Advice about laproscopies

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So, I've been considering having this procedure done. I have been experiencing the symptoms of fairly severe endometriosis for years now due to failed scar tissue from a c-section. Fortunately, losing weight and exercise has helped alleviate symptoms, but I still experience a lot of problems.

I'm also wondering if the laproscopy might help me shed some weight. I know that women who have fibroids can attribute some of their weight to the fibroid. I'm curious if the same is true with endometriosis. Has anyone ever lost significant weight after a laproscopy?

Replies

  • p0pr0cksnc0ke
    p0pr0cksnc0ke Posts: 1,283 Member
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    My friend had it to check on her tubes and ovaries etc...I don't think that she really had any weight issues prior, so I can't really say. I don't think it was quite as invasive as yours could possibly be.
    To be honest (from my exp) I think its harder to strengthen the core after c sections. Not impossible by any means.. I just think your body takes longer to build it back up. I had two and my core is still pretty weak, and if I work it really hard, my scar will start to ache still. :sick:
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,229 Member
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    My friend had it to check on her tubes and ovaries etc...I don't think that she really had any weight issues prior, so I can't really say. I don't think it was quite as invasive as yours could possibly be.
    To be honest (from my exp) I think its harder to strengthen the core after c sections. Not impossible by any means.. I just think your body takes longer to build it back up. I had two and my core is still pretty weak, and if I work it really hard, my scar will start to ache still. :sick:

    My scar never completely healed and it has allowed endometrial material to seep into my abdominal cavity. I figured that build up might account for some of my weight.
  • p0pr0cksnc0ke
    p0pr0cksnc0ke Posts: 1,283 Member
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    My friend had it to check on her tubes and ovaries etc...I don't think that she really had any weight issues prior, so I can't really say. I don't think it was quite as invasive as yours could possibly be.
    To be honest (from my exp) I think its harder to strengthen the core after c sections. Not impossible by any means.. I just think your body takes longer to build it back up. I had two and my core is still pretty weak, and if I work it really hard, my scar will start to ache still. :sick:

    My scar never completely healed and it has allowed endometrial material to seep into my abdominal cavity. I figured that build up might account for some of my weight.
    :noway: I have never heard of that. You poor thing!!! :smooched:
  • 42kgirl
    42kgirl Posts: 692 Member
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    My friend had it to check on her tubes and ovaries etc...I don't think that she really had any weight issues prior, so I can't really say. I don't think it was quite as invasive as yours could possibly be.
    To be honest (from my exp) I think its harder to strengthen the core after c sections. Not impossible by any means.. I just think your body takes longer to build it back up. I had two and my core is still pretty weak, and if I work it really hard, my scar will start to ache still. :sick:

    My scar never completely healed and it has allowed endometrial material to seep into my abdominal cavity. I figured that build up might account for some of my weight.
    It is harder to strengthen core after c section. I had an ectopic pregnancy rupture and still have a big old scar. I still have a hard time with scar tissue pulling and hurting when I do lower ab work.
  • goodfido
    goodfido Posts: 127 Member
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    I'm not sure...I had to have some procedures which in the end resulted in having a partial hystorectomy. I had some growths/cysts that were removed but they weren't very big in size and wouldn't have weighed much. I also don't believe they hindered my weight loss at all.

    The best suggestion I have is to ask your doctor, everyone is different so it may help you lose weight or it might not.

    GOOD LUCK
  • TrainingWithTonya
    TrainingWithTonya Posts: 1,741 Member
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    I've had several laparoscopies over the years for endometriosis, fibroids, adenomyosis, and cysts. You will not lose weight from them. With a laparoscopic surgery, they aren't going to remove the big stuff like the fibroids or uterus full of adenomyosis, so the only thing they are removing is minute amounts of endometriosis or cysts and not enough to show up on the scale. In fact, I weighed more after mine because of the bloat from the abdomen needing more blood flow to heal. That goes away in a few days, though. If you are hurting, however, and they can ease the pain for a little while with surgery, I highly recommend it. Know that it doesn't always work, though, and the pain may come back. They may eventually recommend a hysterectomy. That's what the doctors keep telling me. I'm holding out, though, until I can do my research study in grad school because I think I can reverse the process through exercise. At least in my own anecdotal experience so far, I can prevent the monthly pain by lifting heavy. Heavy weight training (I do a combination of power and hypertrophy training and when I do my study I'm going to narrow it down to which is most effective.) raises testosterone levels in both men and women, and I believe the problem with endometriosis, fibroids, cycst, and adenomyosis (endometrial tissue growing in the muscle belly of the uterus) as well as cervical, uterine, and breast cancers all comes down to an imbalance of estrogen and testosterone where estrogen is way higher then testosterone. Like I said, I haven't proven it yet, but that is what I'm going to study for my research project in grad school because I don't have any pain or problems as long as I'm lifting. As soon as I stop lifting for whatever reason, though, it's back.
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,229 Member
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    I've had several laparoscopies over the years for endometriosis, fibroids, adenomyosis, and cysts. You will not lose weight from them. With a laparoscopic surgery, they aren't going to remove the big stuff like the fibroids or uterus full of adenomyosis, so the only thing they are removing is minute amounts of endometriosis or cysts and not enough to show up on the scale. In fact, I weighed more after mine because of the bloat from the abdomen needing more blood flow to heal. That goes away in a few days, though. If you are hurting, however, and they can ease the pain for a little while with surgery, I highly recommend it. Know that it doesn't always work, though, and the pain may come back. They may eventually recommend a hysterectomy. That's what the doctors keep telling me. I'm holding out, though, until I can do my research study in grad school because I think I can reverse the process through exercise. At least in my own anecdotal experience so far, I can prevent the monthly pain by lifting heavy. Heavy weight training (I do a combination of power and hypertrophy training and when I do my study I'm going to narrow it down to which is most effective.) raises testosterone levels in both men and women, and I believe the problem with endometriosis, fibroids, cycst, and adenomyosis (endometrial tissue growing in the muscle belly of the uterus) as well as cervical, uterine, and breast cancers all comes down to an imbalance of estrogen and testosterone where estrogen is way higher then testosterone. Like I said, I haven't proven it yet, but that is what I'm going to study for my research project in grad school because I don't have any pain or problems as long as I'm lifting. As soon as I stop lifting for whatever reason, though, it's back.

    I believe you are right about exercise helping hormonal balance.
  • twinmom01
    twinmom01 Posts: 854 Member
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    My friend had it to check on her tubes and ovaries etc...I don't think that she really had any weight issues prior, so I can't really say. I don't think it was quite as invasive as yours could possibly be.
    To be honest (from my exp) I think its harder to strengthen the core after c sections. Not impossible by any means.. I just think your body takes longer to build it back up. I had two and my core is still pretty weak, and if I work it really hard, my scar will start to ache still. :sick:

    My scar never completely healed and it has allowed endometrial material to seep into my abdominal cavity. I figured that build up might account for some of my weight.

    Same thing happened to me - incisional endometriosis - freakin painful as all get out....

    it is minimal and won't account for an increase in weight...however when it first started bothering me I found it difficult to exercise because of the pain. I didn't know what was wrong and went to a bunch of different specialists ( one of which told me that the pain I was experiencing might be psychological in nature :mad: ) I had a ton of blood tests, cervical US, had my colon checked out (oh that was fun) - I worked through the pain and lost about 40 lbs (mainly via Weight watchers and starving myself) - one day when I was working out I felt a huge pop and lots of pain - my friend got me in to see a dr. who was a friend of her family - we were thinking maybe I had a hernia...sent me off for a full abdominal US and that is when we found the mass along the scar line (all those other tests and not one had done a full ab US) - went home and researched and found out about incisional endo and sure enough that is what it was...

    I had surgery to remove it about 3 years ago - best damn thing i did...I was given the option to have it surgically removed or take birth control pills to attempt to regulate my hormones in order to regulate the pain. - most of the endo was on the left side and embedded within the scar - mine was done as an out patient procedure and they cut along my C-section scar and removed the endo mass and stitched me up....I was off work for a week and then had to take it easy for another 2-3 weeks.

    Over the course of a year after that I gained back about 30 of the 40 lbs I lost and am now on a mission to loose that and more...
  • JoyfullMovement
    JoyfullMovement Posts: 107 Member
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    Hi Twinmom, I suffered with endometriosis for years and had 5 of the laparoscopies, one bikini cut surgery, and finally a hysterectomy. It never made a difference with weight for me. Like someone else mentioned, for a few days you may feel bloated due to the gas they use to expand the area they are working in. It can even cause some pain. I suggest having some over the counter anti gas medication on hand.

    I am sorry to hear about your condition and needing surgery. I was often anxious to have the surgery because I was so hopeful to have pain relief. Be aware some people develop scar tissue easily. I have videos of several of my surgeries and my insides look like they have spiderwebs with the scar tissue from the laser used in the previous surgeries. After my hysterectomy I realized I had forgot what it was like to feel normal. I could run again with no pain and pulling. It was short lived though as I soon developed a foot problem and fibromyalgia and could no longer run.

    I don't mean to deter you from taking care of yourself with my negative story. I hope you do what you need to be healthy. Endometriosis can be dangerous left untreated and can travel in the body. It just isn't an easy road with Endometriosis and no simple decisions. Being as informed as possible can be helpful and reaching out to the MFP community is great.

    Good luck to you and many blessings!

    PS, The good news is that you can bounce back soooo quickly from this procedure and it can bring you relief from pain.