Endometriosis affects roughly 190 million women worldwide, and it’s still one of the most misunderstood conditions that people do not take seriously. The chronic medical condition occurs when tissue similar to the lining of your uterus grows on the outside of it. It can attach to organs in your pelvic area, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Not only can it attach, but it can also grow and start to spread. Endometriosis has been found to include organs such as your bladder and bowels, and can grow in your brain in rare cases. The outside tissue can cause scarring and inflammation, and many other physiological effects that bring significant pain every day.
Symptoms of endometriosis greatly mirror many other conditions. So coming to an accurate diagnosis is not so simple. Author Lexi Frankel wrote an autobiographical case report on how it took ten years for her to be accurately diagnosed with endometriosis. Many patients deal with multiple doctor visits, tests, misdiagnoses, and emergency room visits before identifying the real cause. Doctors suggest a laparoscopic surgery to confirm the diagnosis. It’s a minimal procedure to check for endometrial tissue and remove lesions at the same time.
Once you schedule your procedure, it can be an overwhelming experience. One that brings about uncertainty and questions.
Knowing what to expect before and after a laparoscopic procedure can bring relief to the experience. Making sure you have support, preparing before surgery, and understanding your recovery will make the process physically and emotionally better.
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Rare occasions, such as deep infiltrating endometriosis or spontaneous hemoperitoneum, may cause an emergency laparoscopy. But most patients can schedule surgery weeks in advance. The first thing is scheduling a pre-op appointment to review your medical history and learn about any current medications. Sometimes you might need blood work or imaging, but it’s a case-by-case situation. This is critical for doctors to assess the safest procedure.
Dr. Ted Epperly, a clinical professor of family medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, says, “Asking questions is one of the best ways to ensure you and your doctor are on the same page.” It’s very important to ask questions. Surgery is a significant thing to experience. You need to have a complete understanding of what’s about to happen and how it will affect you in every way to prepare.
Outside of preparing for the medical portion, you should keep a supportive environment at home. Most patients can go home the same day of the procedure. From the moment you sign your discharge papers, recovery mode starts. You’re physically limited in what you can do and may need assistance with simple tasks like sitting up or using the restroom, so it’s best to prepare for your return ahead of time. This includes things like:
All of these simple things can make a huge impact on recovery. Planning ahead cuts down on any unnecessary strains throughout the process.
Another important factor is mental preparation. There are many emotions you feel. “Minimal invasive” is often the terminology associated with a laparoscopic surgery, but mainly refers to minimal damage or risk. That’s a physical focus, and not a mental one. So that’s why asking all the questions ahead of time can ease the range of emotions being felt.
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Laparoscopic procedures are considered minimally invasive because they require only small incisions compared to traditional surgery. Despite the small cuts, which accommodate surgical instruments and camera equipment, some immediate discomfort is still expected during the recovery period.
Studies show that most patients begin to experience discomfort and soreness immediately after surgery. Despite having small incisions, soreness happens because there was trauma to your tissue. Some may experience fatigue, which is an effect of the anesthesia, and regaining strength. A common yet rarely discussed effect is shoulder pain. More than 90 percent of patients begin to feel shoulder pain on the first day after surgery. Doctors inflate carbon dioxide gas into your abdomen to make room and get a clear view of your organs. Usually, the gas is gone by the end of surgery, but sometimes it can get trapped and cause irritation. Three simple things to help with that pain are:
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Managing pain is the top priority after laparoscopic surgery. Doctors usually send you home with a few prescribed medicines and best practices for recovery at home. Dr. Jonah J. Stulberg, MD, PhD, a surgeon and researcher with the American College of Surgeons, explains that “pain can inhibit recovery, but good pain control can be an accelerator of a patient’s recovery.” The better you can control your discomfort, the quicker you’re able to recover.
Getting rest is very important as well. Don’t assume your body is automatically healed after a day or two just because your incisions are small. Laparoscopic procedures create an outwardly physical presentation, but it’s also internal healing that needs to happen. Your endometrial tissues just experienced trauma. Rest will help those tissues repair themselves. The worst thing to do is think you’re healed, and you cause further complications.
There are four stages of endometriosis. The extent of the surgery and how much endometrial tissue is removed can affect your recovery time. Recovery time comes in stages. Especially given the fact there are about seven types of laparoscopic procedures, including laparoscopic hysterectomy, hernia repair, adhesiolysis, and more. Overall, it takes about four to six weeks for recovery. It takes about one to two weeks to get back to light movements that aren’t strenuous to the body. The first few days are mainly about extremely light activity, like walking around and sitting up, so your body doesn’t stiffen up.
Recovery also affects your emotional health. The procedure is done, but it can sometimes bring about new questions. So make sure you connect with your support system. Whether it’s your family, friends, or other women who have gone through the same thing, having someone there helps with recovery.
Every woman’s experience with a laparoscopic procedure is different. Paying attention to your body’s signals is very important. It’s normal to have soreness and pain. But anything unusual like intensified pain, swelling, fever, and other symptoms could be signs of an infection. The earlier you detect something, the better, so make sure to reach out to your primary care physician as soon as possible.
Keep in mind that even after an endometriosis diagnosis, there is no cure for the condition. It is a chronic condition that you have to maintain for the long-term. A 2020 study reported that endometriosis typically comes back in the first 31 months after surgery, and about 20-40 percent of women say it comes back within five years of surgery. It’s helpful after surgery to discuss findings with a doctor to fully understand what took place and determine additional treatments for better management.
Long-term recovery is the second part of this journey. Even after surgery, you deal with flare-ups, inflammation, hormonal changes, and everyday pain. To help through the process, work with your healthcare provider to find ways to reduce these symptoms and lower your chances of the disease coming back or growing in another place. Lifestyle changes such as diet, stress management, exercise and consistent medical check-ins play a huge role.
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