Double Whammy

Four years ago I had a LAVH with right ooph. Pathology reports confirmed adenomyosis and endometriosis. I had experienced excruciating pain for years, and finally found relief in the hysterectomy. I already had children, and didn't want to have any more, so this was a good choice for me. My left ovary was left intact for hormonal assistance.

In 2005 I was having severe stomach problems. My gallbladder was inflamed, so I had surgery in January 2006 to remove it. My bowels became angry, irritable, and unreasonable in spite of multiple treatments. My doctor thought post-surgical complications caused the problems. We had no idea the culprit was my little, almond-sized ovary, nor the scar tissue building up in my pelvis from endo REGROWTH.

In February of this year, I went to a new gyn for severe left sided pelvic pain. I had three cysts on that ovary, but was told to take pain killers and that the cysts should resolve. They apparently did burst, and they made a big mess. But I still wasn't aware what was going on inside my pelvis.

The pain steadily increased. I was having up to 10 bowel movements a day, which affected my work. I missed day after day - it's a miracle I didn't get fired. My bladder was in continual spasm mode, and I was getting totally fed up.

I went to my doctor in October and complained about my frustrations. He ordered an ultrasound, which showed a solid mass in my left ovary. He referred me to my gyn, who suggested a laproscopic removal, with possible laparotomy to clean up scar tissue and adhesions. Sure enough, yesterday my surgery revealed a huge MESS in my pelvis. My bladder was stuck to my pelvis, I had endo regrowth all over my bowels that had to be burned off, and scar tissue and adhesions galore that had to be removed. I was very lucky not to need a laparotomy. She told me even if my ovary had a malignant area inside of it, it didn't spread outside the ovary to other tissues. I AM VERY LUCKY.

Today, I am already better. The pain is subsiding with ONE vicodin every eight hours or so, and heat pads applied to my swelly belly. I'm taking it easy, but the doc told me I could return to work in about a week or so. How's that for a miraculous recovery?

Listen, ladies. If you have post-surgical problems even four or five years later, you might check with your gyn to see if your endo grew back. I had no idea it could. Now I have only a 2% chance of going through this again, and I look forward to having a better quality of life AFTER SO MANY years of pain.

God is good...always.

Mel