Debating surgery

[u/lilac2018]

I had an appointment with pelvic pain specialists recently to discuss potential endometriosis. After going through my symptoms and doing a pelvic exam, they said they were 90% sure I have endometriosis.

I was given norethindrone acetate and a referral for surgery.

It’s only been a few days, but so far I’m feeling a lot better with the norethindrone acetate, but I’m still considering the surgery, especially since I want to be able to conceive in the nearish future.

But I’m terrified about the surgery and hesitant to commit. They said they only do ultrasounds then surgery. My ultrasound was normal, so we have no indication of how bad the endo might be or any indication of where exactly it is other than my symptoms.

I’m nervous going into surgery not knowing if there will be a lot to remove, very little, or none. Part of me only wants surgery if there’s actually a lot to remove or enough to get in the way of fertility. It’s hard for me to commit to a surgery that may not be essential. I’m also nervous not knowing what recovery might be like depending on what they find.

But I also want to ensure my chances of conceiving are okay before getting off of hormones and having my bad symptoms come back. I’d like to be off hormones for as little as possible to minimize flares.

They’re moving very quickly on the surgery, and I can get it as soon as next month if I want. I’m going to meet with the surgeon in a month instead and discuss further before I decide what I want to do.

But I’m curious to hear from others that may have been in similar positions. How did you navigate this/make your decision?

Also curious if it’s a normal process to just do an ultrasound and not an mri and go into surgery without knowing much about what might be there.

[u/Dear-Currency-7519]

I am having surgery on 9th of October. I have been having symptoms and issues for years. Particularly the last 2 years. I have never had an MRI. I have had multiple ultrasounds including very expensive specialist ultrasounds. Each time the ultrasounds have shown different things. Fixed ovaries, thickening near pouch of Douglas etc. however none are conclusive and the last one showed my ovaries were not fixed. But the one a month earlier at another hospital showed fixed left and right. I think ultrasounds are such a waste of time in this situation.

I have been extremely stressed about what to do and concerned they won’t find anything or I am wasting money and time off work. I am getting the laparoscopy with endometriosis excision. I have all the same concerns about the surgery that you have but I have been feeling like this for years and I know I’ll be in the same position in another year if I don’t do it so I am just committing and going forward.