Diagnostic laparoscope/biopsy scheduled (children mentioned)--Update :(

Hi there I'm 23 yrs old with 4 children. I am scheduled to get a scope on the 25th of this month. I have never been put under and I'm very nervous. I'm also breastfeeding my 9 month old, so I'm nervous about that as well. I have suspected (MRI) endo/adeno, fibroids and a tilted uterus. Sex is EXTREMELY painful and I have an almost constant pulling/tugging/crampy feeling. When I do have a cycle, it's every 11 days and I have fist sized clots as well as an outrageous flow. I've noticed a significant increase in mucus and bowel changes. My mom had uterine cancer and breast cancer twice. I have aunts with the same cancers, as well as ovarian cancer on my moms side. I'm terrified to hear the results. Any insight on what's going on and what's to expect from surgery would be awesome! Right now, we are determining what will be taken from the next surgery. I'm praying for a partial hysterectomy so I can keep my ovaries. I know that I'm really young, but I don't have the best genetics, and the symptoms are increasing.

Wish I had all your answers to make you feel better, but all I can offer is a supporting cyber hug. I do have experience with having others in my family with uterine cancer though as both my Mom and my sister had it. Both are survivors (my Mom is 86 and sister is in her 60's now). I had hyperplasia with atypia, (among a few other things) which is a precancerous condition that was found as a result an MRI done for a herniated disk. So..talk about surprise! I'm older than you by 24 years however, so..everything went. Thankfully final pathology showed no cancer! And now I don't have to wonder. I had never had any "surgical" procedures before my hysteroscopy, polypectomy and D&C, so I was terrified. Turned out the waiting and wondering was the worst of it all. I was still terrified once again when I went for my hysterectomy, (the waiting is truly the worst, even if you sort of know what to expect - you still go thru all the "what ifs"), I had never had a breathing tube before the big surgery so...that freaked me out. Again...after all was said and done, I remember nothing of that part. Anyways....if you have specific questions, feel free to ask...myself and others are here to support you! Take care!

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Originally Posted by P83 Wish I had all your answers to make you feel better, but all I can offer is a supporting cyber hug. I do have experience with having others in my family with uterine cancer though as both my Mom and my sister had it. Both are survivors (my Mom is 86 and sister is in her 60's now). I had hyperplasia with atypia, (among a few other things) which is a precancerous condition that was found as a result an MRI done for a herniated disk. So..talk about surprise! I'm older than you by 24 years however, so..everything went. Thankfully final pathology showed no cancer! And now I don't have to wonder. I had never had any "surgical" procedures before my hysteroscopy, polypectomy and D&C, so I was terrified. Turned out the waiting and wondering was the worst of it all. I was still terrified once again when I went for my hysterectomy, (the waiting is truly the worst, even if you sort of know what to expect - you still go thru all the "what ifs"), I had never had a breathing tube before the big surgery so...that freaked me out. Again...after all was said and done, I remember nothing of that part. Anyways....if you have specific questions, feel free to ask...myself and others are here to support you! Take care!

Thank you

missarmy, you might want to consider seeing a genetic counselor and maybe do some genetic testing so you can know specifically what you should be monitoring. As for endo, it is almost never visible by MRI or u/s. However adeno can appear as lesions in the uterine wall and could explain your pain and bleeding. (((hugs)))

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Originally Posted by missarmy I am scheduled to get a scope on the 25th of this month.

What type of "scope" are you having? A hysteroscopy to look inside the uterus? Laparoscopy to check the outside?

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Any insight on what's going on and what's to expect from surgery would be awesome! Right now, we are determining what will be taken from the next surgery. I'm praying for a partial hysterectomy so I can keep my ovaries. I know that I'm really young, but I don't have the best genetics, and the symptoms are increasing.

Let me see if I can clarify somethings a bit and help.

First, you listed suspected endo/adeno. You will want to know if you have one or the other or both. They are not the same condition and aren't treated the same though some treatments can cross over. Adenomyosis exists inside the uterus and endometriosis exists outside the uterus, and they are two different conditions. Here is an article that tells a bit about the two: Endometriosis vs. Adenomyosis. If you have endometriosis, you are going to want to find an endometriosis specialist if at all possible as this condition is not cured with a hysterectomy and many general OB/GYN's do not have the skill necessary to locate and remove all implants.

Second, a "partial hysterectomy" refers only to the uterus. With that type of hysterectomy, the bottom of the uterus (the cervix) is not removed. That may not be the best choice for someone with endometriosis and/or adenomyosis as both conditions can involve the cervix. Having the ovaries removed is an oophorectomy and some surgeons automatically remove the ovaries for their endo patients assuming no ovaries means no estrogen so no endometriosis. Unfortunately, it isn't that simply.

As (((Elsie))) suggested, you should consider genetic counseling before making any surgical decisions. If you do have a real, personal risk for Ovarian or Uterine cancer, that could play a role in which organs you keep or remove if surgery is necessary. Having family members with cancer doesn't always indicate a genetic connection, but when there is a genetic reason for the cancer your risks can be higher than average for those cancers. On the other hand, there are risks for having the uterus and/or ovaries removed so you don't want to have them removed if it is not absolutely necessary. There are options for treating your symptoms besides removing your reproductive organs, and depending on your diagnoses removing those organs may not resolve your symptoms.

I did have my hysterectomy at the age of 25 for endometriosis. I had been dealing with non-stop bleeding so I went into OR for a hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, and D&C. My doctor found nothing inside my uterus but discovered extensive endometriosis outside it and covering it. He cleaned up what he could but didn't touch my endo inflamed appendix or what was on the bowel and uterus. Because I did not stop bleeding even after the D&C and because my uterus was covered with endometriosis. my uterus was removed a few weeks later. Again, my surgeon could not touch what was on my bowel, but he did remove my appendix.

My hysterectomy did not cure me and I ended up with another surgery several years later. That time, I traveled to an endo specialist for excision surgery. He removed the implants from my bowels as well as all the new implants (there weren't many). Since then, I have been endo pain and symptom free and still have both of my ovaries today.

I did well following the hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, and D&C. I really didn't have pain after the first few hours, though I was tender. Unless extensive work is done during the hysteroscopy or laparoscopy, you shouldn't be down more than a couple days and pain should be minimal.

I just had a hysteroscopy, D & C, polypectomy and endometrial resection last week. I've been feeling crampy or tender in the lower abdomen, and had light bleeding since the procedure. If I walk too much, the bleeding increases. I did find out that I don't have cancer and that my hyperplasia has cleared up, so it was worth the discomfort of the procedure. My doctor said as long as I'm not bleeding more than a normal period, then the bleeding is nothing to worry about. It's also common to have a sore throat from the breathing tube used during the anesthesia. That goes away within a couple of days.

The pain meds I was prescribed are the same ones that I was given after my C-sections, and it was safe to breastfeed while taking them. If you have a pre-surgery appointment with the anesthesiologist, it would be a good time to ask about any affect the anesthesia will have on breastfeeding.

First take a deep breath (it really does help!). The other ladies have given excellent advice, but I wanted to add a couple of things. Depending on the results of your biopsy, you might also want to consult a gyn/onc (gynecological oncologist). They are the experts for gyn cancer/pre-cancer, and we recommend consulting one, if possible. I also agree with the other ladies that actually having genetic counseling/testing prior to making surgical decisions (if their is no current evidence of cancer) is a very good idea, especially if that's a large part of the basis for your decision. Not all cancer is created equal and/or is absolutely genetically connected, and these are major, irrevocable decisions you're making.

I also wanted to let you know you are more than welcome to check out our Cancer Concerns forum for information specifically related to those issues.

I passed a white chunk of something with pink attached to it. I also have had an increase in pain accompanied by blood tinged mucus I the last 3 days. I am NOT having a cycle due to bfing. Is this normal?

I don't know if it's normal or not. I can just tell you that it has not happened to me, but we don't have the same conditions. It doesn't sound "normal," but that doesn't mean it indicates something terrible. You should certainly tell your doctor about it, and If you have more issues you should consider going to the ER. Hopefully, it was just an odd event.

Today I get my diagnosistic scope/ biopsy to check on the fibroid they saw and for suspected endo and/or ando. I have severe pain with sex, a constant cramping/pulling, blood tinged mucus, bowel changes, pain with a full bladder, shooting pain in cervix, passing of white hard chunks with pink tissue attached and more. The Dr literally said he found nothing. Not even what the MRI showed two weeks ago. I feel devestated to have no answers for my symptoms. I pass clots the size of my fists..I can't be imagining this. What do I do? I feel completely hopeless