I need advice please??

[libs23]

have been suffering ever since I had my baby (born by emergency c section) over 9 months ago. had various scans, have been told I had septated cysts on my ovaries, waiting on more blood tests, been told I might have endometriosis. was this maybe caused by the surgery?

[DaisyL]

Surgery doesn't cause endometriosis. I would suggest having a look online about the condition for more help. Hope you feel better soon!

[DSan]

Hi libs, my endometriosis also flared up and got worse after I had my boy 10yrs ago after an emergency c section.

My story: got married about 15years ago, was on Dianette combined pill for about a year and a half before marriage. Came off the pill a few months after and started trying for a baby about 3years after marriage. Took 8months to conceive. Had an extremely stressful time with in-laws family and could feel that something was wrong even before conception. Periods started getting heavier although weren't painful, was getting nausea at odd times during cycle and started getting stomach aches, put everything down to stress. Felt tired all the time. Had an ultrasound of stomach, all was clear. Took 8months to conceive.

Had a brilliant pregnancy, felt so well and energized like I hadn't felt in ages. Traumatic birth, baby's oxygen levels were decreasing- head never engaged led to emergency c section, suffered postnatal depression. Breastfed baby for 4months, when periods started were extremely heavy, thighs felt paralyzed and couldn't move, periods got more n more painful, awful headaches, bad stomach cramps all the time. Drs wouldn't take me seriously at all and suggested cutting out wheat which helped a little.

Stress got worse as my marriage began to crumble and stress from in-laws. Stress at work got worse as got picked on by colleagues. Tried to conceive on and off but wasn't happening, felt totally depressed.

Finally moved house about 5years ago and changed gp. Initially diagnosed with depression then stage 4 endometriosis and frozen pelvis after lap due to inability to conceive again. 5 laps later, here I am.

A distant family member who is also a qualified doctor suggested that some endometrial tissue may have been displaced during the c section, but gp and consultant reckoned I probably had mild endo before I conceived which probably gradually got worse with the stress and then developed full on after c section.

I think it's possible that endo got worse after surgery but you probably already had mild endo before you conceived. The cause of endometriosis is not known as not enough research has been carried out on this crippling disease but stress is a common factor.

I've taken charge by changing my diet, went for acupuncture for a while to balance hormones and reducing stress in my life. I'm still married and am thankful that my husband is so supportive and things have sorted themselves out at work too. I know things are difficult for you with a young baby but hang on in there. The only way to be diagnosed with endo is by laparoscopy as it just won't be picked up on a scan. Ask your gp to refer you to a BSGE accredited endo specialist and go from there when you're ready. Alternatively, if you're thinking of trying for your next baby, this will put endo on hold during pregnancy.

Good luck and hope things improve for you soon xxx

P.s sorry for the long post.

[libs23 in reply to DSan]

thank you, I never had any problems before. we were very lucky and conceived on our first try. so that's why I felt it may be caused by the surgery. can I ask how long the recovery is after lap surgery? xx

[DSan]

Hi libs,

Firstly, the theory is that the severity of endo doesn't dictate the amount of pain you get, you could have very little endo but be in pain all the time or you could have lots of endo and be in very little pain. It all depends on whereabouts your endometriosis is located and how strong your immune system is to fight it. This may have been the case before you conceived so you never felt anything.

Secondly, endo doesn't affect everyone's fertility. It obviously wasn't affecting your reproductive organs and probably with you still being so young (?) You were able to conceive straight away. It took 8months to conceive my son but I was already over the age of 30 when we started trying so apparently 8months was in the normal time frame. I think the theory that endometrial tissue being displaced during surgery could be true for both of us, but again it's only theory, nobody actually knows.

It's taken me 2to 3weeks to recover from a lap each time. You need to avoid heavy lifting and too much bending for a week or two after the lap while your insides heal. Your first lap will probably be a diagnostic lap so it may be easier to recover from it. I strongly recommend asking your gp to refer you to a local bagels accredited gynae though. You can look this up yourself and find the nearest one to you on the list. Xx

[DSan in reply to DSan]

**BSGE**

[Simonetta]

Dear Libs23,

I am sorry to hear you are suffering, especially with having had a baby recently too. Perhaps I can help you with providing some information on endometriosis.

Please take some time to review the following that may be of use:-

endometriosis-uk.org/sites/...

endometriosis-uk.org/sites/...

Ahead of a consultation with your endometriosis specialist, these may be useful to complete take along with you:-

endometriosis-uk.org/sites/...

endometriosis-uk.org/sites/...

If the endometriosis diagnosis does comes through, then this document details treatment options:-

endometriosis-uk.org/sites/...

I am also attaching a link to the BSGE (British Society of Gynaecological Endoscopy) that some of the ladies have mentioned, offering lists of accredited specialist endometriosis centres that are countrywide. They are teams of specialists made up of gynaecologists, endometriosis specialist nurses, colorectal surgeons, urologists and pain management specialists:-

bsge.org.uk/ec-BSGE-accredi...

I wish you well.

Take care,

Simonetta, Endometriosis UK