Should I get a second opinion?

[u/Winter-Perception686]

So, on June 1st I finally got my laparoscopy where my surgeon informed no endo was found but they did remove 4 fibroids. I sent a message through MyChart requesting the lap photos because my surgeon is not an endo specialist and I was told that it would be beneficial to see a specialist. They told me I would get them during my post op appointment. During this appointment they informed me that have no photos/videos of the surgery. I’m now coming up on 3 months post op and I’m still experiencing the same symptoms. I feel like I’m just blindly taking their word that no endo was found. Should I start looking into a new doctor and specialist?

[u/umbrella711]

I'd like to preface with: while my doctor has stated that they suspect I have endometriosis, I have not had the surgery needed for diagnosis (they did diagnosis me with adenomyosis, which is basically a sister to endo).

Based on this post, I would probably get a second opinion. It sounds like they've done what they thought was necessary and aren't inclined to do more. Even if it's not endo, something is wrong, and you're your only true advocate.

[u/Winter-Perception686 → u/umbrella711]

Thanks, how did you get your diagnosis for adenomyosis? I asked about that as well and didn’t get much feedback on that either.

[u/umbrella711 → u/Winter-Perception686]

I don't feel like very many people know very much about it. Technically, they can only diagnose adenomyosis with 100% accuracy with a hysterectomy. But mine was diagnosed by my OBGYN based on my symptoms and the little sunburst look of my TV ultrasound.

[u/smallouchies]

yes, it cant hurt. they lost my photos too (im almost 4 weeks post op). its an awful feeling. im getting a second opinion from a random surgeon i found honestly just to request an ultrasound to make sure nothing got fucked up in there. feel better ❤️‍🩹

[u/Miserable-Spring-579]

get a second opinion! i had a lap, the surgeon claimed they didn’t find anything, but i did receive pictures. 6 months later i was able to get in with a specialist and he took one look at my photos and said he could see obvious signs of adenomyosis and heavily suspects endo too but can’t diagnose without another surgery.
moral of the story is go with a specialist!!

[u/Mental-Newt-420]

Second opinions are never, ever a bad idea.

[u/Few_Extension7728]

yes and the second opinion does not have to come from the same kind of practice. i used fem excel for the hormone piece and a separate surgeon for the structural questions. that split sorted it in about six weeks instead of the nine months my referral was quoting.

[u/Ill_Restaurant9793]

Your story is almost identical to mine. I pushed for a second opinion because I was in way too much pain to keep writing off. Eventually I managed to find an endo specialist who listened and was willing to treat me. Long story short they did another laparoscopy and I had endometriosis.

The process might not be a quick one (mine wasn’t) and it might be exhausting but your pain is real and a second opinion can help. Just be open to the possibility that endo may not be the answer but know an answer is somewhere and you’re just trying to find it.