Can lap trigger worsening endometriosis? Or can recovery take longer than 3 months?

[Malahide36]

Hi . I am having worse pain after lap than I ever had. I'm 3 months post lap.

I'm 42 and had the lap due to infertility, endometrioma and was told I had hydro salpinx. . Also I was starting to miss period cycles. I had various pains for years. Some severe. Mostly bowel related and more recently ovulation pain. All my pain was manageable. I was having surgery for infertility not pain. I was only just diagnosed age42.

During the lap. They found kissing ovaries. Cysts on both ovaries. Lots of endo and severe rectal vaginal endo. Lots of adhesions and a hood of adhesions over whole pelvis. In summary deep and severe endometriosis.

He fixed what he could, but left the rectal vaginal endo as too risky to address.

Post lap, I had a drain site hernia that needed repair.

Since surgery, my bowels working better than ever and periods are regular.

However, I have huge problem with new pain. I have constant pain and burning over bladder area. I have severe rectal and back pain. My tummy feels full and heavy. .the last period , 3rd since surgery was very painful.

I've seen the doc, ultra sound normal. Next review in 1 year.

Has lap triggered worsening endometriosis for anyone? ?

I wish never had the lap. I'm off work. Not able to exercise with comfort and obviously still not pregnant.

So now I'm childless and in poor health.

Might I still recover?

[EndoZee]

Hi Teresa,

I am so sorry to hear about your pain! I must say, I had terrible, uncontrollable, excruciating pain that started 3 weeks after surgery until about 3 months later.

I also thought something was terribly wrong, I thought the Dr had done something wrong.

I also kept feeling that I had a constant bladder infection. I had 2 rounds of antibiotics, and it went away for a bit but came back and wouldn't leave. I did some research, and because of all the invasive surgery it can cause irritation to your bladder. Also all the medicine and especially the catheter they put in.

I use a plant called Kefir, we put in a big jug of water on the windowsill to let it "grow"

culturesforhealth.com/learn...

You can buy it at a local health shop or online, but don't grow it in milk, use water

I drink about 1/2 to a full glass once per week, and it has cured my bladder infection!

Then, regarding the pain. I think you have something called long-term post-operative pain, or Postoperative neuropathic pain (PONP)

This is what I think I had, and once I understood that my body needs time to heal, I tried to relax and manage the pain. Every surgery has it's complications and side effects, we have no idea what muscles or nerves were damaged during the surgery.

centerforendo.com/pain-reli...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

I hope this helps you a bit, it helped me. I am now 5 months post-op and I still have pain now and then, but it's much better than it was. In relation to my terrible periods, cramps, bowel problems, hormonal issues caused by the cyst, etc, I am not sorry that I had the operation. My life is a 100times better now.

Good luck to you!

[Malahide36 in reply to EndoZee]

Hi EndoZee,

Thankyou so much for taking the time to reply. I was at end of on tether with worry that I was alone with prolonged post lap pain.

I feel much better having read your reply and more hopeful. Thankyou for the tips and links.

It sounds like we had very similar pain especially the bladder thing. I too got an antibiotic which helped short term only.

I feel more hopeful now.

It's such a lonely condition really and last night was the first night I ever posted to a forum. I can't believe how much better I feel knowing I'm not alone and there's light at the end of the tunnel.

Teresa😀

[EndoZee in reply to Malahide36]

No problem, hang in there

[bunny_mac]

It took a good six months for me to recover from my lap so hang in there!

[Malahide36 in reply to bunny_mac]

Hi Bunny,

Thank you. It's good to hear there's light at end of tunnel and I'm not alone in slow recovery.

Thank you

Teresa

[AkiBoo]

Hi, I am sorry to hear you are in pain...

I was also diagnosed at age 42 and have had 3 laps all tighter.

Recovery can take long but also, I am wondering if your consultation has seen any sign of Endo on your bladder area. Also, maybe rectal vaginal Endo may cause such pain?

Maybe worth asking her/him your questions.

Also, there might be someone else who can handle recto vaginal Endo, your consultant can make a referral?

I tend to bypass my GP and contact my consultant’s secretary which can take a very long time to get me an appointment but eventually I had appointments and had another lap recently.

When I had an MRI after a major surgery 3 years ago, nothing showed so my consultant thought I should just live as it was. However, I managed to get onto a waiting list for another lap. Which showed further adhesions including recto vaginal area and new growth of Endo. What I have done is to explain what I am suffering from and made suggestions to remove Endo and some organs. Not all requests and suggestion are taken on board, of course.

Nobody seems to want to help me so I find I need to voice my concerns and act upon what I want to have things done for me.

Hope you can get some support from your GP or consultant.

If not, maybe try to find a consultant who might be able to help...

Good luck, and hope things will be better.

[Malahide36 in reply to AkiBoo]

Hi AkiBoo,

Thankyou for reply. . You sound like you are having a terrible time yourself too.

As far as I know, I don't have endo on the bladder. .

I do have severe recto vaginal endo. . The thing is. It didn't give me any pain pre op. .

To be honest, I'll never go under the surgeons knife again. . It's risky business.

I just hope my pain settles. . I'll try natural remedies and some helpful suggestions from lady above.

I used to run marathons, triathlons , surf, work full time.(All with severe endometriosis, which I didn'tknow I had)

Now I'm a shadow of myself since the surgery.

I'm going to rely on time to heal and natural remedies .

[AkiBoo in reply to Malahide36]

Hi, Tetesa36

Yes, eating good food, having stressless life and exercising is my first remedy as well.

I cycle a lot so hopefully, I can get back onto my bike soon.

Yes, it takes time to heal, I took 3 months off work after the last surgery.

I am hoping I can get back to work sooner this time.

But as you say, keeping my job is tricky, I cannot work full time and I don't want to work so much.

Take care, and hope you will get better!

[Malahide36 in reply to AkiBoo]

Thanks AkiBoo. . Good luck too with recovery and I hope you get back on the bike soon 🚵‍♀️🚵‍♀️🚵‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️

[Anav8]

Hi Teresa!

I had my lap in September and I am only now starting to feel better. Pain in the lower back has been a constant and I have even had 2 ultrasounds done as I was 100% sure I had cysts again, since the pain was so bad.

I went to see my doctor two weeks ago and was finally released back to the care of my gp, after all tests came fine. I wish they had told me that pain would be normal for so long, I have spent a lot of this time worrying and feeling very pessimistic. I feel much better now that I know endo has not come back, and that I am (almost) pain free.

Wishing you a speedier recovery and all the best

[Malahide36 in reply to Anav8]

Hi Ana,

Thank you so much. These replies have really helped me. . I'm getting so worried. In fact my family are more worried wondering how I can go from so active to constantly complaining of pain and needing to lie down .

It is reassuring to know you took so long to recover but made great recovery.

I agree. I wish we were told it can take time.

I'll still definitely never go near a surgeons knife again and just hope I recover from this like you have.

Thank you so much.

[Palomino13]

Hello Mal,

Sorry to hear of all your suffering. I recently had a lap 2 months ago for Deep Inf Endo. My symptoms became so bad I was in and out of hospital for 4 months. I paid privately after giving up on the NHS, I waited 7 years.

I am now dealing with a pelvic floor dysfunction from all the chronic pain/spasms I recently had. My pelvic floor muscles have become so tight they have locked. All the symptoms are the same as Cystitis. I kept thinking I had Cystitis. I took 3 different antibiotics to no avail.

I went to an Endometriosis event and one the lectures was on this pelvic floor dysfunction. I saw a urologist and he just prescribed drugs and did not bring up the endo link. It’s very common if you have Endometriosis.

I hope you feel better soon