Endometriosis and laparoscopic surgery

I recently underwent laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis and decided to share my experience.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), endometriosis is a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it. There is currently no known cure, no known prevention, and no single known cause. Around 10% of girls and women of reproductive age — approximately 190 million people worldwide — are affected.

Note: This is based solely on my personal experience. Every journey is unique.

Why

Ever since my first period, I experienced debilitating pain.

Regular painkillers were ineffective, and at school in Russia, my teachers would call an ambulance to administer tranquilizers and take me home.

The pain never really went away. I learned to live with it — and to hide it.

In recent years, various gynecologists recommended diagnostic laparoscopy due to suspected endometriosis, which can only be definitively diagnosed through surgery.

It took me years to agree to the procedure.

How

My surgery was performed laparoscopically — a minimally invasive procedure involving small incisions.

A tiny camera was inserted into my abdomen through a small cut near my belly button, and the abdomen was filled with gas to improve visibility of the inner organs. I had three additional incisions for the removal of endometriosis tissue.

Before the surgery, the clinic provided instructions on how to prepare, explained the potential risks, and asked me to complete a medical questionnaire.

On the day of the surgery, I had a final consultation and an ultrasound with both the surgeon and the anesthetist. After changing into a gown in the preparation area, I was taken into the operating room, where I received general anesthesia. When the surgery was over, I woke up in recovery before being accompanied back to my room.

Although I was groggy from the anesthesia, weak, and in pain, I could already walk and talk.

I was discharged about an hour later, with a total clinic stay of approximately four hours.

My experience

I underestimated the impact of the surgery.

Although laparoscopy is considered minimally invasive, it was physically and mentally challenging for me. The incisions in my core muscles made every movement and breath painful. I had difficulty eating, breathing deeply, sleeping on one side, and standing for extended periods. I also experienced shoulder pain caused by the gas used during the procedure.

A few things genuinely helped my recovery. Sleep and rest were crucial — simple in theory, but it took real, constant effort to actually prioritize them. I focused on nourishing, easy foods like porridge and broth, and avoided dairy and yeast. I made sure to drink plenty of water, though I had to stay mindful of the discomfort caused by abdominal expansion. I followed homeopathic remedies recommended by my trusted homeopath and used my acupressure mat regularly, which gave real relief from the back, shoulder, and abdominal pain. Recovery took longer than I expected, and some days I fell straight back into pain, which was genuinely discouraging. Keeping a gratitude journal and celebrating small improvements — taking a deep breath without pain, being able to sleep comfortably on one side again — helped me stay grounded through the slow process.

A few things made recovery harder, in hindsight. Cravings for meat and sushi early on led me to eat things that caused real discomfort — better saved for later. I tried to return to yoga and Qi Gong too early: yoga on day five left me needing painkillers for the following two days, and I wasn't able to resume Qi Gong until almost two weeks after surgery. I also expected to recover much faster than I actually did. Even after two weeks, I still felt too weak for a longer walk or a bike ride.

There was another challenge I hadn't anticipated. Shortly before the surgery, I'd gone through a stressful situation at work. Normally, I process stress through movement and time outdoors. During recovery, neither of those was possible. I had to learn other, less familiar ways of finding calm while spending most of the day lying down. It wasn't easy.

My learnings

Only after the surgery did I realize how much psychological pressure the disease had placed on me. Considering pain to be normal, trying to hide it, and acting as if everything was fine — that shouldn't have been my normal.

That realization also changed the way I answered one question people asked me repeatedly: whether I wished I'd had the surgery sooner.

I did know, even at the time, that I simply wasn't emotionally ready for it earlier. It's hard to fully explain, but there was something in me that resisted the idea of my body being cut. This was my first surgery ever, and some part of me needed more time before I was ready.

Talking openly about endometriosis showed me how many other women were quietly carrying similar experiences. That was a real relief.

Every experience is different. It's a simple truth, but an important one. I've heard stories of women recovering very quickly after laparoscopy, but that wasn't my experience.

I've also decided to regularly support a German endometriosis research foundation. It gives me a sense of purpose, knowing I can contribute — even in a small way — to women's health research. Hopefully, one day, there will be a known cause — and a cure.

Disclaimer: This post is based on my personal experience and should not be taken as medical advice. If you have any concerns, consult with a healthcare professional.

If you're interested, I've also written about my pregnancy — you can read more in Pregnancy: A Reminder to Myself and Pregnancy: A Study in Adaptation.

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