I’ve heard that it is not unusual to experience depression after surgery but wondering if anyone else has experienced it? I had my first laparoscopy just over two weeks ago and it went relatively well, my endo is Deep Infiltrating but currently not that extensive, they removed it from one ovary and a larger adhesion joining my womb to my bowel. The part in my womb was so deep that they couldn’t get it all and I think I'm just finding it hard to come to terms with the fact that I have this disease for life and it will likely return because they couldn’t get rid of it all. I am in pain too from the op but it is improving slowly, I feel lucky in a lot of ways compared to what some are going through but that doesn’t stop me feeling pretty depressed, couldn’t stop crying yesterday and just wondering if anyone else has had similar experience and how long it lasted? I have experienced a little bit of circumstantial depression throughout the past couple of years because of endo and difficult life circumstances but it seems more acute and harder to cope with since surgery...
Thanks xx
Written by
Meadowsweet11
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Yes. After my first op my head was all over the place. From finally getting a diagnosis and confirming that your not crazy, too where do we go from here? Is this the worst it will get? Will this limit my life? Career? Family? Love life?
It’s a relatively under researched disease that they are learning new things about constantly. To feel down, frustrated or depressed is not uncommon and very normal for anyone with a diagnosis of any disease not to mention an incurable one!
Be kind to yourself, don’t obsess over the what ifs. Here if you would like to talk x
Sorry to hear you struggled too, thanks for your support. I wouldn’t wish this disease on anyone but at the same time it’s nice to know that I’m not the only one who has experienced this and that it is pretty normal to feel this way. X
Yes I experienced this. I had my first lap in May this year and it took me awhile to process the diagnosis and also the fact that my endo and surgery was quite extensive. I still don't think I have fully processed it yet. I have to rethink my future now and job prospects. I was studying to change career at the time and had to completely change my course because I knew my body wouldn't be able to cope with the industry i originally chose. I was always a person who went with the flow of life and not have to worry about the future too much but after 2 years of pain and then this diagnosis, it interrupted my life and put me in a position I am still not comfortable with in regards to what's next for my future (i.e. relationship, career, money, travel).
Although I'm still dealing with physical and emotional recovery, I am also dealing with unexpected attacks of nerve pain which is still impacting my lifestyle. I was so hopeful that by now the pain would be reduced enough to be able to walk for an hour around a shopping centre without having to take a sitting break, exhausted, or be shocked by unexpected and debilitating attack of nerve pain. It's very frustrating for me because I pride myself on being an independent and strong woman and now I have to ask for help and try to hide the tears when the pain comes. It's embarrassing!
I am trying to stay positive though and patient. I've been told nerve pain takes from 3 to 9 months to get better after the kind of surgery I had. The time frame is not ideal as I would like to get back to a normal life and habits as soon as possible not only for myself but for my family and partner. It's also hard to keep reminding people that I am still not 100% better even though I had become good at pretending I'm not uncomfortable and in pain 90% of the time haha. I think that's what's gets me down sometimes, other people's expectations and impatience of my recovery. I get angry at them but I am really just angry at my body for betraying me.
I just wanted to say I could have written your reply myself! I had surgery last November and DIE removed. I'm still suffering nerve pain and have been searching for an idea of how long it carries on. Was the 3-9 months what your consultant said? I hope the end of it is in sight for both of us. Its so wearing. I fed up with the conversation "how are you?" "I'm in pain today" "But you had surgery!" And feeling like people expect your life to be fine and why are you still complaining! I'm so used to getting on with things and being strong. I've cried in public several times in front of people I don't know very well which is really embarrassing and not me at all. I get impatient and feel my body betrayed me and mucked up my life. The impact of this illness is way beyond physical! I think that's the hardest part for us to process...
I can definitely relate to that. I was studying towards an apprenticeship in an industry which is quite physically demanding but now I am probably not going to be able to continue with it. Although it’s not the end of the world for me because I was finding it stressful and stress seems to make endometriosis worse for me.
So sorry to hear about your nerve pain, I hope that eases up soon. Chronic pain definitely doesn’t help with feeling low!
Depression after any surgery is common, especially something like we had, I only found out after about 2 weeks that it does actually mess with your hormones/emotions so once that is all ‘back to normal’ you should start feeling better again! I was pretty much exactly the same as the other reply, except during my healing I felt depressed and stupid for the first week as I literally couldn’t do anything as it hurt too much, not even lift up the kettle! But it is a fairly heavy old fashioned metal one... I also got so down about not being able to walk or even play with my dog, he was great about it really but I had to depend on everyone else to look after him so I felt like I was just letting him down but then when I finally walked him by myself it made me so happy, do you have something like that to look forward to?
I do agree that you should try not to think about the what ifs as it won’t help, I try to tell myself it is what it is and just remember you are not alone in this situation x
Thanks Yeah it’s tough when you have to completely rely on others at the beginning and you just feel pretty useless.
I have been feeling a bit better the past couple of days, I think sometimes we have to just feel and express all of the sadness and frustration instead of escaping it, and then it kind of calms down on its own a bit, or at least it has for me.
Interesting to know the op affects your hormones and emotions, I also came off the pill just after the operation so that probably doesn’t help with the hormonal stuff!
Hi there! Yes I definitely felt it too, and it was immediate after the surgery even before I got the news of the diagnosis. I think that there are a few things at play, firstly, anaesthetic has a lot to answer for. It’s actually quite a big deal on the body and I believe that alone has a role to play afterward. Secondly, your body does through some ‘trauma’ from the surgery on your insides so I think as part of the healing process your physical body has a lot of healing and is draining. Thirdly I think because the surgery was gynae anyway your hormones are messed up after because a) your pelvis was poked around and b) the anaesthetic shock on the body probably interferes too. Honestly i felt like I wasn’t myself for about a year. However every month there was improvement on the last month and that kept me going, and the depression itself was probably most acute in first 3-6 months. I also have pcos so my hormones are even more messed up than normal! I also had post op bladder issues for 6 months, so that def had an impact. I didn’t have much support from family as they didn’t understand my diagnosis and just thought it was a small op and it was ‘fixed’. Take the time you need to feel better and it helps to share how you are feeling with friends and family so that they understand. Having surgery was the best thing that happened as I got diagnosed and I’m very grateful that my range of symptoms could be explained. I hope this helps xxx
Thanks for replying. That’s interesting, my friend said something similar to me that it takes a long time for the body to recover fully from a general anaesthetic, even though it seems to recover pretty quickly on the surface.
Sorry to hear you didn’t feel like yourself for such a long time and didn’t get the right support from your family. Good to know that the depression got better eventually though. Hope you are feeling better now x
I experienced this too, for around 12 weeks after my surgery I was an emotional wreck even though my surgery went well and I couldn't really pinpoint why I felt the way I did. I would be walking to work with tears streaming down my face or wake up in the morning with a lump in my throat. I still have rough days but it did gradually get better, if it's really concerning you though I would see your GP, even if its just to talk it out and seek further advice. I really feel for you, I hope it gets easier for you soon <3
Aww so sorry to hear that, it’s not pleasant is it? Glad it got better for you though. I need to get my sick note renewed in the next few days so maybe I’ll mention it to the gp then x
Hey, I'm so sorry you going through the most...I can also relate to your story n your emotions, I've been depressed for weeks too and I feel that this 4th surgery I've had has Taken alot from me...I now have chronic pain due to the Operations, I have 3 big Laparotomies from over my bellybutton right now to my private part and they were all done on top of the other then on my lower ryt side I have a Lapscope one.I'll never get to conceive normally and get pregnant normally to due to Blocked fallopian tubes, IVF has been recommended for me as the only way to atleast manage to carry my baby but it comes with risks such as I'll have to deliver normally of which can be hard due to the Laparotomies I've had n this would result in a C-SECTION which will b a fourth Laparotomy in one place so it's very risky...I'm only 22 and it's overwhelming traumatising and depressing...I'm scared for my life and this Endo has stolen so much from me....
Wow, that sounds like you have been through so much, so sorry that you’ve had to go through all of that! It’s such a cruel disease. I’m 30 but it’s only my first operation, so I can’t imagine how hard it is to have multiple ops! I hope things get better for us both, and I hope you’re getting lots of support and being kind to yourself, I’m here if you ever need someone to chat to x
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Yeah it’s tough when you have to completely rely on others at the beginning and you just feel pretty useless. 
What to expect after surgery 
Fertility plan after surgery with stage 4 endometriosis 
Leg problems after surgery
Pain after Excision Surgery...
Depression after laparoscopy 
