Laparoscopy????

[Aaliyah16]

Hi ladies

I have recently seen a gynaecologist who refused to send me for a diagnostic lap as it’s “too invasive”. I’m frustrated as I want a diagnosis! My GP said the same and now I’m nervous to go ahead with the surgery. What have your experiences been??? How long was recovery and did you have any lasting effects?

[princessk09]

Hey, I recovered in a week after mine and the experience was fine. The nurses were nice etc. My lap was nearly 2 weeks ago now so it was a fast recovery but it differs person to person.

Was the gynae an endo specialist? Also surgery does tend to be last resort so they will get you to try hormone treatment and painkillers first xx

[Aaliyah16 in reply to princessk09]

Hi,

The consultant was not an endo specialist even though I asked to see one. Yes I accept that surgery would be a last resort but medication doesn’t not respond well with me and so I’ve not been under any treatment. So if I do have endo it will keep getting worse! Also, I have to consider the implications on my fertility...?

[princessk09 in reply to Aaliyah16]

For a lot of women endo doesn’t affect fertility. Have you tried any contraception like the pill or injection? Xx

[Aaliyah16 in reply to princessk09]

I have tried the combined and mini pills but I react to them straight away. For example, when I last took Cerazette I experienced stabbing pains in my legs so I stopped, tried again and had the same symptoms. I will have the implant inserted this week and see how I do because I really want my heavy bleeding to stop!!! I’m always anaemic cause I bleed so much! That’s reassuring that fertility issues don’t affect all women...

Thank you!!!! Take care xx

[dogdaft]

Hi honey,

I’m 21 and told I was too young and that it was too invasive. After a year of pushing, back and forth at A&E, the doctors surgery and out of hours was I referred to gynae. I told the gynae after ruling everything else out that I wanted he laparoscopy. She told me that I wouldn’t have endo and that it was purely just to put my mind “at ease”.

Well I had my lap on Tuesday and I was diagnosed with endometriosis and my bowel is stuck to my pelvis and ovaries etc. I was given no follow up and told I need no further care. I was given little to no explaination and just dismissed after my surgery. I have booked a doctors appointment for Wednesday and will be asking for a referral to an endo specialist.

I’m 4 days post op and getting back to my normal self. You know your body and how long it takes to recover from these things. Be strong and be an advocate for your own health, fight for answers.

C x

[Aaliyah16 in reply to dogdaft]

Hi,

I’m not sure why doctors are in such a rush to discharge patients as this is a long term condition that requires follow up and specialist care! Do make sure you get the endo specialist referral; perhaps request to see the referral letter so you don’t waste time. I told the GP I wanted to see a specialist but I ended up seeing a general gynaecologist; had an appalling appointment that was a waste of time. She discharged me after one appointment!!

Glad your feeling better post op! Yes I agree that we need to be our own health advocates!

Take care!!

[Aaliyah16]

I did read the guidance this week actually! Yes, I does say ‘prompt diagnosis and treatment’. So, I am going to have the contraceptive implant and hope it helps. Either way, I will visit my GP again for a referral to an endo specialist and I will refer to the guidance as you suggest. Thanks so much for your message!!

[Aaliyah16]

I think all the users of this endo forum should read this post as it seems so many off us are fobbed off by the Drs...!! Like we don’t have enough stress to deal with as a result of the pain we experience

[Chezzerl in reply to Aaliyah16]

Hi Aaliyah

Can totally sympathise with your situation as have been fobbed off by docs for 8 years before finally being referred for a laparoscopy back in January but this took some strong convincing and endless docs appointments to finally persuade them to give me gynae referral.

They keep telling me to do exercises for my back and try Physio and Pilates , gave me prescriptions for naproxen, gabapentin, amitryptilyne all of which did no good, I began to feel like docs thought pain was in my head and only option they came up with was possible fibromyalgia.

But after my own research I persuaded the doc it could be Endo so she finally gave in and sent me to gynae and low & behold the diagnosis showed up I have severe endometriosis and am now waiting for excision surgery . So don’t stop persuading you deserve some answers xxx good luck xx

[Aaliyah16 in reply to Chezzerl]

Thanks for your message! Glad you finally diagnosed and hopefully you’ll feel much better after the excision surgery