Suspected Endometriosis.. weight restrictions for surgery? Anyone else?

[Elliem22]

Hi everyone. I’m hoping someone might have had the same experience as me and shed light on why it’s necessary and if it’s a strict rule?

So I’ve struggled with chronic severe pelvic pain and bloating and heavy bleeding for about 10 years now. I’m 23. I’ve seen plenty of gynaecologists in my teenage years who sort of put it down to me being young and that everything would settle down. I carried on back and forth from doctors/consultants including gastroenterologists and urologists with these same pelvic symptoms and in May this year.. I saw a gynaecologist who said that she thinks this is all down to endometriosis. (My mum and grandma had it too) She sent me on my way with some drugs (for bowel problems) and switched me from the injection to Cerazette.. which I previously took for approx 4 years before switching to the injection. She said that she would see me again in 6 months and if there was no improvement, she would put me forward for a laparoscopy.. however there’s a weight restriction on the surgery and so I need to lose 6/8 lbs? It’s 3 weeks until I go back and see her and I haven’t lost anything but I have put on about a stone but I have tried and I just keep piling the weight on and the only thing I can put this down to is the pill.. I know a lot of people have experienced weight gain with progesterone only contraceptives. I’m very nervous that she’ll tell me I can’t have the operation as I know you all know how debilitating this is and I just want it sorted

Has anyone else ever had this? About losing weight beforehand?

Thanks for reading

Ellie x

[Lewisisgreen]

Hi Ellie,

Just bumping this for you😊

Wondering this myself as it is likely to come up for me.

[ccsmith]

Firstly equal opportunities- unless you are seriously ill due to your weight!

As a nurse myself I know They do get more cautious if BMI is over 35 but they can still do surgery. If BMI over 40 they are very cautious as there are other risk factors to think of. There are no hard and fast rules re weight and each hospital will follow different principles/guidelines. All should be able to handle overweight patients and all basic equipment ie beds etc go up to 25 stone but they will have equipment that go over 30 stone. I just had surgery and my bmi was 34 and no issues at all!

I’ve gained so much weight on hormonal medications and really struggle to loose weight long term so totally understand your issues/concerns.

Be honest with the consultant and if no joy ask for a second opinion. I got stuck with a fertility dr pre endometriosis diagnosis who insisted I couldn’t get pregnant as my BMI at the time was 28!! After 3 years with her I saw a IVF consultant who said it was endometriosis and not my weight - soo I wasted 3 years being distressed/paranoid by my weight, still in pain and heavy bleeding only to find out she was soo blinkered she missed my severe stage 4 endometriosis 😤. don’t give up hope sometimes a different dr makes all the difference.