Laparoscopy aftercare

[whiteroseredrose]

My DD is having a laparoscopy in a few weeks. She will be having it done where she lives and then I will be bringing her home the day after.

I will be bringing a blanket, pillows, hot water bottle just in case, water, wet wipes and small snacks for the journey back.

Has anyone had this procedure that can advise what helped them to feel a bit better? I’m starting to panic a bit.

Currently recovering here. Peppermint tea or capsules and Love Heart sweets for the gas pain and an electric heat pad have been invaluable. The blanket will be useful to pad out the seat belt for the car journey. Hopefully, the hospital will provide her with adequate pain relief.

Recovery will depend on what the operation actually is - laparoscopy just means the approach they’re taking (keyhole rather than open).

Not necessarily. For example, a laparoscopy is the name of the procedure to look for endometriosis.

I have anaesthetised for my laparoscopic procedures than I can remember….laparoscopy does just refer to how they get inside.

you’ve described a ‘diagnostic laparoscopy +/- treatment of endo’. That would be different to a lap chole/ lap colectomy/ lap nephrectomy/lap hernia repair for example.

It will depend on what they “do”‘during the laparoscopy. If it’s an examination only she will recover much more quickly than, for example, endoscopic removal of endometriosis adhesions, or an ovarian cyst. She will be sore but hopefully not in aging, but I’d encourage her to keep on top of pain relief for three days at least, regardless. She mainly needs to rest and they will let her know about aftercare do’s and don’ts before discharge. Hope all goes well.

Yes but in everyday speak, it’s just called a laparoscopy. Those of us who aren’t doctors don’t call these procedures their full names.

For example, I don’t say I’ve had a lower sigmoid anterior reaction, I just say bowel resection.

And judging by two other posters having an idea of what OP means, it’s obvious that it’s generally understood that a laparoscopy refers to what you have for endometriosis!

I've had several laparoscopies. As others have said, it really does depend on what they are intending to do during the lap because it can be very minor, just taking photographs, right through to major life changing surgery that takes all day.

I didn't need any of the things on your list for any of them.

The most worrying thing in your post is that you've admitted you're already panicking about it. I would tbh be focussing on dealing with this because the last thing your daughter needs is to be supporting you through it. If she is having this for endometriosis chances are she will need more than one and you need to be prepared for that possibility - honestly the most helpful thing you can do is make sure you are handling your own understandable anxiety as best as you can.

Er... No.
Laparoscopy refers to the approach to surgery. It's essentially saying it's 'keyhole' surgery using ports to operate within an area of the body , eg abdomen.
Could be a laparoscopic bowel resection or simply a diagnostic laparoscopy to have a look. Recovery very different !
Laparoscopy +- treatment for endometriosis is the approach you take to treat endometriosis

You’re referring to the actual procedure. Yet in the world of endometriosis, it’s just called a laparoscopy. I never once said that’s the medical name for it, I said that’s what it’s called.

How about you ask the others on this thread to explain what procedure they mean when they say they’ve had laparoscopies rather than challenging my use of everyday language.

This. I used to work in operating theatres (not as a doctor, nurse or surgeon!) and if a procedure was simply listed as a laparoscopy a lot of questions would be asked about what the procedure actually was!

Why are you panicking, @whiteroseredrose ?

Sure it's a laparoscopy, that literally just means keyhole surgery to have a look though. If they did any treatment for endometriosis then it would be laparoscopy +- endometrial treatment.

I’ve had two laparoscopies, both times were for my ovaries to be drilled and to burn off endometriosis. This meant I had to have extra incisions made in my abdomen so my pain and recovery might have been different to someone who just had a simple laparoscopy. But for your dd, I’d recommend she wears loose fitting clothing eg joggers and T-shirt. Gas pains in the shoulders are painful so some cushions and heat pads might help with that. Otherwise, just lots of rest, hugs and support is all that’s needed. Hope she gets on ok.

But again, you’re talking about it in the sense of what it should be called, not how it’s used in the ordinary way.

See for example John Hopkins Medicine, that has a page about laparoscopy as a procedure. Whilst it may be wrong medically, it’s not wrong in terms of how it is discussed.

Thank you for the feedback. She is having keyhole surgery mainly for investigation. They can’t see one of her ovaries and think it may be stuck to something. So it’s investigation, but they may act if they find something.

I say I’m panicking because we will have a 4+ hour journey home and I want to make it as comfortable as possible. I remember general anaesthetic alone making me feel awful, let alone abdominal pain. We have always had an emergency number to call as part of aftercare with previous family operations, with the option to pop in if needed, but that wouldn’t be possible this time.

Plus, that’s my baby and I hate the thought of anything being wrong. I have been very calm in front of her.

I will get peppermint tea and love hearts because I know she likes those.

Being 4 hours from home would normally mean being an overnight stay, even more so it’s more than a quick ‘lap and look’. The operation could be something or nothing really - depends on what they find. The consent process and form should reflect what they’d plan to do in different scenarios and it’s the final operation that will make the difference to how she feels. Gynae imaging is surprisingly variable in usefulness - that they can’t seen things normally in imaging doesn’t always mean there’s anything much wrong on the inside.

Honestly, having had multiple of these surgeries, I would be rethinking your plans. I couldn't have managed a 4 hour drive 24 hours post op. Depending how things have gone she may not be up to it. Can she stay where she lives? (Is it student accommodation?)

I had an explorative laproscopy combined with lasering some problematic cells off my cervix.

I was a bit delayed leaving the hosptial as it shocked my bladder so it took a while to pee. Still got out same day though. I went to mcdonalds on the way home from the hospital as I was starving. I went to my university graduation 3 days post-op and was fine - I just sat down a lot! But I do clear medications fast, I have had several general anaesthetic and never been groggy after.

She has a room in a flat in London with no parking. We are actually staying in a hotel the night before and the night after the operation and could stay an extra night. She has said that she just wants to get home to her comfy bed and to have me, DH and her grandma looking after her.

I know having surgery is really stressful and scary, but seriously, she does not need 3 adults waiting on her hand and foot. Is she the one pushing this plan to drive four hours? She'll need to be up and moving around the morning after the op and doing most things for herself not long after that. She'll be able to get herself food and drink and take herself to the toilet. Honestly, 48 hours and she'll be fine, assuming no complications.

Diagnostic laparoscopy only without intervention is usually a quick recovery but I would strongly not recommend 4 hour journey afterwards. May feel nauseous from the anaesthetic, may have some strong shoulder tip pain, may be sore from the port sites etc. Get a hotel

Thanks @HumbleStumble. We are planning on staying over the night of the procedure. Will play it by ear about the night after.