lap and dye test

[justtheonethen]

I'm a bit of a lurker on this board, been trying for two years now and am soon to have a lap and dye. We have had all the other tests and so far nothing wrong with either of us. Unexplained infertility seems a bit of a poisoned chalice, nothing wrong but no pregnancy.

Anyway, I'm having the lap in August to check/flush my tubes and check for endometriosis (of which I have no symptoms). I have done lots of googling but still not totally sure what to expect.

Will I be off work for long after? Job involves lots of standing, walking, chances of being bumped into and being active. I assume it will depend on what they find/treat?

Am I going to be in hideous pain? Gas seems to feature heavily.

Is my consultant right in his 'anecdotal' evidence that after flushing tubes there is a greater chance of pregnancy?

I'll be going on the ivf waiting list after the surgery, this is a last ditch attempt to see if anything is wrong that can be fixed.

Thanks in advance, I thought I would feel more excited about the progress but I'm actually feeling more and more miserable. I don't want to have surgery to have a baby, why is it so bloody hard?

Whine over. Any advice gratefully received.

[wineandcheeseplease]

The pain from the gas after does hurt, but I was back on my feet after about 2 days. It's really not too bad

[OrangeSquashTallGlass]

The gas is used to inflate your abdomen so they have more space to see what they're doing. Any left over/trapped will dissipate by itself but can give you a bit of a sharp pain. Peppermint tea really really helps with this.

Back on your feet after a few days but you'll need more than that off work. I think they automatically sign you off for a week or two. Lots of looking after yourself needed! Get yourself some magazines and a box of chocolates and use it as a reason to take it easy for a little while.

[ellesbellesxxx]

I had one three weeks ago...
I hadn't realised how bruised I would be around my belly button! Bruises are just going now.. I took 10 days off as I was still quite sore and as a teacher, was worried about children hurtling towards me/patting my stomach to get my attention and generally having no idea of personal space that I didn't want to rush back!

Yes the gas pains lasted a couple of days... Hot water bottles and peppermint help!

One of my main problems was the pain relief... Codeine gave me constipation (sorry tmi!) so just be aware... All I really fancied though was light food and I ate a lot of strawberries and raspberries which helped!
Be very kind to yourself... I spent the first week in my pjs reading and watching films whilst being topped up with hot water bottles.
We knew I had low AMH but lap and dye discovered that my ovaries and tubes were v deteriorated too so although it was a blow, so glad we did it as now going straight for IVF... Would have been another year otherwise if still unexplained.
Good luck and happy for you to pm me with any questions xxx

Ps I didn't get told this until too close to the lap and dye.... If there is any chance you might have your period, you should take hormones week before to delay it. I was spotting on the day of op which they were fine with but was terrified op would be cancelled had I come on!

[OrangeSquashTallGlass]

elle that's not at all true about your period. Where did you hear that? I've had a few laps now, including one while I was on my period. In fact, the op itself can cause bleeding/your period to start early.

[cheapredwine]

OP you'll be fine. I had no gas pain at all. Was out (GA) for about 30 minutes. Went home after a few cups of tea and having done a wee. Shaky and tired for a few days but only had 3 days off I think. Took paracetamol for maybe 24 hours? Worst two things for me were they did the two or three stitches MUCH too tight so theyvhad to come out after a few days. And sneezing. Hold a clean rolled up hand towell gently against your tummy if you need to sneeze, cough, poo etc, helps a lot to support it from outside.

[cheapredwine]

Towel, ugh, sorry

[ellesbellesxxx]

It was in the leaflet I was given at my pre op meeting!!!!!! (My local NHS trust produced it) Which was 3 days before op when I was told it was too late for hormones! But... It was the first I had heard about it so I hadn't even thought about a period being an issue...spent 3 days stressing about it after my consultant's secretary telling me I would have to hope for the best... to then my consultant not even batting an eyelid! It's worth checking is all I am saying... My periods are so erratic now that you can't plan around them in any case!

[justtheonethen]

Thank you all, I really appreciate the tips, will get myself a towel ready and check out if hormones are needed although fingers crossed af won't be due then if cycles don't go totally wonky!

I'm a teacher too so worried about children bashing into me. I have told work that it may be a few days I miss at start of term and they were fine thankfully! I'll just see how I go.

Being a total wimp can I use Emla (numbing cream) on my hand before they put the IV in?

Also, do you have to stop ttc for a while after? I'm reading differing things. Also assume I need to not ttc that month if op falls after ovulation?

[cheapredwine]

The problem with EMLA is you're not going to know where they're going to put the cannula. Have you had your pre-op assessment? I'm sure it's standard in cases of a GA. I'd ask about EMLA then if it really is that big an issue. And yes, you need to not be pregnant when they do it - depends whe. It falls in your cycle IIRC but I had to do a pregnancy test just before they took me in. All highly ironic though I guess it would have been more so if it had been positive. On the towel, anything will work really, you just need to sort of brace your tummy from the outside, so just a hand is fine. It does really help though. I wasn't bloated or anything and othr than the 2 or 3 stitches below my belly button and the tiniest little incision just above my public bone (think there was maybe a steri-strip?) you wouldn't have known so if you're lucky, you won't need much time off in terms of worrying about children bashing into you sort of thing. The only thing which was a complete pain now think about it, was that they gave post-op dressing instructions to me while I was still completely out of it and my husband wasn't allowed into recovery. There was a lot of blood pooled behind the see-through dressing and it looked grim so I ended up going to the nurse at the GP a couple of days later as I wasn't sure what I was meant to do and it was all very liquidy. You might be lucky and get a printed sheet? But if you can remember, get proper instructions as to what you're meant to do with the dressing and how long to leave it on, if you can get it wet etc before you leave. I was last on the surgery list for th day and very conscious I was keeping everyone there, so basically left before I should have done really - was silly of me but there we go.

[geeup]

Hi justtheone I am having the same at the end of July and feeling scared too. Mainly I'm really upset that I'm having to have a general anaesthetic and be cut open in our quest to have a baby. Just so sad.
I've had the gas thing before with a different op (pre ttc) and it wasn't too bad so don't be scared of that.
I'm also putting so much hope in the op that we'll fall naturally after it but at the same time I'm scared if we don't, we're facing IVF etc etc which is such a big thing.
Anyway, just thought I'd let you know you're definitely not alone. We can swap stories afterwards.

[justtheonethen]

Thanks redwine, pre op is the week before so I'll ask then, good tip about getting proper instructions! Did they give you feedback on what they found then too?

geeup yes let's keep in touch, good luck with yours. It's totally shit but hopefully we will get some answers at least.

[ellesbellesxxx]

You can ttc again after...it took 3 weeks before I wanted to try to mind! But yes, as redwine says you cant try on lead up and you have to POAS that morning!!!!! Ironic indeed!
Hope it goes ok and you get some answers xxx

[OrangeSquashTallGlass]

That's so odd elle! I guess it's just down to different hospitals. I'm due my 4th lap and they've all been such different experiences so I suppose it shouldn't suprise me really.

Good luck OP!

[ellesbellesxxx]

Orangesquash I wish you had been around to tell me that weekend before my lap when I was crying and panicking that it would be cancelled! Really odd!

[cheapredwine]

OP yes they told me what they'd found (precisely nothing abnormal, all looked fine etc) at same time when I was just awake. But wish I'd thought to follow it up. I guess they wrote to GP though and it was subsequently noted in the IVF referral forms and letter. I'd definitely write questions down and ask in pre-op. Wishing you all the best (and you'll be fine!)

[ffauxlivia]

I was off work for 2 weeks post op as I was starting a new job and wanted to be fully fit, but recovery was fine and felt roughly myself after about 10 days. Had my period 2 weeks post op and unfortunately it was a horrendous one, so keep the l hardcore painkillers for that ! But we TTC that first cycle (after 2 years trying) and I got pregnant immediately, now have a 3 month old so there is hope

In my case they found stage 2-3 endo which they zapped, but I think it was the clearing out of the tubes that really did it (which happens as a result of the dye test)

Good luck

Oh and also take a small pillow/cushion to put between your belly and the seatbelt on the way home. And wear loose clothes post op

[justtheonethen]

Well that gives me some renewed hope! I'll write down questions before I go in.

Starting to feel better about the whole thing thanks to you lot, thank you so much.

[justtheonethen]

If your tubes are blocked do they remove them? Sorry to hear you had problems, sounds horrid!

[justtheonethen]

snappy sounds crap, sounds like you have had a rough time. Are you going to have ivf? You don't have to answer obviously!

[OrangeSquashTallGlass]

You wouldn't just wake up with no tubes unless you'd agreed to this before hand. You'll have to sign consent prior to the op so you'll know exactly what they will/won't do.

[justtheonethen]

Good luck snappy