Aa
Diagnosed with an endometrioma....
Well, hello.
I'm 26 years old and i dont have any children yet. about 2 months ago I was rushed to the ER for severe abdominal and pelvic pain. (it felt like i had a little person pulling and stabbing at my insides) My white blood count was high and the drs did a CT Scan, they said they couldn't see anything and to follow up with my gyno because it might be endomeitriosis.
My dr did a pelvic examination and sent me for a transvaginal ultrasound. Needless to say, my dr noticed multiple cysts on my right ovary and a 4 cm "chocolate cyst" called endometrioma on my left ovary. She also said the lining of my uterus wall is about a "6" which she said can be treated to get thicker with medication later on so i can eventually carry full term. I have been in on and off pain for about a year, severe lower back pain, shooting pain in my upper thighs, irregular and heavy periods, painful sexual intercourse (which has stopped me from having sex in over a year) and I have a hard time going to the bathroom when menstruating.
While in the ER they put me on a morphine drip which barely eased the pain, and since then, I have been prescribed 1000mg of Tylenol twice a day, then switched to Vicodin, and most recently switched to Tylenol with Codeine which feels like its worked best thusfar when I need it. Also, I've remained with Zofran (? To eliminate nausea)
My dr is sending me for a follow up TV ultrasound and an MRI next week to measure the size of the endometrioma to see if its grown at all and then to discuss surgery. Also said we do a biopsy to make sure it's not cancerous. I think reading about it every day is starting to freak me out.
What exactly is the surgery?
How long is the recovery time?
Does the post op period/recovery hurt?
On average, how many days will I be out of grad school/work?
Will having the surgery now effect me in having children someday?
I was reading online that removing the affected ovary or at least a part of it, may prevent it from reoccurring in the near future.... Is that true?
I'm starting to get very nervous, scared and stressed out. My family is telling me to relax but I'm worried more about the long term effects and the ability to possibly start a family of my own someday, rather than what is going on now. Is there a good (and nice) way to express my concerns to them without being overly emotional? Someone please help!
-Christina
I'm 26 years old and i dont have any children yet. about 2 months ago I was rushed to the ER for severe abdominal and pelvic pain. (it felt like i had a little person pulling and stabbing at my insides) My white blood count was high and the drs did a CT Scan, they said they couldn't see anything and to follow up with my gyno because it might be endomeitriosis.
My dr did a pelvic examination and sent me for a transvaginal ultrasound. Needless to say, my dr noticed multiple cysts on my right ovary and a 4 cm "chocolate cyst" called endometrioma on my left ovary. She also said the lining of my uterus wall is about a "6" which she said can be treated to get thicker with medication later on so i can eventually carry full term. I have been in on and off pain for about a year, severe lower back pain, shooting pain in my upper thighs, irregular and heavy periods, painful sexual intercourse (which has stopped me from having sex in over a year) and I have a hard time going to the bathroom when menstruating.
While in the ER they put me on a morphine drip which barely eased the pain, and since then, I have been prescribed 1000mg of Tylenol twice a day, then switched to Vicodin, and most recently switched to Tylenol with Codeine which feels like its worked best thusfar when I need it. Also, I've remained with Zofran (? To eliminate nausea)
My dr is sending me for a follow up TV ultrasound and an MRI next week to measure the size of the endometrioma to see if its grown at all and then to discuss surgery. Also said we do a biopsy to make sure it's not cancerous. I think reading about it every day is starting to freak me out.
What exactly is the surgery?
How long is the recovery time?
Does the post op period/recovery hurt?
On average, how many days will I be out of grad school/work?
Will having the surgery now effect me in having children someday?
I was reading online that removing the affected ovary or at least a part of it, may prevent it from reoccurring in the near future.... Is that true?
I'm starting to get very nervous, scared and stressed out. My family is telling me to relax but I'm worried more about the long term effects and the ability to possibly start a family of my own someday, rather than what is going on now. Is there a good (and nice) way to express my concerns to them without being overly emotional? Someone please help!
-Christina
What exactly is the surgery?
Pelvic Laparoscopic This should explain how the surgery works:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0003413/
How long is the recovery time?
My took about 2 hours and maybe another 2 till I got to go home.
Does the post op period/recovery hurt?
It took me about 10 days for me to be able to get out of a chair by myself. You'll just feel extremely sore all around your pelvic area.
On average, how many days will I be out of grad school/work?
I'd say 3 to 4 weeks MAX. Everyone's pain tolerance is different.
Will having the surgery now effect me in having children someday?
My OB/GYN told me that after the surgery and treatment that your fertility will actually spike. She was an endo specialist.
I was reading online that removing the affected ovary or at least a part of it, may prevent it from reoccurring in the near future.... Is that true? If you have endometriosis and it was JUST on that ovary and they removed it, then probably, but they may find more endo once they get in there and look around. That's what happened to me. I just went in to get a cyst removed and came out with a diagnosis of endometriosis all over. I just had my last shot treatment March 5th, so hopefully my appt with my OB/GYN this Wednesday I'll get the "ok" to start trying again. I'll let you know if it worked. ;-) Keep your head up. This isn't a death sentence or anything like that. It's fixable. You survived the pain of a ruptured cyst (that's what the ER visit sounded like. I was there a few times myself) so you can definitely survive the pain of this surgery. It's nowhere near as painful as a cyst rupturing. PLUS you get some good painkillers to help. ;-)
Pelvic Laparoscopic This should explain how the surgery works:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0003413/
How long is the recovery time?
My took about 2 hours and maybe another 2 till I got to go home.
Does the post op period/recovery hurt?
It took me about 10 days for me to be able to get out of a chair by myself. You'll just feel extremely sore all around your pelvic area.
On average, how many days will I be out of grad school/work?
I'd say 3 to 4 weeks MAX. Everyone's pain tolerance is different.
Will having the surgery now effect me in having children someday?
My OB/GYN told me that after the surgery and treatment that your fertility will actually spike. She was an endo specialist.
I was reading online that removing the affected ovary or at least a part of it, may prevent it from reoccurring in the near future.... Is that true? If you have endometriosis and it was JUST on that ovary and they removed it, then probably, but they may find more endo once they get in there and look around. That's what happened to me. I just went in to get a cyst removed and came out with a diagnosis of endometriosis all over. I just had my last shot treatment March 5th, so hopefully my appt with my OB/GYN this Wednesday I'll get the "ok" to start trying again. I'll let you know if it worked. ;-) Keep your head up. This isn't a death sentence or anything like that. It's fixable. You survived the pain of a ruptured cyst (that's what the ER visit sounded like. I was there a few times myself) so you can definitely survive the pain of this surgery. It's nowhere near as painful as a cyst rupturing. PLUS you get some good painkillers to help. ;-)
oh the surgery really isn't bad it takes a varied amount of time. If you are having a lap. Mine was only 45-60 minutes. the recovery wasn't bad my doctor only gave me 5 days off. You will notice A LOT of gas pain the first day and that was the worst of the pain. And you will be walking around like a ninty year old hunched over for a little while but all doable. I had some pain control issues 3 days after but that was because I got up and steam cleaned my carpets. And as far as having kids it shouldnt. It could help actually they told me after they did mine that they would go back in after i had tried for kids for six months and clean it out again to help the process of childbearing. I hope this helps.
Generally your doctor should be able to do a repeat u/s to see if the endometrioma has grown any. I wouldn't go as far as an MRI. It won't show endo, only a laparoscopy can give you a definitive diagnosis.
If they are going to do a laparoscopy, the recovery time is generally a week depending on what they find in there. They more severe and extensive work that needs to be done, the longer the recovery. Usually you'll only have 2 or 3 tiny one inch incisions. Surgery doesn't necessarily mean it'll affect your fertility. However, getting the diagnosis now and getting the lap done may increase your odds at concieving later on when you do want to have kids.
Like the above poster, I highly suggest going to an endo specialist. They are better able to treat your endo and if they can, it's best to excise the endo rather than to laser it off b/c lasering kind of just leaves the "roots" behind and it has a better chance at growing back.
I hope all goes well, and let me know if you need anything. Good Luck and keep us updated!
If they are going to do a laparoscopy, the recovery time is generally a week depending on what they find in there. They more severe and extensive work that needs to be done, the longer the recovery. Usually you'll only have 2 or 3 tiny one inch incisions. Surgery doesn't necessarily mean it'll affect your fertility. However, getting the diagnosis now and getting the lap done may increase your odds at concieving later on when you do want to have kids.
Like the above poster, I highly suggest going to an endo specialist. They are better able to treat your endo and if they can, it's best to excise the endo rather than to laser it off b/c lasering kind of just leaves the "roots" behind and it has a better chance at growing back.
I hope all goes well, and let me know if you need anything. Good Luck and keep us updated!
First of all--I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT YOUR DOCTOR IS WAITING WHEN YOU HAVE A 4 CM CYST ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE IN SOOO MUCH PAIN!! My doctor does not like to have an endometrioma over 2cm and he IS an endo specialist and on the endo association board of advisers. Is your doctor just a gen ob/gyn if so find a good endo specialist as a gen ob/gyn does not know enough about endo to give the proper treatment.
Second I assume the NJ stands for New Jersey can you get to this doctor he is an endo and fertility specialist and he is one of the best in the world:
http://www.nywomenshealth.com/md-farr-nezhat-st-lukes-roosevelt-hospital-new-york.htm
I hope this helps,
achilles2
Second I assume the NJ stands for New Jersey can you get to this doctor he is an endo and fertility specialist and he is one of the best in the world:
http://www.nywomenshealth.com/md-farr-nezhat-st-lukes-roosevelt-hospital-new-york.htm
I hope this helps,
achilles2
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Endometriosis Community
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
Normal vaginal discharge varies in color, smell, texture and amount.
Bumps in the genital area might be STDs, but are usually not serious.
Chlamydia, an STI, often has no symptoms, but must be treated.
From skin changes to weight loss to unusual bleeding, here are 15 cancer warning signs that women tend to ignore.
