Finally getting a laparoscopy any tips?

[fibobs79]

So after two years of pain and a consultant who thought I was making it up I have finally been put forward for a laparoscopy. Did anyone have treatment for endometriosis during an initial diagnostic lap? Advice about laparoscopy anyone? Not looking forward to an anaesthetic it made me really ill last time.

[Vixangel]

Hello, I have just got home after my laparoscopy. I have just been told I have endometriosis but my tubes are no damaged. The procedure from being put yo sleep to waking up only took 45 mins. I can now get some answers and after 5 long years I feel I am getting there. The procured urge is quick and I'm not in that much pain, I think the needle in my hand hurt more lol could be a different story tomorrow though.

You will be ok :0)

[fibobs79 in reply to Vixangel]

Thank you. Hope you are feeling ok today and are recovering well.

[Vixangel in reply to fibobs79]

I surprisingly feel really well and I've only had 3 hours sleep. Not too much pain just swelling and bloating. The anaesthetist said you will either feel like you've been kicked by a horse or you will be ok. I just feel like I've done a work out in the gym and my ribs are tender. Hope you get your answers and have a speedy recovery x

[Impatient]

Most of us do have kind surgeons who do take the trouble to tackle the endo as soon as they find it- but there are some rubbishy surgeons who simply take a look see you have endo and close you up again - which a a considerable waste of your time and their resources. It REALLY annoys me to hear of ladies having a diagnostic and nothing is done at that time !!! Lazy surgeons or inexperienced surgeons is usually the reason.

I certainly don't react well to general anaesthetics- I have been known to turn in to a scene from the exorcist - projectile vomitting uncontrollably around the room on one spectacularly embarrassing occasion !!

But it doesn't last forever- the sicky side eases off after a day or two. The recovery from trapped gas takes longer to shift - and is much more painful than any op wounds .

All I can say is do you level best to burp and fart that trapped gas out asap. Don't get embarrased about where or when - the quicker it is out the less pain for you. Nurses expect you to pass that gas- and all the other surgery patients will be doing the same thing- so fart away regardless.

Pain wise recovery- really varies depending on what you had taken out, what was cut back, what was lasered and so on. Certainly not less than 2 weeks - but be prepared for a couple of months of pain or even longer, that requires pain relief and not overdoing activities.

Be kind to your body - eat well, drink water, get regular exercise (by that I mean an hourly pottering about the house- front door to back door, or up and down the stairs.

If you drink lots of water - those trips will probably be to the loo and that counts as keeping active. Yes it could well hurt- but you need to avoid getting a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) by being too inactive. so make sure you are not spending all day and night in bed or on the sofa - being waited on hnd and foot. Keeping active helps circulation helps healing and helps keep your bowels from bunging up- which they are prone to do with pain relief which tends to constipate you- and trust me being constipated and having pelvic pain when you try to use muscles to bear down on the loo can be agonising - so keep those digestive tubes working smoothly - laxatives can help.

Please don't panic- just prepare on paper what you need to organise before hand - say to cover you for the 1st two weeks - get the shopping done, pay the bills, get birthday cards posted (in case you can't make it to the post box just yet), move essential kitchen equipment to waist height so you don't need to reach up or bend down for things that might be a bit on the heavy side.

Might be an idea to have a flask - to carry tea/coffee or hot drinks generally- in a safe way between kitchen and sofa or bed. It's not uncommon to be walking with one hand holding your tummy cos its sore and the other holding hot drink, then you feel a twinge or cramp or faint and have to reach out for a wall or chair to steady yourself and whoosh hot drink gets spilled. Little things to give some preparations for can make a big difference.

Oh plenty toilet roll in supply, also plasters and antiseptic wipes or cream for the skin wounds too. Wear very lose fitting clothes to/from hosp - your tummy can still be quite swollen and certainly tender after an op, so keep comfy - it's not a fashion parade !!

[fibobs79 in reply to Impatient]

Thank you for all the advice I have been put on the cancellation list so hopefully will be getting my op soon. Going to mention the sickness to see if they can give me anything, don't fancy puking with messed up stomach, just hope they do something. The ridiculous month long symptoms are really ruining my day to day life.

[Moff_cat]

Hi fibobs79, its well worth voicing your fear about how sick you were last time when you chat to the anesthetist as they can use different combo of drugs. My mum is violently ill after a general had to be kept in a week after a hernia op. He was great and said he would use some different drugs so I shouldn't feel to rough. True to his word I had no nausea after I came round

[fibobs79 in reply to Moff_cat]

Thanks for that response the sickness thing was bothering me more than the actual operation and the pain!

[Hidden]

HI, I had trouble with vomiting after my first anaesthetic. I informed them the next time around and they gave me a shot of anti-sickness before they gave me the anaesthetic, it worked a treat. I've had 6 lots of surgeries now and all have been great with the anti-sickness shots before the anaesthetic. You may feel like you have a lot of trapped wind afterwards, which can appear in the most bizzare places eg: your neck, shoulders - I sucked on extra strong mints and they helped a lot to disperse the wind. Don't try doing too much for the first week when you get home, you may feel that you can go back to your normal routine, but I wouldn't advise it as it can set your recovery back a lot. Just get plenty of rest, make sure the things you need most are ready to hand so you don't have to keep getting up and down too!. Wishing you well for your operation and recovery xx

[fibobs79 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. Really appreciate the advice. Fingers crossed they will get me in soon. X

[crystal_willow]

Feeling sick was my biggest fear, I told them that sickness was my biggest fear and that I had anxiety so this was causing be to dread the surgery and recovery. I asked for Anti-emetics to be given to me before the surgery as a preventative measure and they agreed this. I still predictably went in to theatre shaking and crying (and laughing at myself) but I felt better for having been listened to and once they injected the drugs into me I felt my anxiety slip away... and then everything else. I woke up feeling really chilled out and did not feel sick at all, (not like me at all so those drugs really did their job). I also found it helpful to give myself something to look forward to doing after the surgery. My treat was going to be watching all the red dwarf I wanted when I got home. I focused on this as I laid down on the table and let the theme tune run in my head when I needed some soothing... I was surprised by how much this helped me.

Good luck!