Hey,
I wonder if anyone can help me, I'm 21 and having my first laparoscopy next week to determine whether or not I have endometriosis. I am absolutely terrified as they are considering open surgery depending on how bad it is. Can anyone tell me what to expect?
Any help is much appreciated!
Don't worry. They "consider" open surgery for everyone......if they got inside anyone and it was really bad they might revert to open surgery this is the case with any sort of procedure. Trust me, I worked in theatres for a long time 
I'd had a lap for appendicitis before and had an awful experience so I was really worried about lap for endo. However it was much better than I expected. The gas pain was worse than the actual surgery pain and as long as I kept on top of my pain meds I could do light things. I had 6 weeks of work (purely due to lifting patients in theatre and not been able to go on reduced duties) and I was fine, an ops never going to be amazing but try not to get yourself as worked up as I had. I had work done in my bowel fallopian tube ovaries and uterus! X
Don't worry too much. I was told they may have to cut me open, but I still had keyhole despite having very extensive endo that was almost everywhere. Sure you will feel bruised, I particularly felt it in my belly button. But other than my stomach feeling slightly sore and swollen it was fine. For me personally it was a lot better than i expected.
Good luck and hope everything goes ok
I've had 2 my first one didn't go to well but on second they found the endo I was in a lot of pain after the opp for a couple of days but if u keep going on your meds they give u u will b fine I could only take paracetamol. The gas on first one I didn't really notice but the second one I think that's what the pain was. They did key hole on me and did an extra slit on my bikini line where they found the endo but it was only 1cm long and have no scar now. I had mine a year ago. I hope this helps and good luck!!
try not to worry, it is standard that they have to explain the very slight risk of reverting to open surgery with any laparoscopy. Iv just had my 5th lap through severe Endo on my bowel, bladder and left ureter. The op for me did come with complications but even with those, they didn't have to revert to open surgery. you will be fine. Good Luck.
Open surgery should not be necessary for endo no matter how "bad" it is. The main reason to switch to open surgery is if there is some sort of complication that requires quick action to be resolved and that is extremely rare.
I don't feel any good endometriosis specialist would ever need to switch to open surgery if the endo was "bad". However there may be situations where it is difficult to access and open surgery would make that access easier for a less skilled surgeon. A year ago an endo specialist told me he wanted to clear my endo and remove my fibroids, uterus and ovaries all by open surgery. The reason he gave was that my fibroids were in a location difficult to reach. I disagreed with his recommendation entirely and got a second opinion. A few weeks ago I had successful surgery to remove endo and fibroids by keyhole and my uterus and ovaries were retained. My new surgeon is baffled as to why open surgery was recommended and found the fibroids easy to remove. I'm very glad I trusted my instinct.
You might be with a general gynaecologist and not an endometriosis specialist. Please check here to see if your surgeon is on the list of accredited endo centres. bsge.org.uk/ec-BSGE-accredi... If not go back to your GP and get referred to one. More info on Lindle's post on how to do this healthunlocked.com/endometr......
If you are already with an endo specialist ask more about this consideration for open surgery. Is it just in case something happens during the op? Personally I wouldn't give a surgeon permission to switch to open surgery if they thought the endo was to difficult to deal with by keyhole. I would ask to be closed up, leaving any remaining endo in and get referred to someone more skilled.
I've had both open surgery (laparotomy) and laparoscopy. The laparotomy was not for endometriosis. Either surgery, you'll be okay. Neither is nice obviously, and a laparotomy is 'rougher' in the sense of harder and much longer recovery and more pain due to the big incision, but you'll get through it if you have to have one. It is normal to feel nervous and apprehensive as it's the unknown and that's scary.
I agree with the other posters that it is a last resort to switch to open surgery during endometriosis surgery. In fact, I read on an endometriosis specialists website that it is unadvised to have open surgery for endometriosis as it is harder for them to see the endo (or something like that). So laparoscopy is preferable from all perspectives. I would definitely want to ascertain if the surgeon is merely advising of the risk that they may have to switch to open surgery (which they tell you because there will always be that small risk) or if there is a particular reason why he/she believes it is possibly likely necessary in your individual case.
Good afternoon,
It is always scary to do these things, they are never fun and nobody is looking forward to have anything done like this.
I had key hole surgery last year and i was really scared and very worried. The people who are doing the surgery were amazing and were really kind and friendly, they did put me at ease and explained everything what they were going to do.
Because everything is unknown you will be more worried and scared about doing this, but hopefully they can have a look and see what they can do for you to make it better.
After surgery listen to their advise, take your medication on time and rest after surgery.
Good luck with everything!!
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