What are the long-term effects of salpingitis?

Hi there.
A year ago, I had surgery due to pyosalpinx—a specific type of fallopian tube inflammation. They had to remove it because it was completely damaged, and I also had a 15 cm ovarian cyst.

I’m really wondering if any other women here have dealt with salpingitis and what kind of long-term effects you've experienced from the inflammation?
My doctor mentioned that we might need to consider a diagnostic laparoscopy next.
He also suggested I see a gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic, who might perform an intestinal transit study.
Since I’ve been having gastrointestinal symptoms, he suspects there might be adhesions around my bowels or even endometriosis lesions affecting them.

Please, if you have any experience with salpingitis, I would love to hear it!

ironnomad38 said:Hey.
A year ago, I had surgery because of pyosalpinx—basically a severe type of fallopian tube inflammation. They had to remove the tube since it was completely destroyed, and I also had a massive 6-inch ovarian cyst.

I’m really wondering if any other women here have dealt with salpingitis and what kind of lasting effects it leaves behind.
My doctor mentioned that a diagnostic laparoscopy might be the next step.
He also told me to see a gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic, who might need to perform an intestinal transit study.
Because I'm dealing with gut symptoms, he suspects there might be adhesions around my intestines caused by endometriosis lesions.

Please, if anyone has experience with salpingitis, share it!!!!!!!!!

Those endometriosis lesions can only be diagnosed with 100% certainty through laparoscopy. It sounds like you've been hit with a lot all at once. You should head over to the Mayo Clinic to get those intestines checked out; if the adhesions are indeed from endometriosis, they’ll likely have to surgically remove them. They'll probably put you on hormonal contraceptives to keep your remaining ovary quiet and prevent more cysts from forming. Generally speaking, these things can pop up anywhere in the body, though they most commonly manifest within the abdomen. Have you had your CA-125 levels checked yet?

I haven't had the CA-125 test done because my doctor didn't think it was necessary.
I was on Logest from October 6th through December 21st, and honestly, it just made everything feel worse. I’ve been dealing with upper abdominal pain and really heavy, painful bleeding. Last month, I actually had to switch to injections because the side effects were becoming unbearable.
I'm struggling with pain in my colon as well as my upper abdomen, and it all seems to intensify right when my period starts.
Whenever I'm on my period, I have to rely on prunes and plenty of water just to keep things moving, otherwise, I can't even leave the house.

Angela Wright said:I didn't get the CA-125 test because my doctor never told me it was necessary.
I was on Logest from October 6th all the way through December 21st, and honestly, it just made everything worse. I'm dealing with upper abdominal pain, plus heavy and incredibly painful bleeding. Last month, I had to switch to injections because the pills were becoming unbearable.
The pain in my colon is constant, along with that upper abdominal discomfort, and it all ramps up significantly during my period.
When my period hits, I’m basically living on prunes and mineral water because I can't stay away from the bathroom.

I'm not entirely sure how they classify Logest in terms of how it works. Some types of birth control essentially shut down ovarian function entirely, while others just tinker with it. What did your labs actually look like before you started the medication? Even a brief break from certain hormonal contraceptives can trigger the formation of endometriotic cysts. Generally, you shouldn't be starting hormone therapy until the tissue has been surgically cleared, unless you're dealing with specific cysts that respond to the medication. A gynecologist should be able to weigh those risks. Given how violently your body is reacting, there is clearly something fundamentally wrong with this treatment plan. Birth control is supposed to minimize bleeding and virtually eliminate discomfort, not cause more of it.
Severe cramping during menstruation, pain during intercourse, and heavy bleeding are classic symptoms of endometriosis. Furthermore, an elevated CA-125 marker can often point toward endometriosis. You can always go get that test done privately, and you'll have the results the same day. It should cost about $67. It's possible that endometriotic tissue is causing an inflammatory response. What did the pathology report show regarding the cyst and ovary after your surgery?

In my opinion, your best bet is to head to a hospital. They can run a comprehensive series of tests and tackle this systematically. This kind of "half-baked" outpatient care is likely why your situation has escalated into something so complicated.

Regarding the digestive issues, try drinking Bekunis tea (I believe they also sell Bekunis dražeja) and pick up some glycerin suppositories. You can use them multiple times; they aren't harmful and they really help. Most importantly, stick to light meals—lots of green vegetables and lean white meat. Avoid legumes and anything that causes bloating. Eat plenty of broccoli!

Thanks so much for the advice and for being so understanding!

I had surgery a year ago, and they removed my fallopian tube at the same time.
Since then, things haven't really improved; my digestive symptoms have actually gotten worse, and the bleeding has become more painful and heavy.
My gynecological exams all come back normal.
I didn't have endometriosis back then, but now my doctor suspects it might be the cause. He thinks fluid is leaking from that inflamed tube—which he says contained some uterine tissue—and it’s somehow lodged somewhere inside.
There was a lot of inflammatory fluid found outside the uterus and around that area.
From what I understand, surgeons can't always clear everything out 100%, and given how much inflammation there is, anything is possible. They also suspect adhesions near my intestines.
I’m currently being treated at Mayo Clinic, which is where I had the surgery.
I went in for an MRI, and the gynecological results were fine.
The report noted that the lumen of my sigmoid colon was wide and filled with gas and fecal matter.
Do you ever experience that sensation of fluid shifting around in your abdomen that you can actually hear?
It happens to me after working out. I've been dieting—skipping lunch and dinner, just eating broccoli and cauliflower. I honestly don't know what else to do; I've lost 3 pounds.
The pain throughout my upper abdomen is sudden and stabbing. My stomach just feels heavy.
Now they’re sending me to rebro for a potential bowel obstruction check, and they mentioned they're considering Crohn's disease as well.
What are your thoughts on all of this?

Angela Wright said:Thanks for the advice and for understanding!

I had surgery a year ago to remove a cyst, and they removed my fallopian tube at the same time.
Since then, things haven't really improved; my bowel symptoms have actually gotten worse, and the bleeding has become more painful and heavy.
My gynecological exams come back normal.
I didn't have endometriosis back then, but now my doctor suspects it because of the fluid leaking from that inflamed tube—he says there was uterine tissue inside it that’s now somehow lodged somewhere else.
There was a lot of inflammation outside the uterus and in that general area.
From what I understand, they can't always clean out 100% of it, and given how much inflammation we're talking about, anything is possible. They also suspect adhesions near the intestines.
I'm being treated at Mayo Clinic, which is where I had the surgery.
I went in for an MRI, and the gynecological findings were fine.
The report noted that the lumen of the sigmoid colon was wide and filled with gas and fecal matter.
Do you ever experience that sensation of fluid sloshing around in your abdomen that you can actually hear?
It happens to me after working out. I'm on a diet—I skip lunch and dinner and just eat broccoli and cauliflower; honestly, I don't know what else to do, even though I've lost 3 pounds.
That pain throughout my upper abdomen is sudden and stabbing. My stomach just feels incredibly heavy.
Now they're sending me to Mercy Hospital to check for a potential bowel obstruction, and they mentioned they might need to rule out Crohn's disease.
What's your take on all this?

Luckily, I only had an endometriotic cyst on my ovary. It was removed, and now I'm on Yasmin, and everything is great—honestly, I've never felt better.
If they found uterine tissue, then that's it: it looks like you developed endometriosis that has spread to your bowels. It’s possible there was a bit of a mishap during the initial surgery. I remember my doctor mentioning that when they remove those cysts, they have to be extremely careful not to let any of the contents spill into the abdominal cavity. That might be exactly what happened, leading to these complications. Did you have bowel issues before the surgery?
I dealt with all that stabbing pain myself related to my ovarian cyst, and it was miserable. I would pass out and vomit; I even ended up in the ER to get prescribed Tramale.
Regarding the doctors at Mercy, I'd recommend Dr. Krznarić if you want a specialist for the digestive tract, though everyone there is excellent. Also, I think you should really rest until this is sorted out—just light walking.
I hope they get you into a procedure quickly; don't let anyone or anything drag their feet on this.

I am so incredibly sorry to hear that!😘
Those symptoms sound absolutely awful.
My doctor actually had me stop taking Logest because I kept feeling like I was choking in my sleep (my last pill was on December 20th).
Thank God you haven't had to undergo any surgery yet.
Endometriosis can cause such devastating issues, and getting rid of that tissue is notoriously difficult.
My doctor completely understands what I'm going through; I can tell he doesn't want to take any chances, which is why he suggested surgery.
I deal with dizziness and occasional headaches, though my blood pressure is normal.
My sedimentation rate came back at 12.
What did your CBC look like?
I’ve heard that blood work isn't always the deciding factor when it comes to making a diagnosis.
For me, the hardest part is how sudden the pain is—like being on a subway and suddenly feeling this intense bloating, followed by sharp pains all over my abdomen.
I also notice strange noises coming from my stomach before bed and after working out.
It gets even worse during my period.
I stay very active and try to be really careful with my diet.
My abdomen is quite tender to the touch, especially the area right around my belly button.
The worst part about this whole situation is that endometriosis can really only be 100% confirmed through a laparoscopy.

Angela Wright said:Oh, you poor thing!😘
Those symptoms sound absolutely brutal.
My doctor actually had me stop taking Logest because I felt like I was choking in my sleep at night (my last pill was back on December 20th).
Thank God you haven't had to go under the knife yet.
Endometriosis can wreck your body, and getting rid of that tissue is such a massive struggle.
My doctor completely gets where I'm coming from; he clearly doesn't want to take any chances, which is why he suggested surgery.
I deal with dizziness and occasional headaches, though my blood pressure stays steady.
My sedimentation rate is 12.
What did your blood work look like?
From what I've heard, a standard blood panel isn't always the deciding factor when it comes to a diagnosis.
For me, the worst part is how the pain just hits out of nowhere—like being on a subway and suddenly feeling this intense bloating, followed by sharp stabs all over my abdomen.
I get these strange noises coming from my stomach before bed and right after working out.
And during my period? It’s even worse.
I stay really active and am super careful about what I eat.
My abdomen is tender to the touch, especially right around the belly button.
The kicker in this whole situation is that you can't be 100% sure about an endometriosis diagnosis without undergoing a laparoscopy.

Check your PMs.🙂
I went through the laparoscopy myself about a year and a half ago to have a cyst and part of my ovary removed. After that, I was put on Yasmin to keep my ovaries dormant and try to stop the endometriosis in its tracks, since it's tied to ovarian function. Honestly, the laparoscopy itself is a breeze—there's really nothing to fear. You're in the hospital for three days, and they'll have you up and moving the very same day you wake up. The scars are tiny, almost invisible. There's one at the navel (where they pump in the CO2) and two little ones near the ovaries about an inch long. Mine looks like a tiny unicorn.😎
My blood counts were fine, though my liver enzymes were high and my CA-125 was extremely elevated before the surgery. Everything is normal now.

I’ve got four incisions.
One is just below my navel, two small ones are down on the sides, and there's one larger one sitting above those two.
Honestly, when I stop to think about the fact that I’ll probably be back in surgery again soon😠 , I feel like screaming.🤣

Angela Wright said:I’ve got four incisions.
One just below my navel, two small ones down on the sides, and one larger one sitting right above those two little ones.
Whenever I realize I’m probably heading back under the knife soon😠 ,I honestly feel like screaming.🤣

Oh, please. It isn't the end of the world. You push through the discomfort, get it over with, and by the time summer rolls around, you won't even remember it happened. Just think about the women on this forum fighting ovarian cancer—they would trade places with you in a heartbeat if they could.

Exactly!!!👍
Seriously though, how does that even work for women fighting cancer?
I truly believe staying positive is everything, especially when you're dealing with health issues.
If you don't mind me asking, where did you have your surgery?

Angela Wright said:Preach!!!👍
Seriously though, how does that work for women battling cancer?
I honestly believe staying positive is everything, especially when your health is on the line.
If you don't mind me asking, which hospital did you have your surgery at?

At Mayo Clinic, I had my procedure with Dr. Bauman. He’s an incredible doctor, and the entire nursing staff there is top-tier.👍

Thanks for all the info and advice🙏!!!!!!
I have a much better understanding now of what symptoms women typically experience, especially since I'd heard they aren't always the same—some women don't even show any symptoms at all.
I actually had my surgery performed by Dr. Smith at Mayo Clinic. He’s fantastic; he explains everything clearly, and if I have a question, he provides a detailed answer. Last time, we even ended up talking for an entire hour.🙏