Post Laparoscopy- pain is worse! Help!

[er1980]

Hey!

I didn’t even know this community was here. I feel so less alone for reading everyone’s experiences. Could you help me?

I had investigative laparoscopy last Saturday (a week ago), they found a small area of active endo in the Douglas pouch on one of the ligaments, and have burnt it out there and then. Consultant says there is no visible endo left. All “good news” I guess as it could have been so much worse. I have been taking it easy for the past few days but today I did a bit of cleaning in the kitchen and the pain since has been so awful. I would say worse than before surgery and not really responsive to painkillers. Just walking is uncomfortable and it’s so painful I can’t sleep and obviously worrying to death that I may have torn something or injured myself.

So with your experience, could you help answer these questions?

- is it normal for such small amount of endo to produce so much pain ?

- is it normal to be having such strong pains post surgery? I was basically expecting to not have any pain at all once it was removed, so why am I hurting so much?

- basically struggling to walk without pain in the last few hours, should I call my doctor or is it just normal post op pains and I just over-did it?

- and finally, will this be it or does it usually grow back?

It’s just that I am seeing so much from stage 3-4 endo sufferers with fairly extensive surgery and so I can understand it would take longer to recover from those circumstances but with stage 1 and surgery that took about 1h, I feel like a fraud and yet it is hurting so bloody much. I don’t get it.

Thank you for your help!

[Katiemo2007]

Hi thereI've had 3 laps and had my ovaries removed 3 years ago. The pain was bad for me as well. When they do the lap they have to move things around inside you to get to where the endo is. My stomach was so bruised I looked like I had been in a car accident. It takes a while for everything to settle down and back into place. They also fill you with gas so they can get to where they need to go. Relax put your feet up and take things easy. If no improvement within 2 weeks of surgery contact your gp as you could have an infection. Keep well and best wishes xx

[Katiemo2007]

I have had it grow back although I've had ovaries removed im currently waiting on another lap as having bowel and bladder issues now. It took me around 4 weeks to recover from lap. Remember it is still a surgery you have had and everything needs to settle down....no more cleaning for a couple weeks. Plenty hot water bottles xx

[er1980 in reply to Katiemo2007]

Ok thank you for that, very helpful to know your circumstances and thanks for the tip. Am just surprised how much pain I have post-op considering it is Stage 1 and only a small area he burnt. I can see why you’d be taking time to recover if you’d had your ovaries taken out... poor you though, how awful. 😔

[EndoJaz]

My last lap in Sept was an awful painful recovery, worse than when I had my hysterectomy, endo was excised from my peritoneal wall and it was really painful for weeks. Take the time to heal, it will take a while but you will get there. X