Hi Jess... tis been a while since I popped in here... but it's one of the few forums that have something set up for endo... and it's just good to talk to others.

I've been through 6 laps since being diagnosed with endo... and they have all been a bit different.

The first was probably my worst... as like you... I didn't know what to expect from it... and I'd only ever been in for a D&C and didn't come out of the aneastitic (sp) very well from that. Not to mention that I had severe endo... had it everywhere and it was all old as well... so the op took over and hour.

Astrolady has explained the proceedure very well... although for 5 out of 6 of mine... I had 3 incisions to be able to remove all the endo present. The one under the belly button is to put the scope in... then I have had the other two down on my bikini line... one on either side.

You will no doubt have some tenderness around here... and as mentioned the gas as it moves back up through your shoulder.

My first one took me well over a week to get over... going in on the Tuesday and not returning to work until Monday... and even then needing to be very careful as too much movement really killed me... it may have had something to do with where it was removed... I don't really know.

My last one however... I was back on my feet the next day looking after 2 kids.

As for pain previously... I had very bad back pain... my periods were an absolute nightmare... even to the stage that I would take a day off work each month to deal with it... cos believe me... I wasn't the nicest person to work with at that time.

Don't stress too much over the diagnoses... despite what I've endured over the last 9 years off having endo... finally being told that it wasn't all in my head and I wasn't hormal was such a relief more than anything.

Although it wasn't easy... I have too beautiful children and the pain and bleeding are finally under some sort of control... and I manage to lead a mostly 'normal' life these days.

I hope that helps you a little... and feel free to ask anything... I will pop back and check.

Good luck!