So, surgery took place on Wednesday, September 21, 2016.  It’s main intent was to take a look inside to see if my Endometriosis had returned, to excise any lesions and free any adhesions.  The official list of procedures to be possibly done that day, “Robotic Assisted Right and/or Left Ovarian Cystectomy, Excision of Endometriosis and Lysis of Adhesions, Possible Enterolysis, Urethrolysis, and Cystoscopy.”

The surgery took a little over two hours.  I did not get to meet with my surgeon afterward, unfortunately, but did have the pleasure of speaking with him on the telephone before I left the hospital that day.  What I remember:

Meg, the nurse, “Lisa, I have Dr. Kurtulus on the phone.  Do you have any questions?”

Me, “Did he find anything?”

Meg to phone, “She would like to know if you found anything. [pause] He would like to talk to you,” and she passes me the phone.

Dr. Kurtulus, “Hi Lisa!  How are you feeling?”

Me, “I’m okay.  Did you eat lunch?”

Dr. Kurtulus,”[laugh] Yes, I ate lunch.  [Pause] So you want to know if we found anything?”

Me, “Mm-hmm”

Dr.Kurtulus,”Well, your Endometriosis was far worse than your first surgery.  No wonder you were in so much pain.  I cut out what I could, freed up adhesions, and restored your anatomy.  You have Endo on your bowel now, too.  I took lots of pictures.  We’ll talk more on the Fourth.”

Me, “I’m so glad you found it!”

That’s all I remember.  And I am grateful for that post-op-haze-memory.  My post-op appointment will take place on October 4, 2016, at 2:00 p.m.  And I cannot wait.

I did “everything right.”  Six months of Lupron Depot.  A continuous birth control pill.  Altered my diet to “The Endo Diet.”  Treated my body better.  My MRI, CT scans, and ultrasounds were all normal prior to surgery.  Yet I continued to press the issue and sometimes all that is left is to take a peek under the hood.  And I am so grateful that Dr. Kurtulus listened and performed the surgery. It wasn’t all in my head.

If any of you read about my 2014 recovery, it was horrible.  This time around, it’s not so bad at all.  I plan to write more about that once recovery is over, after I talk to Dr. Kurtulus to find out if he did anything differently this time.

But for now?  I’m going to walk around the house, drink my water, pop a stool softener and hope today (Day Six) is the day I poop. My god…sending the man out to buy prune juice today. 😉

I hope you have all had a wonderful week.  For those of you who are fighting the pain, continue to endure.  And advocate for yourself.  You’re not crazy.  You’re not weak.  We suffer from an invisible illness, which may be invisible to all tests and scans, yet may be wreaking havoc in our bodies.  You know your body.  Listen to it and take action.

Thank you, all, for your support before and after my surgery.  I can only hope to be as supportive to you when you need me.  ❤ Lisa