I have endometriosis!!!?

Question

I just found out that I have endometriosis and their gonna do laparoscopy??? has anyone had this surgery before? what should I expect? I have the option of them going through my belly button or two spots on my lower abdomen........ what would you chose they say sometimes with the belly option it could heal deformed!

Answer 1

It is imperative that you obtain the most accurate, timely information about this disease in order to make the most empowered decisions about your care. There is an incredible amount of misinformation "out there" on Endometriosis; most notably on this site. Word of advice: visit an authoritative source to do your homework on this disease rather than depending solely on anecdotal stories about who had Endo and was cured by this, that or the other. A "must read" source of information is this free screening and education kit located here: http://www.endocenter.org/pdf/2006ScreeningEducationKit.pdf Also, learn about the entire laparoscopy procedure, including how to prepare and cope afterwards, by joining this free education and support site: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/erc Once you are a member (free), go to the files section of the group and select "Laparoscopy Manual." It contains a wealth of helpful information you will find invaluable. Some of the responders here are correct; a diagnosis of Endometriosis absolutely cannot be confirmed without surgical intervention (in your case, laparoscopy vs. the more invasive laparotomy). It is important that you discuss with your surgeon exactly what will be done during the lap - most importantly, is it diagnostic only, where no disease will be removed, or will it be therapeutic as well? If your doctor intends on just diagnosing you and not removing any Endo implants and following up with medical suppression like Lupron, find another doctor immediately. See http://www.endocenter.org/pdf/surgery%20vs.%20gnrh.pdf and http://www.endocenter.org/pdf/PreDiagnosisGnRH.pdf for more details on why that is the completely wrong approach. I am unsure why they are giving you the option of going through the lower abdomen *or* the belly button, since the belly button is traditionally where the main tools (i.e., the primary trocar) are inserted. The lower incisions are to introduce additional, smaller tools. The belly button rarely heals "deformed" and the insertion scar is hardly noticeable once healed, if at all. If your doctor is already telling you that s/he opts not to go in through the belly button because it could be "deformed" as a result, I strongly advise getting a new doctor. As for returning to work, normal activities, etc., I have yet in nearly 2 decades of work in the Endo surgery and research field to encounter anyone who can actually return to work and normal activities within 2 days who actually had any disease removed, adhesions taken down, cysts drained or removed, and/or had any therapeutic work done to legitimately treat the pathology of the disease. Only laps involving minimal to zero removal facilitate such quick recovery; while minimally invasive surgery with lowered risks and increased healing time, laparoscopy is still surgery and still requires at least a few days to recuperate from. I strongly suggest visiting http://www.centerforendo.com for information on definitive surgical treatment for the disease, called excision. Most women are subjected to superficial laser ablation or vaporization, which has a better than 50% recurrence rate within the very first year alone following surgery. You also need to know that hysterectomy, menopause, pregnancy and other old wive's tales are not cures for Endo, and anyone suggesting otherwise is not current on disease facts. Ask your doc the following questions before surgery to determine just how well he or she knows Endo and the advanced treatment options: Is your practice dedicated solely to gynecology or is it split against obstetrics? If so, to what ratio? Do you have many Endo patients? How many laparoscopies have you performed? Will you be removing Endo and adhesions from all locations? If not, why not? Will you be leaving Endo behind on the bowels, bladder, etc. because you feel it is unsafe to treat those locations? (Note - it is only unsafe when the doctor is not capable of removing disease from those areas - Endo can and is routinely removed from those areas by advanced surgical specialists with great success and safety). Will there be a bowel prep? If not, why not? What method of destruction will you use to remove the implants? If you will not be excising, why not? What do you expect the outcome to be and how will you deal with recurrence? Once you have learned more about the disease and the procedure(s) by visiting the links laid out above, you will understand why the answers to these questions are so important. Proper treatment for Endo lies with early diagnosis and proper intervention. Too often, teens and women are subjected to misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, repeat ineffective medical or surgical therapies, unnecessary hysterectomies, "prescribed" pregnancies, induced medical or surgical menopause, a complete lack of understanding and dismissive actions by those who care for them, repeat ineffective procedures, and more. Knowing early on what the optimum treatments are is key to dealing with Endo in the best manner possible. Good luck to you.

Answer 2

Your endometriosis cannot be confirmed until after your laparoscopy. Right now, you are showing symptoms and your doctor suspects it. A laparoscopy is considered minor surgery and you will probably go home the same day. I had it in Nov. of 05. Don't worry, it's not that big of a deal. The surgeon will try to remove as much of the endo as possible if you have it. Be prepared though to continue to deal with this disease because a laparoscopy is not is cure, it is just a step in the right direction. Be glad that your dr. is proactive. I had a heck of a time just finding a dr. that was willing to do a lap. A lot of gynes just give you a package of birth control pills and tell you to go away and don't want to be bothered with it.

Answer 3

Firstly, you may not have it. If they are doing a laporoscapy its to find out if you have it or not.

Secondly, don't stress about the surgery. Its a minor operation, all done through keyhole. Make sure you have a really good specialist and everything will be fine.

I have been through all of this. Basically they cut just below your belly button and fill your stomach with gas, then another small cut at the top of your pubic bone, and go in to have a look around with a camera. 90% of the time, if they find out you do have endo then they will laser off the bad bits so things will improve for you.

I was back at work 2 days after surgery, although I would recommend 3 days atleast as I ended up going home sick half way through the day.

Expect to be pretty bloated for awhile, and have an uncomfy pain in your shoulder from the gas. Also your stomach will be a bit tender for about a week.

Any other questions please ask me!!

Answer 4

Go with the two spots on the lower abdomen. But please don't let them talk you into a hysterectomy. I had to have one several years ago because of severe endometriosis and wouldn't have had to if I'd known then what I know now. Endometriosis is caused by estrogen dominance which is caused by all the hormones in our foods and in our daily use products. You are deficient in natural progesterone. Using natural bio-identical progesterone will help get your hormones back into balance and help get the bleeding under control. Too much estrogen is what causes you to bleed like in your menstrual cycle when you don't get pregnant the estrogen is what causes you to bleed and clean out the womb. When you do get pregnant progesterone is what your body uses to help keep the pregnancy growing. Endometriosis is what happens when the estrogen becomes dominant. It causes your cells to grow, multiply and keep growing instead of dying like they are supposed to. So again, natural bio-identical progesterone will help with your problem and get your hormones back into balance. Among it's numerous benefits, bio-identical progesterone:
DOESN'T INTERFERE with the body's own production of progesterone, as do the progestins. The progestins actually lower your body's own progesterone.
EXACTLY DUPLICATES your body's own progesterone.
HELPS BALANCE estrogen, which a progestin cannot do.
LEAVES the body quickly, like your own native hormones.
The progestins remain in the body longer- thereby occupying
receptor sites.
Can be more CONSISTANTLY UTILIZED by the body.
Can IMPROVE SLEEP.
Has a NATURAL CALMING effect during the day.

The one I use has no mineral oil or glycerin in it which can clog the pores and keep it from getting into your body. Some of the other ones out there are called natural but because of some of the ingredients in them the body can't recognize it as progesterone so can't use it. Here's a site that has the one I use and I just love it. www.ineways.com/leblanc

Answer 5

You really need to read "Endometriosis Bible & Violet Protocol" by Zoe Brown (also available in electronic format here: http://www.endometriosisbible.info ). It's about how to eradicate endometriosis disease forever. It worked for me, you will see results in only a matter of weeks. Good Luck!

Answer 6

My daughter had one on these and while she was there they discovered she had a very bad case of it so they cleaned it up for her and then told her she in all likely hood would not be able to carry a child and if and when she came back for another they would give her a hysterectomy she was 20yrs old she freaked about it.Any way she ended up falling pregnant had a girl and everything was fine so I'm glad she had the one child she was lucky some girls cant carry kids .

So go ahead and let the Dr's help you and you will be fine
Good luck PS I told you this story so you can be prepared to discuss important things with your Dr before you go to theatre

Answer 7

think of it this way...if you have a deformed belly button, it may be better than a big huge scar. My mom just had a hysterectomy and has a big huge scar from it. If you have to have endometriosis and get stuck with a surgery, that is a bit of silver lining.