What can I expect from first period after laparoscopy and endo treatment?

[Bluerock7]

So I’m due on next week, had my lap done 8 days ago and had treatment for endometriosis that was found while they were looking. Just wondering for an idea of what to expect when my period arrives? Can’t seem to find much on the subject!

[Greenblue55]

Hi Bluerock7, great you've had your lap, and hope the recovery is going well. The general consensus is the first period after your lap can be more challenging, not because anything is wrong, just because your body is still healing from major surgery. You might have more pain and/or bleed more heavily than usual. Follow all your hospital discharge instructions, and call the ward/your doctor in particular if you pass any large clots. Any internal areas that were treated might still be quite raw, and internal stitches still healing. Take it easy and in my experience, it gets much better after that! I've had 4 laps (1 exploratory and 3 for treatment) and for me, taking it easy, a heat pack on my stomach and gentle walks whenever I felt up to it all helped things heal well.

[Jane884 in reply to Greenblue55]

Hi there, if you don't mind me asking, how is your endo now? Where are you at after 4 laps? x

[Greenblue55 in reply to Jane884]

Hi Jane884, my endo is pretty under control at the moment, a year on from my last op. I had two ops in early 2017 to treat stage 4 endo (diaphragm, hips, ovaries and ligaments, vagina, pouch of douglas and infiltrating my bowel needing a bowel resection). My last op in 2021 was to remove some recurrence and adhesions around my bowel. There's always a chance it will come back but I take two packs of combi pill at a time and a magnesium supplement and things seems to be mostly under control. I still get aches and pains and some fatigue, but in general I know how to cope with the individual symptoms and the pain is nowhere near as severe as it was. A lot of it for me is down to lifestyle to manage remaining symptoms, and if I eat too much junk, don't find time to exercise, or get too stressed with work it still takes its toll. I am certainly really pleased I persevered to get the surgeries and the impact on my physical symptoms has been significant. I also have polycystic ovaries so it's always going to be a bit of a juggling act finding the right things to treat one without aggravating the other!

[Bluerock7]

Thanks for the advice, it appears that it has arrived early! It feels strange but in a good way! I’ve had virtually no pain except for the odd mild twinge! Flow has been a hell of a lot lighter too. I’m honestly in disbelief and now worrying that it’s not my period but just like a random bleed! Truly can’t get over the difference, just wish the whole process could’ve been done sooner so I didn’t have as much pain over the last 5 years but I guess we all feel like that.