Lap Friday so nervous

[Mummyofone]

Lap on Friday I am very nervous about being put out what happens when you arrive at hospital. Thank u

[Hinesm]

Hi mummyofone xx I can't offer much advice as I'm still awaiting my lap - but didn't want to read and run. I've got my lap on the 27th Oct (whimped out of the first one) and I'm also very nervous. I'm having a lap and a hysteroscopy an don't like the thought of being cut into in two different places whilst I'm asleep. My biggest fear is going through all that and it being nothing! But I suppose il never know unless I have the lap X good luck lovely keep us updated

[Ninanina]

Hi. I had one about three weeks ago. I was really nervous in the run up but it is actually not that bad so please try not to worry. (Easier said than done I know) I got up super early so when I was waiting I just went to sleep. I am blessed with being able to sleep anywhere so I know this won't work for most people. Maybe take a book or magazine just to take your mind off it.

[BDAgirl]

Hi. I had a diagnostic lap 10 days ago and it went well.

My advice would be to arrive in plenty of time with somebody to keep you company or with plenty of reading material. I had pre surgery checks on the same morning, blood pressure taken and questions re observation of the fasting and fluids requirements.

You will have a cannula inserted into a vein on the top of either hand which may feel like a little sting/scratch. Try to realx as you feel the anaesthetic start to work, it may feel a little cold and the next thing.............you will wake up and wonder where the time went!

I liken the experience a little to flying on a plane as a passenger. Whichever way you look at it, you have to give up a certain amount of control at let others take responsibility for you.

Please don't worry about the procedure, you will be fine. Good luck and let us know how you get on x

[Confused1991]

I've got mine Friday too. I've had keyhole surgery to remove my gallbladder and so I know roughly what I'm going to expect... It's not too bad so don't worry

Hope yours goes okay x

[Hope23]

You'll be fine, please don't worry, it's not bad at all, the nurses are all generally kind and considerate and explain you've never had a lap before so they can talk you through it. As others suggest take lots of magazines and books or your tablet with games if you prefer. It is true though, when they put you out, that's it! You don't know or remember anything when you wake up. And you will be sore where they've prodded you yes, but it's not unbearable. They'll give you painkillers anyway. You just want to sleep after you get back on the ward, and it's a great sleep too! They leave you to rest and wake you up with a hot drink and some biscuits. You may not feel hungry, despite not eating before your op, but try and have a biscuit because it will help you feel a bit more with it. My first lap I went home the same day but my second I stayed one night as it was a bigger op.

I'm sure people have mentioned the awful shoulder pain you get after you've come home. Which is just due to trapped wind from the anesthetic. It is uncomfortable, but will ease up. Eat lots of fibre and healthy options for a while. Try to resist white breads, pasta etc and refined sugar while everything calms down inside. And be a bit careful about pain killers if you lose your appetite for a few days. I took a bit too many nurofen / paracetamol for the first few days, when my tummy wasn't lined properly with food and I got an upset stomach. So try and eat something. Don't race back to work and activities either. Some get over it in a week, but generally it takes 2 to 3 weeks. I went back to work too quickly after the first lap, and regretted it.

Please don't worry though. It's a straight forward thing and you're in the best capable hands!

Good luck.

[Mummyofone]

Wow can I just say how lovely you all are for the reply. I think it is the fact that I am not on control it's horrid. Good luck when u other lady's go on to your laps. I am on St. Albans Friday I may be next to on of u xxxx

[emaweegirl]

I just had my first laparoscopy last Tuesday and it was my first ever op too. I was incredibly nervous about the anaesthetic and I needn't have been. All the staff were very reassuring and friendly with me. They all looked after me so well!

When you get to hospital you'll be given your ID wristband and then have to wait until a nurse will want to run through basic questions with you and take your blood pressure and a urine sample (this is just to check that you're not pregnant, they do it to all women). Then you may have some more waiting (I actually found the waiting the most annoying bit out of all of it) so take a magazine, paper, book, puzzlebook, tablet, phone or whatever you like, to keep you busy. Having someone with you to talk to will help pass the time.

Then at some point you will be called and a nurse will show you to your bed and will provide you with a gown to change into. I didn't put my gown on until the last minute before my surgery though as I felt less nervous in my own clothes. If you explain how nervous you are they'll accommodate you as best they can for whatever makes you feel happier. I always find being honest is best! Don't feel silly about it as that'll make you feel worse.

Your surgeon will pop round to see you just before your surgery and then you'll be told to put the gown on if you haven't yet and you'll be wheeled down to thr anaesthetic room. There'll probably be 4-5 people in there. One will put a blood pressure monitor on your arm to keep it monitored during surgery and place heartbeat pads on your chest and side and a pulse checker on your first finger. One person will then prepare your hand for the cannula they place in there. They'll wipe it clean first and then warn you when they're about to insert the needle and you'll only feel a tiny scratch when they do. They'll lie you down if you're not already. Then the anaesthetist will tell you that you're about to be asleep and you won't believe them, then the next thing you know you'll wake up in the recovery ward.

I know it all sounds like a lot but I promise you'll be ok and manage it fine! I suffer with bad anxiety and panic attacks and I coped pretty well with it I thought, so you CAN do this! Let us know how it goes! X

[toty]

i had lap last friday, really nervous, but all went well, hosp and staff brilliant, but taking longer to recover than i thought, try not to worry xxxx, ,

[Mummyofone]

Thank u so much the fact u listed what will happen really helps me I am a person that would rather know what happens before hand if that makes sense. I worry about silly thing also like do I shave down below. I mean i have had a baby surely I can do this lol x