This month marks a year since I had my second endometriosis surgery. My specialist removed all of the adhesions he found, using both excision and ablation surgery. The small positive changes have made my life much easier, and the entire experience has given me a renewed sense of hope. This is what has happened since:

The recovery

My days after surgery went as planned: sore stitches and lots of sleeping, with me opening my eyes only for ice cream. It took me three weeks until I felt human enough to leave the house and walk around independently. Then, the dreaded first period happened, and surprisingly, it differed very little from the monthly bloodbaths I generally experience.

Some short-lived changes

Three months after surgery, I had a couple of periods that were very easy to manage and barely hurt, meaning I didn’t have to spend a single day in bed. I remember thinking, “Whoa, this is how everyone else lives!” However, it turned out to be just a sweet honeymoon period. Merely two months later, I was back to my regular monthly fireworks. However, what has changed is the amount of time I spend in bed. Before surgery, I would spend three to four days in bed, and now it’s only one or two. 

The stuff I hadn’t predicted

While I love unexpected gifts, a new type of flare-up is not the sort I enjoy. It affects the area above my right ovary, and it’s very painful and disruptive. It’s either scar tissue from the surgery or new endometriosis adhesions, and my doctor believes only a laparoscopy could give us a definite answer.

Additionally, before surgery I suffered from occasional — yet strong  — pain around my bladder and bowel. All of those symptoms have disappeared completely. 

A new outlook

I am now on a progestogen-based pill. Annoyingly, one of its most common symptoms is a world of acne and, quite frustratingly, intermittent bleeding. This has been happening for almost two months now, sometimes quite heavily. The good news is that not having any period pain (as I take the pill with no breaks) has provided me with a world of relief. I’m not sure whether I can continue taking it long-term, but for now, it’s life-changing.

Although surgery seems to have mostly improved symptoms rather than made them worse, I expected to get more relief. Then again, with my type of endometriosis, any improvement is a massive plus. 

Overall, while I am very grateful for my surgery, I’m still unsure about any further procedures. I wonder if removing the scar tissue will only produce more of it. Also, the idea of being out of action for a few weeks makes me extremely uncomfortable, no matter how much ice cream is at hand. The time I had to spend immobile was really tough on my mental health. 

For now, I will leave these worries for future Jess, keep an eye on myself, and manage each day as it comes.

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