very much looking forward to a more positive start to 2014, Misty81 - best of luck to you for your lap and ttc, I'm sure you'll be fine with your husband looking after you, and it's just another excuse to spoil you over Christmas!

Thank you for the recommendation of the book, Nella - I'll definitely take a look.

I wondered if any of you ladies had any experience with Chlomid or Metformin? I'm just wondering the best way to go about getting it prescribed to help with my ovulation.

Thank you xxx

[Cezsobko]

Hi girls. This is my first posting. I had my second lap on the 26th nov. (The first one being 3 years ago -where they found nothing untoward). I changed my gp this year and from my first visit to her referred back to gynae... On 2nd lap they confirmed I have endo and removed two adhesions.

I can't fully recall 100% of what the surgeon spoke about after surgery, I was still on another planet... but he mentioned that the operation had perforated my uterine.. I'm Unsure if this will cause a concern once healed.. He wants to see me again in 2 weeks so hopefully find out more then...

We have been Ttc for a few years and no luck yet.....I hope that soon it will be our time...very hard to keep a smiley upbeat face when everyone around you has that one thing you desire the most...

I've started reading up on endo and am looking into diet changes - seems I have to drop everything I enjoy the most...but if it will help with the pain I'm up for trying it, I think!, I can't handle pain and am at my lowest when my period arrives,, such as now hence being awake at silky o clock in the morning... curled up in a ball with hot water bottle or heat pad and in tears...I pray that it will always arrive at weekend so I don't have to make the awkward call to my boss about having yet another day off...think he is starting to loose his patience, as am I...

[tq1984]

I had an emergency lap and have to also agree that they were great. I had an ectopic pregnancy that exploded. I am a complicated case as it is. I have an autoimmune tissue disease which causes complications and more pain, inflammation etc. They were great a dealing with it. My inflammation was so bad that needles wouldn't go in properly and they were great at dealing with it. I also have ASD so the whole situation was hard for me to take in, my coping mechanism is to stroke fur (I normally bring a cuddly toe to surgeries). Hubby got a cuddly toy for me and they let it take me into the surgery. Obviously they took it away when they did the surgery, but after the surgery they obviously put it back because when I came round they had put it back in my hands. They were even nice enough to not only give me the medications they wanted me to take but also got me enough of my medications of my autoimmune condition to last me the month recovery so I wouldn't have to get a repeat prescription while recovering and did it through their pharmacy so I didn't have to pay.