Laparoscopy next Monday!

[Liz1984]

Hi lovely ladies,

Having my daignostic Laparoscopy and Hysteroscopy next Monday (24th) and I'm petrified of the General Anaesthetic. Also wondering how long I'll be off work and if I'll be signed off etc..

Any advive greatly appreciated xxx

[Cloudyrain]

Don't worry, before the op the anaesthetist will come and see you and go through it and check what they will be doing with you. For me I can't handle the needle in my hand so have managed to have gas for both my ops (I had to cause an embarrassing fuss, but got my way in the end). They are lovely and actually a lot nicer than surgeons in my opinion!

Sometimes the surgeon will sign you off for a week or two, other times they tell you to self-cert for a week and then get your GP to sign you off for further time you need.

If it's just diagnostic you will be fine with a week, if it's treatment then anything from 2 to 6 weeks is common. I was 4 weeks with part time for a few more weeks, other ladies are quicker, some much longer. Be warned - the first period post-lap can be a b**** so it can set you back a bit if it happens when you are recovering.

Good luck!x

[Lilly83]

Hello!

I too was mega nervous about the anaesthetic, the breathing tube in particular, I had never had surgery before and everyone was so lovely and really helped me, I'm a lot less nervous about my next op now

I always like to comment on these questions to give the flip side as find a lot took 4 weeks off on average and don't want you worrying....

I was the other end of the scale and back at work after 5 days and cooking cleaning the day after my lap, but some took 6 weeks off, norm seems to be 1 or 2 though, my hospital offered to sign me off for 2 weeks or self cert for 1 as that's what what they recommended, I needed to get back to work it would of drove me mad being off, I think your body will tell you when your ready, I'm not a sickly person and bounce back quickly from everything but that's me, heard some had a month of bed rest and their husbands waiting in them, might try that next time!

Don't feel pressured though everyone's surgery recovery is different as is everyone endo pain

I had a cystoscopy too, and had cysts removed and drained so was an easy op, next ones a big one though so taking 2 weeks off for that as having a bladder:bowel resection, tube and ovary removal, oh and extensive excision too, also mega nervous about my bowel prep now as this will be my first one

Lilly x

[Infertile_endo]

i had my lap last tuesday and was signed off for a week from the hospital. they removed a fibroid and some endo in the pouch of douglas.

I did not respond well to general but was fine for everything else. Lots of waiting around so bring a good book or some games on your phone/ipad.

I was moving around on the second day and managed to go to the shops the next day. I am still finding it sore to stand around and walk a lot a week on but as my job is a lot of sitting around I'm going to try and do a half day today.

My main problem is stretching my hands above my head really pulls the muscles.

Stitches (the dressing is off) are small, mine were less than 1cm and I only have 2, 1 in my belly button and the other on my bikini line, near my pubic bone.

They didn't want to see me again so I'm going to see my GP in a few weeks (most ladies seem to have a follow up with their gynae though)