Finally got my Lap!

[lalala--0]

Hi everyone, ive finally got my lap on the 21st august, and just wondered if anyone could tell me anything about what it is like, how long i will need off work etc thanks x

[Jdgirl030]

Is it a diagnostic lap or will they be intervening.

My lap last year was 1 hour. I was admitted as a day patient. The surgeon and anaesthetist saw me in the morning to go through the procedure and the next time I saw them was in the theatre room. My surgery was scheduled for 9am but the surgeon had a whole list to get through so it actually took place at 12pm. I just waited on my bed in the ward with my husband and read some magazines. I had been nil by mouth since 4am so was starving! When I got wheeled into theatre the anaesthetist cannulated my hand and spoke to me about my last holiday as he put me to sleep. Next thing I knew I had woken up and was told everything went well. I lay in the recovery room for 30 mins. I was very groggy and in a bit of pain (but I think this was more due to emotions). They topped my morphine up which relaxed me and in no time at all I was being wheeled up on my bed to the ward. A few hours later I tried to eat but solid foods were hard to swallow due to the pipe you have in the throat during theatre (try and order soft foods)! The surgeon came to see me and told me I had stage 3 endo. He removed a chocolate cyst from my ovary. After I had eaten something and passed water they let me go. I had 3 neat incisions to my pelvis and one through my bellybutton.

The night of the operation I had really bad shoulder pain which is common with a lap. I would say that the shoulder hurt more than the site of the operation. See if you can take a tramadol home with you...it was a godsend to me! It took about a week for the sore feeling to go. I was much more comfortable after my stitches were removed. I noticed a lot of swelling for up to 4 weeks post op. I had issues with opening my bowels and wish I had taken a stool softener leading up to and after my op. I would definitely recommend this if your doctor agrees. I had a second lap two weeks ago to excise out the rest of my endo and my consultant have me a bowel cleanse regime which really made things more pleasant in the recovery time. I am week 2 and still very sore but what they did was a lot more invasive than last year. I was in surgery for 5 hours.

I wish you well with your lap x

[Jdgirl030]

Ps: I took 2 weeks off work after lap1 and I have 4 weeks of this time. If you have just a diagnostic lap then most women can go back pretty much within a few days. It depends on the extent of your endo and the amount they remove. Just listen to your body and take it easy.

[lalala--0]

Thank you, they said if they find the Endo they will laser it off whilst in surgery, but hopefully it wont be to severe x

[spammie85]

Take some gripe water in with you it really helps with the gas pain after ur op I swear by it. I have always come home the same day as my ops even when I had my hysterectomy I convinced him to let me home the same day as got back from theatre at 2 and went home at 10 lol. gripe water and a little pillow to hold on ur stomach for when you cough or sneeze as it really hurts and the cushion seems to help like it is holding everything in place good luck keep us informed. I'm still waiting for a date for my op.