LaLuna's story

I am now 4 weeks post op. I have had Stage 4 Endo all my life( I am 39 years old)...most of you reading this know how hard it is to lead a normal life in so much pain. In a 5 year stretch, after trying lupron, depot provera, etc....I had 7 laparoscopies, including one that was conscious pain mapping.

Three months ago, I began feeling extreme pain on my right side. I knew what that meant...and I knew I was ready for a hyst. I went to see my Doc...a new one...gave him my medical reports....he examined me, and I told him I was mentally ready for the hyst. For some reason, he wanted to run a bunch of tests on me first, so I had to wait 2 months for him to give the go ahead on the surgery.

I was on pain killers the entire time, and even then, I hurt pretty bad. I was told they were going to do an abdominal incision, and take everything, including cervix and appendix. I came here and read everything I could, and was completely ready for a rough recovery, etc...

The day before my hyst, I went to my pre-op appointment, and my Doctor told me that he had put a team together, and that the #1 Laperoscopic surgeon wanted to be there. So, they were going to try to do the total hysterectomy Laproscopically. I was thrilled, to say the least.

I went to the hospital (Walter Reed) around 10am the next morning...at 1pm I was called for the surgery. I woke up in the Recovery Area and somehow convinced the Nurse to remove my Catheter. Then I was taken to my room. My hubby told me they removed everything except my appendix...it looked healthy, and they would have had to do an abdominal incision to get to it, so they left it. I looked down at my belly, and saw 3 bandaids!!

My Husband was there, and they got me settled in bed. I was feeling great. I had a morphine pump, but I only used it if I wanted to walk around...and Ladies, let me tell you...I walked around a lot!! Overnight, I walked all around the ward...every single time I woke up ( I was napping a lot)...I walked. By morning, I ate a huge breakfast (waffles) and walked some more. At noon, I grabbed my ciggies and walked through the ward, onto the elevator, and outside to have a smoke.

They removed the pump and the IV around 1pm...24 hours after my hyst! I would nap...walk...nap...walk...I was a woman possessed!! When my Husband came to visit me at 6pm, the Doctor walked in and said I could go!! He couldn't believe how good I looked, and that I was ready to come home! By 8pm, the day after my Hyst, I was home in my own bed...feeling good. And that is how it has been these last 4 weeks. I am following my Doc's orders, not doing too much, but I am walking the dog around the block twice a day now, and the only pain I have are from the internal stitches....which is nothing compared to the pain I was in before the surgery...and, in fact, most of my life.

I can't wait to see what I feel like in a month. I can all ready tell that I made the right decision....and honestly, if I had known it would have been this easy...I would have had the hyst years ago!

I was lucky in many ways...from the skilled Docs, to being up and around so fast, and no complications.

My pathology report came back...severe endo everywhere, and massive adhesions on my right side. My Doc said I was a real mess in there, and it was past time to have had it all out!

In a month or two, I think I will feel normal....something I haven't felt since I was 13 years old.

I hope that sharing part of my story helps those out there who are dealing with Endo.

Your story has given me much courage. I have one week to go for a LAVH for endo with adhesions on left side--hoping to keep my right ovary. After battling this for many years I am looking forward to a normal life!