Hi all! I had so many wonderful, loving responses to my "omg I'm having surgery, help" post so I thought I'd update you so y'all didn't think I'd died or something.
My surgery was delayed by eight hours (yuck) but I eventually went in. It took twice the length of time they were expecting because they found lots of endometriosis. It's been diagnosed at grade IV. Most of it was clustered on the ligaments of my right leg, which explains why I was having so many issues with it. I had an 8cm cyst on my right ovary that had been there for a LONG time that they finally removed too. They took biopsies in a few other places but did manage to remove all of the endometriosis while they were in there, which is amazing to me. I've been told that while it was extensive, it was thankfully not very "entrenched" in the surrounding tissue, which is at least a good sign in all of this. Apparently there's also some signs of intersitial cystitis, but that will need more testing.
What's amazing is that, after I woke up from the surgery, sure, I hurt like hell. But I wasn't cramping and I had no leg pain. What an amazing feeling. I haven't been truly without-my-regular-pain for years. Unfortunately, I am now 5 days post-op and some of that pain is returning. I feel a little disheartened, but I'm also having some (minor) complications from the surgery and it could simply be irritation causing the pain.
On one hand, when I was told that they found endometriosis, I wanted to go "no, duh??" I mean, with all the pain I'd been in, there's no way they were going to find NOTHING. I'm vindicated, which is a good feeling. But on the other hand, excuse my French, but I feel so edit angry. I've been written off by so many doctors as a drug seeker when I NEVER asked for drugs, only surgery, and I know that the severity of my condition was due to that neglect. If it had been caught sooner, it wouldn't have been so involved. If this had been cancer, I would have been dead. Period. These doctors should not be practicing medicine - they need to have their licenses revoked. Basically telling a patient with grade IV endometriosis, possible IC, EDS and a large ovarian cyst to go edit themselves is outrageous. They never gave me any options. I was just told that I "shouldn't be in so much pain" and that I should just take ibuprofen and I'd be fine.
Obviously I shouldn't be in this much pain! Duhhhh! That's why I'm seeking the advice of a specialist! Seriously, do these people not think?
Ugh!
There is one seriously good thing though: I am finally allowed to continue my testosterone therapy. I'm transgender, transitioning to male, and had to stop my hormone therapy because of my as-of-then-undiagnosed pain. They were worried the testosterone would worsen it. Well, testosterone is an anti-estrogen, much more effective than Lupron. So I can finally go back on it, and this time, it'll actually be treating my condition too! I'm very, very excited and so happy. I'll be back on it within a few weeks.
Well, thanks for reading my little update/rant. I hope everyone is doing alright this week.
Good luck and good health to all.
I have had to edit a couple of your words out. Please keep in mind that Healing Well has rules in place & one of those rules concerns language. Since we never know the ages of our readers the owner wants the posts kept clean. You do not have to be a members to read the posts here at Healing Well. Thanks.
Post Edited By Moderator (straydog) : 11/26/2014 12:34:19 AM (GMT-7)