Laparoscopy oophorectomy

[Booty42]

So I had surgery on Tuesday, was supposed to be a full open hysterectomy but I opted for laparoscopy removal of large endometrioma which may have been cancerous and removal of ovary and fallopian tube. I now have a 2 week wait for results of endometrioma and omental biopsy, if positive then I will have a radical hysterectomy in 2 weeks.I have never had a lap before but I have bruising at top of inside of my legs, I know the surgeon had to make an extra incision because the cyst had attached itself to other organs and it was bigger than expected, would the bruising be from pressure of surgeon having to lean on me to work? Also I'm now 48hrs in post op and still in a lot of pain and get cramp like contraction type pains is this normal? I'm drinking peppermint tea as still very bloated and combining paracetamol with Ibuprofen which doesn't seem to do a lot, do I just need more time? I guess I just wasn't expecting lap to hurt this much.

The surgeon was a specialist in lap surgery and her field of expertise is in endometriosis and hrt so I feel very confident with her and her work.

I will be put on prostap for 6 months and tibilone, not sure when that starts as was on discharge letter to gp. Unfortunately surgeon could not fit mirena coil as my womb is heart shaped and pretty much split into 2 cavities so I will be on mini pill till menopause to help prevent growths in womb, I've had 2 removed via hysteroscopy in 2 years after body rejected Coil last time.

I'm worried about mini pill as I did try this a few years ago and I bled every day for 6 weeks and became anaemic so dr took me off it, but consultant said I need it because if I get another growth and its picked up too late it can turn cancerous and I need the prostap otherwise I could end up with another large endometrioma on other ovary which could turn cancerous.

So I don't have a lot of options, I avoided a full hysterectomy as I didn't want to be forced into a menopause and the impact it would have had on me. It just doesn't feel fair, whatever I do or don't do there are negative impacts.

[Amy2106]

Hi,

Sorry you are feeling so rubbish. I had a laparoscopy and removal of two large endometrioma last Friday. My bruises was awful! I was bruised all the way around my back and my whole abdo were bruised. The pain was horrible for atleast 5 days but has now started to settle. I would definitely speak to your GP about some stronger painkillers. I am still take paracetamol and Naproxen regular throughout the day to keep on top it of now but did need stronger the first couple of days.

I am also being put into a chemical menopause but starting on decapeptyl and mine is due to start after my next period which I think might be common practice.

It is very overwhelming so I know exactly how you feel. We were planning on starting a family in a few months but I now have to combat the menopause at 29 and further surgery first.

Hope your results come back OK and wishing you a speedy recovery.

[Booty42 in reply to Amy2106]

Thanks for your reply. That makes me feel a bit normal and like I'm not being a wimp. I literally carnt even sit myself up in bed, I pressure is intolerable. They had to do an incision through my belly button as well as other 3 places but the bellybutton one is so painful. I've not been told when to start my injections, I think I'll leave it till after biopsy results anyway incase I need a hysterectomy.

My throat really hurts as well I guess from breathing tube but I carnt cough to clear it as that hurts too much.

Wishing you well with your recovery.

[Purple_Cavalier]

Not sure about the bruising but I was in quite a lot of pain after I had ovary removed and endo which was also via laparoscopic. I had pain in my back which is true to air they put in the help them during the op. It took me 5 weeks before I could return to work.

[Booty42 in reply to Purple_Cavalier]

Thanks for your reply. I'm just inpatient and not great allowing others to help or asking for help. I read about shoulder pain but the back pain I wasn't really expecting.I'm sure it will get easier in next few days, I'm just frustrated with my own body.

Lack of sleep due to not being able to get pain free comfortable won't be helping either, I just feel a bit useless.

[Purple_Cavalier in reply to Booty42]

I was the same with not getting sleep. I found it hard not being able to turn over in bed to get comfortable and getting out of bed was difficult too. You will heal better if you try to take it easy and let people help you, its hard I know but you will heal better that way.

[EndoCarer]

post laparoscopy pain has continued off and on for the three weeks since surgery. I used Co-codamol for the first 3 days but intermittent paracetamol and ibuprofen now. I’ve also had three bouts so far of the kind of cramps I would have previously had cyclically , but it’s very early days in the healing process to draw any conclusions. Yes bruising and sore inner thighs.

[CFin]

Hi, so sorry you’re feeling so sore! I hope you feel better soon.

I’m booked to have the same operation on Friday next week, diagnostic to check for endo plus Oophorectomy! So your post has come at quite a key time for me, thanks for posting! I’m not worried about post-op pain tbh, I’m expecting it, I’m just praying there are no complications or infections afterwards.

You mentioned yours was a female gynae, which are rare! Mine is also female and your description sounds like her, by any chance did the surname of yours begin with S and end in u?(I’m using code as I know we can’t mention their names on this platform!)

Incidentally I also have a heart shaped uterus, it prevented me from being able to use Mirena coil (though I tried, with lots of pain!).

I just came off a 6 month treatment with Prostap, wasn’t a pleasant experience, had strong side effects from it and terrible joint pain. So my options are limited too. This feels like the end of the road for me, if it doesn’t help me I’m not quite sure what the next step is…

Hope you feel better soon xx

[Booty42 in reply to CFin]

Hi. Thanks for your reply.I'm starting to move around a lot more but very tired.

My surgeon was a female gynae surgeon who specialises in Endo, HRT and Laparoscopy. Her surname starts with B so not the same one. I also had a cancer specialist surgeon assisting as I'm still under the cancer pathway, should get results in about 10 days.

I never new about heart shaped uterus until they done op on Tuesday, I did have 2 mirenas for 10 years no prob but then my body expelled a further 3 that we're tried.

I have only just found out in last few months that I have endo at the age of 46 and that it's severe, which is why surgeon has asked that I go on Prostap for 6 months or she predicts I will have same problems with other ovary soon. I had ablation 2 years ago and mirena prior to that so it's only taken 2 years to get as aggresive/active as it is, which is quite scary.

I think the surgeon is hoping to supress enough of the endo with the 6 months Prosap and then hopefully I'll start going through natural menopause with no need for further treatment.

I was offered a full hysterectomy on Tueday and some think I'm crazy for not doing it, but it doesn't always solve endo and I had to weigh up the impact a hysterectomy would have on my body and the quality of life it may have impacted negatively.

I'm still under cancer screening with another marker test in August and I have a follow up with treatment plan with consultant on 7th Aug so I don't know what that will bring.

It's not until you go through all of this that you learn just how important things like ovaries are in balancing the rest of your body and keeping you healthy.

Good luck on Friday, I hope you have a positive outcome from the op and it gives you a positive quality of life back 😊

[CFin in reply to Booty42]

Hi Booty42, just been looking at my past posts! How are you doing? You were about to have a hysterectomy when we last wrote, did you have it, did it go ok, and how are you now? And are you still having screening for C, or are you clear 🤞?? I do hope you’re feeling so much better by now 🧡

We’d corresponded at such an important time for me and your response meant a lot to me. I was about to have laparoscopic diagnostics for endo and oophorectomy back then, was all booked in and pre-op’ed and everything, but it didn’t go quite according to plan! My appendix ruptured, 5 days before the lap was scheduled for, no one believed it had ruptured and it turned into sepsis and I ended up in hospital for 8 days. I had it finally removed 5 months later, after a fight (they refused to remove it while I was in the hospital). Since then my lower abdominal pains have started to subside. The surgeon said it looked like it had been causing a problem for some time! No one had ever checked it! So, funny thing huh 🤔