How long did it take you to fully recover from endometriosis excision!?

[Kittykat8989]

I’m 12 weeks post major lap, feeling better but not 100% x

[Hidden]

Five-six months until I got my full energy back.

[Kittykat8989 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you 😘 that’s reassuring to know. Getting bad nerve pain today but anxiety has been sky high lately so I think the 2 are related x

[Hidden in reply to Kittykat8989]

I’m exactly six months to the day since my op and still have cramps and odd pain meaning I’m taking it easy this weekend. See the improvement month on month, not week on week (as often you feel you are going backwards). I look at it as: I felt so crappy before my op it was worth taking the chamce and going though the recovery even if it is long and doesn’t stop all pain.

[Kittykat8989 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your response, it has been a real comfort!

I’ve been really pushing myself out of sheer desperation to get back to some normality and I know my attitude is not helping either. The panick over every little pain and twinge and living in constant fear it’s come back! I’m driving myself mad!

Wish I could be positive and recognise what a success my op was....

it’s such a big thing to go through, I still don’t think I’m over the op mentally let alone physically.

😘 xx

[Kittykat8989 in reply to Hidden]

How are you doing now??

I’m not having a great week... been getting nervy type pain down my legs again 😢. Find it all so disheartening. I’m 7 months post op now, so many worries xx

[Hidden in reply to Kittykat8989]

Hi. It’s now 9 months and I think I’ve found what is causing me the ongoing unrelenting pain. I finally saw a physio as my right side and hip pain had become knee pain also. She has identified incredibly tight muscles on my right side which seem to originate in a bundle of scar tissue in my right side incision. I’ve only been getting massages and doing exercises for two weeks but the difference is noticeable already. It’s helped my worrying immensely to know it might be a muscular/scar tissue issue rather than the endo being stubborn. I also just moved country to start a new job and am very worried about how I will perform with the pains and tiredness which still pop up now and again. It’s a long road, but when I feel super down and like it’s not worth going on, I push myself to think: in two days you might feel better, this isn’t forever, there are some days of relief. And you are not alone in feeling very miserable sometimes. X

[Kittykat8989 in reply to Hidden]

Oh wow!!

That’s really interesting to hear. I think I may invest in some physio because the tightness goes from my lower back all the way down my leg. Also, the pain is on my left side which is where I had the surgery.

How exciting you’ve started a new job, it sounds like you have a positive attitude to things so I’m sure you will be absolutely fine 😉

I always remember you saying to me that the pain was so bad before the op, that the odd pain now is nothing in comparison which is what I remind myself. It kind of makes me think all the stress of my ops were worth it. I just know I couldn’t go through all that again. It’s just finding a way to manage with how things are now xx

[luthien]

I needed about 4 months ish.

I'm now having physio for my back; as that's all tight, so it needs mobilising - it can happen with these ops as the core isn't stable so the back compensates. Definitely wish I'd known that and had physio after my first op!

[Kittykat8989 in reply to luthien]

Thanks so much for your response.

I’m wondering whether I need the same as I was saying to someone recently my muscles don’t feel as strong as they used to, they feel very very tight and sore if I do any excercise...

I’m finding also I’m getting a lot of sharp nerve pain where the endo was excised, particularly when my anxiety levels are high, I’m not sure there is much they can do for that. I don’t really like the idea of going on long term medication x

[luthien in reply to Kittykat8989]

!ww, that's how I feel.

I'm also seeing a posture and movement / mobility specialist - I do core strengthening classes with him. I find the massages, movement and exercises both him and the physio suggest are already working even from the first hour!

My posture guy says that due to the core being the thing that's operated on, some women find after they can't seem to engage it, like they know how but it just doesn't want to work as if it's numb. So he's working on mine to make me aware of it all over again.

It's worth checking out physio / movement specialist as they can physically massage the muscles and will understand what you've gone though. They also I'm sure work with people that have anxiety and it may help to talk it through with them. Then check out yoga classes for flexibility. My pole-fitness group also do aerial yoga (in silk hammock things) that I so want to try. Btw pole works wonders too - no judging! You don't need to be flexible to begin with and the women there will get your health things, it's great to just be able to exercise and have a moan about womens stuff lol!

[Kittykat8989 in reply to luthien]

Are you seeing physio through NHS or private?

See I need to recognise also that people recover at their own pace and I’m reading lot on the dreaded Dr Google about people bouncing back quite quick and it’s adding to my anxiety.

I’ve started HIT classes which are killer and probably a stupid idea actually as I’ve thrown myself right in at the deep end physically x

[luthien in reply to Kittykat8989]

Everyone takes different times to heal, it's a big op, so take time. The thing I've found is there's no aftercare / fitness advice for those wanting to be where they were before fitness and flexibility wise. So we need to do the research.

I talked to my GP whom gave me the NHS physio website with some info, but I decided I didn't like their registration - it asked for if it's spinal problem, if it affects sleep etc. So I'm guessing if it's those then you'll be seen quickly. It says thanks when you submit it and mine said it can take a few weeks to months to be seen. The "seen" is either a list of exercises, a phonecall with a list of exercises or see someone for an assessment and a list of exercises. It seems our problems aren't serious enough to actually have regular sessions.

I have health insurance through work so went private for that physio; I called round the ones close by after looking them up seeing which one specialises in back pain / surgery pain. It's covered by my insurance but I know it costs £50 for an hour, which they do exercises with you, assess your changes and give you some to go home with. My repeat appt is for 2 weeks.

I talked to the guy that teaches us core exercises, He's called James Hunt, his company is Physical Element, just google Physical Element by James Hunt (facebook links on google) or James Hunt Stroud Yoga Space. That'll give you an idea of what he does, so you have a start point when you google search. I'd recommend someone like him over a standard physio. He focuses on movement / mobility and posture. He took all my info, and immediately found three things that cause my back pain; my endo itself, my surgery, and sitting. He's done lots of massage and movement on my back, buttocks / thighs and even after one session it's already helped loads - it aches a bit the next day but good aches like relaxed muscles lol! He's said because of surgery (and recovery) my lower back is tight which means I can't bend it, my glutes are tight and underworked which is why my legs won't bend well at the hips and my piriformis muscles are really tight so my hips don't work well. These can cause pains in lower back, coccyx, kidney area, pelvic area, bottom, back of thighs, shooting pains. He's given me exercises to help notice and engage my core, including breathing which will take the pressure off my back. His sessions are an hour at £50 and my next appt is in two weeks. This one I am paying myself, I would happily keep paying for this one and stop the other, as he seems to know more about the actual pain and how to fix it long term - thus improving me and helping me to get to where I want to be in terms of flexibility and being pain free. He knows endo won't go and I may need further ops so he's helping me long term to get my fitness / flexibility to it's peak before another op making recovery faster.

Ahh HIIT classes are good but you need to be at your peak or almost, I'd tone it down maybe go for more specific classes first like core ones, or abs. But deffo google the instructor; it's worth paying that bit more even classes, for one that has focus on health and fitness, talk to the instructor, see what they're like, mention your condition and surgery - check out their reaction - they should be concerned and want to help with suggestions. Don't necessarily go with fitness coaches, check out yoga groups; they're usually good instructors (more concerned around health) and they may know about people that could help you.

Hope that helps xx

[Kittykat8989 in reply to luthien]

You have been MORE than helpful 💜 thank you so much for the fantastic advice of which I will definitely follow.

You’re right nobody talks about the physical aftermath and the effect on muscles, joints and nerves. I think if it was people (like myself) would be less panicked about the source of the pain.

I’m happy to pay private if necessary, I’ll just maybe not have to get my hair coloured this month 😂 xx

[Hidden in reply to luthien]

Thanks for his. I was beginning to wonder if some of my lingering pain was muscle/surgical scar tissue related as my hip and knee and back on the right side are where all the pain is now. I’ll seek out some physio I think.