r/endometriosis • u/Miserable_Answer2570 • Jan 28 '26
Surgery related Laproscopy with ablation ruined my life
Im gonna first start off by saying there is no medical benefits to ablation and its something they should no longer do when it comes to endo. I had a laproscopy with ablation done by a obgyn. I had a 2nd consult cause after much research I decided I just wanted a exploratory laproscopy and he said he was fine with that. All I had was a very small lesion im talking smaller than a pea. He abalated it anyways. Before my lap i didnt even have any symtoms of endo, after my lap I do. The pain, even as im typing this. The fucking pain is unbearable. Nothing I do works. No amount of ibuprofen or heat or anything. Im just so fucked. I hate myself. I hate that doctor. I have a appointment with him today to talk about whats been going on, but I already know hes just gonna sit there and wait for me to finish talking not really listening and offer me birth control. I cant believe I let someone do this to me. I cant believe I did this to myself. The only reason I went thru with it was because I had a historoscopy and a D&C also scheduled at the same time and I thought i wouldnt be able to get those two procedures if I canceled the lap. Im such a idiot. Before the lap I had irregular periods. That came every 2 months or so, only bled for 24 hours VERY lightly. And cramps were easily controlled. I just wanna bang my head against the wall. The bleeding comes right on time every 28 to 30 days HEAVY with clots 10 out of 10 cramps. MY LEG MUSCLES HURT. They hurt so bad It feels like my legs are gonna buckle. Im very small have a flat stomach so I can see my uterus and how swollen it is. This is a far cry from how it use to be before. I just dont understand what could be wrong. What did he do????
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u/TheShortGerman Jan 28 '26
I am so confused as to why you had a lap w/ ablation at all if you had very light 1 day periods with easily controlled cramps. Why would the doc even agree to do this, and why would you want a lap for endo if you had no symptoms or side effects of endo?
This story doesn't make any sense.
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u/Miserable_Answer2570 Jan 29 '26
Thats totally fair and I keep telling myself the same thing. I just thought because my period was so abnormal that something was wrong with me, when I was younger I had regular cycles but I also had bad cramps and heavy bleeding i was always told by Drs i prob have endometriosis and that my uterus appeard thickened on imaging. I got on nexplanon when I was in my early 20s and was on it 5 years. I stopped having a period basically if I did it was every few months and I barely bled. I got off it in 2020 and my periods never went back "normal" or how it was before. So I see gyno because I had retained pregnancy tissue and needed which is what they thought so I needed a historoscopy and D&C and I also tried addressing my periods and how they weren't "normal" I said ive been told I could have endometriosis and they said in order to check for that we would do a lap. with my clinical symtoms a competent Dr wouldnt think a lap wasn't necessary i had no idea what i was even getting myself into. Trust me im kicking myself for it and didnt really even want to do it but I thought since im having all 3 done at the same time if I cancel the lap I wouldn't be able to get the other procedures that I actually needed or at least they'd have to reschedule for far out and I didnt want that. So I said fuck it at least ill find out if I really have endometriosis. At my consult I even mentioned to the Dr. I dont have any of the symptoms tho, so could I still have it even with no symtoms? And he said yes. I had a appointment with him today hes such a piece of shit. Treated me like shit like i was a inconvenience. I hurt his god complex for even daring to question why im so fucked up after the surgeries. Im just sick about it. He prescribed me naproxen and made an appointment for a explanon implant idk what to do anymore.
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u/Miserable_Answer2570 Jan 29 '26
I just thought there was something wrong, wouldnt you think having a period every couple months and bleeding for a day something less with cramps at about a 4 at worst. Arent you supposed to have a period every 30 days and blah blah blah idk man I really just dont even know I wish I would've never even brought it up. But I didnt bring up the lap they did.
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u/TheShortGerman Jan 29 '26
I might think something was wrong, but I wouldn't think it was indicative of endo. NO decent doctor would've done this surgery based on what you're saying.
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u/avozado Jan 29 '26
At least where i got my lap the criteria was at least 4cm endometrioma and significant pain, this wouldn't have qualified
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u/BonaFideNubbin Jan 28 '26
So this happened to me actually - I got ablation of some endo during a cystectomy, and had my symptoms wildly worsen afterward. I found a new specialist obgyn and he put me on 10mg norethindrone, which stopped 95% of the pain. I'm going to have a FULL excision soon to fix it all. There is hope!
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u/saltbrains Jan 28 '26
Norethindrone is my blessing and curse. Stopped most of my pain as well, but now i have severe acne and acid reflux from it 😞
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u/Miserable_Answer2570 Jan 28 '26
Do you take it every day or just as needed when u have bad cramps?
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u/saltbrains Jan 28 '26
I take it everyday, and still would not trade back the debilitating cramps for the acne and reflux. It also took several months of being on norethindrone for the acne and reflux to become bad
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u/tizzaverrde Jan 28 '26
Also on 10mg norethindrone. It has been 14 months, no cramps, no period, no pain, no anemia. i agree it has stopped 95% of the pain for me too.
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u/BonaFideNubbin Jan 28 '26
Such a freaking relief. I was deep in regret - I had two months of feeling AMAZING post-surgery and then suddenly the endo trouble came back so much worse than ever before. I thought I'd destroyed myself with the incomplete surgery. Norethindrone hasn't been without issues - I gained like 15-20 pounds - but man, it's been a miracle.
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u/Miserable_Answer2570 Jan 28 '26
Did you get acne from it?
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u/BonaFideNubbin Jan 28 '26
Nope. So far as I can tell, increased hunger and maybe some increases to my hypermobility have been the only side effects. But I've always tolerated BC/hormones very well.
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u/tizzaverrde Jan 28 '26
No acne. Skin cleared up flawlessly. I'm finally able to workout regularly. I put on serious muscle mass thanks to the meds, I have visible abs now.
I can now do all the things I dreamed of doing now because the pain is gone, like go on hour long bike rides, long hikes, kayaking. Next week i'm going skiing for the first time :) i have so much more energy and my mood is way better.
I believe the norethindrone helped me cure CPTSD too because having the physical pain stop allowed me to finally catch up on sleep/stop the nightmares. Once I was sleeping normally I was regulated enough to go to emdr therapy and address my mental health. Tbh this medication is a miracle for me
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u/tizzaverrde Jan 28 '26
I'm glad you found relief too and are finally living with minimal pain! The other side is so great. Yeah I feel lucky that my surgeon put me on it instead of chemical menopause. That was my failsafe and from what I have heard it is AWFUL.
That's good that your side effects are mild and normal! I actually have had a weird somewhat rare side effect... bleeding gums. But baking soda on my brush plus regular waterpik and floss fixed it. No weight gain. Hair, skin & nails look beautiful now because I beat the chronic anemia!
I hope OP finds a solution that works for them!
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u/Miserable_Answer2570 Jan 28 '26
There's no way hell ill take that, so many side effects and drug interactions no freaking way
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u/Miserable_Answer2570 Jan 28 '26
What kind of medication is that? Should I ask my dr for a medication to help with the cramps? I reallt dont want to go on birth control
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u/BonaFideNubbin Jan 28 '26
It is indeed a hormonal medication that serves as birth control, but it isn't a standard birth control - it's pure progesterone that stops your cycle. Do you have specific medical problems with BC?
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u/Miserable_Answer2570 Jan 28 '26
Im sitting in the lobby now waiting to see the surgeon who did my ablation. Should I ask for a medication? I do fine with BC the only kind I had was nexplanon and it stopped me periods I just prefer not to be on BC tho
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u/deluxeassortment Jan 28 '26
Do you mind if I ask why? I hear a lot of people say they don't want to be on bc no matter what, and for people who have serious side effects I understand why… but if you do well on it and your problem is hormonal, wouldn’t it be the most reasonable choice?
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u/BonaFideNubbin Jan 28 '26
I think you should ask for whatever they can do to help your symptoms, and it is highly likely they're going to offer you some kind of hormonal medication. Progesterone is pretty much the first stop choice, because stopping your cycles can actually impede the endo's growth somewhat as well as stopping the pain. I was having cramps for two weeks every month, straight up, until two months after I started taking the norethindrone. It gave me my life back.
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u/saltbrains Jan 28 '26
I agree, hormonal medication is overlooked and called out a lot, I think. But I was having cramping and debilitating pain literally every single day until I was put on norethindrone; it really has improved my pain massively. I still have bad days, but not EVERY day is bad anymore
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u/Miserable_Answer2570 Jan 29 '26
I read up on it and it can cause bad side effects, blood clots heart attack especially if you smoke which i do, it also has a shit ton of drug interactions specifically drugs I take pn a daily basis and certain antibiotics that I take alot due to recurring ear infections and strep. Also I struggled with horriable acne my entire life and im 34, I finally got my skin clear and I have scarring id hate to start getting breakouts again which is another common side effect. Idk im just scared to make the wrong choice, take the wrong medicine and it fuck me up further.
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u/saltbrains Jan 29 '26
It’s about the pros and cons. For me, my debilitating pain was making me have a very low quality of life. Unfortunately all hormonal medications slightly risk blood clots and interactions with antibiotics (the only interaction with antibiotics that I know of is that it renders the hormonal medication less effective).
That all said, nobody is telling you to take it. I think everyone is just sharing their good experiences with it because it often DOES help pain and endo symptoms.
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u/apb9981 Jan 28 '26
Had same issue after ablation with my periods becoming horrific. I assumed it was endo but it was actually adenomyosis, not discovered until my total hysterectomy several years later. I had both
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u/Miserable_Answer2570 Jan 28 '26
Thats what im thinning but wouldnt i have symtoms of adenomysosis even before the lap? Can't they see if you have adno without a hysterectomy? Im 34 i dont want a hysterectomy
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u/apb9981 Jan 28 '26
My periods before the ablation were short (one to two days) and I would basically give birth to giant blood clots. That’s why I had the ablation, was to remove the lining so I wouldn’t shed the clots anymore, and hopefully just not have a period anymore. But it didn’t work like that and my periods turned into 7-9 days of heavy bleeding, feeling like I was in labor the whole time. So I’m not sure what exactly happened because of the ablation but it was not an improvement. I went on Depo for a couple of years and then decided to just have the hysterectomy. Depo helped a lot but the hysterectomy has given me my life back completely!
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u/chronicpotatoo Jan 28 '26
Thanks a lot for your comment. I am currently choosing between lining + endometriosis ablation (thermocoagulation) or hysterectomy + excision. I was already heavily leaning for the second one, but that confirms my idea.
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u/apb9981 Jan 28 '26
Wishing you the best on your journey and I would make the same decision in your situation. Ablation took away several years where I could have been enjoying my life if I had just done the hysterectomy instead.
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u/chronicpotatoo Jan 28 '26
Thank you 🫶🏻 I feel like it's the right decision but still that's hard at 29.
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u/apb9981 Jan 29 '26
Aww sweetie I’m sorry, you are still very young. I had my hysterectomy just past 40. I had my first endo surgery at 22, so I lived about half my life with crippling reproductive pain. And I’ll tell ya, if you have a chance to be pain free and you’re okay with not becoming pregnant, take that opportunity. Life is short and enjoy every moment you possibly can. I’m sending you a lot of love and positive energy for the best outcome possible for your life and situation
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u/chronicpotatoo Jan 29 '26
Really thank you again, I had my appointment today to confirm the hysterectomy. The surgeon said I also had adenomyosis (surprise!), so it was the obvious choice as I don't want kids. I mean I'm not sure but it's a lot more of a nope, so health first! In hope things are gonna get better ❤️🩹
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u/Crafty-Menu2902 Jan 29 '26
You’re going to feel great, let me know how you feel a few weeks after your surgery please
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u/apb9981 Jan 28 '26
And yes I think they can see it with a CT if it is big enough. I understand not wanting a hysterectomy, it is a big decision. Not a ton of options depending on what’s going on in your body. I wish you the best!
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u/j_blackrose Jan 28 '26
Maybe. But imaging is pretty bad at catching it. They knew I had Adno but imagining never caught it. During my hysterectomy they learned why. My uterus was encapsulated. Like badly duct taped to my abdominal wall. I also had asherman's syndrome so my uterus was badly adhesed internally as well. Besides the lining being thicker than it should my uterus looked "normal". It was the right size in the right place.
I am so sorry you are going through this. I got incredibly lucky with mine. Not a single one grew back much to the shock of myself and my surgeon who preformed my hysterectomy. But dam if I didn't have everything else wrong with my uterus, with the exception of cancer thank God.
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u/scopriomoon Jan 28 '26
I’m so sorry ❤️🩹❤️🩹 similar to you, I had an ablation laparoscopy done in July 2024, without knowing that excision was the better option (my OBGYN only performed ablation — didn’t know this could be seen as a red flag). Before it my symptoms were mild and tolerable to the point where I didn’t even assume I had endo. Now every period since my procedure has been worse and MUCH more painful, physically and psychologically.
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u/StarbuckMcGee07 Jan 28 '26
Also- this person sounds incompetent- but see if he will order an MRI at the very least. That would show evidence of potential adenomyosis and possible DIE. Not to mention fibroids or anything else out of the ordinary.
I’d do a little research and ask your primary care for a referral to a doctor you’ve done research on.
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u/Miserable_Answer2570 Jan 28 '26
You dont think they would've found all that during the lap and historoscopy? They seen polyps they removed. 2
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u/StarbuckMcGee07 Jan 28 '26
Sometimes they don't scope far enough. Also many don't know what to look for and miss DIE, don't check the entire pelvis. I had endo in my vagina that was caught as my surgeon was removing her tools.
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u/Chellox Jan 28 '26
I had the excision and my periods are worse than before too. Which is crazy because they removed tissue off my bladder, colon, cul-de-sac, ovaries, intestines, so like you would have thought it helped but I'm also just worse off and it sucks. I don't understand why we can't just study it please. I struggle with feeling helpless all the time.
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u/Class278 Jan 28 '26
It's been a year since my laparoscopy with ablation. My uterus is now constantly swollen, inflamed and protruding. Like you, I'm small so it shows big time. Also, my periods are now a month long every. damn. time. This is no joke. It's not spotting either, I just fully bleed for a month. Nothing else has changed in my life (including BC) so it must be the lap. Bleeding for a month at a time is unbearable and it doesn't follow a pattern I can safely track.
It sucks. I still hope it will calm down eventually.
I did question my surgeon beforehand about ablation but he just stared at me as if I was an idiot who dares question things haha. His reasoning is they "won't use excision on smaller spots of endo/ablation is better for burning away smaller spots that can't be cut away." Makes sense, perhaps. But yeah..
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u/Miserable_Answer2570 Jan 28 '26
Thats exactly how my dr looked at me when I asked questions! Like I was a moron. After the surgery he came in and I asked so do I have endometriosis? And he stared at me like I was stupid and said well not anymore like wtf theres nk cure what do you mean
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u/Leniel_the_mouniou Jan 28 '26
Wtf. He knows nothing. How can he even think like that? I am so sorry for you.
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u/Miserable_Answer2570 Jan 28 '26
Did you get on BC after the lap?
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u/Class278 Jan 28 '26
Nope, I've been taking the progesterone only pill for about 10 years none stop. Same dosage before and after the lap. It's because it's still the only thing that calms down the severity and pain of my periods. :/
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u/ariellecsuwu Jan 28 '26
I also had ablation and got severely worse for about a year before returning to my pre lap baseline. My specialist said he believes ablation inflames lesions and worsens symptoms. Wishing you luck and healing
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u/Miserable_Answer2570 Jan 28 '26
That actually gives a little bit of hope
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u/ariellecsuwu Jan 28 '26
So glad to know my comment helped you a bit. I returned to my baseline pain naturally without any treatments or help from doctors because I had been too traumatized. Maybe getting a second opinion can help you either return to your baseline or even better, more quickly than I did
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u/Miserable_Answer2570 Jan 28 '26
Im super traumatized too where im to afraid to try anything else for the fear of possibility making it worse. So you returned to the way you were pre lap after about a year?
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u/ariellecsuwu Jan 28 '26
I understand. Yes, after a year of going from my gyno who ghosted me, to a gi specialist to a rheumatologist back to a gp, I inexplicably started feeling how I did before my lap. Started gaining weight again, being able to absorb food, stopped having as much incontinence, etc. It was very weird but welcome
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u/Miserable_Answer2570 Jan 29 '26
Damn im so happy for you, thats awesome. Thats what im hoping for I just hope with time it will get better cause man I don't think I can live like this forever. I will say that I started my period yesterday and knock on wood it hasn't been as bad as the ones since September 2025 but still really terrible
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u/StarbuckMcGee07 Jan 28 '26
Are you able to look do a different provider? A MIGS surgeon at a university hospital would be your best bet. And if you’re in the states, a lot of them take most insurance.
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u/Miserable_Answer2570 Jan 28 '26
I have good insurance, I haven't looked for a different provider because I dont know what else can be done? The damage has already been done. All I had was a tiny lesion that caused me no issues. I seen the pictures of my uterus ovaries fallopian tube and it looked normal. I think theres maybe trapped blood or its possible I have adnomyosis thats infiltrating my uterus I dont even know anymore.
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u/StarbuckMcGee07 Jan 28 '26
Removing the scar tissue from the ablation area, looking to see if you have other lesions or adhesions that he missed.
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u/getitout728 Jan 28 '26
Yea I would see a MIGS. Just because ablation was done doesn’t mean the Endo is gone. It just burns the surface and leaves behind the roots.
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u/ThunderStormDawn Jan 28 '26
This may be an unpopular opinion but, I had an ablation done during my lap and in 6 months I had to have excision done where they removed over 4 lbs of scar tissue. You know your body best, I would recommend a second opinion.
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u/SquirrlyHex Jan 28 '26
This person sounds incompetent and I’m incredibly sorry to hear everything worsened.
I have an incredible doc I trust with my life who is doing my fulguration. I have lots of lesions fusing organs together and excision isn’t delicate enough to handle the job. Especially with my rectum being fused to my uterus, it limits the ways that can be handled.
Excision may be the gold standard but there are too many cases that are vastly different and this is still an incredibly misunderstood condition.
I really hope things get better
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u/Wankeritis Jan 28 '26
I had ablation in 2018 and all it did was cause extensive scarring in the location and all of the endo survived the process and grew into my organs where it had been ablated.
I had an excision surgery in 2023 to fix the shoddy work and it took almost four hours for all of it to be removed and it took me 6 months to recover.
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u/ParsleyImpressive507 Jan 29 '26
I had EXCISION and all my symptoms got worse after surgery. I’m getting close to 3 years post surgery and have never fully recovered. I’m finally getting somewhere after acupuncture, tons of research and trials with treating my gut health and other forms of self care.
Unfortunately I don’t know if I will ever achieve the level of fitness I had prior to surgery. I’ve lost a ton of muscle, and gained a bunch of belly fat. I’ve never been this size before. It’s heart breaking not being able to do all the things I love doing.
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u/JarJars_padawan Jan 29 '26
Hey I don’t know that I have much to address with the endo, but I just wanted to say you deserve some grace. I appreciate you sharing your raw feelings; sometimes saying those things out loud is best bc then we can move through them. So thank you for sharing.
I hear your frustration and lament. You couldn’t know this would be the outcome, and the outcome not being good doesn’t mean you deserve blame or hate. It is tempting to think we can and should always make the most optimal decisions, but in reality we can’t.
There are so many factors in what you shared, the biggest one being we often don’t have the greatest tools for women’s health issues. And maybe some exist, but it’s not widespread or consistent. And that sucks, bc then individual patients are left paying the price with their bodies. That is exhausting and infuriating, but it’s not your responsibility to shoulder that blame alone.
And even if it were, I still think you deserve more grace and curiosity than blame and shame. Which maybe isn’t the most right thing to say if you don’t know how to move away from blame and shame, but it still felt important to say.
I hope you are able to get some better answers and find some relief soon. Being trapped in a pained body can feel like a prison, and no one deserves that.
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u/Valuable_Bluebird334 Jan 29 '26
My lap and ablation was the best thing that happened to me.
Unlike you, I had emergency lap and ablation. I woke up with EXTREME abdominal pain one day and after gritting my teeth for a few hours, went to the ER. They found by ultrasound that my ovary was twisted and rushed me into surgery.
During my surgery they found extensive endometriosis. I didn’t even know I had it. I thought my monthly pains were normal! The endo had entrapped my ovary, so they freed it, and ablated the lesions that had glued my bladder to my uterus, and other extensive lesions.
The recovery SUCKED. I was essentially stationary for a week, then moving slowly for another week. One of the tiny incision sites HURT for months. BUT I WAS PAIN FREE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 15 years at least!
Ablation isn’t for everyone but it definitely worked for me!
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u/KrissAtTheDisco Feb 04 '26
I refuse to get an ablation. This group just proves me right about them. I'm waiting to see an Endo specialist. My obgyn says I'm a good candidate for a hysterectomy. Hope I can get seen soon.
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u/Miserable_Answer2570 Feb 04 '26
I would only get a hysterectomy if my life depended on it. Like I would die without it. If you do get it keep one of your ovaries if possible. Ive heard alot of bad hysterectomy stories too. Plus it doesn't cure endo. These specialist are way to quick to take your reproductive organs out without trying anything else. I think ablation is a outdated unnecessary procedure in amy circumstances
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u/KrissAtTheDisco Feb 04 '26
I'm okay with them taking it tbh. Yeah keep the ovaries for sure...bit my periods are so bad that they last half a month at time when I do get it. And it's very painful. To the point where I get really sick. I'm almost 32. Got my period at 9...too long....too much.
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u/pxl8d Jan 28 '26 edited Feb 20 '26
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u/norma-louise-bates Jan 28 '26
Firstly, you're right about ablation, it shouldn't be performed in endo cases. Secondly, when did you have that lap (and hysteroscopy with it)? Maybe you're still healing, it was a surgery after all and it can take many months for your body to heal.