Symptoms after lap

[vickflick]

Hi, I am having a lap in a couple of weeks and for the last 2 months I have been off work and sofa bound with chronic lower back pain, pelvic pain, bladder and bowel issues, heavy bloating and fatigue! I am wondering after the initial recovery period from the lap and providing they find endo should all symptoms improve? I am really looking forward to being pain free and getting on with my normal life but really don't want to be disappointed! Any advice would be welcome

Many thanks

[Catlover93]

Hiya hun,

really hope you feel better soon and get some sort of relief from the lap.

It's really hard to say whether your symptoms will improve - your doctor may have already mentioned this to you as most of the time they don't want to promise you you'll be pain free for the rest of your life, and you end up having the same problems. The problem with endo is that everyone is different. Your surgeon will probably reassure you that there is a chance your symptoms might improve, might go away completely, or might not. Usually your doctor will discuss treatment options with you if they find the endo? Like for example, my consultant gave me the option to have the mirena coil fitted (which I had during the lap) or to just remove the endo as much as possible.

I don't want to sound like a party pooper, but try not to get your hopes up too much hun. I know that might sound harsh but endometriosis is a terrible disease that can creep up on us whenever it feels like. Unfortunately we have no control over that

I have everything crossed for you that you will finally get some relief, but I also don't want you to be disappointed.

Good luck, and I hope you finally get some answers.

Sending you hugs,

Louise

xxx

[vickflick in reply to Catlover93]

Hi Louise

Thank you so much for replying, I'm just hoping the symptoms go enough for me to function normally most of the time! I've had them on and off since coming off the pill 2 years ago but the last 2 months it's been constant! We are trying to get pregnant too so might complicate things as I've heard that they can try and manage symptoms by using contraceptive methods, no go for me as we have ivf coming up soon! I'm hoping I'll be a lucky one! Im new to all this so really appreciate your advice

Many thanks

Vickie

Xx

[Catlover93 in reply to vickflick]

No problem sweetie, good luck with trying for a baby. Hope you get a bundle of joy very soon!

Take care lovely

Xxx

[Torin]

I had a diagnostic lap and excision 2 weeks ago. Pre-surgery my biggest worry was that they wouldn't find anything at all to explain my chronic pain/ fatigue, so I do definitely agree with trying not to build yourself up too much. It may also be that rather than finding endo they may also find something else to explain the chronic pain - and not everything found can be managed in the same way, especially in regards to longterm pain. Remember that levels of pain don't correlate with levels of problem. You really won't know until they talk to you post-op.

I would try and concentrate on preparing yourself for the surgery and the initial recovery time right now, as those areas will be the same regardless of outcome. Feeling positive and prepared for the surgical experience, rather than building your hopes over a concrete diagnosis.

In terms of recovery and normal life though, I massively under-estimated how much post-op fatigue would affect me. Like woah. Chronic fatigue was one of my worst symptoms, but currently this is just a run of my worst ever days.

[vickflick]

Hi Torin

Sorry to hear you are suffering, I really hope things start to get better for you soon! I think I am trying to learn as much as I can about what I can expect as I am so keen to get on with the IVF treatment, but understand that everyone is different and that it might not even be endo. I'm not sure whether it is wishful thinking or naivety, or maybe a bit of both! on my part but you are right I should just take one thing at a time

Thank you for your advice, it helps hearing from others who are going through the same thing!!