Can anyone offer any advice to my SIL whos having a Laposcopy on her Fallopian tubes?

[Nbg]

Shes been having on going tests for a few months now which have all come back inconclusive but today at her hospital appointment she has been told that they want to do a Laposcopy to see if she has a blockage in her fallopian tubes.

Shes just got back and contacted me. Shes very scared, one because shes had bad reactions to anesthetics, secondly the procedure and what it actually shows. They've told her it will result in further surgery if their is a blockage.

I said that I would ask on here for her and see if anyone had been there and what its like and that I would print it off for her to read.

TIA.

Hi Nbg.
I had a laposcopy approx nine years ago so apologies if this is a bit vague.. If I remember correctly they have to do the op at precise time of your cycle to ensure that you are not pregnant when they do op.
I don't remember there being any being any pain.
I was a day case at the local hospital, had to have someone to take me home as still woozy from the general anesthetic.
I recall taking the rest of the week off work -just to recover from the general anathestic-just felt tired.
I think they found there was a slight blockage.
However I went on to conceive naturally a few months later.

ump

x posts there.

thats great AR. thanks. Great that you conceived naturally after too.

I had one done which confirmed blocked and twisted tubes. The laparoscory was a minor op really. I had to have my tubes operated on a few months later and now have 3 children, so it worked. The only thing that i remember is wind pain in my shoulders really.

I second what mummy2aaron said... minor op but felt awful for a couple of days afterwards due to trapped wind in my sholders

shoulders

Ooh yes I forgot all about that odd sensation in shoulders.
Also just remembered that the results showed that one of my ovaries was not working properly.
However as I mentioned earlier I went on to conceive naturally so even if your sil receives disappointing results she may still go onto conceive.

Thats great. Thank you so much. It will be reassuring for her.

A laparoscopy is often seen as a diagnostic procedure only but it can be used as a treatment as well.

She could well go onto develop pain in her shoulders post op; the carbon dioxide gas that is used to give the surgeon a better view travels upwards post op. Painkillers should take the edge off it. I was advised to take two days off work post op.

If they want to check for any blockages they could alternatively do a tubal x-ray called a HSG. She could also be awake for that procedure rather than have surgery. This would tell if the tubes were open (patent).

Laps are also done where endometriosis is suspected (not suggesting your SIL has this but a lap is done in these circumstances too).

A good amount of information re lap operations can be found on this site which is www.endo.org.uk in their message board section. It also lists questions that could be asked of the surgical team. The more your SIL educates herself re this type of thing the better off she will be when it comes to making treatment decisions.

I would certainly ask them at length before they operate what they intend to do if they find a blockage or adhesions. Further surgery may not be needed, as mentioned the lap can be used as a treatment as well as a diagnostic aid.

I've had 2,the last one about 4 years ago.I was terrified as I'd never been in hospital before,never mind had an anaesthetic.But it was a doddle.I had just a tiny 1cm scar to show for it & just had to take care for a few days whilst it healed.

My 1st op was for infertility-it revealed nothing abnormal,my second was to remove an ectopic pregnancy.I went on to get pregnant a few weeks after the 2nd op,with dd1 & 18 months later,was expecting dd2.

I wish your sil all the best.
ps just read other posts,forgot about the wind pain.

Thanks for that info.
I think she'll be comforted by that and if I tell her about the wind pain, she'll not be frightened by it.

Its been a funny old day for her. She had an all day job interview followed by her hospital appt and then when she came out from hospital she found out she got the job