Endo laparoscopy

[Fishfingersandcustard1]

Hi!

Im having an exploratory laparoscopy on Tuesday to see if I have endometriosis. I’ve never had surgery before so I don’t know what to expect. Can anyone tell me what’s going to happen? Will they do blood tests? Can I have numbing cream for the cannula? What do I need to take to hospital?
I’m so scared but also fed up of the agony and exhaustion from how awful my periods are.
My scan showed a “bulky ovary” does anyone know what that means?

They should have done blood tests at your pre op? If not then they may do them when you arrive so they are processed by the time you go down to theatre.
No you won’t generally get numbing cream for the cannula.
You get a lovely drifting off to sleep feeling, next thing you know you are in recovery. You will go back to the ward for a few hours and then, all being well, be allowed to go home. You will likely be a bit uncomfortable for a few days/nights, it depends on how much they rummage around in there tbh so depends on what they see. You will have 3/4 very small incisions, one through your bellybutton and a couple on your tummy where they put the scope/instruments in, so you may have steri strips or one or two stitches in each. They generally use dissolvable sutures. These can sometimes take over 3 weeks to break down. They generally say to keep them dry (so waterproof dressings in the shower) for a week but you’re fine after that. Sometimes they dissolve inside but are a bit stuck in the skin so a gentle tug around 2/3 weeks will make them fall away.
You will be a bit bloated and swollen so comfy joggers rather than jeans for a few days. I was hanging washing out the next day, it really is best to move about to help the bowels and gas disperse . You will be tired for a few days due to the anaesthetic, and you may get some horrendous shoulder pain if they don’t release all the gas they use to blow your tummy up so they can look around in there, it travels and ends up in your shoulder. Peppermint tea can help.
I’ve had an investigative laparoscopy and then a hysterectomy via Laparoscopy due to fibroids and endometriosis. I didn’t have any shoulder pain from the hysterectomy because they were brilliant at getting all the gas out.
They should have given you a list of what to take to hospital. Usually for just a day surgery they say slippers and dressing gown as you generally have to walk to the theatre. They will give you a hospital gown and paper pants to change into generally, and some compression stockings to put on, then you just walk to theatre wearing your dressing gown over the top.
The theatre staff will be lovely and will look after you op, I hope all goes well

https://www.uhcw.nhs.uk/download/clientfiles/files/Laparoscopy%20and%20Laparoscopic%20Surgery.pdf

@HoldingThePoisonDownthank you so much for your detailed response. My pre op was done as an online questionnaire. I’ve not had a lot of information and the letter just tells me where to go and that I will need someone with me for 24 hours after.
Thank you for the peppermint tea tip, I’ll pick some up over the weekend ready.

thank you, I both hope they find something and hope they don’t. Not long to go now and just want it over with so I can stop with the worrying lol

I hope all went well @Fishfingersandcustard1 and you aren’t in too much discomfort. Wishing you a speedy recovery