How many of you who got a laproscopy for endometriosis did it come back positive?

[needsrelief]

I have many symptoms of endo. my dr said with my symptoms its a 60% chance of me having it. I would hate to go through that surgery to find nothing. but my main concern is painfull intercourse like a punching pain in the deep pelvic region. I would attribute that solely to IC, however, it only hurts during certain times in my menstral cycle.which makes the dr think it maybe endo. its an excruciating pain. I know that a good amount of IC'ers may have it. but I know its weird. Im hoping that I do have it. Also for those of u who had endo and got it removed did ur pain return?-thanks

[icbeauty]

I've had 3 surgeries to remove the stuff. It did return, but now that I'm on birth control pills, it's not as bad as before. I still have some pain, but it's not at all like it used to be.

I am glad I had the surgeries to remove it, and I've gone almost 5 years since the last one. Once you get your hormones regulated, it really does help.

[needsrelief]

thats interesting because my test showed that my hormones were at normal levels. my gyn thinks I may also either have fibroids, cysts, or polyps because the painful sex symptoms come and go during different points of the menstral cycle.

[icbeauty]

Your hormones probably are at normal levels. Throughout your cycle, they change, and that fluctuation throughout the month is what fuels endometriosis to grow. As your uterine lining changes in response to the hormone levels (that's what happens in most women), the endometriosis that might be scattered around in your body changes as well. Endometriosis is the lining of the uterus that for some reason isn't in the uterus. It's affected by the normal hormonal changes that occur during a woman's cycle. When your uterine lining sheds during your period, the endometriosis implants also bleed. However, the blood is trapped with nowhere to go, and it causes inflammation. That causes LOTS of pain. Birth control pills keep your hormones at the same levels all month long, prevent your uterine lining from changing, prevent ovulation (another thing that fuels endometriosis), and when you do have your period on the pill, it's not as bad as without.

If you're not planning to start a family yet, you might want to look into it. Sometimes you can just go on the pill and put the surgery off a bit longer. If the pill helps, then I'd wait on surgery.

Ask you doctor as many questions as possible. It never hurts.

[needsrelief]

yes I agree to holding off surgery. I dont plan to have kids probaly 3 years or more later, cause Im in school. I actually have an appt to get a pelvic ultrasound and then take it from there. the only problem is that I had an pelvic ultrasound before (like over a year ago) with the same symptoms and nothing showed up on there. but my doc is pretty sure like I mentioned above that its either endo,polyps,or fibroids something of that nature based off my symptoms. I was on ortho tri cyclen low about 2 and a half years ago and that didnt help. she was actually talking about putting me on estrogen type birth control or something. but i was under the impression that estrogen worsens things. I have to ask her about that. She is highly ranked in her field,so Im sure she knows what shes doing. I just desparately want a normal sex life. and if surgery can be avoided that would be great.

[Julie B]

I had the surgery, didn't show anything. But, my daughter has a horrible case of endo. She has had two surgeries and each time she feels better afterwards. The second time they actually did a hydro/cysto when she was under the anesthesia to check for IC...........none, thank God. She has enough to deal with already.............

[needsrelief]

thats good for your daughter. I assume she got the cysto at the same time cause she was having urinary symptoms. Im learning that the symptoms of endo and IC can mimick each other so that may be the reason why

[icbeauty]

Endometriosis doesn't usually show up on ultrasounds or hysterosalpingograms (x-ray of uterus and fallopian tubes). In some cases it does, but not usually. Right now, the best way to make a definitive dx is surgery, but I would put it off and try something less invasive for now.

I always felt better after surgery. Amazingly better.

[needsrelief]

yea Im thinking surgery and then birth control if (endo,cysts,fibroids,ect) are found during lapo. Its a tough decision. Im on break from school till january so having the surgery done in the next 2 weeks would be good in a sense that I can rest at home and heal from the surgery. but in 2011 I will be in school the whole year straight and my gyn only does surgeries on wednesday. i would have to miss a thursday class i guess and then rest the whole weekend. which I dont like missing class, since so much is covered in grad school. You said u always felt much better after surgery do u mean with the painfull intercourse?