No diagnosis yet

I'm 21 years old, I have gotten ovarian cysts the last 2 cycles and I also have bb sized lumps behind my uterus, they have been suspecting endometriosis for some time, and want to schedule a laparoscopy for after New Year, I'm quite nervous after reading a pamphlet on both endometriosis and laparoscopy I've never had surgery before. But right now the pain is so bad I can't go out much and working is getting to be really hard but I don't have a choice but to work. I hope to get to know you ladies better

Have the laparoscopy. Its the only way of finding out whether it is endo or not. Endo is nothing to mess with; it can lead to several problems; attach it self to other organs, leave you sterile, and eventually if prolonged cancer. As far as income goes: You can always take a fmla (family leave of absence) if you have been working atleast a yr for the company you are with. Sometimes you can draw unemployment if you are laid up from your current work. Usually the dr. puts you on light duty for 6 weeks. As long as you are looking for work which requires no lifting of more than ten pounds you can draw unemployment. Depending on income you can get asistants from health and welfare, medical, food stamps and cash asistants. Don't feel guilty about using it if you need it; that's what it is there for. Also some companies have a sick leave set aside; sick leave usually gives you 40 hrs a year after you have worked for the company a certain number of days. You can also apply to the county for a one time emergency medical asistants. Most countys have an emergency medical assistants fund, these funds depending on income, you either have to pay it back at a low monthly fee or the county covers the cost at no charge. There are plenty of avenues which you can take, so by all means don't put it off. Your health and life are at stake and its not woth messing with.

Hi MaryK618!

I am glad you found the site and I hope we can offer you valuable information and support!

I am sorry you are hurting so badly right now. Has your doctor given you any pain medications and/or anti-inflammatories to help with the pain while you wait for surgery?

I would suggest learning all you can about both endometriosis and laparoscopy before scheduling a surgery and also consider seeking a second opinion. I would also suggest checking your area to see if there is an endometriosis specialist nearby. At this stage you have the opportunity to start with a doctor who is very knowledgeable about endometriosis and who can treat you in the least invasive manner and in the most conservative way.

We have several Endometriosis Resources you can read through to learn a lot about this particular disease. In the Resource Database there are also resources discussing laparoscopy. The more you know, the better able you can be to decide what is best for you!

My first surgery was the laparoscopy where my endometriosis was diagnosed and cauterized. (I have since learned that cauterization is not necessarily the best way to treat endometriosis but it is often the method used by GYNs and surgeons who do not specialize in endometriosis excision.) My surgey was done on an outpatient basis at a surgical center and I was able to go home within a couple hours following surgery. Generally speaking, you can feel like your normal self within a couple days after a laparoscopy. The incisions are small -- mine were no less than two inches and the scars are even smaller than that now.

I will be having another laparoscopy in January to have endometriosis excised along with lysis of adhesions. This time I will be having surgery with an endometriosis specialist. As he is so meticulous, I have already been warned that this time around it could be a more painful recovery.

Be sure to talk to your doctor about any and all of your questions and concerns. Talking to your GP can also be very helpful.

I wish you all the best for whatever your future may hold! Know that we are here to listen, share experiences, and offer help when we can! s

Thank you I decided that day I would get the laparoscopy he said something about a high risk of complications that scared me, but really there's not much else to do. I am taking Percocet at home and just Advil or vicodin during the day or nothing, because I've found I sound pretty loopy when I take the meds. I'll check into the Endo specialist, I really like the GYN I have now he really seemed to care and had taken interest in my case.

It is great to have a good GYN who really cares!

I can say that about my GYN, too! However, he still is not an endometriosis specialist and I am beyond his skill range at this point. I have endometriosis on my bowel walls that my GYN does not have the skill to treat and thus that endometriosis was left alone at the time of both my laparoscopy and hysterectomy. Due to continued and new issues, I have now had to travel out of town to an endometriosis specialist who can treat me surgically. I will continue using my current GYN and all of my records from the endometriosis specialist are being sent to my GYN for follow up care.

Those of us with endometriosis often end up with a medical team rather than a single doctor! I actually told my GYN at my last appointment (where we discussed my upcoming surgery with the endometriosis specialist) that I want only one doctor! He told me that in my case, that was not possible.

I wish you all the best and am glad to hear that you have a great doctor! Talk to your GYN about your concerns and ask about his skills regarding endometriosis. He may be the best man for the job or he may be able to refer you to someone else with more skills.

Just an update:
I went in on the 3rd for the laparoscopy, and they did not find endo, they found scar tissue which of course I thought was GOOD until I started talking to people. A lot of doctors compare it to endometriosis with the pain and how it can grow back, the worst part is that I have no reason WHY I have scar tissue I've never had a c-section or a D&C NOTHING like that, and it was ALL OVER on my left side.

The laparoscopy really was not that bad. I had mine on Thursday and back to work on Monday. I was walking around the block the next day.

Surgery is a scarey thing. Make sure you feel comfortable with your Dr and ask alot of questions.

A lap is really worth the piece of mind and knowing what is going on in there!

Good luck!

Mary:

That is curious ... scar tissue forms from an injury to our body. You don't recall a surgery or other injury to that side of your body? How about an infection of some sort?

When is your follow up appt with your doctor? Be sure to ask him all your questions!!!

Keep us posted.

Hi Mary!

I have read that some people who have never had a surgery before can have adhesions. One of the hostesses on the site actually had adhesions during her first surgery and guesses hers might be from having had a bad illness.

I would suggest making a list of all of your questions and concerns and sit down and discuss them with your doctor. Ask what your options are, why he feels you have adhesions, what you can do to prevent them, how much of them were removed during surgery, and how you will manage any future pain issues.

I am glad you do not have endometriosis as it is a nasty disease but I am sorry to hear that your pain is from adhesions. We do have Adhesion Resources you can read through to find some helpful information.

I wish you all the best as you recover from your surgery! I hope your doctor is able to answer many of your questions at your next appointment! S

Thanks. My only other surgery was removing my wisdom teeth so that's not a possibilty, never had any trauma to my abdomen, I did have a miscarriage over a year ago I was only about 6 weeks along though. There was a cyst at one time or maybe it was scar tissue all along but I'd think they would be able to tell the difference with ultrasound. There was no cyst when they operated.