What are the odds?

[PupleUnicorn]

I'm having my first and hopefully only lap next week, from what I've seen on here though people go through this multiple times... It's not my only health issue and tbh it's a definite none needed one. I'm struggling with doing this once,to think I have to do this repeatedly is unbearable.

[Tboag]

We will all keep our fingers crossed for good news, it's not as bad as you think, I had my first lap 7/8 weeks ago and it really wasn't that bad, abit sore, and groggy for a week then slowly back to normal,

Good luck

[Yazza]

The key to avoiding repeated surgery is to make sure you see an endo specialist as if it's done by a regular gyni they generally don't have the skill to remove all endo or may miss some out.

Good luck sharon

[confusedandworried]

Hi, I'm afraid this is one of those questions like "how long is a piece of string?".

Unfortunately as things stand now there is no cure for endometriosis. Whilst it is understood to be oestrogen driven, there is still much to learn about this horrid and complex disease as can be evidenced by the fact that some women continue to experience symptoms even post menopause, particularly if the endo has never been thoroughly removed in the first instance.

For reference hysterectomy also rarely cures endo in that endo may be on other non-reproductive parts of the body meaning if endo isn't thoroughly removed from all effected areas it is likely symptoms will continue to exist as the endo is still there. If you'd like to know more about this again Lindle has posted on here regarding this subject quite recently so search and you will find this.

The gold standard of surgical treatment, particular in advanced stages of the disease, is excision surgery (ie cutting it out) as opposed to burning it off with a laser (though please bear in mind some surgeons use the laser to cut with too). Burning severe, deeply infiltrating endo is less effective as it tends to just remove the top rather then remove it from the root meaning, much like a weed, it is more likely to grow back.

Finding a good BSGE accredited endo centre to undertake thorough excision surgery is vital as often general gynaecologists quite simply lack the skill and expertise to (a) recognise endo in all's it's many forms and (b) thoroughly excise it without damaging vital organs, often choosing to only deal with the reproductive organs that are effected as this is more their area of expertise. However endo can effect other areas too such as the bowel, bladder, the peritoneal lining and, although more rare, even the kidneys, lung and brain. Even with good excision surgery endo can, though not always, grow back.

Unfortunately it is really important that women reduce the number of surgeries they have in their lifetime as apart from the usual risks associated with any surgery, with abdominal surgery there is the risk of scar tissue and adhesions forming which can, in themselves, cause pain and other issues. It is why I have only had surgery when my symptoms have become unmanageable and have severely effected my day-to-day living. It's a careful balancing act of not wanting my endo to become so advanced it causes me further problems and not having numerous surgeries which can also cause further problems.

Therefore trying hormone based treatments such as the coil, the pill, or things like zoladex is not necessarily a bad thing provided a woman's condition is monitored and symptoms managed and the endo is not so advanced as to cause further complications and damage to vital organs.

As endo is regarded as being oestrogen driven woman can also help themselves by following the endo diet as strictly as possible. I found that by following this combined with daily exercise and reducing my stress levels where possible my symptoms reduced to a more manageable level for a good number of years before requiring treatment again. If you search the Internet or even this forum you will find more information on the endo diet.

Ultimately, like diabetes, endo is for many a life long disease in which the woman has to play an active role in her own treatment plan, reducing her exposure to excessive surgery and other risk factors that are thought to contribute towards the growth of endo.

So ultimately only you, together with your specialist, can decide whether surgical treatment is required at this stage or not.

I wish you all the best, Jo x

[PupleUnicorn]

Good news is that I am under the top endometriosis specialist at our hospital...

Bad news is the other complicated illness I have is being a type one diabetic, so my diet is already limited, I had a look at the endo diet when I was first diagnosed and combing the two pretty much left me nothing to eat.

I tried the pill and then a combination of that && an hormone tablet before I had the prostap injection. I'm living on morphine and a combination of other stuff along with my insulin and everything it's all too much I've had falls in the shower & banged my head, I went through a stage of not being allowed to be in my own home on my own as I was unable to move due to the leg/ankle/foot pains & I felt like a prisoner in my own home, my partner had to adjust her work shifts to suit... it just seems like everything is spiraling, I was hoping for this to be the beginning of the end, not the start of something else ongoing.