wondering if endo has come back

it's been nearly 3 years since i had my hysterectomy. I also had a bladder repair as my surgeon nicked my bladder and i still get alot of pain where my incision is. It feels like something is pulling inside. About I had severe endo, and am just wondering if it has come back. Does anyone know if it comes back..Would i have to have a laparoscopy to find out for sure..?

Unfortunately, any endometriosis that is missed during a surgery can cause issues down the road as it grows and spreads. Additionally, prior surgery and endometriosis set up an environment favorable for adhesions. So, you may be having issues with scar tissue as well.

The only definite way to diagnose endometriosis is via surgery. However, a knowledgeable doctor could make an educated guess and you could try some treatment options to see if they help before you have a surgery. It can also be a good idea to have various tests done to rule out any other health conditions.

I believe you had your ovaries removed when you had your hysterectomy. Are you using HRT? If so, one way to see if the problem is endometriosis would be to discontinue your estrogen for awhile, and possibly use only progeterone or progestin. (Talk to your doctor before adjusting your HRT in any way.) Since estrogen is the fuel for endometriosis, eliminating it and using only progesterone/progestin might alleviate some of your symptoms if endo is the problem. You can also try Lupron, Danazol, or some specialists are trying aromatase inhibitors.

The first thing I would recommend you do is start keeping a symptom diary. Then sit down and discuss your symptoms with your doctor. There are options and there is hope!

I had a hysterectomy for endometrosis a year ago. I went off of the estrogen patch because I was having stomach pain. Even though I have gone off of the patch I still hae stomach pain. What can I do? And is there anything that I can take for it?