Having a lap on Friday to investigate recent severe pain. At it's worst it is debilitating and at best it's like a bad period (except for the fact I'm not bleeding as I'm taking the pill back to back to avoid horrendous period pain).
My worst fear isn't being diagnosed with Endo. I'd actually be relieved to have a reason for the pain. It's that they'll find nothing and the pain will just be something I have to deal with chronically :/
I'm probably worried about nothing though!
(Am taking 50mg of Tramadol, 2 Paracetamol and 2 Ibuprofen every 4-6 hours).
(Have had on/off pain for a few years but it suddenly got really severe a few months back. I wonder if being on the pill masked a lot of it. Had all the other usual tests and I'm 'fine' No cysts/fibroids/infection etc).
About a year ago I was in the same situation myself - with chronic severe period like pain (aside from 100mg tramadol rather than 50 I was on a similar painkiller regime) and I had a lap in December 2012. I was told to try the pill before and when it improved a bit despite the side effects, they suggested that it was more likely to be endo. In the end, much to my mixed relief and disappointment, the lap was clear. The surgeon said that he was really glad I didn't have endo because it's not a nice thing to live with, but that he was sorry he couldn't find a cause. I stayed on a series of different combinedpills for 6 months, which helped the pain immensely , but since the lap and coming off the pill, I have returned to a normal level of pain - manageable with over the counter painkillers, with a codeine or tramadol at night on rare very bad days. Once I recovered from the post-op pain, I did notice relief though - in spite of the fact that they had not removed anything!
Essentially my message to you is that things can get better regardless of the results of the lap - there is a chance of missing endo too small to be seen with the naked eye, but hormonal treatments can 'reset' your body's natural cycle, which can help in some cases. The extent of disease on lap often does not correlate well with pain levels, so try not to worry whatever they say - even if they don't find a cause you may not have to live with chronic severe pain.
Good luck and best wishes!!
Glad you're not in the same amount of pain anymore.
I was on the depo shot for ages had hidden some of symptoms , you now your body they would not do the lap if they did not believe you, believe in what you are feeling I felt exactly the same took 4years to get diagnosed good luck
Thank you Fiesty
I've taken the pill since I was 16 (besides when I had DS) to cover the bad, heavy periods/period pain so that's seven years now. I think it covered a lot of the symptoms until they started progressing. And if you've always had bad periods it's hard to judge what's 'too' bad if you know what I mean?
But the pain I've been having recently is a whole other level. It's bent over crying pain that makes moving impossible. That's not 'nothing' is it? Even if it's not Endo I'm sure something is quite wrong in there!
I completely understand how you feel. I had a lap in december after over a year of pain and it came back clear. My biggest worry was that they wouldn't find a cause and so I was gutted (although pleased that there was nothing horrendous going on.) People couldn't understand why I wasn't overjoyed that it came back negative but I was so certain that they would find a cause of the pain. Now I'm in a position where I'm still in pain but the docs have proof that there's nothing wrong so it's a case of what do we do now with my chronic pain.
It's a really tough thing to deal with, both physically and emotionally. I hope that everything goes well for you xx
Thank you Nette.
Sorry to hear that. My family can't understand why I'm worried they'll find nothing! It's just the idea that this is a pain that I'll have to deal with for a long time as it's far reaching and affects everything.
Yeah I know, it's hard as people can't really understand as they're not having to cope with pain on a regular basis. It's something that I still haven't got my head around as in life in general we expect that when there's a problem, we find the cause and then fix it. Unfortunately it's not always quite like that! Good luck for friday, let me know how you get on xx
I had a laparoscopy last April for it to come back as not having endometriosis. Since then I have had a camera inserted where nobody should ever go and had the all clear from that too. My gp then referred me to a different hospital for a second opinion where the consultant basically said the 1st hospital didn't do their job properly and I was diagnosed as having endometriosis and started my treatment almost straight away. I've suffered from this since I was 14 years old and have been in and out of hospital with it. They even took out my appendix thinking it was that! Anyway, I suppose what I'm trying to say is that even though it's so tiring, keep fighting, it may be a long tunnel but there will be a light at the end of it somewhere! X X X
Hi All, Wow it is as if you said what's in my mind. I am having my first lap on Monday and I fear the same - I really hope they find the cause of this pain. I am sitting here this morning spaced out on the tramadol and codeine I had to take last night due to the severe pain I was in and praying that they find something or else I think I'll go insane. I also had my appendix removed in October as I was rushed to A&E with this pain. The consultant reassured me that if he does not find anything he will not rest until my pain is under control. I have three children and run a business with 12 staff and they all rely on me to be fit and healthy. I believe like you that the pill and for me pregnancy has disguised my symptoms. I came off of the pill after number 3 as my hubby had a vasectomy. I thank my lucky stars that we have had our family and am able to do whatever is necessary to remove the endo - if it is there! It is so lovely to know that there are others in the same situation as me xxx
Wow Flash. Talk about frustrating! They should've found it first time. I've found the details of a local specialist who does private and NHS treatment for Endo so if they find nothing I think I'll seek a second opinion to be honest as I don't believe it's nothing. I can't take Tramadol for the rest of my life can I...It's not 'normal'.
Hi Foihnula. It's almost like you and JoWood have read my mind! I'm getting my lap on Tuesday and I just pray they find a reason for all of my symptoms. I'm terrified at living the rest of my life on tramadol and with this horrible pain. I guess it will just need to be a "cross that bridge if we come to it" scenario, but it would be nice to think I had a diagnosis so I know I'm not going mad xx
After a few good days I'm now curled up on the sofa with a hot water bottle. My poor toddler keeps asking why I can't play with him! Reminds me of toothache in some ways, as it's such a sharp, nervy pain that you can't ignore.
The pain is really bad today.
I seem to forget exactly how bad it is when it dies down (a bit like you start to a few days after labour) and then it hits again and I can't believe how much it hurts, even on painkillers etc.
Scary to think it's only just over a day away! Never had a GA before (have been sedated for a crown fitting and that's as close as I've come).
I hope to god they can find the cause, even if they can't fix it. Good luck to all the others in the same position!
Hard to get to sleep now I've only got one day left...
I'm lying awake overthinking what's to come. Please let us know how you get on - I will be thinking of you both Foihnula and KM1986 x
It's hard not to think over the worst case scenarios! Having a nice evening in with my partner later to hopefully distract me and enjoy my last comfortable night for a few days. Hope everyone else is feeling ok. Will report back tomorrow when I've had the lap x
My word!
Decided to walk into town on my 'last day', which is only ten minutes in, ten minutes back, and feel like someone's kneading my womb shock
Serves me right really but I cannot believe how painful it was walking home. Had to penguin waddle past lots of slow moving traffic...Talk about embarrassing.
So painful on the walk home from nursery. I feel like everything's 'stuck' and I can't properly walk without waddling. I get this deep, tugging pain.
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