Lap & Dye / ovarian drilling

[aphrodites]

Does anyone have experience with the above? I'm having both done soon and I'm not sure what to expect.

The last time I had I had a catheter was when I had lo and I remember peeing afterwards being painful, will this be case again? what is recovery like? Is it true you get pain in your shoulders?

[merricat]

Hi, I've not had ovarian drilling before, but I had a lap last September. Recovery time and pain levels are somewhat dependent on what they find in there. When I had mine, most other lap patients had a nice clean 20 minute procedure, and were on their way home later that day with some paracetamol. My surgery was closer to four hours, as they found severe endometriosis and needed to do lots of burning and lasering. I had to stay overnight with a drain protuding from my abdomen, and it was pretty painful. I had a catheter but I couldn't feel it and it didn't hurt. Only one other person had to stay overnight, and that was because she wasn't keeping food down after the anaesthetic, but otherwise she was ok. I remember having a bit of shoulder pain that day yes, but I don't remember it being too bad. I noticed a scratchy throat more, and was glad of the lozenges I'd brought with me.

Recovery-wise, even though my procedure was much more invasive and difficult than most, I was able to walk about - slowly - the next day. The wounds took a bit of time to heal, but weren't awful. My belly button looked weird for a long time, but returned to form after a month or so. I have four little scars.

I have a few tips to make everything better, just in case you're kept in:

• Take some peppermint tea bags (if you're a herbal tea drinker), they aid the healing process, help with pain, and I found them quite emotionally restorative.
  
• Take some lozenges, because the anaesthetic will probably give you a bit of a sore throat
  
• Take lots of reading material, but nothing too difficult. Graphic novels and books with lots of pictures worked a treat for me.
  
• Definitely, definitely take a dressing gown. If I hadn't done this, I'd have been walking about the next morning flashing my bum and my blood-stained gown to the world.
  

Chances are you'll be one of the majority for whom it is a minor procedure with no overnight stay. Good luck, and try not to worry.

[aphrodites]

Thank you for your wonderful response , I'm taking notes on what you've written and will make sure to do a shop soon to pick up supplies.

[Kannet]

Hi. I had ovarian drilling a few years ago. The recovery took me about 3-4 days, It took more out of me than I expected. It worked though so worth it

[merricat]

No worries, I'm glad I helped. I received similar advice online before my lap and it made such a difference to my experience, so I felt the need to pass it on

[merricat]

I just remembered something - take a cushion in the car (I presume your OH will be driving you home afterwards). Put it between you and the seatbelt, and you'll be about 200% comfier than otherwise.

[aphrodites]

That's a great idea to use a cushion, I'll make sure to take one. DH seems to think that as it's a day op that I'll be feeling no different afterwards!

I'm glad to hear it worked, I really hope it works for us, this is our last attempt at getting pregnant before IVF.

[Dusty27]

I'm booked in for a lap on 6th May and very nervous. We've been trying to conceive for 3yrs, but other than a low AMH result all my results had been fine. Then when we finally got referred to gynae all my tests appear awful and they want me to have the lap to probably remove a fallopian tube, aspirate or remove a cyst and possibility of loosing an ovary. All this has happened in 3 months and I'm terrified. Not of the procedure itself but of the possible outcomes. Luckily when I went for my pre-op they booked me in to see the surgeon so hopefully we'll come away more confident that we're doing the right thing.

With regards to yourself aphrodites my mum used to work on gynae many moons ago and said the referred pain in your shoulders can take you by surprise so make sure you have painkillers and merricat is right, peppermint tea can help with the trapped wind that causes it. If you can get peppermint oil a couple (literally or you'll blow your head off) of drops in boiled water is even better. I have quite a physical and sometimes dangerous job so booking myself the week off after the lap and then doing a week of light duties.

[RudeBarbandCustard]

I'm going for a lap in a couple of weeks (poss laparotomy, but I'm hoping they can do it with a laparoscopy) to remove an ovarian cyst and investigate endo.

I started a thread on how to prepare for hospital, and have had some really useful responses here:

[[http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2363407-How-to-prepare-for-a-hospital-stay-Help-me-make-a-list?[[

I'm in a similar position to you Dusty, I've been ttc for 2 years, and have been told that due to the large cyst I might lose an ovary, and have cysts on the other ovary too . They're also querying cancer due to some dodgy blood test results. I'm petrified - not of the operation, but of the outcome and prognosis.

Good luck x

[RudeBarbandCustard]

Argh link fail! Try again

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2363407-How-to-prepare-for-a-hospital-stay-Help-me-make-a-list?