Endometriosis and laparoscopic surgery

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes endometriosis as a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it.

There is no cure, known prevention, or known cause for this disease. The WHO estimates that around 10% of girls and women of reproductive age are affected by endometriosis, which amounts to 190 million people worldwide.

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

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 persisted over time, but 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

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure involving small incisions. 

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

Before the surgery, the clinic provided instructions on preparation, a list of potential risks, and a questionnaire. 

On the day of the surgery, I had a brief consultation and an ultrasound with the doctor and anesthetist. After changing into a gown in the recovery room, I received anesthesia in the operating room. Once the surgery was completed, I was awakened and accompanied back to my room. 

Although weak, blurry, and in pain, I could already walk and talk. 

I was discharged after about an hour after the surgery, 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. 

Additionally, I experienced shoulder pain due to the gas used during the procedure.

What helped me recover:

Plenty of sleep and rest:  Prioritizing rest was crucial for my recovery. Sounds easy but required my constant effort.

Balanced eating. I focused on nourishing foods like porridge and broth, avoiding dairy and yeast products.

Drink a lot of water. Drinking water is important, but I had to be mindful of the discomfort caused by abdominal expansion.

Homeopathic remedies. I followed recommendations from my trusted homeopath.

Acupressure mat. As a big fan of acupuncture and acupressure, I found the mat provided a great relief from back, shoulder and abdominal pain.

Positive thinking and tracking progress. My recovery took longer than I expected and some days I just fell just back in pain again which was very depressing. Keeping a gratitude journal and focusing on small improvements like no more pain while taking a deep breath, being able to sleep on one side, etc. helped me stay positive during the slow recovery process.

What did not help me recover:

Eating spicy or salted food. My cravings for meat and sushi early in recovery led to discomfort and pain. I should have saved it for later.

Starting to exercise too early. Yoga or Qi Gong are usually part of my morning routine and make me feel energised. However, attempts at yoga and Qi Gong before I was fully healed resulted in setbacks. I tried yoga on the 5th day of recovery and had to take painkillers for 2 days afterwards. 

I was able to resume Qi Gong almost 2 weeks after surgery.

Expecting a quick recovery. Even after two weeks, I still felt weak and unable to go for a longer walk or ride a bike.

Experiencing stress before the surgery. I had a stressful situation at work a couple of days before the surgery. As I usually relieve stress by grounding and anchoring myself through movement, sports, and outdoor activities, I couldn't do any of that and had to find creative ways to cultivate inner peace while lying down all day. Not easy.

My learnings

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

Starting to talk about endometriosis made me realize that I'm not alone in this struggle, and it was a relief for me.

However, each and every experience is different. It's a basic truth, but an important one. I've heard stories of quick recoveries after laparoscopy, but that wasn't my experience.

I decided to support a German endometriosis research foundation regularly with donations. It gives me a sense of purpose knowing that I can contribute to women's health research. Hopefully, someday they will find a cause and a cure for this disease.

Disclaimer: This information is based on personal experience and should not be taken as medical advice.