What If It’s Not Endo? Navigating Uncertainty After a Laparoscopy Without a Diagnosis

Preparing For SurgerySurgery RecoveryEndometriosis 101Living With Endo

10 Oct

Written By Sophie O'Dwyer (Psychologist)

Navigating uncertainty is one of the hardest parts of the endometriosis journey, especially when you’ve gone through the process of a laparoscopy and come out the other side without a clear diagnosis.

If this is where you find yourself right now, you’re not alone. Many people feel confused, invalidated, and unsure about what comes next when endometriosis isn’t confirmed during surgery.

I’m Sophie O'Dwyer, a registered psychologist and health psychology registrar, and in this blog post, I’ll walk you through some gentle tools and mindset shifts to help you move forward, even without clear answers.

Why No Diagnosis Doesn’t Mean “Nothing’s Wrong”

Not receiving an endometriosis diagnosis after surgery doesn’t mean your symptoms aren’t real.

Pain, fatigue, bloating, bowel or bladder issues, these can all still exist, and they’re valid.

There are many potential explanations for pelvic pain, including:

Adenomyosis
Pelvic floor dysfunction
IBS or gut sensitivity
Bladder issues
Central sensitisation (where the nervous system becomes more sensitive over time)

A clear diagnostic label can feel reassuring, but the absence of one doesn’t erase your experience.

What Can Help: 3 Foundations for Moving Forward

Here are three pillars I often explore with clients navigating this space of uncertainty:

1. Shift the Focus to Your Lived Experience

Instead of chasing a diagnosis, try asking:

“What’s happening in my body, and what makes it better or worse?”

Tracking your symptoms, routines, and flare-up patterns can help you understand your body- even without a diagnosis.

2. Cultivate Self-Compassion (You Deserve It)

It’s easy to feel like your body has failed you, or that you’re making things up.

But what if you spoke to yourself the way you would to a loved one going through this?

Try this phrase:

“It makes sense that I feel confused right now. I’m doing the best I can with the information I have.”

Compassion isn’t giving up, it’s softening the edges so you can move forward without burnout.

3. Reconnect With Your Body as an Ally

Pain often makes us disconnect from our bodies. But gentle practices, like guided visualisations, breath work, or body scans, can help shift that relationship from fear to partnership.

Next Steps (With or Without a Diagnosis)

You can still move forward with care and support, even without a confirmed diagnosis of endo.

Here are a few options to explore:

Speak with a pelvic physiotherapist
Consult with a dietitian who understands pelvic health
Explore central sensitisation and pain management tools
Connect with others who get it- community matters

Remember: your symptoms are real. And you deserve support regardless of what the scan or surgical report says.

❤️ Final Thoughts

Not knowing can be incredibly frustrating. But it doesn’t have to stop you from healing, learning, or finding relief.

You are not alone. You are not making it up. And you are allowed to keep looking for answers, while also caring for yourself today.

— Sophie O'Dwyer, Registered Psychologist

Available online for Telehealth appointments at:
https://www.sophieodwyerpsychology.com.au/

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Sophie O'Dwyer (Psychologist)

Sophie O’Dwyer (née Callen) is a Registered Psychologist, Board Approved Supervisor and Health Psychology Regisrar with five years’ experience across hospital and private practice settings. She completed a Master of Psychology (Health) at The University of Queensland and a two-year registrar program for Health Psychology endorsement.

Health psychologists take a holistic, biopsychosocial approach to understanding how biological, psychological and social factors interact to influence health and wellbeing. Sophie’s interest in this field began in 2019 with her research on online support following miscarriage (published 2024) and young Australian women’s experiences of endometriosis.

Her clinical work has focused on chronic pain and adjustment to injury, completing further training in CBT for Active Pain Self-Management through the University of Sydney. For the past two years, she has worked within a multidisciplinary pain management clinic providing both individual therapy and group programs.

Sophie is also a Clinical Advisor for Matilda Health, contributing psychological insights and content for their app supporting people undergoing laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis.

She is passionate about helping clients living with chronic pain, invisible illness and health-related challenges feel understood, validated and empowered. Using a trauma-informed approach, Sophie prioritises psychological safety and the therapeutic relationship as the foundation for healing and change.

https://www.sophieodwyerpsychology.com.au/