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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask about Laparoscopy recovery?

24 replies

ThinkGlow · 28/08/2019 13:51

I have just been booked for a laparoscopy in a few weeks' time (to remove Endo, cysts etc). I'm filling a last minute cancellation, and have a 10k race around 12 days after.

Is this out of the question? How long will it likely take to recover to normal activities?

I'm fit and active otherwise, bar a knee niggle at the moment.

Any experience gratefully received!

OP posts:

torthecatlady · 28/08/2019 13:55

I had a week off work with mine and felt a bit tender for a couple of weeks. It might be too much for you, but perhaps you could walk it?

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 28/08/2019 13:55

I've just had my ovary removed by laparascopy and it was fine, sore for a few days but nothing awful although to be honest, I'm not sure running 10k 12 days after is a good idea. No matter how you feel, it's still invasive surgery and even if you feel ok your body still needs to recover. I had open surgery a few years ago to remove a massive cyst and an ovary, compared to that laparascopy is a walk (not run) in the park.

OneStepSideways · 28/08/2019 13:58

I've had 3 laparoscopies for endometriosis and cysts. Each time I was up and about within an hour of getting back to the ward and went home the same days. First couple of days I was very sore but could still potter about the house, do laundry etc. After a week I felt fully recovered but I think you're supposed to avoid intensive exercise or heavy lifting for 6 weeks (something to do with the peritoneum membrane that covers organs and abdominal walls being stripped along with the endo, so it has to regrow. Also you'll have internal stitches as well as a few external ones so best not to risk opening the wounds).

FudgeBrownie2019 · 28/08/2019 14:01

It's not entirely out of the question, but it depends entirely how you recover and how the op goes. My personal experience isn't a positive one, but I know plenty of women who've had laparoscopy with very little recovery time so it's definitely different for everyone. Is it possible you could change the commitment to run the 10k just in case?

Mine was in December 2016. A few days later I thought I'd mostly recovered (was up and about with the DC, walking the dogs, about to go back to work and generally feeling fine). Woke up 6 days post-op feeling like I had flu and couldn't get out of bed for love nor money, 24 hours and a hospital trip later it turned out that my bowel had been nicked when they made the first incision and was essentially poisoning me from the inside resulting in another surgery, a stay in hospital and a far bigger recovery time than I'd budgeted for. The woman who'd had the same op as me had returned to work 14 days post-op (we stayed in touch) and recovered perfectly. I'd signed a waiver before having the op which explained that this was one of the very small risks and was just one of those things nobody could have prevented, but be prepared for every eventuality not just the 'good' ones (I know this makes me sound like a doom-monger and I'm totally not, sorry).

withinacceptabletolerances · 28/08/2019 14:02

I'm 6 weeks into recovery from a lap for Endo. Had a lot of removal. There's no way I could run 10k just now, in fact I was advised not to run for 12 weeks....

Original poster

ThinkGlow · 28/08/2019 14:03

Thanks for the replies.

I'm gutted. I know I need the surgery but exercise is a massive, massive help for my mental health so if I can't run I'm worried I'm in for a rough time of it.

Walking it might be a good idea, though. Maybe lots of gentle walking?

I'll ask the surgeon how long I'll need to avoid running for.

OP posts:

saywhatwhatnow · 28/08/2019 14:05

I think it might be a bit of a stretch. I got a bit of an infection after mine and was off work for about 10 days in the end. I was very sore for the first 5-7 days.

Original poster

ThinkGlow · 28/08/2019 14:06

@withinacceptabletolerances 12 weeks?!!

I've worked so hard to build up to 10k, I'm going to lose all the months of training.

Shit. :(

OP posts:

Kanga83 · 28/08/2019 14:07

I was off for 6 weeks but felt better after 4 weeks. The first week was tough but much better after that. Best advice is to keep moving even if you don't feel like it.

CaptainJaneway62 · 28/08/2019 14:19

You are at risk of causing yourself a lot more harm than good attempting to run so soon after surgery. Externally things look fine but internally things heal a lot more slowly.
A friend of mine lifted a couple of plant pots about 2weeks after laparoscopic surgery for cysts and then needed proper open surgery to repair the the hernia which was a lot longer recovery time.

AlwaysaLittleBitTired · 28/08/2019 14:29

As others have said, it depends on what they do whilst in there, and how you recover. Do not underestimate the effects of a general anaesthetic either. It made me feel fatigued, and generally a bit foggy.

I had my lap on a weekday evening, took 2 days off work (during which I was pretty much sofa bound, pottering in the house only), and then worked my desk job from home for 2 days. I had an adhesion removed, so I was a bit sore, and bending to do things was tricky for a few days. They also popped a blood vessel on my cervix (which was a nice surprise, as I have no idea they were going anywhere near there!), so I had some bleeding to contend with too. I had 3 very small puncture wounds on my abdomen, which were stitched and dressed.

Good luck with the op (and whatever you decide to do with the 10k)

TaskMistress · 28/08/2019 14:37

I was in more pain after laparoscopy and polyp removal than my hysterectomy. I massively underestimated recover, thought I'd be back to work after 2 days, ended up having a week off. Two month later was still a bit tender doing certain things.

Everyone is different and you'll just have to see.

Pinkstars2501 · 28/08/2019 14:53

My laparoscopy story is not recommended, but sort of relates so here it is. My endo is stage 3 and most of my reproductive organs are stuck to something else in some way.

I was down for the afternoon list, went in on time, woke up a few hours later. They found all sorts of undetected previous infections, scar tissue, adhesions....my whole pelvis is a mess but I knew that. I ended up kept in overnight and on an antibiotic drip and with a drain to take the fluid out that was sloshing about inside me. Oh and they didn't even remove anything because they couldn't get to anything due to adhesions, will need laparotomy.
The shoulder pain from the gas was the worst.Was allowed home the next day after breakfast.

Spent a couple days in bed feeling like I'd been kicked in the gut by a horse. Then I was able to potter about the house, but not too much, I was wiped out! I had three little incisions and the stitches came out 4 weeks later.

6 weeks later I ran a half marathon (well I walked a fair bit of it) I'd only trained up to 10k and I felt it after! I did take painkillers before and after it. Plus booked into a spa in the afternoon so I could sit in the jacuzzi and put various bits of me against the jets, which was heaven.

I was told by everyone that you'll be up and about the next day no problem it's only keyhole . Doctors never told me not to do the run though, they didn't really give any advice on exercise after. I had 6 weeks recovery though, much longer than 12 days.

I'd say if you've trained for it, take it steady and listen to your body.

Original poster

ThinkGlow · 28/08/2019 15:55

Thanks so much for the replies.

I'm going to dial my expectations down and not rush myself, I think by the sounds of it after 12 days if I'm out of pain then that's as much to hope for.

OP posts:

SignedUpJust4This · 28/08/2019 16:08

I thought I' be up and about quick but I had to take 2 weeks off and then I went back to work too soon, opened stitches, infection, off again for another week. You might be lucky but it was a lot more of a recovery than I thought it would be.

ButterflyOne1 · 28/08/2019 16:14

I had one in April and was due to do Tough Mudder a few weeks later but luckily I transferred my place.

Everyone heals differently but I took a few weeks to start being able to exercise again. I felt very out of breath even just walking.

Prioritise your health over exercise. I'm the same as you and very active but you need this done. Take the time to recover and in the long run it'll be better.

squirrelnutkins1 · 28/08/2019 20:28

I was off for 3 weeks. The pain lasted for a weekish but the tiredness from the anaesthetic was debilitating. I had a lot of endo removed and a cyst and some 'unsticking' also HSG so i was messed about with quite a bit!

InglouriousBasterd · 28/08/2019 20:32

I went to the gym foolishly about 3 weeks afterwards and split my stitches to reveal a nice little hole in my stomach 🤮

I think it depends on the surgery - I’ve had two, one was gynae and that was 6 weeks recovery.

Qwerty19 · 28/08/2019 20:36

I've had 2.
Thw first was horrendous. But what should of been an hour was 4 hours my Insides were a mess apparently.. I swelled like a balloon. And issues after 8 weeks off work

2nd dreaded it.. I had no issues at all. I Fact I came home had a shower. Sun was shining so I spring cleaned the entire flat.. I had been signed off a week but didn't need it.

As for a 10k run..i doubt I could of done that

Gruffalomom · 28/08/2019 21:22

I've had 5 ! Always been pretty much back to normal by day 5, but I don't think on any occasion I would have been ready for a 10k run by day 12. Walk would be ok though. Remember you will have stitches or glue and it will all feel a bit held together for a while.

Missdread · 28/08/2019 21:29

Are you having keyhole or a C-section type incision? I had a laparoscopy and ovarian cystectomy and there is no way I could have run a 10 k a few weeks later. It is a major op and I was out of action for 4-6 weeks (and i was only 19!). Let yourself heal properly, your body will thank you! X

Original poster

ThinkGlow · 18/09/2019 13:28

I just wanted to update that I've had the surgery, sooner than planned as there was a last minute cancellation I could fill as I'd already had my pre-assessment.

I was told the surgery would take no longer than 45 minutes but it took 2 hours, surgeon found and removed Stage 3 Endo, large paratubal cysts, did a tube dye test and then a pelvic wash.

Post-op I contracted a nasty UTI and had an allergic reaction to something (they're not sure what...) so I needed to stay in hospital for a couple of days. It was bloody awful.

I'm now 9 days post-op and the worst is over; I managed a half-hour walk in the sun today, moving very slowly, holding onto my husband.

Safe to say I won't be running for a looong time. :(

Thanks for the replies, I'm glad my expectations were more realistic after reading your experiences.

OP posts:

Minai · 18/09/2019 13:46

I had a laparoscopic appendectomy and the first few days were hard. I had a 13 week old baby and a 21 month old and couldn’t lift or hold either of them. 1 week after the surgery I was able to look after them alone again but had to take things slowly. I felt fully recovered after 2-3 weeks but don’t think I’d have been up to running a 10k at that point.

goose1964 · 18/09/2019 13:57

I had one last year. I was a bit sore for a few days but couldn't do any lifting for a fortnight and then no heavy lifting for a further fortnight.

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