First laparoscopy next month - really nervous

[iamkestrel]

Hi everyone,

I've got my first laparoscopy next month to diagnose endometriosis. I have a lot of the symptoms (lots of pain, bleeding, gastric problems, pain during sex, and a retroverted uterus) so think it could easily be there. I'm hoping to be able to start a family next year, and my doctor thought that now would be the best time to have the laparoscopy.

I'm really nervous. My mum had surgery for severe endo, and was told that she'd never be able to have any more children. The doctor explained that if they find the endo, they would try to remove it and it could improve my fertility, but I've heard that this could cause worse problems down the line with adhesions. Does anyone have any experience of this? Do you think that it's still worth a try?

I've been on a hormonal treatment up until now but they haven't told me what will happen with that - what happened to you guys? Did you stop the treatment before or after the surgery, or did you keep going with it?

Thanks for your support

[JeanOsborne]

Hi it's definitely worth it as the longer you leave it the worse it wil get and could then affect fertility. If you do have endo then having excision would greatly improve the chances of you falling pregnant.

[Ardenrose]

It's hard to know what to advise really. They do say that endo sufferers are more fertile after a lap because of the excisions. And it can help with the symptoms. As with any operation there are risks though, in my case my first lap caused an infection which has blocked my tubes. I've had two now and was advised not to have any more, I think this is because of the scar tissue.

If I could do things over I think I may have started trying for kids right away. I would definitely say if you want children and you have suspected endo don't put off trying.

I wish you lots of luck with everything.

[applebird]

Hi,

I would *definitely* say go ahead with the lap! Endometriosis can cause two problems with fertility - firstly it can hinder conception by altering your anatomy (ie an adhesion on an ovary/tube could hold it in such a way so as to prevent conception). Secondly it changes the chemical environment so that an embryo is less likely to implant successfully.

I was told I would not be able to have kids, had several surgeries and now 4 months pregnant. Regardless of any benefit to my fertility, having the Endo removed has decreased my level of pain so that I can be more actively involved with my baby and not so fatigued when they're born! So it's really beneficial even for you as an individual.

I've heard a lot of stories about women who put off having surgery/didn't push for it with their gynae doc, went on to pay tens of thousands on Ivf, only to eventually have surgery in their mid-late forties finding they're riddled with Endo so all the Ivf never had a chance!

Yes scar tissue can develop adhesion, but this is only a major issue with women who've had 4-10 surgeries. Having one lap the benefits outweigh the risk.

The surgery itself is not as bad as you think, what you're experiencing is just the normal adrenaline rush of nerves that everyone gets in the lead up to it! You'll be fine. Here is a link to some laparoscopy advice that helped me in the past, the website is a great resource in general too and answered a lot of questions for me.

endo-resolved.com/laparosco...

Also - very good idea to continue on with birth control until you're fully recovered about 3 months after surgery. For two reasons - firstly if they find Endo and remove it, there could be still minute endo cells left floating about. When you come off the pill, or whatever hormonal treatment they've given you, you revert to your natural state where your oestrogen is higher. Oestrogen stimulates Endo so creates the ideal conditions for new deposits of Endo to implant (probably where you've just had it removed due to increased blood supply to heal the area).

So keeping the hormone treatment up is a great way of protecting yourself from further probs and letting you heal properly.

Secondly it's not a great idea to get pregnant particularly in the 6-8 weeks post surgery as your body is healing. (I'd give it another 4 weeks on top of this, so you're completely back to your normal self).

The embryo growing takes a lot of energy and also in the first 8-12 weeks of pregnany you can really feel your womb growing and the ligaments holding it loosening and stretching. I'd imagine if your womb/ligaments are healing from surgery and then suddenly are stimulated to grow it wouldn't be the best.

I got pregnant ridiculously quickly considering all the negativity of doctors so plausible could happen with you too!

Good luck with your surgery and ttc xx

[Meggy30]

I had suspected endo after 2 & 1/2 years of trying to conceive. I had a laparoscopy to diagnose this back in September. They found endo but was unable to treat it due to the location of it. (Attached to my bowel) the operation it's self was straight forward and I was back in work a week later. The incisions healed well and when I woke up I was in little discomfort but nothing like the pain I feel from the endometriosis. Good luck, just keep thinking why you are doing this. In the long run it will be best.

[iamkestrel]

Thanks all of you so much for replying - it's really reassuring to be able to talk to other people who have gone through similar situations.

@applebird Thanks so much for the advice and the reassurance. It's wonderful that you've been able to get pregnant!

I think I just need to stay positive, go ahead with it, and see what the situation is after I've had the lap.