Surgery--UPDATED

Originally written on February 16th. Updated below on February 20th following the surgery.  

So I didn't really want to advertise on the Faccia Book, but many of you kind friends stop by here on a regular basis and want to stay updated, so I figured I should oblige you. And ask for your prayers, since I probably neglected to include some of you on my mass email (sorry!). Here's the deal: I'm getting endometriosis surgery early this coming week. I also realize that some of you have stopped by the blog because you're dealing with similar health issues, so if sharing about mine can help any of you, it's absolutely worth it to me.

Getting another surgery was a decision motivated largely by my discovering an amazing book last year--it details how often endometriosis treatment is mismanaged in our country, and how very few OB/GYNs are taught the correct techniques for eliminating endometriosis. I'd run in to a lot of the issues in that past 10+ years of trying to seek actual treatment (as opposed to mere management of my symptoms which is the approach most doctors take), but I didn't realize until reading this book that the issues I'd run into were so deep-seated and widespread. So if you or someone you know is dealing with endometriosis, please keep spreading the word. And read that book (you'll thank me later!).

Anyway, when we moved to Denver I searched for an OB/GYN who had been trained in identifying all types and manifestations of endometriosis, and who could perform the correct type of surgery to properly remove different types of sites. I was lucky enough to find a great surgeon over the summer, and I've been seeing her ever since.

All ready!!!

The surgery itself (a laparoscopy, or scope surgery) is diagnostic in nature--my surgeon will look for scar tissue and any endometriosis sites, which can be easily camouflaged against other organs and tissues, and remove anything she possibly can with a laser. If you're dealing with endometriosis, it's important to understand that not all laser surgery is created equal [very good explanation here]. The type of laser technique the surgeon uses is very important to ensure the endometriosis can be completely removed without leaving any endo behind (which can cause a resurgence of issues) and also to ensure that no surrounding tissue is damaged, which can create more scar tissue (and ultimately lead to more pain or infertility). So if you need surgery, be sure to do proper research ahead of time. And, I repeat, read the book! My surgeon will also be doing an HSG procedure to make sure everything is clear and functioning properly. If any endo damage is too extensive to remove through a laparscopy, I will have to schedule a future laparotomy (non-scope surgery with more major incisions) in order to take care of those specific areas.

If all goes as planned, the surgery will have the potential to help eliminate the severe pain I deal with regularly, and also help improve my fertility. I'm optimistic...I'm not exactly excited about the process, but definitely hopeful for a good outcome. I did find out during my pre-op that I get to "prep" for the surgery in a way I didn't expect, and honestly I'm far more anxious about that whole process than the surgery itself! So I'll be holed up in my tower for the third week in a row, hopefully with a good attitude because I tend to be a rather impatient sufferer. I'm back on the BRAT diet as of today...I'll be looking forward to getting some meat back on these bones of mine soon! It's shaping up to be a really good first week of Lent for me--if you have any prayer intentions, please send them my way so I have something more meaningful to focus on than myself! Overall, though, I'm feeling very positive...and lucky that we are in a position where this treatment is even a possibility for me when it is not for so many. God is good.

As always, prayers are welcome and positively appreciated!

---------------UPDATE---------------

Thank you SO very much to all of you for the prayers. I did just fine yesterday and am home now recovering well. Apparently Vicodin makes me really crave a good book, as evidenced by my sudden desire to start a new Pinterest board and blow up everyone's Pinterest feeds with a literary library when I couldn't sleep last night. Hopefully it was late enough that I didn't annoy anyone too much. But at least I have some good ideas for my next Kindle download! Today my throat's still pretty scratchy from the tube which makes it a little hard to talk, and they had to pump my insides full of CO2 for the surgery which means that my stomach is now making a symphony of moans, groans, growls and howls that could rival a pack of hungry wolves. But those things are perfectly normal and all things considered, I feel pretty darn good.

My incredible little helper and lifter of spirits!

As far as the outcome, I got both good news and frustrating news. The good news is that my surgeon thought everything looked great, my tubes are open showing no sign of fertility issues, and she only had to laser two small areas. The frustrating and confusing news is that the two areas she treated didn't even look like traditional endometriosis to her...and everything else looked great. Even the areas they found covered in scar tissue during my ectopic surgery two years ago (which I have pictures of and even looked at with my doctor during the pre-op last week). So, short of some sort of miraculous healing, I have no idea why my innards would look completely fine now...especially when my pain during the past two years has continued to be so localized and get so much more severe. And all of the pain, coupled with my history of pregnancy loss just baffles me. Many women who have had ectopic pregnancies say it's the worst pain they've every felt, even more intense than kidney stones. But it took me a few days to even consider going to the hospital because I thought my ectopic pain was just the pain I get all the time that is so bad. I still have days with pain like that. Most days it's mild, but it never completely goes away. I know that can't be normal. So it's just very confusing and disheartening to think that after all the research and hope I've put in to this surgery and this part of my treatment plan, my pain could suddenly be an enigma again and I might have to start back at square one. My doctor is supposed to call today and talk it over with me (since I was out of it yesterday and got all the above info through Peter) and hopefully when we go over everything at my post-op in a few weeks she will have some options for me. Anyway, I'm trying to trust in God's will, and hope that there's some sort of explanation that I haven't yet discovered, or that somehow those two small areas my doctor lasered were the cause behind all of the pain. But only time will tell. 

In the mean time, the mantra I'm repeating is a quote I heard recently that really stuck with me:

"Sometimes God redeems us from our struggles, but sometimes God redeems us through our struggles." --Mike Donehey

So if it turns out that redemptive suffering is the name of the game for me, I will try embrace it with grace...and continue to give thanks for the wonderful life I am blessed to lead, surrounded by the most amazing family and friends I could ask for.

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: My doctor just called and I found out that the areas they lasered are in the same location where my worst pain has traditionally always been. And supposedly the amount they find in no way correlates to the intensity of the pain. She said women can have just one site with horrific pain, or be completely covered and have no pain. So we'll still have to wait a few weeks and see, but there's MUCH more hope now that what they did was indeed effective!

Sorry for being lazy and referring you all here, but it's the easiest way for me to keep everyone in the loop right now so I only have to type it once. Thank you again for all of your messages, for asking how everything went, and most of all your love and prayers. You are all such an incredible support and encouragement to me!