Path report back

I just returned from my 10 day followup visit -(had TVH w/ BSO)- Dr said everything is fine - but I am very upset - my pathology report showed everything was fine and said "no endometreosis seen" - that's why I had this surgery!! The Dr said that he's seen this happen before and just because they didn't report it doesn't mean I didn't have it. I really didn't want this surgery but have had so many problems(including 9 years of infertility)- both laps I had done in previouis years showed severe endo and my GYN was certain that it was now causing all of my bowel problems and lower back and pelvic pain and we were out of treatment options. He said with every lap it just came back deeper. I'm so scared I did this for nothing! Has anyone else had this happen?? I already feel better aside from the normal post op stuff - am I crazy?! The doc said after surgery that there were alot of adhesions but nothing surprising and surgery went well. I am happy for that but now I just feel sad that I did the wrong thing. I still wanted more children and it was hard (and still is) to accept that I can't. I'd appreciate any input!!
Thanks!

but here goes.

My first lap back in '98, path report/surgical report stated mild endo adhesions removed and since then I have had three or four lap performed and no sign of endo indicated in any of them. I did develop internal endo in the ute muscle, adenomyosis, and that was again, a conditions seen in some of the reports but not others. So, maybe your doc is telling it true to you. It messes with my reality too!

I identify with the infertilty stuff too and even tho I came to my own conclusion and put an end to treatment a year and a half ago, even going as far as tubal ligation to prevent any spontaneous pregnancies (a very unlikely event, but I did get pregnant twice with no intervention), it is still a struggle for me. I guess my denial mechanism is still intact to an extent even tho I have a file box full of medical records that should convince me that pregnancy isn't going to happen for me. And I have to factor in all the RE's that kept making promises to me and giving me false hope all those years too. Makes me doubt what I know sometimes. All I can tell myself is that after investing that much emotionally into my reproductive potential, it is just going to take time, one step forward, two steps back, to reach some peace on the issue. Grief isn't a straight forward process.

I know EXACTLY how you feel!!

I have had about 8 surgeries (prior to my TAH) all showing adhesions, endo, cysts, fibroids, etc. I was at my end with the pain...I would have about 2 weeks/month that I actually felt good-no pain at all. I went to a new doc, she wanted to try depo-provera before the hyst. I did and my pain got worse. So we did the TAH/BSO on 12-4.

The day I was dischagred, my doc came in and told me they found NOTHING!! I haven't seen the path report yet. But I immediately felt "What the hell did I do this for then? Am I crazy? Was the pain in my head?"

Maybe....but I know what I felt and what I feel now and I KNOW I made the right decision. My family no longer has to come home and see me laying on the couch, they no longer have to pick me up off the floor cause I pushed myself.

Hold on to your OTHER reasons why you did this...the pain, how your life was affected, how your loved ones lives have been affected.

and peace
Paige

I had my hyst for several reasons, but endometriosis was listed as one of them. I have had several laps and an ovary removed prior to this surgery, and they had to laser endo each time. While my other issues still existed at the time of the hyst, he said he didn't see any endometriosis. I haven't gotten the path report back yet. However, when I was discussing this surgery and whether it was really needed, my doc said he thought it was even if he didn't see anything at the time of the surgery. We knew I had multiple ovarian cysts that kept ruptering, and he said that was enough. He also used the analogy of migraines. He said that people have migraines that no cause can ever be seen. They do CT scans and MRI scans, and they don't see anything. Well, he said if they could remove the brain, the pain would almost certainly be gone. He thinks the same thing for chronic pelvic pain. So, anyway, I thought I would share what he said to my fear that there wouldn't be some terrible problem when they went in. Hope it helps.

Amy

thanks for your replies - they did help! I've been thinking about this all day, let a few tears out and decided - what's done is done - I can't go back and I know that my life will have to be better than it was! I do enjoy reading all the posts and finding out answers to all kinds of questions - they don't give you much info at the hospital!
Thanks again!!

In Sept. I had a D&C and exploratory lap. My doctor scraped fairly deep on the the D&C so was able to get some of the muscular tissue (I think that's what he said). Path report came back on that one with multiple endo polyps and "probable adenomyosis". Because I also had a uterine prolapse, cystocele and rectocele - with the rectocele causing lots of problems, we decided to go ahead with hyst. on 12/16/02. Well, path report came back on that with no adenomyosis. Seemed odd to me that it could go from "probable" to "none"! But I still know this was the absolute right decision for me too. I have read that unless the pathologist sections exactly the right part of the uterus, they can totally miss adeno (and probably other things as well.) My doc said what yours did - just because the path report says no adeno., doesn't necessarily mean it's so. I would do all of this again, just for relief from the rectocele. But now, I no longer have to deal with heavy and painful periods, worries about cervical or uterine cancer, as well as painful intercourse because of all of those prolapsed parts! My doctor also said that the prolapses were only going to get worse - so it would be a matter of "when" and not "if". TraceyBo, you are in my prayers - just keep focusing on a good recovery!
blessings,
catherine

As I remember it, endometriosis is located OTHER places in your abdomen than the organs they removed. So, it makes sense that they will not "SEE" it on a path report. My doctor was a little close mouthed about what was wrong, however, one of the surgical residents told me what they found when I was in surgery. I read my pathology report, and even though I had adenomyosis, it was not listed on the pathology report. However, my uterus could hold a 12-week fetus. Not normal, for sure. Also, there were multiple fibroids (the bad kind). Any way, the hemorrhaging OV cyst was going to get me... Don't fret too much about the path report, as long as they checked for malignancies, I'm not going to worry. The surgery was well worth it.