Lap recovery and questions : So I've... - Endometriosis UK

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Lap recovery and questions

gem1092 profile image
6 Replies

So I've finally been told by my gynae that she wants to do a lap on me for suspected endometriosis.

Firstly, she has put me on the urgent list with no explanation as to why I am urgent....does anyone have any idea why this would be?

Secondly, will it be a day surgery or have some people had to stay in hospital overnight?

And lastly how long has it taken for people to recover and be back to normal activity??

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gem1092
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6 Replies
CE_88_14 profile image
CE_88_14

I had a diagnostic laparoscopy about 5 years ago. I was in and out in the same day and took me about 3-5 days to get back to normal. I took the full week off work thank god because I was uncomfortable after the procedure but could still function normalish :-)

Kieenha profile image
Kieenha

Hi :) I wouldn't say you should be panicked about being "urgent". The waiting lists are so long that maybe it's just because she wants to get you seen quickly - laparoscopy lists can be for all sorts I think!

My lap was so much less traumatic than I had expected! I was terrified but it was actually fine and the pain nothing like what I was working myself up for!

I took 2 weeks off work - although depending on what you do for a job you might not need that long! I was normalish within 5 days but my job (NHS employee) involves lots of heavy lifting and being on my feet so I didn't want to exacerbate any symptoms!

I hope you get your surgery soon xx

gem1092 profile image
gem1092 in reply toKieenha

I'm a nursery nurse in the baby unit so as you can imagine I have multiple babies clambering on me throughout the day sometimes all at once so I'm expecting going back to work to be slightly challenging

Kieenha profile image
Kieenha in reply togem1092

I'm a Therapy Radiographer in cancer care so I have a little more control over people climbing on me! But yes maybe take a couple of weeks then. My GP signed me off for 3 because of the manual handling in my job and said I shouldn't be ashamed of having time off to recover - I was glad of this advice :) I went back after two on lighter duties because I was so bored! But I guess everyone will be a little different depending on what they find/treat. Good luck!

Becca_Lou_Too profile image
Becca_Lou_Too

When I have a laparoscopy for treatment I'm usually kept in overnight (had three so far) - I was given the option once to go home the same day, but the other two times they wanted me to stay as I had a weird (but minor) reaction to the anaesthetic. I go to a private hospital, so I don't know if that makes a difference about whether you're given an option to stay overnight or not.

I'm usually signed off for two weeks afterwards, and have found that although I feel ok after a few days, I'm not actually able to do too much and feel pretty useless for a good 10 days afterwards. I think it depends on how much 'work' you have done during the lap, and how you react to anaesthetic. My advice would be to plan to take things easy for a couple of weeks, and just see how you go.

Oh and another thing that I wished someone had told me before my first lap is to expect to have shoulder pain afterwards - this really freaked me out when it first happened but it's totally normal and wears off after a few hours. There is a good factsheet available which will tell you exactly what is involved in the procedure: endometriosis-uk.org/your-l...

Joannaf1990 profile image
Joannaf1990

I had a diagnostic laparoscopy 10 weeks ago, I went into day surgery for it and can home the same day, also I had to have a week to two weeks off work with no driving for a week. You could be on the urgent list if you've got horrendous pain. I wouldn't drive for longer then a week as I felt very uncomfortable

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