Endometriosis surgery recovery?

[leebee]

Have you had laproscopic surgery as a diagnostic for endometriosis? The surgeon said if there is "anything there" she'll cauterize it away. Have you had this done? What is the recovery like? How painful, how long, etc., either without or with the cauterization? DD's summer plans, including losing the tuition at a reasonably costly dance intensive, may all have just gone awry... Any info you are willing to share would be appreciated.

 

[shortbun]

It seriously depends on how much they find, how wrapped up in tissue everything is and the surgeon. At least a few days of painful gas and bloating. Probably a short week before normalization. If it's going back to work in an office, I say the 3rd day in a good scenario but for intensive dancing...longer.

 

[EMom]

This is 50% how bad the endo is and 50 % how good the surgeon is.

I had this surgery 4 times. It ranged from feeling like I was beaten by a bat from the inside for 2 weeks to feeling like almost nothing at all had even happened the very day after surgery.

Good luck!

 

[JessicaR]

Seek out an Endometriosis specialist. It will be worth your while. I had the surgery and formed adhesion's that made the Endometriosis worse. Eventually I was treated with Synarel. Worth your while to get a second opinion.

 

[alex9179]

I had this surgery and the pain from the incision and cauterization wasn't too bad. A few sore days. The WORST was the pain from the gas dissipating. I felt like I was having a painful heart attack every time I reclined so I had to sleep sitting up for almost two weeks as it worked it's way out. It felt like a stabbing pain in my chest/shoulder area and I couldn't breathe. I tired easily for another two months as my body healed, not to mention the difficulty sleeping at first.

You should speak to her doctor about when the surgery would be scheduled. It took a couple of months after seeing him for an opening in his schedule for my surgery. Depending on her symptoms and the advice of the doctor, she might be able to wait to have the procedure.

 

[canopynut66]

my grand daughter had this done 2 years ago and she was off work about three days and then just had to be careful with lifting for week or so. they did all the endro scraping and d&c as well. she has had so many ovarian cysts (22) along with all this endro that she actually felt so much better after the surgery was hard to get her to lay around or sit still and relax...but sad to say it is back full force and now going in for a hystorectomy middle of June as has gotten so bad again with the endro. doctor had her try a shot that cost $650 a month and it did no good. and so this her last resort. her surgery was all done internally and so will her hystorectomy be as well so no inscion.

 

[disfan07]

I had this surgery in dec 2010

for me, I went back to school about 12 days later (I was on winter break from college). I was still sore when I went back. I couldn't really lift anything for about 3 weeks and it was 5 weeks until I was back at the gym.

Can she just wait to have the surgery? My GYN decided I needed the surgery in Oct of 2010 but becasue it was my first quarter in college AND I had just had brain surgery in 4 months earlier, we decided to wait until my Winter break in December.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I've had it done twice and had to take it easy for a week after, but it really wasn't too bad. The worst is the gas in your abdomen until it is gone.

 

[clutter]

IF they are doing it laprascopically, it's not that bad. It's outpatient. You'll sleep the first night, have those gas pains (I had them in my shoulders) for a few days. You will want to take it easy, but if you have kids, you probably have done more when feeling worse in your life, lol. Both times I had it done, I had it on a Thursday, back to work the following Monday. (But that was pre-kid.) I wouldn't worry about you daughter's dance camp unless it's that week and you can't find a ride for her for a day or two. Other than day of surgery, I had no restrictions on driving.

 

[lilsk8nmac]

I have had this surgery 3 times and they did find things. The first time I had the surgery, I was in a college class 3 days later.
It really depends on what they find and the surgeon IMO.
The pain can range from bad to not so bad. Although the gas dissipation pain is the worst of all, esp when it gets trapped in your chest/shoulder area.

I wasnt allowed to figure skate for at least a month afterwards and had to gradually increase my activity when I was allowed. I also wasnt allowed to lift anything for a good while.

I wish her luck.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I had a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy on May 1st to remove 3 ovarian cysts, 2 uterine fibroids, a polyp, and a lot of endometriosis. For me, the worst part was waking up from the surgery. I do NOT tolerate anesthesia well - the nausea was so bad, it seemed that the room was going up and down and sideways. Later, my DH asked if it was like being on a roller coaster, and I replied that it was like being on FIVE roller coasters. They immediately hooked up some anti-nausea medication, but it took 45 minutes to work. I also could not stop crying. Quite embarrassing. I was also embarrassed when it took 2 nurses to help me to the bathroom (the dizziness was that pronounced) and then needed help when the non-sticky maxi pad they'd put in my shorts fell into the toilet and had to be fished out

However, I had ZERO pain. They had given me prescription medication - 800 mg of ibuprofen and 500 mg Vicodin. They're still sitting in the cabinet, completely untouched. They also gave me Senecot in case of constipation, but I was happy that all digestive functions were completely normal. The only thing I truly felt was some heaviness when I first stood up - had to literally put an arm under my abdomen when I stood. But I was able to walk around normally, go up and down the stairs, etc.

Apparently I have very severe endometriosis - the dr. said that Stage IV begins at a level of 40, and my level is 116. Never had any pain from it to begin with, so maybe that's why I had no pain after the surgery either.

ETA: I did notice that my neck was kind of stiff/sore on the 2nd and 3rd day after the surgery. But not painful - it felt more like the kind of stiffness you get when you've had AC blowing directly on a particular spot for a few hours.

 

[DisneyElite4]

I had the surgery last April with a very competent endo specialist. I had moderate stage III endometriosis removed, several cysts removed, etc. I was in surgery for almost three hours and had four incisions. It was all done laparoscopically.

I too was worried about recovery. I struggled with pain and discomfort for about a week, but nothing that couldn't be handled with either narcotics the first few days, or Tylenol later on in the week. I was back at work after just a few days and 100 percent back to normal in one week, working out and lifting and feeling fine.

Like others have said, I think recovery time all depends on how good the surgeon is and how extensive the endo is. Good luck to your daughter! The surgery didn't get rid of any of my associated menstrual pain, but I had the surgery done so we could conceive and it definitely helped me there!

 

[left210]

Make sure you go to an endo specialist. Any GYN can do a lap for endo but if they are burning it off the top layer then it will come back. You need to have it totally cut off and not just burned off the surface layer. I had stage 4 endo and have had numerous surgeries for it until I found an endo specialist at Center for Endometriosis in Atlanta GA and they cut it out and it has never come back. I also had adenomyosis which is basically endo in uterus and the only solution to that is a hysterectomy. I went back to CEC for the hyster after I was done having kids and during that surgery there was no evidence of any regrowth of endo after the surgery 3 years prior. I traveled 8 hours to Atlanta for the surgery and it was well worth it not to ever have to deal with endometriosis again.

 

[kimblebee]

I had a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy on May 1st to remove 3 ovarian cysts, 2 uterine fibroids, a polyp, and a lot of endometriosis. For me, the worst part was waking up from the surgery. I do NOT tolerate anesthesia well - the nausea was so bad, it seemed that the room was going up and down and sideways. Later, my DH asked if it was like being on a roller coaster, and I replied that it was like being on FIVE roller coasters. They immediately hooked up some anti-nausea medication, but it took 45 minutes to work. I also could not stop crying. Quite embarrassing. I was also embarrassed when it took 2 nurses to help me to the bathroom (the dizziness was that pronounced) and then needed help when the non-sticky maxi pad they'd put in my shorts fell into the toilet and had to be fished out

However, I had ZERO pain. They had given me prescription medication - 800 mg of ibuprofen and 500 mg Vicodin. They're still sitting in the cabinet, completely untouched. They also gave me Senecot in case of constipation, but I was happy that all digestive functions were completely normal. The only thing I truly felt was some heaviness when I first stood up - had to literally put an arm under my abdomen when I stood. But I was able to walk around normally, go up and down the stairs, etc.

Apparently I have very severe endometriosis - the dr. said that Stage IV begins at a level of 40, and my level is 116. Never had any pain from it to begin with, so maybe that's why I had no pain after the surgery either.

ETA: I did notice that my neck was kind of stiff/sore on the 2nd and 3rd day after the surgery. But not painful - it felt more like the kind of stiffness you get when you've had AC blowing directly on a particular spot for a few hours.

I had my hysterectomy two weeks ago and i responded to the anesthesia just like you. It was awful. I refused food and water for almost 24 hours after the surgery.