Severe adhesion but no endometriosis?

[Mel2005]

Hi Guys,

I had my laparoscopy 2 weeks ago which did not go well and I ended up having a laparotomy a day after because of internal bleeding. I saw the surgeon after the first procedure and she said I had severe adhesions in my left side but no signs of endometriosis. I'm a bit confused, does this mean I had it before and it does not exist anymore? I never had any pelvic infections or STIs. Thank you

[Pixie_Pumpin35]

Hello Mel,

Was your surgery done at a specialist BSGE Centre?

[Mel2005 in reply to Pixie_Pumpin35]

Hi Pixie, no it was not. It was my first surgery to see if I have endo. thanks

[TennisAM]

Hey, adhesions can be endometriosis too. I assume your surgeon doesn't understand. Hopefully they've sent samples to the lab. If so, hopefully the lab identifies it as endometriosis. Did they treat the adhesions by removing them?

If not, I'd ask for a referral to the local endometriosis bsge centre. It's important you are seen by someone that understands.

Sorry to hear about the internal bleeding.

[Mel2005 in reply to TennisAM]

Hey TennisAM, I'm not sure about samples, nobody mentioned anything. I think the surgeon removed about 95% of adhesions but left around 5% surrounding the colon. If I don't see any improvement in my pain, I will ask for a referral. Regards

[Bleeding-Soul]

Hey I’ve heard of something called congenital adhesions so there are rarer causes of adhesions other than surgery, endometriosis and PID. Did your pain seem related to your period or was it just a generalised pain? What were your other symptoms?

[Mel2005 in reply to Bleeding-Soul]

Hey, thanks for your reply. I would say a generalised pain in the past 12-18 months. The MRI showed I had Adenomiosis and my periods are very heavy and painful. thanks

[Lindle]

Endo is a fibrotic disease and as deep endo progresses it becomes mostly fibrosis with little in the way of endo cells - fibrosis is abnormal diseased tissue that infiltrates and replaces normal tissue. This presents as dense adhesions. Histology will often come back negative but it is still endo.

Rectovaginal endo (so affecting the rectum/cervix/uterus) presents as dense adhesions predominantly on the left side. It sounds very likely you had/have RV endo which must only be treated in a specialist endo centre. As soon as this was found the surgeon should have come out and referred you on to a centre - surgeons in general gynaecology should only deal with mild endo (so only affecting the pelvic lining) and uncomplicated endometriotic cysts on the ovaries. What you had was far more complex than that.

Do you have a discharge note saying exactly where these adhesions were?

[Mel2005 in reply to Lindle]

Hey, thanks for your reply, no, it does not say anything. I'm going to see the gyna this Wed, hopefully get some answers. I'm in lot of pain and I don't think the surgery has imporved anything. All the best