About 4 years ago I had a laparoscopy for pelvic pain...dr. did lap and he found adhesions (scar tissue) from who knows what connecting from ovary to bowels. It was basically a mystery. Fast forward two years and I decide on a complete hysterectomy b/c of returning adhesions and he also found endometriosis.

Fast forward 3 months after hysterectomy and I have more pain (same area). At that point doctor feels that it is adhesions (again). I decide to mentally let it go unless I have more pain, etc. Now it is almost 2 years after hysterectomy (and random pain in same area) and - well, now I am feeling more pain and I am very ticked off. I had the surgery for a reason and now it seems like it was pointless? Nah, I know it was not pointless but I can't believe all the crap I am going through (physically- TMJ disorder, possible fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis, menopause, and migraines) and now THIS!!!

I know there is such thing as reoccurring adhesions (the doc feels that is what it is) But geez..what do people do with this..go back every two years and have a laparoscopy and they laser it out?????

Am I seriously supposed to have outpatient surgery every two years?????

PS, I would appreciate any cheering up/ encouragement. I also experience serious anxiety in regards to health related issues, so please don't reply with..."it's probably a tumor" or anything like that -LOL!

I didn't know one could get adhesions without some sort of surgery or damage to an organ that creates scar tissue. My mil began to suffer serious bouts of abdominal pain a few years after her hysterectomy. It was misdiagnosed for years but an exploratory surgery finally turned up a belly full of adhesions. She has flare-ups but has learned to control the pain through biofeedback and stomach massage taught to her by a Chinese doctor. She said acupuncture helps too.Adhesions are one of those things that aren't mentioned enough when women consider hysterectomies.

I understand your thoughts on adhesions...it was one of those things that they could not explain. He gave one explanation- maybe a cyst popped and then created the tissue, yada yada...but that was just a thought he pulled out of the air. As far as me possibly having an unnecessary hysterectomy...he went in the second time during hysterectomy to have a look around and there was both endo AND an adhesion. It is amazing how something so small could create pain, huh? I remember after my first laparoscopy that he showed me the pictures of the adhesions. It was just one or two of what looked like white tissue connecting from one place to another.

So from what you are saying, it sounds to me like adhesions are a vicious circle. yeah, they could go and remove them (laser or whatever) but that surgery itself leaves room for them to return(?)

Also, please explain to me "flare ups" b/c I feel like that is how it works...I have a few days of pain (for whatever reason) and then it just goes away until the next time.

Thanks!

I don't know why but my mil's seem to happen after she goes through some stress like a large family visit. At the first sign though, she is able to do the massage etc and keep it from getting worse. If she doesn't catch it in time, she takes a prescription painkiller and goes to bed. I guess some people are just more prone to forming scar tissue and having to deal with it. I think there is some kind of material they place between organs to minimize adhesions when they do surgery so maybe you can ask about that if you go for more laparoscopy.

Thanks for the advice. Yeah, the dr. told me that he put something there from the first laparoscopy that only lasted six weeks...I guess it disentigrated?

My mom has had several abdominal surgeries and has developed adhesions every time. They even had to go back in once and cut them out.

To me it seems like a neverending vicious circle.

I don't know how people deal with them if they keep returning. I can't imagine going back and having surgery every few years. Surely there is some way people deal with it...through pain medication and like the above person said (abdominal massage).

Hmmm. I had a total hysterectomy Feb. '08. I remember my oncologist saying that I had a bunch of scar tissue in the abdominal area, when he went in for my DaVinci surgery for a biopsy. Anyway, I can relate to what madnmas is dealing with. Sometimes it seems like there is something pulling at me from the inside that I can't control. On occasion I will massage that area or take an Advil. It is irritating.

I too have lots of adhesions after a number of pelvic surgeries. It is to the point of not being able to bend over without terrible pain in this area. After my last surgery for endometriosis, the surgeon stated that adhesions start forming within 48 hours again!! So a 'frozen pelvis" is what I ended up with. It does make you wonder if going through all the expense, pain and recovery time was even worth it in the beginning. if a person is just going to end up with massive scarring so soon after. And now I am experiencing a lot of tightening and pulling pain in these areas, when I move to do anything, which may be due to depleting hormone levels, I am thinking.

Any other thoughts on why the pain seems to get worse, when going through hormone changes?? I really hope that this pain does end sometime soon!! Regards, Celica2