How effective is vestibulectomy?

Hi everyone, I'm new here.
I was diagnosed with Endometriosis, Pelvic Floor Muscle Spasms and recently Vulvodynia. They all come hand in hand. I had a laparoscopy in Dec. 2014 for Endometriosis, a Mirena installed after to prevent Endometriosis recurrence, Botox in Dec. 2015 for the pelvic floor and I've been going to PT since my surgery. The botox is more diagnostic to rule out that the vulva pain isn't only coming from the muscles but the nerve as well. It has made the spasms go away but also made my pelvic floor muscles really weak. My doctor said that I definitely need vestibulectomy as none of the treatment has helped with the 6 o'clock pain (I'm on ketoprofen cream and Gabapentin. I tried Amitriptyline and Hydroxyzine for 6 weeks, didn't help). It's provoked pain, so only hurts when it's touched and during sex. The painful skin around 5, 6, 7 o'clock is also red. On top of that, I have chronic incomplete bowel movement, which is another issue related to pelvic floor. I read that a few years after the surgery, the pain comes back because the painful nerves eventually grow back. Also, not sure if it's the vulva pain/fear or psychologically not aroused, I have very low libido and when I put dilators in my vagina, internally it's still very uncomfortable despite the botox. It's the feeling that something is pushing my organs and it hurts when I go really deep (probably hitting the cervix?).

I just want to know how effective vestibulectomy is. What is really involved in the surgery? How long does it take to recover? I would also appreciate any advice on how to communicate this type of surgery with your employer because they will need to know what type of surgery I'm having and how long I'll have to take off. Any other advice or similar experience will be greatly appreciated.

I have never had surgery; so I cannot comment on that piece. However, as far as your employer goes, I'm not sure where you're located, but in the U.S. you are not required to disclose the specifics of your diagnosis in order to qualify for FMLA. So, you would just go about it like any other FMLA request, indicating to your immediate boss or HR department that you need to take medical leave.

Below is what I found from the following link regarding what is needed during the request: https://las-elc.org/fact-sheets/taking-leave-from-work-for-your-own-health-condition

"A request from your employer for medical certification showing your need for leave (such as a doctor’s note) must be in writing. Certification does not have to disclose your diagnosis, but it must provide enough information for your employer to verify your need for leave. It should include:

ƒ- the date your serious health condition began;
ƒ- the probable duration of the condition;
ƒ- a statement that your condition makes you temporarily unable to work at all or perform one or more of the functions of your job (you should discuss the functions of your job with your doctor, and the doctor’s statement should reflect that discussion);
ƒ- the probable duration of your need for leave; and
ƒ- a statement verifying your need for intermittent leave or a reduced schedule, if applicable.

In most cases, your employer cannot ask you or your doctor for more than this basic information. Your employer may not contact your doctor directly without your permission."

Hope that helps!

Hi Emalita, thank you for your response. I'm in the US. Legally, I know that I have the right to keep it private but I work with a very small team and we work very close with each other everyday. People are generally supportive and caring although I know for a fact that if they know what the surgery is for, there will be gossips. I only share my condition with my doctors and very very close friends, who I know won't judge me. So I'm thinking more of a strategy on how to tell them and what to tell them about the surgery as a courtesy because to be work absent for a long time at my job is also somewhat frown upon as it creates a burden for my coworkers. My coworkers know that I had a laparoscopy for Endometriosis but that surgery probably takes longer to recover than a vestibulectomy so essentially I need to explain to them the type of surgery I will have to give them an idea on how long I will be out, as well as paving a forthcoming work environment where no questions will be asked.