A Newie with Stage 5 Endo - Advice?

[joel's girl]

Firstly Congratulations to you and your OH on expecting your first child..... Just think in ten weeks you will be a mum That is just so exciting and extrodinary after the surgery you have been through..... I am really please to hear it is all working out for you and joel It certainly sounds like your doctor Cooper is a miracle maker and blessed with the gift of being able to change womens lives for the better. You will have to send him a picture of your new bundle of joy to stick up on his wall.

Would you mind if I asked about your surgery and recovery after surgery...... you mentioned it knocked you for a six......

How far appart were your surgeries? Were you in hospital long? I am starting to stress a little about surgery so any insight would be very much appreciated......

How long did it take before you could get out of bed and cook a meal and do normal household duties? I am a little worried about DH being able to cope with working full time and looking after DD (6) and keeping the house running.... as I have no other family to rely upon for help .....

All the best with the upcoming birth of your beautiful miracle baby...... its so good to hear when someone has been sucessful in TTC.

Be sure to let us know how it all goes

About my surgeries...... I had four in total last year but the last two were major and performed by 'the man' Dr Cooper. The first was in late September - it took about three or so hours, he removed endo from the pouch of douglass, uthrer (Sp?), kidney tubes, cervix, uterus and said that my left side was fused to my bowel. Although there had been a bowel surgeon on stand-by as this was what Cooper was expecting to find, unfortunately the bowel surgeon was busy and couldn't attend. So I was stitched up, Cooper left my kidney tube tied off and other bits and pieces pushed out of they their normal positions to reduce the next surgery time. Further surgery was scheduled for ten days time. On this occassion I stayed overnight and travelled home (2.5hrs from hospital) this was a bad move in hindsight. The pain was bearable and managed by medication but unfortunately I had a reaction to some of this medication and ended up back at my local hosptial 48hrs later as I couldn't breathe and had weird swelling to my face and legs.

The second surgery was performed at a different hospital in sydney to align with the bowel surgeon. This surgery took about five hours (I think) and was totally successful. I small section of my bowel was removed but the affected area was mostly shaved and oversewn. A good part of my kidney tube was removed (but I don't think this is a big thing) and they generally double checked they got everything.

The recovery for this was much harder. I had an IV and morphine drip for about three days. For me I had trouble eating........about ten minutes after eating I would be in such severe pain that the nurses were quite worried. In total I spent five nights in hospital but I think the delay in going home was more to do with the pain after eating, I lost over 8 kilo in that ten day period and generally felt weak from not eating.

If you weren't to experience this, which I was told was uncommon, then I would imagine that recovery would be similar to lap surgery. Although the second surgery was major it was still able to be performed thru six small incisions so no large cut requiring healing. I think that's what makes the difference.

I hope this is making sense.........I'm not quite with it at the moment - my brain is on holidays !!!!

Im lucking to have an amazing partner who did most of the household chores but we don't have a small child and I appreciate that would make things much harder. I did however, make some meals in bulk and freeze them before the 1st surgery and that helped. Perhaps you could arrange a person to come through and clean for you and do your ironing. I know a friend who did this and it only required three or four visits costing approx $80 each and she was back on her feet - hubby was happy - he looked after her and the children (x3) and did the washing and neither had to worry about the house cleaning or ironing. I thought that was clever of them. Just a thought.....

When is your surgery and who is performing it ??

Thanks for the well-wishes re: our miracle baby.......I know it's hard to be happy for someone else when your going thru this. I speak from experience as two of my closest friends gave birth in Nov / Dec last year and it was tough to say the least.

If you have any more questions feel free.........I'm not on here everyday but I will get back to you ASAP. Hope the above helps a little to ease your worries.

Cindy.

[Mumszword]

Thank you all for replying and sharing.......

Its good to talk to people who know how you are feeling and share the road you are travelling. I really appreciate all your comments and taking the time to share such personal details.....

Its really good to hear from you all. Thank you for talking about what treatments you are using to assist with beating your endo and how your surgeries are going.

As they say a burden shared is a burden lightened and you have all helped with your comments, encouragement and kind words.......

I hope all who are battling with Endo and POCS overcome and have their dreams come true of being pain free and for those who are TCC that this happens real soon.

Stay strong and keep in touch..... I will keep you posted on how I am traveling .

Once again thank you - words cannot express my gratitude on being able to chat to you all and being able to hear how you have all gone with your surgeries and treatment and life style changes ..... I will chat soon.....

Jo