Hello I have just had my first laparoscopy today. No endo found. Discharged back to GP. What should I do now? I suppose painkillers to deal with my symptoms but paracetamol and ibuprofen do not work and the fatigue I feel and bloatedness whilst on my period is awful.
What painkillers are good?
What were anyone else’s next steps after endo not being found?
I am sad.
Thank you xx
Hey, it's so tough when you hope so much for answers that will lead to treatment. You just want to feel better! I'm so sorry, I know how disappointed you'll be feeling.
I had a lap 2 years ago and nothing was found. I felt like I'd been a drama queen and felt a bit stupid for putting myself through unnecessary surgery. The gynae had been sure I didn't have endo and had said they'd do it to 'ease my anxiety' I felt like a hypochondriac.
After a few weeks of feeling rubbish. I stopped looking at my problems from a medical perspective and started trying to understand what was going on with my body. I realised, even if I didn't have endo, all my issues pointed to the fact that my hormones were out of balance. So I basically read up on what affects hormones and made loads of radical changes to my lifestyle (reduced stress by changing relationships, meditation, yoga, eliminated harmful unnecessary chemicals from my life, became vegan). I also tried to really listen to my body and think of what I needed and tried to follow that. This lead me to lots of alternative therapies (reflexology, psychotherapy, reiki, acupuncture, chiropractor, etc). This was all massive changes for me, before all of this, I was the least spiritual person, I rolled my eyes at all that stuff.
Nothing cured me but it has all made life more manageable. Some of these changes have really changed me as a person, I've learned more about who I am and what I want from life and I value life so much more. I'm still unwell and struggle terribly with fatigue and pain but I cope much better with it.
In a real twist, I started to get really bad back pain and eventually went back to the Dr, I was referred to orthopaedics and just a few weeks ago, had an mri which found severe endo throughout my pelvis 🙄 although I'm gutted to have been messed around, in a way I'm glad that it didn't get found at that lap otherwise I wouldn't have found these amazing things that are now a huge part of my life. My goal now is to become a yoga teacher and to try being yoga to people who have chronic health conditions.
My advice of to let yourself feel a bit crap just now, you're allowed to feel disappointed, sad, angry... Whatever else you're feeling. But then try give yourself some time to really listen to your body and what you really need. You will know on some level. And then try and act from there, if you're sure there is a physical cause that needs medical attention, don't give up. Find a gp you feel listens to you and just keep going back. But be sure to look after yourself and don't see it as a fight, it'll just exhaust you.
I knew I felt so exhausted and my body felt inflamed. Which was right. I was trying to work full time in a hugely stressful career despite feeling this way, it was killing me. I listened and made the changes I needed to.
There is a lot of hope for what lies ahead. Xx
Thank you for this lovely reply. I have read it over and over again. I am going to focus on getting better and then consider everything you have said xxxx