Finally had lap yesterday..

[melodyxo]

Sorry if this is a little jumbled, can't sleep and on pain meds! Had my lap yesterday and they found mild endometriosis, a cyst and my left ovary was stuck down. Body went into shock after the surgery and then had a reaction to the pethidine and threw up everywhere.. So not a great experience! Also has the copper coil removed and the mirena coil fitted.. So all in all I'm feeling pretty battered! Got 3 incisions which are all aching a fair bit, but gas pains have died down a lot. So glad to finally have an explain action, considering I've been fobbed off with "ibs" for so many years! Just wondered how you all got on recovery wise? My boss wants me back in work on Saturday which is clearly not going to happen.. (I work in kennels!) but wants a call today to give a rough estimate if possible. Any advice would be great! Thanks x

[hayls]

Hi

I hope you are doing ok - sending you recovery wishes.

I had an awful experience when I woke up after a lap a couple of weeks ago so know how you must be feeling, just take it slow and keep on top of your pain meds, I find setting an alarm is good so you don't accidently go too long between doses in the first days.

Are you still in hospital or at home now? You're right, its very unlikely you'll be able to work on Saturday, I always find I'm worst on the 3-4 days after as that's when the anaesthic is out of your system but then starts to improve. Typically its 1-2 weeks off work for a diagnostic lap but everyone's different and some women recover quicker, all depends on how much poking around they did and whether they treated any of the endo and how much. It's good you've been given some details of what they found already, do you know whether they tried to treat any if it whilst they were in there? Your boss cant pressurise you back to work and it would be on their head if something happened to you at work because you went back too early. My advice would be to call your boss today and say that you will be off for at least a week and will call in a weeks time with an update, then make a doctors appointment for next Wednesday/thursday to review how you are doing, get a sick note for this first week and review whether they think you are ok to go back to work or not or whether they would recommend light duties only etc, then phone your boss after the appointment next week to update them. It may be that by the end of next week youll be ok to go back to work or you may need a bit longer. Most bosses are ok as long as they are given some idea of time frames so they can work around it etc. The important thing is that you don't rush yourself in the first 3-4 days. I remember being in a lot of pain after my diagnostic lap, I had never had any abdominal surgery before so it was a new sort of pain, however after a week it had eased a lot and I went back to work after 10 days. In comparison I've just had 2 major laps for endo and to unstick bowel, ovaries, uterus etc and was off work for 6 weeks after first op then part time for 2 weeks before then having second op to finish the work and I'm still in bed most of the time nearly 3 weeks on.

Everyone recovers differently, just take your time and don't let yourself be pressurised to do anything too soon and before you're ready. Xx

[Bonniepurple]

I had a diagnostic lap 11 days ago, and mild endo removed. I had last week off sick, and this week I have been on a pre-booked holiday. I feel much better (although the original pain is still there), and will be going back on Tuesday to try out working. If I don't feel up to it, I'll go to the doctors and get signed off.

If I hadn't been on holiday, I doubt if I'd have been back in this week - certainly not full hours.

[tortuga]

Hi Melody, you poor thing. That doesn't sound good!

I'm sorry to hear you have endo but I also understand the relief at having an explanation for your symptoms.

I had my lap two weeks ago and two days ago and I am still feeling far from ok.

I have 3 incisions and the mirena fitted, I had a band of adhesions cut but no endo was treated (apparently it was too extensive so they didn't do anything to help at all :o(

Anyway my point is that it was probably a similar surgery to yours (except you got endo treated so perhaps you need more healing) and there is no way I would have been back at work. I am a teacher working with small kids so I took two weeks off, mainly because of the physical nature of my work. I was planning to get lots of work done at home but I couldn't manage to do a thing as I have been in pain since. This week is mid-term break luckily so I'm still off and I'm dreading going back to work on Monday as I'm still so sore, I'm not sure how I'll manage.

I was given the impression by doctors that I would be grand after a few days and I know everyone is different and heals at different rates but I don't think you will be fit for work on Saturday hon. X

Definitely don't rush back to work anyway as it will slow down your recovery. X

I hope you're feeling better soon, these first few days are the worst. It can only get better from here! xxx

[maplewood79]

Hi, i had my lap on 04th Oct. Finally after nearly 20yrs of going backwards and forwards to the dr's and being fobbed off i had a diagnosis of endometriosis. They removed a chocolate cyst from my left ovary and drained another one. They treated what endo they could see. I was quite lucky when i came round, i had mild pain as they think thay must have dosed me up on something good and strong. I had to stay in overnight and was very sore. I have 4 wounds. My consultant at the hospital automatically gave me a sick note for one week. I was not right when it was time for me to go back to work, i was still very sore and my belly button wound did get infected and so i was then given antibiotics. My dr then gave me a sick note for another week. I've been back at work nearly 2 weeks. Take your time going back to work. You have ahd major surgery and your manager needs to aware of this. My job i'm sat at a desk and i figure your job at the kennels is much more physical. Get well soon (but don't rush ;0) xx

[Endo87]

Hi! I am new to this forum so I am sending this slightly blinded by if my response will post! I had a laparoscopy on Monday late afternoon. I was admitted to hospital last Thursday evening with extreme abdominal pain. After an internal ultrasound scan they found a "shadow" in my right Fallopian tube and a cyst on my right ovary. They treated me with intense IV antibiotics all weekend with no success of the pain easing. They decided that they would perform a laparoscopy on Monday which thank goodness they did. They found a moderate amount of endometriosis that had formed in many areas. Luckily they were able to remove it all, treat me for the "shadow" in my Fallopian tube which ended up being a severe infection, and treated my cyst. After spending the night in hospital on Monday, I am now recovering back home. Like you, I had no idea what this op would mean for me recovery wise. I am signed off work for two weeks which I feel at present, this is the amount of time (at least) it is going to take for me to recover. I am finding the pain from the gas they used extremely painful under my ribs and in my shoulders, but I am hoping that this will ease very soon. Thank you for reading! x

[Lewis2]

Hi I had my left ovary removed 5 wks ago had keyhole surgery and stil have another 2 wks off work so you should be off at least six wks that's what the doctor told me.

[eckythump]

You need a couple of weeks after a lap at least. I went back too early after the first lap and I have a desk job, uncomfy sitting upright all day forget bending and lifting! X

[fedup33]

Hi there I hope you're feeling better by the time you read this! I too had endo and one ovary stuck to the inside of my tummy. The actual pain from the op itself wasn't too bad it was more the horrible gas pains. I didn't do well either with the anaesthetic and every time I sat up I almost passed out. My poor hubby had to watch me being wheeled away to the toilet by two nurses trying to hold me up. I was told by the surgeon that as I'd had so much work done inside that it was just short of major surgery so in total I had 5 weeks off (I'm a childminder). My wounds healed well though and the pain was completely gone by around week 3 but I was very wary of lifting and carrying young children around. You should defo give yourself a few weeks at the very least to recover mentally and physically.

[Impatient]

Minimum 2 weeks off...essential for at least that...then see how you feel. If you need longer take longer. Working in kennels needs tummy muscles and you can't stop dogs jumping up at your tummy, so you only risk a big set back if you do return to work too soon. I would expect you will need longer than that quite honestly, but certainly not less than 2 weeks. 6 to 8 weeks is quite common.

[melodyxo]

Thanks so much for all of your replies.. Sorry it's such a late reply i've been away with the fairies the last few days.. Tramadol has been a life saver! I'm now on day 5 (including day of op) and up and about a bit more.. Went into town for an hour with my other half to get some air, but ended up exhausted and in tears by the time I got home! Feeling really quite all over the place at the moment, not so much in pain, as tired and uncomfortable. Can feel where they took the endo away, and the incisions are tugging when I'm moving around. Getting some stabbing pains in my cervix and fiiinally managed to.. go to the loo.. last night! Trying to do as much as I can as I'm going to be on my own from tomorrow, my mums gone back home and my other half is working away, I don't have anyone else here! I've got an appointment to see how I'm getting on this Wednesday, and my boss has asked for a call then to discuss further time off if required. My main problem is I'm moving house at the end of the month, and finishing at this job on the 30th. It's a temporary contract and I don't get paid for time off sick, i'm already in money trouble for paying out the deposit for the new house and really can't afford to take time off. How did you guys afford it? Do you get full sick pay or did you claim SSP? Hope you're all doing well xxx