Laparoscopy - Bit scared! Recovery time?

[Batman79]

Hi,

I'm booked in to have a diagnostic laparoscopy for investigation or treatment of endometriosis. Gynaecologist was pretty sure I have it as could feel something, plus I have lots of symptoms such as pain during sex, 13 UTIs in 14 months, awful period pains, horrendous pain when needing to poo during period (and slightly milder pain the rest of the time).

So - I am expecting to have it removed on Friday too. If there is nothing there, I will be shocked and is it weird that I would also be a little upset? It would freak me out anyway!

I'm worried about recovery time as I'm a single Mum to a 3.5 year old. My Mum is kindly taking me in to hospital then picking me up and staying at mine that night, then my boyfriend is visiting the next day and staying the night. My daughter is going to go and stay with her Dad for the Fri and Sat night but then coming back Sunday afternoon. Just wondering if I'll be okay coping with my daughter a couple of days afterwards? Then I'll have to get her to preschool and back that following week :/

Think I just want some reassuring words as I'm nervous about it all. A friend had it done a couple of times and she told me how horribly painful it was afterwards due to the air/gas they use :(

You should avoid any strenuous exercise for a while, as even when your incisions have heeled you will still be heeling inside if you have anything removed. I bled after mine for a couple of days, then had a normal period 2 weeks after. You will likely wake up with a hospital pad on but they are pretty bulky so worth taking your own. Like already said the gas is the worse bit, I was huge round my middle after with gas and when you lie down it disperses but when you get up the air travels back to your shoulders. I'm not bad with pain at all but my shoulders and chest were really sore. They give you some mint stuff to drink that often helps

Is it true that they'll cancel the op if I have a cold? If feel like absolute sh!t at the moment :( I really hope it isn't cancelled as I've made loads of arrangements for this op. So pee'd off now :(

Hi

I was in exactly the same position as you, I had my lap and dye on Tuesday and was really anxious about recovery time. I don't have kids but do work a long hours strenuous job.

So my lap was apparently very straightforward. They struggled to get a canuala in (took 3 attempts in various places) but going to sleep was fine and I remember being woken etc. Surgery was about 45 mins, had two incisions and they found some endo on the front and back of my uterus. The dye test showed my tubes were clear. So all good there.

However the pain has been pretty awful (don't want to scare you). Once I came too properly it kicked in. I was ok laying flat but as soon as I sat or stood my blood pressure would fall through the floor. Then I couldn't pee. So I ended up staying in over night and being catheterised. I think the weeing thing was just the pressure tbh. But the pain in my ribs and upper back is still pretty bad. Worse when I'm sitting, better when laying or walking around.

I would say get any help you can sorted now. You may be absolutely fine and I've heard of people going back to work two days later. I haven't got out of bed (except to go to the loo) since getting home last night. So there would be no chance for me. I've been signed off for a week and will be going to my gp on Monday to get another week off I expect.

Stock up on meds and peppermint tea, and drink lots. And try to move around as much as you feel able. Good luck

Eeek, scared :( I'm now worrying that it'll be cancelled as I feel ill :'( I've got a bad cold, feel achy and my nose is bunged up. It's now 8pm, can take more flu capsules at 8:30pm so might do that then head to bed.

Fingers crossed it's not cancelled as had to organise lots for this, plus I just want it done and dusted now x

My second one was cancelled as it was in patient surgery and they didn't have a bed. They let me get right up to the fasting stage!

Its such an anticlimax! I hope it doesn't happen to you.

What? Nooo, poor you! How could they not have a bed? Don't they make appointments? Rubbish :(

That's what I thought. But apparently they do get Gynae emergencies or some people stay longer on the ward.

I had to go back to work and tell everyone 'No, I'm fine thanks I've not had surgery after all'. One colleague told me hers got cancelled AFTER they'd given her the general anaesthetic! She woke in recovery to be told she hadn't had her operation.

I'm pretty sure this doesn't happen in day surgery though. I assume that is where your going if yours is diagnostic?

My dad had a triple heart bypass cancelled as he was gowned up, imagine getting psyched up for that. I think a few Gynae ops got cancelled when I had my excision as was in theatre 5-6 hours

Well, today is the day....and I feel like sh!t :( Have a feeling they'll cancel. Gutted.

Good luck!

Huge good luck, will be thinking of you

All done and at my Mum's. Was touch and go re having it done as I had a temp but was allowed in the end

Turns out I have loads of endo and scarring. Ovaries, tubes and uterus all stuck to walls which he released. He couldn't remove it all today. He's recommended a laparostic hysterectomy 😧 Unless I want another baby, which I'm not sure about yet x

Aww Batman, a day of highs and lows then. Hopefully what he has done today will help enough that it'll give you a bit longer to decide/think it all through.

Please don't jump into a hyst, too many surgeons suggest it as they don't want to do a complicated excision. If you get the right surgeon a hyst is usually bottom of their list. Don't get fobbed off with laser/diathermy either you need excision

Thanks guys. Well when he asked if I wanted any more children, I said I wasn't sure and he said that's fine, and not to go down that route. I'm guessing if I didn't want more, it'd be the easier and best solution

I have appt in 3 months to see how I get on, if pains stopped. If not, then I can have more removed x

I'm glad you got some answers- even if it's not great news. At least now you know.

I agree that you should find out why they can't excise. I've heard not all Gynae surgeons do it so I'm glad mine was able.

Hope you are recovering well and taking plenty of rest.

Okay, now I'm in bed - the pain in my ribs and shoulder is excruciating!!

Also tummy really swollen which is fine and to be expected but also, one incision has a huge hard swelling lump poling out - like twice the size of an egg. Is that normal?? That's the side where I use to get most pains so guessing more work was done there? I look pregnant and like a baby is pushing his head out really far!!

This sucks I gotta say! Nurse lied to me earlier then, said I would have had trapped air pain by then if I was going to get it.
Have had awful period pains and the evil back passage pain when I fart (sorry) - it's like the procedure I had to get rid of the pain, has given it to me

Sorry ranting to try and take away from the pain right now...

What pain relief are you on?

Hot water bottle and peppermint tea for the gas. Your need a good few mugs in a row really so get someone to pop the kettle on for you!

I don't think the lump sounds right. I would give the hospital a call and ask what they say.

On the ward they gave us peppermint water and sent us home with a bottle. I'm not sure if it's more effective than just tea.

The pain does get worse before it gets better. It takes a while to know if the surgery has made any improvement.

The hard lump has gone down a bit, still there but a but smaller :/

I was off work 2 weeks due to wound infection in hosp overnight aswell