laparoscopy - Very worried

[Eclarke]

Hi,

So I have now been told I have suspected endometriosis and I am due to be booked in for a laparoscopy. Im not great with pain and anesthetic makes me very sick so im nervous. Also I work full time (office based) - How long would you recommend I take off work?

Is there anything I should ask ahead of having this op?

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

Do a search on this site and you'll find loads of helpful tips about laparoscopy in lots of different threads. I think it will reassure you.

Personally I needed two weeks off work (as a teacher) but I waited until after the lap to see how I was and then went to the gp to be signed off when I realised I wasn't fit to go back to work after the week's self certification.

[Jacjess]

Everyone is different & recovery time varies greatly. It also depends how extensive your surgery ends up being. I had my 3rd laparoscopy 3 weeks ago & im just starting to feel OK now. I would generally allow 2 weeks off, but understand that you may need to extend or ease yourself back part time.

You should ask if endo will be removed if it's found (sometimes it's just diagnostic) & if so, how & to what extent.

Best of luck with your surgery.

[Loulou24]

I had to have three weeks off after my first lap, and roughly the same for the second - I have a physical job so I realised early on that I wasn't well enough to go back. Everyone is different (at my first lap the surgeon said I could go back after two days..., the second surgeon I saw when I had my second lap said it would be a week or more. It takes time for all the bits inside to heal.

[Loulou24 in reply to Loulou24]

I forgot to say you def need to put your feet up after the op. My partner stepped up and helped more around the house. I had a plug in heat pad to help as I found it painful to get up every few hours to change the hot water bottle. make sure you rest. Good luck. I hope it eases your pain. I found when I went back to work that a microwaveable heat pad was useful. x

[Eclarke in reply to Loulou24]

Hey,

Thanks so much for your advise! I will buy a plug in heat pad defo and luckily my other half is self employed and my mum is going to help out to when he's not there!

Thanks again x

[Bexstar74]

I was off for three weeks as I had issues with C-section scar tissue. One thing I would highly recommend getting are peppermint oil capsules - they instantly relieved the pain from the trapped wind - which was incredible.

[Eclarke in reply to Bexstar74]

Thanks for the tip! x