What to expect after surgery?

[laparoscopyquestion]

Sorry I'm posting for traffic.

I'm having a laparoscopy next week to investigate for endometriosis. It's day surgery, apparently I'll be home later the same day.

What can I expect in terms of recovery time? How long needed off work, etc? My job isn't physical as such but lots of walking involved as our office building is massive so it's a fair trek from my car to my office every day. I also have a toddler - how long til I can pick her up etc? And... I'm quite into my fitness and I like to do weights workouts (usually kettlebells) and I try to run 5k at least once a week. How long til I can get back into these things, do you think?

Appreciate any advice! 🙂

I had a D &C at the same time,it was 6 weeks, before anything ", heavy".

DH had a small umbilical hernia repair, also 6 weeks.

Oh no, 6 weeks of no exercise?! What about getting back to work? I was hoping to be off for a week maximum, I'm far too busy for it to be any longer!

A laparoscopy is a very minor procedure. You will have two or three small incisions in your abdomen, which heal very quickly. You will probably experience some pain from the gas they put in, but that soon goes. You can feel groggy for a few days after a general anaesthetic. It’s very important to get up and get moving as soon as possible after surgery. This helps to prevent blood clots. After approximately a week you’ll be fine. (Gynae Nurse).

@Deliiciousllydifffident
Thank you. How long would you say until I can do full body weights and run again?

I haven't had surgery for endometriosis but had my gallbladder removed via laparoscopic procedure. You will have three or four small incisions, approximately an inch long. Depending on what they find or what has been removed, it is most painful immediately after the surgery. The recovery nurses are quick to get pain relief for you and I felt much more comfortable when the gas they use to inflate your abdomen goes away.

I was monitored on the ward for a few hours and well enough to go home by the end of the day. The incision sites heal up in a week or so and by two weeks I felt mostly like myself didn't require any extra pain relief.

Id have a talk about the expected recovery with your surgeon but you might not have much more than a bit of an exploration and I would expect that to be less painful than removal.

I had a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy under GA. I wasn't right for a couple of weeks after.

I had this when I was sterilised and I was fine within 10 days. I just remember the feeling of being full of gas. xx

Laparoscopy really is just a look around inside. If that is all they do virtually no recovery time needed, a couple of tiny stitches only. I had one years ago went to work the next day.

Edit: Major surgery later due to the findings, that was a different ball game.

I've had 11 laparoscopies for ovarian cysts/ Endometriosis.
The Gynae nurse is correct..
Shoulders will ache from gas they use ( pumps them up). Stitches removed or dissolved in a few days. Move around ASAP.
After a week you will be fine to carry on as normal.

I did say "anything heavy". I had a D and C and biopsies, I was nursing heavy general ward,DH in the motor trade, again heavy..

I had my appendix out under laparoscopic surgery. They didn't sign me off at all.

I self certified for 5 days. Got a sick note from GP for amother 5 days half days.

I felt fine after that, just a bit sore on the actual incisions.

I took 3 weeks off of PT (which is weight training limited cardio) and then I was back and had no issues, just listened to my body and didn't do any heavy core work.