Re: First Lap Update - I think it was a success!
From: Brandy (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri Oct 24 16:36:07 2008
My back pain has been pretty debilitating, at times putting me
completely on my butt and unable to walk without crutches, so it
certainly hasn't reached that point again, but I fear it's going to come
to that.. quite frankly, I'm scared. I got a taste of how nice it was
to not have that pain and it was GLORIOUS!
I'm with you regarding the constipation. It's pretty terrible, and the
pain meds only make it worse. And, i think I've found a correlation
between the constipation and the back pain. It occurred to me that I
had to fast for 12 hours before surgery, so my stomach, intestines and
colon were all emptied out. It wasn't until a couple of days of eating
again and filling my bowels back up did the pain return. I can't help
but think they're related. So now, I'm trying to eat as little as
possible and staying away from any of the foods that stop you up, as
well as taking the miralax. We'll see if this helps! I swear, when you
have endo, you have to become your own doctor half the time!
Another weird thing... I dont know, maybe this is normal. For the
first 2 days after surgery, i had no bleeding - then all of a sudden on
day 3, i start bleeding. Not a lot, but - why?
I hope the weird urination stuff goes away as my body heals. It's not
painful or even a real hassle, just odd. I'm not used to not knowing
that I have to go to the bathroom until I'm so full I can barely walk.
very strange - and probably not healthy.
I have weird pain in my sides, too. I was thinking it was gas. And,
like you - I can't get comfortable at night. In fact, i dread going to
bed to try and sleep. It's really hard to get into the bed and propped
up on all my pillows, and then I wake up in the middle of the night and
have to feel around for some water and a pain pill... it's rough. I
might just sleep sitting up in a big chair in the livingroom tonight.
I had an exploratory laparoscopy, some endometriomas were found and
removed (not sure from where yet, until I meet with my doc on monday for
the follow-up) also had a D&C and a hysteroscopy. I'll have biopsy
results from those procedures on monday as well.
UGH.
Thanks for your comments. I hope you're feeling better each day!
At Fri, 24 Oct 2008, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>
>Hi Brandy,
>
>I hope your back pain isn't that bad. I have some too and never really
>had significant back pain before (it was mainly my whole front abdomen).
>I have found that it's worse during my mini periods of constipation from
>the surgery. And speaking of constipation, that has been the worst part
>of this recovery. My muscles are so sore that I can't push anything out
>(sorry if it's tmi), it kind of just sits there and it really hurts to
>try and have a bowel movement. Also, I've been having some weird
>urination symptoms too like not knowing that i have to go until my
>bladder feels like it's about to explode. I've also had pain with
>urination, but that could be because I also have IC and it may have
>flared up from this surgery.
>
>My pain comes and goes. It's very good in the morning and gets
>progressively worse through the day. I think a lot of the pain I'm
>experiencing is due to excess gas, muscle pain and pain around the
>incisions, but I also have weird pains on my sides. Do you have a
>problem getting comfortable to sleep? I sure do! I'm going on one week
>now, had my surgery last Friday. My doctor said to take two weeks off
>to recover but I only planned on one (based on previous laps) but this
>time I went to a endo specialist, had a presacral neurectomy &
>appendectomy so I guess it makes sense that the recovery period could be
>longer. What did you have done during your surgery & what did they
>find?
>
>I wish you a quick recovery and I here (and bored stiff haha) if you
>need to chat. My email is misskika007@hotmail.com. Take care :-)
>
>At Fri, 24 Oct 2008, Brandy wrote:
>>
>>I think I spoke too soon. It's now been about 4 days since my lap. My
>>back pain is slowly coming back. I don't understand... I'm sure it
>>wasn't the pain medication since I've been on pain meds for several
>>months. It was the most amazing feeling to be able to walk again
>>without pain and now I'm afraid it didn't work. Maybe I'm just having a
>>bad day? maybe it's got something to do with me still being unable to
>>have a bowel movement...? I just dont know.
>>
>>I know a few others on this forum had laps in the last few days too...
>>How are your pain levels? My abdomen is still very very sore, especially
>>the muscles and where the incisions are. My incisions are also starting
>>to itch, which I suppose is normal as they heal.
>>
>>I am a little alarmed by the amount of pain around my right ovary,
>>though. I know that most of the excisions were on and around that
>>ovary, but the impression that I got before the lap was that it was a
>>pretty easy recovery and that I wouldn't be in a lot of pain. I
>>absolutely CANNOT get comfortable.
>>
>>Another strange new issue... i can't tell when I have to go to the
>>bathroom anymore. I don't have any lack of control or incontinence or
>>anything like that, I simply don't have the feeling that I have to go,
>>ever. So, when I make myself go, I can't tell when I'm done. It's
>>really really bizarre. Anyone experience anything like this?
>>
>>I have a follow-up with my gyn on Monday to go over all of this, but
>>would love to hear anyone else's insight/experiences...
>>
>>Thanks everyone,
>>Brandy
>>
>>At Wed, 22 Oct 2008, Brandy wrote:
>>>
>>>Hi Everyone... just wanted to report back on the laparoscopy that I had
>>>yesterday... So far, i think it went well.
>>>
>>>Those of you that know my story from this forum, know that I've been
>>>suffering debilitating low back and sciatic pain for several months for
>>>which no source was ever found until a pelvic MRI revealed a mass near
>>>my ovary about a month ago. Well, I took my MRI and my concerns to a
>>>gyn and was unofficially diagnosed with Endo (although he didn't think
>>>this was the source of my back pain, I had other symptoms that led to
>>>this conclusion).
>>>
>>>So, my first lap was yesterday, and although I am in a world of pain,
>>>the pain in my lower back is about 80% improved!! I feel like a new
>>>person!
>>>
>>>My lap took about 2 hours, my doctor found small amounts of
>>>endometriosis and removed them, and removed portions of my right ovary
>>>as it was about three times it's normal size. Until my followup
>>>appointment next monday, I won't know exactly where the endometriomas
>>>were found or exactly what parts of my ovary were removed. He also
>>>performed a D&C and a hysteroscopy and will be having those tissues
>>>biopsied and tested for any additional disease (edemomysosis?).
>>>
>>>My biggest concern through all of this, though, was the lower back pain.
>>>I am SO HAPPY that my pain is so greatly reduced. Especially since my
>>>doc didn't think the pain was related.
>>>
>>>Just wanted to update my friends on this board that wished me well and
>>>had me in their thoughts and prayers - I think it was a success!
>>>
>>>When I have my follow up and find out exactly what the doctor removed
>>>and from where, I'll let you know - I know many others have a lot of
>>>back pain just like I did and haven't found any relief yet. Maybe the
>>>info I get can help.
>>>
>>>Gotta go lay back down now - my abdomen is on fire, and the gas... oh
>>>the gas. It's the worst. I feel like a stuffed pig.
>>>
>>>talk to you all soon!
>>>Brandy
![[ endo@obgyn.net ]](../../images/endo_at_obgyn.gif)