Laparoscopy coming soon. I'm terrified..

[hippopotato]

Hello,

Following on from previous threads regarding my infertility fears. My laparoscopy and hysteroscopy appointments have came through. This is to treat my endometriosis and to remove a dodgy Fallopian tube.

I'm absolutely petrified of actually finally having answers. I'm scared they're gonna discover that my insides are basically all f*cked. I'm scared they're gonna say I've got absolutely no chance of ever conceiving with ivf nevermind naturally. I'm scared they'll remove both tubes and my ovaries.

And to top it all off - I have a major, major phobia of being sick.

Please can anybody who has had a laparoscopy/hysterocopy reassure me or give me any advice.

Is this likely to make me sick?

I understand in the grand scheme of things this is ridiculous but I am terrified.

Thank you so much to anybody who reads this x

My laparoscopy ended up being longer than anticipated because they found endo lesions (the endometriosis my Consultant said I absolutely did not have) and treated them while they were there.
I was cold and shivery in recovery (that heated blanket was heaven) and also struggled to come round. I always react to GA like that. I've never been sick after one though.

The first couple of days post-op were most difficult. You don't realise how much you use those muscles to get up and down. Going to the toilet was entertaining.

@queenrollo

Thank you! That blanket really is heaven 😂 I remember lying there deliriously going on and on about how good the blanket was!

Yes I remember my first toilet trip after my surgery - not looking forward to that again!

Thank you 🙏

I had a hysteroscopy yesterday morning. The anaesthetist routinely gives an intravenous antiemetic (antisickness) when you're being sedated. I was given pain relief afterwards, but as I get bad cramping period type pain (I'm menopausal) with these procedures I brought my own naproxen/feminax ultra tablets to take as this works much better for me than the dihydrocodeine & oromorph on offer

I was home early afternoon & went out to eat & to the cinema last night. I'm having an easy day today & am comfortable having taken anti-inflammatories, & with hot water bottle.

I hope you get the news you want after your procedures 💐

I had a laparoscopy last December. I wasn’t sick, I felt a bit queasy (kind of like a hangover) but it wasn’t too bad and it passed quickly. You can ask for anti sickness meds if you’re worried about that.

The pain wasn’t too bad, the worst thing for me was the gasiness afterwards, I recommend stocking up on peppermint tea, it really helped me, once that subsided I felt fine.
Since my lap, I’ve had IVF and now 8 weeks pregnant, I know it’s hard but try to stay positive .

I’ve had four treating severe endometriosis including having a Fallopian tube unstuck. All fine and only felt sick after one up and downed several pints of tea whilst cramming buttered toast in my face. Wasn’t actually sick, but nurse kindly offered me a bucket and suggested that I slowed up a bit of the caffeine spanking…
I was terrified the first time, but wouldn’t bar an eyelid now. Good luck OP.

Laparoscopy is a very common procedure and some discomfort and nausea/ vomiting not uncommon. Mention your fear of nausea and vomiting to your anaesthetist and see what they can do. Most anaesthetists inject anti sickness medicines during the procedure but some people are going to be sick anyway.

@Rosebud21

Wow you have done well so quickly afterwards!

I'm relatively calm about the pain afterwards and the gas pain it's solely the vomiting that's scaring me so at least that's one thing!

Thank you very very much.

@audacityofpoo

Thank you so much - 4 laparoscopies! ☹️

I am definitely getting a lot of relief from all of these positive stories. I just pray i end up being one of them!

@Northtosouth

Thank you 💕

I can deal with minor nausea and a hangover type feeling. I will definitely be asking for the strongest anti emetics they have!!

I will get some peppermint tea too - thank you.

Very very happy for you that you are 8 weeks pregnant 💕💕💕💕

@Mrstiggywinkle44

Thank you so much for your lovely comment.

I would love to privately message if that's ok with you 💕 xx

I was given the antiemetic ondansetron, it's one of the best, it's used for people experiencing vomiting related to chemo

I've had 2 x laparoscopies (dye test, endometriosis burned away and ovaries drilled). I did not feel sick at all, just achy and sore. Recovery took about 5 days. I didn't have gas pains with the first one, but I did with the second. I didn't feel cold or anything when I woke, just remember having an oxygen mask on and this was quite refreshing to breathe in. Then I fell asleep again! I went home about 3 hours later, once I had been for a wee.

Best of luck x

Hi I have had two laps and a hysteroscopy and cystoscopy (all endo treatment related).

I can absolutely relate to your fears. It is awful, but actually knowing what the problem is, can help fix it or put in the right steps to support fertility (in whatever form that might be). While my second lap diagnosed very severe endo and cysts , I was actually relieved to know what the problem was (if quite angry at how many times I'd been dismissed by health professionals!)

I wasn't physically sick. They can give anti emetics which do work really well.

I did the find the recovery painful - however take pain relief, rest, peppermint teat, hot water bottles etc. but I was fine - and back running within 4 weeks.

Good luck xxx

I've had several laparoscopies and not found them more likely cause post op issues than other surgeries.

I do tend to react badly with some GAs and key advice I'd have is make sure that the anaesthetist knows of your previous reactions. If they know how you have responded on previous occasions they can adjust the dosage/drugs to reduce likelihood of problems.

Yes feel free xx 😘💗

I’ve had a lap for endo and am also emetophobic. Let your anaesthetist know about your concerns beforehand. Mine was lovely and made adjustments to the type and amount of anaesthetic and pain relief to minimise the risk. i had propofol anaesthetic (pretty standard I think) which in itself has antiemetic properties. She instructed the recovery nurse to give me oxycodone rather than morphine as it’s less likely to cause nausea. She also left instructions to only give a certain amount, again to minimise vomiting risk.

When I woke up I was in a lot of pain and also inexplicably sobbing, which I later learnt is quite a common reaction to GA. The nurse quickly gave me oxycodone followed by an antiemetic and within seconds I felt wonderful. Back on the ward I felt fine, a bit out of it but no nausea at all and was actually really hungry. I couldn’t wait for toast and tea. I had no nausea at home during recovery, I was just really hungry!

I’m part of a large endo group and I know this is a frequent concern among women undergoing laps. I can honestly say that hardly anyone reports vomiting so please try not to worry.

I can’t comment on your other concerns but I hope this at least alleviates the vomiting one. Please do get in touch with Endometriosis UK who can further support you.

Hi, I had numerous laparoscopies initially when they thought I had ovarian cancer which turned out to be endometriosis and adenomyosis. I was worried about anaesthesia and to be honest it’s a relief once you are asleep. I don’t think you should worry about sick, but if you are tell them. They can give an anti emetic while you are under. You will sail through x

Oh and a rather random suggestion - Tetris really helped me during the recovery period of my first operation when I was absolutely petrified of vomiting. I read that it had been found to be useful when played following a traumatic event and can prevent PTSD, so I thought it was worth a try for anxiety and downloaded it to my phone. I’ve since used it whenever I feel on the verge of a panic attack and for some reason it works wonders.

Had a laparoscopy last year after trying to conceive with no luck and suspected endo due to lots of horrible and painful symptoms. Endo was discovered and removed and I fell pregnant within 2 months.

Recovery was honestly fine and I asked for lots of anti emetics to stop me from being sick, they obliged and I had no sickness whatsoever.

You’ll be absolutely fine I’m sure, best of luck. X

@IodineQueen

Would it be possible to pm please and let me know which endo groups.
I think I've got it and am waiting for consultant etc and probably laronscopy as well. It only seems flared up before during and after a period though.

Sorry@IodineQueen

Would it be possible to pm please, re which endo groups.

I'm finding it hard to understand.
I had ultra sound but nothing shows up.

@hippopotato I had a laparoscopy yesterday for endometriosis and infertility investigations. I felt slightly nauseous when I woke up and was immediately given Ondansetron which worked very quickly and I wasn't sick at all

I had all the same fears as you but they were unfounded. I had a 4cm ovarian cyst removed, endo treated, adhesions between uterus and bowel divided and a dye test. I had to stay in overnight but I'm going home shortly

@Rosebud21

Thank you - I'm definitely going to beg for that one!

It’s less common these days than it used to be for people to be nauseated/actually vomit because of the anaesthetic, but some types of surgery are higher risk for causing sickness (and gynae surgery is on that list). It’s pretty much routine to give anti-emetics intraoperatively because we all know that a) yacking up is grim at the best of times and b) patients who are being sick don’t go home so quickly.

In addition to the drugs, some more homeopathic things that can help with post-op nausea are chewing gum and sniffing an alcohol swab (the jobbies we use to clean the skin before doing bloods/cannulas). HTH.