Laparoscopy for endometriosis

[AndAnotherNameChanger]

I've just been offered a cancellation for next week, and, though it's great to finally be getting it done having been on the waiting list for nearly a year, I feel a bit thrown and unprepared since I wasn't even due to have my pre-op assessment for another month. (I think it's also been so long since I was put on the waiting list I've forgotten a lot of the discussion with the consultant).

I know it varies a lot, but has anyone had it done that can tell me about their experience? How long were you in hospital? What was the recovery period like? Any tips or advice? Anything specific I should ask about at my pre-op?

TIA

I've recently had a laparoscopy for a large ovarian cyst, so not the same but similar. I was told I'd be in hospital overnight but was in for 2 due to a slight complication where I bled from a blood vessel in my stomach so I needed a surgical drain, I was told I should expect to be off work for around 2 - 4 weeks but because of the issue with my stomach I'm going to be off for around 6 weeks. Been told I can't drive for at least 4 weeks. I couldn't get out of bed the first day and the second day was a struggle but I was more able to be mobile. The first week of recovery was rough but I was able to manage with rest and strong painkillers. The first 5 days I basically spent sleeping on and off. I'm 3 weeks post op now. Still sore and tired if I do too much but I'm able to use paracetamol and ibuprofen to manage the pain.

Some questions I'd want to know - how long will you be in hospital, how long will you be off work and how long until you're able to drive again (presuming you drive - if you drive before you're told you can then this will effect your insurance).

If you have any questions feel free to ask

Thanks @justbeingelle. It's good to hear someone's experiences though sorry to hear you had a complication - it sounds like you've had a difficult experience - compared to what the doctors told me anyway... I hope the rest of your recovery goes well and you're soon back to full strength.

I also have a cyst to be removed, but they've told me I should be out the same day, as long as there are no complications. (fingers crossed) Good tip about asking when I can drive again, I hadn't thought about that.

Sorry a few more questions...

What painkillers were you taking initially? I had problems with some painkillers I was given after a previous operation, with that one I was able to cope with just paracetamol and ibuprofen, but I take it you needed something stronger than that?

Did you have much bleeding after the operation? In the info I've been given they've said about having some sanitary towels for bleeding afterwards, and I'm wondering what kind of level of bleeding to expect as 'normal'. Do I need to get super-strength towels or anything?

Were you able to eat normally afterwards? My cyst has caused me problems with bloating and constipation and someone I know who had a different kind of abdominal surgery suffered afterwards very badly with heartburn/ indigestion and had to be very careful with what they ate while they were recovering so I'm not sure whether I'll struggle with some foods afterwards and should get particular things in.

I was out the same day with mine! Back at work a week after doing fine, think they lasered about 3 patches off and it was only stage 1. I found ibuprofen worked fine for me, was really difficult getting up by myself for about 3 days but my recovery was really straightforward with kind of period style bleeding for approx a week too :) in pre op the nurse just took weight and heart rate etc!

One tip actually.. make sure you have lots of soft foods in! I found the mouthpiece they put in you during surgery must have taken a fair bit of enamel off as my teeth KILLED after. Would recommend sensodyne repair and protect to help.

I had a laparoscopy last week for severe endo and spent three nights in hospital. However it wasn’t my first laparoscopy. First ones tend to be more diagnostic with smaller amount of excision if necessary (depends on the surgeon). For my first one I was in hospital overnight. I felt very tired and sore and it was quite a slow recovery although I knew I was looking at a subsequent bigger op to remove the severe endo that was diagnosed.
Good luck. You’ll be glad you did it.

Ps was able to eat normally afterwards but watch for constipation with the strong pain relief so ask for laxatives and drink loads and fibre rich foods. Lip balm and throat sweets.

I had a lap in June to find out if I had endo and to fix a complication following pre cancerous cell removal which had caused my cervix to close with scar tissue. So this was opened and a d and c also done.
The pain after wasn't anywhere as bad as expected and I managed with taking ibuprofen and paracetamol and keeping topped up. By the 3/4th day I was no longer using painkillers but was sore. I slept mainly for first couple
Of days.
The hospital signed me off for two weeks and I went back to PT work week three. I didn't bleed much after but that could be down to the d and c. Even four weeks later though I could feel it pulling if I picked up my three year old/shopping etc. I was told I could drive once I felt comfortable enough to do an emergency stop pain free.
I was seen as a day patient so was in at 7.30 and home by 7 but I was the first patient on the list.
The worst bit for me was the shoulder pain from the displaced gas they use to pump up your stomach. X

I had one a couple of years ago for suspected endometriosis. I’d had chronic pain for a while. I was a morning admission, first on the list. I was in theatre by 9, out into Recovery by 11.15. They did find endometriosis but only a small amount which had diathermy so minor side effects. I was moved to the ward about 1...discharged by 4. Only stayed a bit longer because the drugs made me sick. I couldn’t eat much due to nausea but I would have been on normal diet again if it wasn’t for that. I was post-op sore for about a week (around MH sutures etc) and tired from the anaesthetic. I was off sick from work and it was Christmas time but I was ready to go within a couple of weeks despite the chronic pain/long term absence.

I had one privately. I ended up being under for 5 hours as they discovered stage four when they went in (nothing visible on ultrasound at all). I was in overnight as I really found it hard to recover from the anaesthetic and was still extremely rough when I was discharged. Should probably have been in for another night. Only kept my endo at bay for a year though - decapeptyl works much better.

Thanks everyone. Sorry you've all had to go through this too, but I really appreciate hearing all your experiences and tips.

@jayde28 did you find anything to help with the pain due to the gas?

I have had three of these ops over the last 20 years!! First time was a couple of nights, 2nd time overnight and 3rd time day patient. Was back at work each time within 2 weeks.

I took standard pain killers - the only thing I have suffered from every time is discomfort from the air- I’ve had 2 c-sections as well and I seem to really suffer with the air -the nurses have me some peppermint drink and mint tea seemed to do the trick!

I had one in March last year. My experience isn't the nicest but it's mine so....

I'd been saying I had Endo for around 16 years back and forth to docs, I'm 32 now. They always told me to try different birth control etc etc. Which was annoying but I was young and didn't know much better at the time, plus I wasn't interested in having kids back then.
Anyway it turned out via many scans I have a 10cm cyst on the right outside of my uterus so they decided it was time for a lap to cut that out and any other patches of Endo they may find. I was meant to be a day case so planned to have my husband get me after and I was first on the afternoon list so all good. Except when they went in they found I had stage 3 endo, a frozen pelvis and it looked like I'd had undiagnosed appendix infections too because there was a lot of fluid around it. They didn't cut the cyst out because they couldn't get through the scar tissue and I hadn't had bowel prep so there was a risk of perforation. I was kept overnight to drain the fluid and have IV antibiotics in the end. My recovery took longer than I expected and the gas pain was horrible. Still glad I had it because it was basically "proof" I wasn't putting it on.

My account isn't to scare you, most of the time they are fine, but it's best to be prepared for all eventualities. If I was to give any advice to someone having a lap it would be to pack the stuff they tell you to, but also a sleep mask/phone charger just incase you end up in overnight. I wish you all the best.

I had one and was in and out same day. Normal painkillers were fine. I found coming round from GA the worst bit. Had cyst removed and lasered bits. Signed off for 2 weeks but less would have been ok. Good luck!

@AndAnotherNameChanger in hospital I was given extended release oxycodone, oxycodone, paracetamol and ibuprofen. At home I was give 30/500 cocodamol for a few weeks.

I had very, very light spotting.

I didn't really eat much just because I was quite tired and nauseous following the op but was given anti sickness tablets to help with this.

Thanks for the well wishes, every day is getting easier 😊 best of luck!

Sorry the co codamol was for 2 weeks. Now on regular paracetamol and ibuprofen.

They'd warned me about pains from the gas which can travel up to your shoulder and cause pain there. I didn't have any shoulder pain but I definitely was very bloated which was uncomfortable. That took around 1 week to go down.

Oh something else to note too. If you're due to be on your period around the time of the op then they'll cancel it, but you can be prescribed pills to delay your period which is what I had so I could go ahead with the operation.

Lots of peppermint tea for the gas pain. Your shoulders may well be in agony from it!

I had a lap for endo almost exactly a year ago. Most of the time they are day cases. They found stage 3 and removed a cyst.
I was in a lot of pain for a few days then after that it was mainly exhaustion from the anaesthetic. Probably took a month to fully feel better.

I had 2 laparoscopies for endometriosis before finally having a laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy. The first laparoscopy was purely a diagnostic one, I refused to give my surgeon permission to remove anything until he had discussed it with me, I was terrified as it was the first time I had needed an operation since I was three. I went to theatre at 7.00pm & was back on the ward by 8.00pm, I didn't have any pain, didn't feel groggy & was out of bed 15 minutes after I got back on the ward getting changed. As I had not had an operation for a long time I had to stay 3 hours after returning from theatre, I was home by 11.30pm, no pain & just tiny dressings over where the instruments went in my stomach. The next day I was well enough to go to meet my ds from school, I stayed 2 nights at my parents & then we went home, I was back to normal 3 days afterwards. My consultant had found large areas of endometriosis, an ovarian cyst & my tubes were grey instead of being pink & healthy. A month after my first lap I had a second one to remove the cyst, ovary, both my tubes & lasering away the endometriosis, I was in theatre for 90 minutes & was fit enough to go home 2 hours later. I was a bit more battered & bruised this time, I hadn't any pain but I was tender, very tired & it took me about 5 days to get back on my feet, I was back driving after a week, as it was Christmas my ds & I stayed at my parents for 10 days before returning home. The only advice i can give you is to take some Rennie deflatine for the gas pain, peppermint oil capsules, arnica granules for the bruising, start the Rennie deflatine & the arnica as soon as you come back on the ward, drink lots of water as you need to be able to wee before they let you go home, have a heat pad or hot water bottle when you get home, take a folded blanket or small pillow to protect your stomach from your seatbelt & loose clothes to come home in ( I always came home in my pjs as I had my ops in the evening & it was easy to be able to get straight in bed) have painkillers like Co-codamol & either ibuprofen or diclofenac at home ready, eat light for 48 hours after, drink lots & rest if you feel you need to.

Thanks everyone for all the advice, stories, and good luck wishes, it's just as useful hearing about those who've experienced complications etc as it gives me more of an idea of the range of outcomes and helps me feel a bit more prepared.

I've written a list of all your tips and advice so will be going and buying my supplies of peppermint tea etc and packing myself a cushion and eye mask this weekend in hopes I can at least make it as pain-free as possible.

@justbeingelle I hope you're continuing to recover well.