Intro and questions

[crazy_invisible]

I'm new to this group, but I've been watching for a couple of weeks now. So, I thought I would introduce myself before asking any big questions.

I just turned 19 in the spring, and have been having pain for three years now. Unlike some women, the bad periods didn't start when I first had periods, but two years later. Which, I think is lucky because

Comments

[miss_malynna]

I would think that just a diagnostic aspect of the surgery means that you'll have to have another surgery to remove the scar tissue, etc, should you have endo. Seems like it'd be smarter for him to do all the work while he has you open, kwim? You should see why he just wants to do the diagnostic aspect. I love my Gyn, I got zero run around with him, but I sometimes feel like they [generalizing] make decisions based off the fact you'll need another surgery and they'll get lots of more dough.

[crazy_invisible]

I was wondering about why he wouldn't do any further surgery if he found something. But I'm thinking that he just wants to make sure that I either do or don't have endo before he does anything more invasive? Or perhaps he would rather treat the endo in whatever way he can to avoid doing surgery. I'll have to ask at my pre-op appointment.

[halimeister]

Think of it this way - if he isn't 100% sure what he is going to find, he has no idea how much time it will take to fix it. He may also find something you weren't expecting and may want to consult with you more. That is why the lap is diagnostic.

[mariediocre]

My surgery was supposed to be diagnostic only but at the appointment before the surgery I told my doctor, under no uncertain terms, if he found something and could take care of it, I was BEGGING him to do so. I didn't care if that meant one scrape or a complete removal. Sure enough he found some significantly large adhesions and repaired the damage. Your doctor might change his mind once he is in there and has some idea of what you are dealing with.

[cathubodva]

I agree with this - at least ask him why it's only going to be diagnostic. Everytime you have surgery you risk a bit more scar tissue, so it makes more sense to me to get it all done at once. If he says he won't remove it because he can't (doesn't know how - not all do) try to find out if you can get an immediate referral to someone who does.

Also, I just want to say that "you're too young to have it" is my biggest pet peeve. I was told that about once a year between the time I was 11 and the time I was 16, when I finally got a diagnosis. At my pre-op appointment for my first lap, my doctor told me I was too young for endo and he was doing the lap to prove me wrong. Sure enough I was right. Ugh!

I have adenomyosis - or rather had it, because I had a hysterectomy. Essentially adenomyosis is the exact same thing as endometriosis, it's just a different type - adenomyosis is endometriosis tissue that has invaded the muscle wall of the uterus, which is why it causes the uterus to look enlarged.

[peppermenthe]

Personally, having a purely diagnostic lap sounds odd. Even if it is just diagnostic, you are going to have recovery time from it. I'd definitely ask about it. When I had mine, it was understood that if they found endo, they'd treat it then. From what I understand, thats common.

In regards to gluten problems, have you looked at wheat as a problem? Its a common issue in endo sufferers, and slightly different. Personally, I can't eat wheat, but I can eat other glutens. Pure rye isn't a problem for me. Of course, for you, it very well might be gluten itself.

Talk to your doctor, and ask why. Good luck.

[crazy_invisible]

That's what I was thinking. From reading this community, I noticed that often, a diagnostic lap turned into a lap to treat endo, which is why I wanted to ask about it. So I'm really thinking I have to talk to my gyn when I go on Wednesday.
I'm not sure exactly what food is causing a problem, and I'm not too sure how to find out. I find that with starchier foods (bread, cookies, cakes, etc.), I feel sick or uncomfortable for a few days sometimes. For now I'm trying to cut out gluten (so, wheat and other glutens) and see how that works out.

Thanks.

[angry_phoenix]

If your doctor has made up his mind to just do a diagnostic lap and not attempt to remove anything if he finds it, that concerns me. I agree that it's possible that he just wants to look for now and if he sees anything that needs to be removed that would take longer than planned, he maybe feels like he should discuss it with you first for legal or surgery hour reasons... but I have no idea, that's just my thought. I am totally confused why he says he won't even do a biopsy though

[crazy_invisible]

The biopsy is one thing I'm worried about. I've read that there can be endo they won't even see with a lap, and if that's the case with me, they will tell me there's nothing wrong (which they will believe, if they don't have the biopsy). It was one of the first questions I asked about the lap when I spoke to my gyn. But now I'm thinking I really need to discuss this further with him. I don't want to go through the surgery, if it doesn't even help me (although getting a straight diagnosis would be a great thing).

Thanks.