I had a laparoscopy in April of this past year to remove my stage 3 endometriosis. I was fine for about the first 6 months following surgery, but for the past three I have been in a lot of pain again, requiring painkillers to just get through some of the days. My doctor doesn't seem to think my endo can be back already, but it sure feels like it might be-- dunno what else would be causing me to hurt so much.
Does anyone know about how long it can take for endo to grow back after surgery, and how close together one can have a laparoscopy?
2007-12-25 12:02:25 · 3 answers · asked by Kavasa 3 in Health ➔ Women's Health
My husband and I have been trying for a baby for 19 months, so BC is out of the question... and I am terrified of Lupron.
2007-12-25 12:10:33 · update #1
Recurrence rates are 40-60% within the first year following surgery, and increase exponentially each year thereafter. It's time for a new doctor who can actually excise and truly remove the disease. It's not "back;" it was never actually removed in the first place...only shrunken down through partial removal. Check out the following for more info and resources of better treatment.
http://www.centerforendo.com
http://www.endometriosissurgeon.com
http://www.endoexcision.com
http://www.adlap.com
You can have another laparoscopy at any time; just make sure it's performed by someone who does excision rather than ablation, vaporization, cauterization or some other superficial means of removal. Good luck to you.
2007-12-26 12:53:43 · answer #1 · answered by Endo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've met some women that have had their endo recur as soon as 6 months after a laparoscopy to diagnose the disease initially.
Some women like myself may not have the endo recur (come back) until a year or two after the laparoscopy that was done.
I met one lady that had a second laparoscopy 6 months after her very first laparoscopy. I run about 1-2 years between laps on average but the longest I've been without a lap is 4 years (part of that was because of some medication I took to try and hold off having a laparoscopy in either 2001 or 2002-had my 3rd one in 2003 after having two previous ones: first in 1997, the second in 1999). The second longest time I've been without a laparoscopy is 3 years.
My last laparoscopy was last June (June 2008 will be 2 years since that laparoscopy #4)
Yes, it is possible that your endo could be coming back but I would recommend getting another opinion, preferably from someone that does not share the same office of the doctor you currently see, to see what they think could be going on.
2007-12-25 12:12:03 · answer #2 · answered by sokokl 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
it could possibly be from adhesions, as well.
2007-12-25 12:19:03 · answer #3 · answered by ♥Ashley K. 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋