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Should I have a laparoscopy to investigate possible endometriosis?

Posted , 5 users are following.

Applepie12345
Applepie12345

I'm 22 years old and have experienced symptoms of endometriosis for 5 years. Extreme period pain in a very localised area of the lower right abdomen. Very intense and sharp combined with vomiting, being unable to walk, shaking, sweating, agonising urination during periods. I experience regular nausea and vomiting throughout the whole month as well as other symptoms.

I have been offered a laparoscopy and am so torn on what to do. On the one hand it would be good to know, because I'm still young if I did have it, I could plan for the future like choose to have kids earlier or if I didn't have it, then I wouldn't have to worry anymore. However I'm worried about the risks and what if they end up damaging something and I'm in a worse position?!?!

What is your opinion on my situation bearing in mind I really want to have children in the future?

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • lottie59511
    lottie59511 Applepie12345

    Posted

    im 22 years old and i have had endometriosis twice!!! ive done the exact same thing that you have been doing and im post op 3 weeks from my 2nd laproscopy... the best thing i have ever done so i could have children was get it done. i have 2 beautiful children now and glad i was able too. talk to your gyn and your ob about it and dscuss if the procedure is right for you though and they will make it a comfortable as possible for you
    • Applepie12345
      Applepie12345 lottie59511

      Posted

      Thanks for the reply. I had an internal ultrasound today which didn't show anything apart from my uterus is tilted. I read online that can be due to endometriosis though but the only way to diagnose is laparoscopy/

      How did you find the op? How did you feel afterwards?

  • bettybetter
    bettybetter Applepie12345

    Posted

    It really sounds like you're having a tough time of it. I'm 37 with no family and had many of the symptoms you're experiencing. I'd gone round the houses with possible diagnoses but endometriosis did make sense. I was offered laparoscopy and like you was so unsure. In the end I decided to have it. The op itself was really really straight forward. And really is not something to worry about. It's obviously still an operation worth anaesthetic so should be considered carefully but the actual experience of having it was very positive so please don't be put off by the thought of it. I'm now 8 weeks on and I've hardly any marks from it. The surgeon only made 1 incision through my belly button. Yes I had a week of quite intense pain but it was manageable and still nothing compared to the pains I'd experienced. Thankfully no endometriosis was found bit I'm really glad I did it so I know.

    While I was waiting for the op things got really bad and a gp suggested I try the contraceptive pill to see if helped. It really did. My abdominal symptoms completely stopped as did my rashes and the tenderness under my arms disappeared. This convinced me more that I had endometriosis and if I hadn't had the op I probably would've continued taking the pill and thinking I had endometriosis. But as I don't have it, I've stopped taking the pill and so far, so good. I've not had any symptoms and my fatigue is improving. Hopefully I'll soon be able to stay trying for a baby before its too late. I've just been so unwell before now.

    Also, I have a few large fibroids which are outside my uterus and one was really troubling me. It happened to get moved during the op. I'm not sure if the surgeon meant for this or if it was just a consequence of things being moved around but it's now in a much more comfortable place and no longer presses on my digestive system. I've never been more regular! (TMI?!)

    What I'm trying to say is that for me it was really worthwhile finding out I didn't have endometriosis and the process of discounting that has led to me figuring out eventually that I've had a hormone imbalance. Hopefully this has been rectified and I'm now doing all I can to keep my hormones in check.

    Good luck with your decision and I hope it leads you to something that will help.

  • mel2016
    mel2016 Applepie12345

    Posted

    Ur symtoms looks like endometriosis to me.. I would suggest u get an ultrasound or pelvic MRI done before the laparoscopy....

    I had pretty bad experience with docs so I suggest u get hold of a good endometriosis specialist.. Its very very imp to have a good knowledgeable doc..

    Also since u are pretty young and want to have kids in future its a good idea to go on birth control pills for a few years.. Birth control pills might alleviate all ur symptoms and pain..

    U can stop the pills when u are ready to have children

    • Applepie12345
      Applepie12345 mel2016

      Posted

      Yes I've had two regular ultrasounds before and they were fine and yesterday I had an internal one and everything was fine but she did mention my uterus is tilted backwards. I've read this can sometimes be due to endo though.

      I've been on the pill for a few years and it has massively alleviated symptoms but over the past year, they've gradually been coming back again.

    • bettybetter
      bettybetter Applepie12345

      Posted

      I have a tilted uterus too (and it was "bulky") and don't have endo so there can be other causes too. 
    • bettybetter
      bettybetter

      Posted

      oh, I didn't mean that winking face!! :D
    • mel2016
      mel2016 Applepie12345

      Posted

      Hmmmm Not sure if laparoscopy is required for u but may be u can get it done to be on the safe side.. Or may be take another opinion before the lap..

      I heard sometimes endometriosis doesnt show up in the scans but mine showed up completely in the scan

  • lind45511
    lind45511 Applepie12345

    Posted

    Hi Applepie,

    I will share my story with the hope that you find some answers.

    I am 37 and was on the pill for 20 yrs. I always had heavy bleeding, spotting throught my cycle and bad pelvic pain passing stools. I just thought it was normal, it wasn't.

    Only until I went off the pill to try for a baby was when it became so much worse. I had a 40 days cycle, spotting half of that cycle, constant pelvic pain, always urinating and bad period pain. We were trying for a baby for a while but couldn't conceive. My gyno eventually decided to do a laparoscopy and indeed I had endo. So much so that my ovaries were stuck to the lining and endo growning on my rectum which they couldn't get to without major bowel surgery.

    My laparoscopy was not easy. I had some complications and ended up in surgery again the following day. I was in alot of pain for 3 months and very sick for sixs months. I was sick because I developed extreme anxiety after the procedures. I may have had anxiety prior to this but the trauma set it off.

    I still dont regret the procedure because if I didnt, I would still be in pain and unable to concieve. I am working with some amazing people for my anxiety and I have just found out I am pregnant. I no longer have the pain and my period became regular.

    In the words of the gyno, I needed a big clean out lol!

    Now, my laparoscopy experience was very uncommon so don't be scared. My sister in law has the procedure every 2 years and goes to work 2 days after lol.

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