How many surgeries is too many? how many have you had?

[Maviscat01]

So Iv had many ops over my life for various things. Iv also woken up in intense care unit because I had a severe reaction to a muscle relaxant medication they use during the anesthetic, waking up with my arms full of wires and tubes with a big breathing tube in was not erm.. well it doesn’t make me want to rush in the operation rooms.

The only real “gold star” treatment for endometriosis is excision surgery right? To get in there and cut it out from the root. However it’s been proven that even less evasive forms laparoscopic surgery can cause scar tissue and adhesions which can cause more pain and problems.

So how do you know when enough surgery has been done? Or is this a ploy to make women stop asking for surgery to help them by scaring them into thinking they could be doing more harm then good.

[Moon_maiden]

I’m waiting my third op since Feb last year. The Hysterectomy I had last November should have included a bowel surgeon but didn’t.Now with a different hospital, mainly under colorectal but with Gynae taking a look.

Surgery itself can cause adhesions, to me my level of pain and screw up last year, it’s worth the risk to end 🤞the pain. MRI showed small bowel loops attached to pelvis and every day I feel like I have appendix issues.

I’m very glad I’ve carried on pushing and can’t wait until Jan 4th 🤞

[Maviscat01 in reply to Moon_maiden]

My mri showed ‘severe adhesions’ through small bowel loops, adhesions from the vagina to the bowel and my left ovary has a complex cyst at 5cm with thicken walls that’s grown into the bowel. My bowel in non functioning unless I use a suppository to open them, plus on heavy meds daily (don’t affect my bowel as I have opposite reaction to opioids) I rung the surgical waiting list and they said I have a 2 year wait 😫

[Moon_maiden in reply to Maviscat01]

Have you spoken to the consultant recently? I have to take 4 Laxido everyday, or mine don’t work.

Speak to your GP as well, they might be able to help.

Cancellations happen, if you’re on a list speak to admissions about being available at short notice. I had pre op without a date at the time. Even with a date covid is still in the background and beds

It’s exhausting, could be worth trying to see if you can change things.

Any further surgery should involve a multi disciplinary team so your bowel can be sorted as well.

[Maviscat01 in reply to Moon_maiden]

Last I spoke to them was June. My bowel movements can be watery all they way to hard, even the gold star of Bristol stool chart kind of poop, but the inner sphincter muscle that we can’t control will not open- even to the point when you have that ‘I’m going to poop myself’ pain won’t make it open unless I use a suppository. Iv had colonoscopy and they said there is nothing wrong 😑.

[Moon_maiden in reply to Maviscat01]

I don’t trust scans as far as Endo goes and the Endo colorectal surgeon said they don’t go by scans. I’m interested as to what they’ll find, doesn’t hurt for no reason and the pulling isn’t just nerve damage. I keep getting told by various people in the pain team that’s it’s residual nerve damage. I’ve never believed I should just shut up and accept. They try to say I have to live with it. Is there anything stopping you getting in touch with the consultant secretary? What about via GP? If you want to build a case, so to speak, happy to help if I can. 🙂

[Maviscat01 in reply to Moon_maiden]

I know there is stuff I can be getting on with, chains to rattle. I just have very low confidence at the moment, second guessing myself constantly. I was told by 111 3 times in one weekend to go by ambulance to ane. I knew I would go through tests and they would simply say chase up the surgeons and drs etc, I just need help with the pain because even with the small dose of morphine I’m on wasn’t cutting it. I waited until Monday spoke to my dr and they directed me straight to hospital because my symptoms did sound like a bowel obstruction. I got there and underwent the standard tests but because there wasn’t an obvious risk to my life I was told exactly what I thought I was going to be told. I sobbed as the lovely dr was apologising profusely because the gynea time was saying digestive disease needed to take it but the digestive disease where pointing the finger back at them, so it just left the ane dr telling me there was nothing they can do .

[Moon_maiden in reply to Maviscat01]

I’m so sorry you are going through this. If you end up going back to A&E they need to do an MRI scan. I went a couple of weeks ago and insisted they give me something, I had two lots of morphine intravenously and Diclofenac supp, the Diclofenac works well.

There are things they can do and that was appalling of them to say that.

Your GP can refer for urgent MRI to check things. You could start there, but if the pain isn’t subsiding I’d go back to A&E. they can also contact the pain team and consultants. The most A&E can do is give one or two lots of morphine. They have a responsibility to help you. MRI would be best as far as scans go. The medical profession has an obligation to make a diagnosis/decision.

Have you looked up local Endo specialist who works with colorectal. If there is another hospital you can get referred there, even private under NHS. I’ve changed 3 times in the last year to get the right help. Other recent referrals include gastro and changing pain clinics as they just fob me off rather than actually offering potential treatment such as acupuncture. Physio blatantly refused and said I should do deep breathing and live with it.

I’m waffling, sorry.

Is the a specific path you’d like to take? I get the lack of confidence, it’s all gutting at times. It’s hard, very hard at times.

Day before going A&E I’d spoken to GP who wasn’t sympathetic, so ignored him. I’d imagine I gave him a guilt trip, I was lying on the floor at A&E when the GP med sec rang and said My GP had said no charge for DWP letter a few weeks prior, but I’d dropped in £20. I told her to keep it, use it in the tea room 😂

You’ve got this 🙂

[Moon_maiden in reply to Maviscat01]

How are you today?

[veggiegal]

I've had 3 laproscopies and 1 hysterectomy. My GP thinks that more surgeries could be harmful because of scar tissue and I'm worried about it too. I have had complications that have impacted me too. I'm seeing a consultant next week so we'll see.

[Moon_maiden in reply to veggiegal]

I hope your appointment goes well. Not an easy decision either way.