My journey to now...

[jodes_w]

Hi Everyone. For a clearer picture of my journey.

I was forced off contraceptive pill Aug 2015 after 17 yrs

Opted for non hormonal iud (worst decison)

Immediate symptoms- heavy pain, heavy flow, anxiety, severe headaches and generally feeling out of it and unwell.

Offered ultrasound after ignoring GP and going it alone. 2.5 cm chocolate cyst found Sept 2015.

2016- Despite having a suggestion of possible endo by Dr at ultrasound, a separate specialist consultant told me I had 'non-classic' PCOS and warned off laparoscopy if I wasn't thinking of having children.

May 18 Coil changed to Mirena (life changing)

Pushed for another ultrasound due to increased pain and found cyst now at 6cm.

Aug 18 MRI confirmed stage 4 endo in and around left ovary.

So after 3 years I got diagnosis in sept18, and it'll be 4 year anniversary when I get surgery in Aug 19!

Any tips for surgery and recovery welcome!

[Nellio891]

So amazing to hear that the Mirena was life changing. I was on the pill for around 10 years and then switched to a copper coil. It was fine for around a year and then I started getting heavy, painful periods and ovulation pain. The GP was useless so after 18 months of worsening pain I paid private to see a gynecologist who felt that my uterus was enlarged and did a scan then and there. She put me down as urgent for a laproscopy after seeing what looked like a 6cm cyst on my ovary. I had my lap this week and there was no cyst, but Endo and fluid filled tubes. I've had the Mirena put in and I'm on Prostap and Livial for the next few months while the Mirena gets to work, so to hear it was life changing gives me hope!

Advice for recovery- have the most amazing bath or shower before hand and get lots of rest before the surgery. Use a bobble to tie hair back and be warned it's hard to do hair after a lap, so have your hair in the easiest possible style for you and as clean as can be so you can leave it for as long as possible, makes a difference to how you feel in yourself I found. Stock up on paracetamol and Ibroprofen, and maybe get some compression socks as spare because mine unravelled on day 3. Get large swimming plasters (the assorted ones from Tesco are great) for redressing the incisions and try to have someone help you for the first 3 or 4 days, makes a huge difference to recovery. After this my stitches felt ok and I was more mobile. Recovery can take days or weeks, everyone is different so just go at your own pace and try not to worry about how long your recovery is taking you, the important bit is to notice that you're improving each day, you will get there!

Best of luck with the lap and I wish you a smooth recovery!