How many Laps should you have?

[EllaC]

I have had two prevous laps, last one in 09, ive had to fight for a third. The Gyne wanted me to try Zoplex or the depo injection (I already have the mirena coil).

[Efarms37]

Hi there I am in the same position as you. Apparently they don't want to do too many as this will then cause scar tissue and you will end up with pain from that. I am considering a hysterectomy now.

[EllaC in reply to Efarms37]

Hi,

Thank you do much for your reply. Everything just seems so confusing at the moment. I didn't feel th DR truely listened to me.

[Chrissie66]

Hi Ella - this is a really tricky one, because everybody has different pain thresholds, and not everybody has found their own best way of dealing with it.....but if you are not trying for a baby, and there is no medical emergency going on inside you, laparoscopies should, in my experience, be the absolute very last resort.

Efarms is spot on. Every time you have a laparoscopy, even if it's just a tiny procedure so they can have a look inside you, scar tissue forms. Endometriosis LOVES scar tissue. Ladies who have repeat laparoscopies for pain relief are effectively just replacing one set of problems with a whole new set of problems, and potentially more, because all surgery carries risk anyway.

In my childbearing years, I had several laparoscopies to try and keep my ovaries and tubes clear. During that time, I constantly had cysts on one of my ovaries which had to be removed because they grew so quickly and were in danger of rupturing. Each time my gynae went in there, she cleared as much of the endo as she could, but by the final op, which was a full laparotomy to remove one of my ovaries because it had been so ravaged that it was useless, she could not find the ovary under the adhesions and scar tissue and just general endo mess that had arrived as a direct result of all of the surgery.

Now, I am in constant pain on varying levels but if my gynae ever goes in again, she will need a bowel and genitourinary surgeon on standby because the risks of damage to either or both organs are huge.

My last surgery was 9 years ago. In that time, I have been monitored for further cyst flare ups with 6 monthly ultrasounds. I've had a couple of tiny 'pimples' which have been treated with Zoladex or Prostap, but from going to almost 6 monthly surgery, I didn't have one significant cyst flare up until last October. Both my gynae and I were completely gutted, but she put me back on six months of Zoladex and lo and behold when I went back at the end of the six months, the cyst had completely disappeared, and my pain levels had reduced because the drug had also shrivelled some of the existing endo.

My heart sinks when I see ladies on here demanding constant repeat laps for pain relief. As I said, I totally get that everybody is different, so everybodys needs are different - but I also think that in this day and age, when everything is available almost instantly, everybody expects instant answers. That cannot happen with endometriosis. It is a horrible, horrible disease, and it will not be dictated to, and at the moment nothing anybody does or says can change that

I'm sorry, I've gone off on one! LOL! but I really feel strongly about this. If your doctor is advising the drug route, he/she's not fobbing you off, he/she's trying to make things easier in the long term.

Good luck xxx

[EllaC in reply to Chrissie66]

Thank you Chrissie for replying I really appreciate it, it's nice to hear from someone else that had gone through this.

I was diagnosed in 2006 with endo, they tried me on numerous hormones then after they didn't work I had my first coil fitted, everything was great my body was settled, they in 2009 my periods became painful very heavy again. I had a routine smear which cane back abnormal. I was referred back to Gyn, they decided to do a 2nd Lapp and change my coil too, the same week I had biopsies taken of my cervix which showed Orr cancerous cells and I was placed on a 6 month recall. I went for my post Lapp check up and they discharged me as things had calmed down re my periods. For the past 4 years I have been on 6 monthly recalls for my smears and one further lot of biopsies.

Last year I stated experiencing pain in my left side, my GP refered e backup Gyn I the meantime I had an ultra sound which showed a 3cm cyst on my right ovary, however they couldn't tell if it was clear or chocolate. I attended my appt at Gyn who was very un helpful and offered me the temp menapause, I was shocked and very confused, the DR didn't explain it to me, told me to go back to my GP.

This my smears are still coming back abnormal, I starred with the pains again, my GP has referred me back again, the ultra sound showed the cyst still there on my right side. The DR discussed the depo and the temporary menapause again I was very reluctant about this, she has booked me in for what will be 3rd lap in June. I am so confused very concerned at the same time. I haven't had children but I do want them, I'm 31. At the end of the consultation the Dr offered me anti depressants and I was totally gobsmacked.

What is right and what is wrong in regards to helping you and listening to your concerns and worries, I just felt this Dr didn't want to help me?.

Xx

[Chrissie66 in reply to EllaC]

Ella, I'm messaging you as I type (well, not quite as I type, I can't multi-task THAT much! LOL!)

xx