How should I prepare for an MRI and first laproscopy? Any tips to reduce my pain and anxiety...

[Brightonbeb]

Since my last post I've had so much back and forth and tears and battles with rude doctors and consultant secretaries but I do feel like I'm getting somewhere...

(I just find myself so weary - why must we fight for treatment? Why is the NHS so badly organised when the quality of care is great?)

A 6cm cyst has been found on my right ovary which is causing me almost constant pain and is stopping me exercise and have sex - which is particularly frustrating as I've been trying to get pregnant for two years now!

My consultant has requested an MRI scan and then a laproscopy where they will dye my fallopian tubes, remove the cyst and possibly other bits and bobs depending on the result of my MRI.

I was offered a brief hormone treatment to switch my ovaries off for a bit whilst I wait for surgery as my pain levels are so high, but I feel this just makes no sense as I'm trying desperately to conceive and worry this could mess things up!?

My consultant is concerned I have further complications with my bladder and bowel which I am sure is the case but we will see...

I'm just writing really to ask what to expect?

I have had tonnes of ops in my life (I have a facial birthmark and also had foot surgery a couple of years ago) so this isn't unusual to me but I still HATE the idea of general anesthetic. And I've never had an MRI scan before, anxious about this too...

What should I expect from an MRI? How much time will I need off work for the lap? How crap will I feel after?

I know this is all based very much on individual experience but it would be so reassuring just to hear other people's experiences and any tips for how to prepare for it...

Thanks and love x

[ChloeV]

Hi. Great news that you got things moving on your care. It shouldn’t be so hard for us, but at least you are getting somewhere.

I had an mri and lap in December 2018. They were both ok.

I was very anxious about the mri and asked for a Valium beforehand as I had had to cancel a previous one due to claustrophobia, which hopefully you don’t have? It takes less than 30minutes in the machine and I had an IV for it too.

The lap was to remove 4 cysts. They thought I had Endo beforehand (only did the mri after the lap) but discovered more then they expected.

I had a general gynaecologist used to excising Endo but not experienced enough to carry out the necessary work to get it off my bowel. So he just removed the cysts and closed me up again. I have since had to have further surgery with a specialist team. This would be my main suggestion, once you have your mri done, if they spot any on your bowel or bladder, make sure you will be dealt with by the right people to carry out the full surgery in one go if you can.

The lap takes 5-10days to recover to a functioning level. Some people get ongoing pain after, but if you have Endo you may be used to pain already! My pain level were really lucky and I was back to work a week after 6 days.

They fill you up with gas for the lap to create space in to be able to see what they are doing. That gas doesn’t all come out at the end of the op. There are bubble travelling up your ribs into your shoulders. This was a new and quite uncomfortable pain. Peppermint tea and lots of walking and stretching of my back and arms helped a lot.

Best of luck with everything.

[Lyn84]

Hi I've had a lap and an mri I'm claustrophobic and i was fine with it doesn't take long its just very noisey as for the lap i managed to go back to work a week after my op but that's because i had none of my endo removed as mine was attached to arteries ive had my gallbladder removed before and i was still scared to have my lap done!

[Purplewitch18]

I had a lap done in november and i was scared too. But to be honest the only real pain was when i woke up afterwards, and i was sick once. After that was just wiped out for about 10 days. It wasnt that bad. Best of luck to you.