After surgery – everything seemed fine
My endometriosis surgery was successfully performed in September 2024. All endometrial tissue was removed, and my recovery went well.
The first week was mostly rest, during the second week I started moving lightly, and by the third week I was already back to training.
I thought it was finally over.
Training camp in Thailand
In August 2025, I traveled to Thailand for a training camp. I had my first Muay Thai fight booked at Rawai Stadium in Phuket under professional rules. I couldn’t have been more excited.
The camp lasted three weeks, and the training volume was intense:
- 3 hours of Muay Thai per day, 6 days a week
- plus 3 morning runs per week
My daily routine was strict: sleep at 10 PM, wake up at 6 AM, breakfast, run, training, naps, afternoon training, and recovery through sauna or massage.
I had trained hard before, but this was on another level. The tropical heat (+33°C / 91°F) made everything more demanding. Even the warm-up sometimes felt exhausting.
Symptoms return
During training, I started experiencing a strange symptom: gagging and nausea.
At times, it felt like I was about to vomit mid-session. I assumed it was due to the heat and physical strain – which isn’t unusual in those conditions.
But the symptoms didn’t go away.
Rest days helped, but the nausea always returned during intense training. Still, I decided to go through with the fight. I had worked too hard and traveled all the way from Malta for it.
The fight went well. I controlled the pace, won, and finally got to rest.
The cycle begins again
I returned home for a while, but by October I was back in Thailand. This time, the gagging started even before my first training session.
Doctors ran multiple tests:
- blood tests (several times)
- gastroscopy
- various examinations
They found Helicobacter pylori and stomach inflammation, which were treated. But the symptoms didn’t disappear.
Adjusting training didn’t help
I tried different approaches:
- rest
- lighter training
- changing disciplines
I stopped Muay Thai and switched to BJJ and MMA. In January, I traveled to Finland and took a full month off from training.
I thought that would finally fix it. It didn’t.
Symptoms get worse
In February, I returned to Thailand and tried to ease back into BJJ, which had previously felt manageable.
Soon, the gagging returned — first during training, then even at rest.
At that point, it was clear that this was no longer just a stomach issue. My condition started to deteriorate quickly.
Tests and uncertainty
I visited a cardiologist – nothing was found. Then I returned to a gastrointestinal specialist and requested full abdominal imaging.
The ultrasound revealed:
- tumors in the liver and uterus
- cysts in the liver and ovaries
The doctor considered the findings benign and did not recommend treatment. I was advised to stop training and adopt a calmer lifestyle.
My own suspicion
I noticed that the ovarian cysts had grown rapidly — to around 3.5 cm — even though they had been removed just 1.5 years earlier.
I decided to consult a gynecologist.
At the appointment, it was concluded that even though the cysts were not unusually large, my symptoms and the significant decline in quality of life were enough to justify surgical treatment for endometriosis.
That’s also when I learned something new: severe nausea can be a symptom of endometriosis.
With no other clear explanation, recurrent endometriosis began to seem like the most logical cause. We decided to proceed with surgery. It would have to be done at some point anyway, so the decision was easy.
Now
At the moment, the surgery is less than two weeks away.
It will be performed in Thailand at Pattaya Memorial Hospital.
Specialist consultations cost approximately €80–160 per visit, depending on the examinations.
The surgery itself costs €4,780 when paid in advance, with the final price confirmed after the procedure.
How I feel right now
I find myself in the same situation again — it feels like life is slipping away because of illness.
From the outside, I look healthy, which makes it difficult for others to understand what I’m going through.
Even though I’m grateful that endometriosis is not a life-threatening condition, its impact on physical performance and mental well-being is significant.
Still, I believe in the relief that surgery can bring. And I hope it will give me at least a few more years of an active life.
