Hi all my name is Amy and I am 29. I am having a laparoscopy to look for / treat endometriosis also a hysteroscopy to remove uterine polyp with d and c and a coil fitted. I wonder if any of you could please share with me what your recovery was like. Was it painfull ? I have heard a lot about the gas pain afterwards. How long should recovery be? How did they close the cuts from laparoscopy...stitch..glue?
Any tips and information about what to expect would be wonderful and much appreciated
Many thanks
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Amyjane88
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Hiya, I had exactly the same done. The only trouble I had with the gas was during the two nights following my surgery and it turned out laying flat made it worse? When I sat up it was a lot better. I was back to work after 2 Wks (office). I found keeping active helped me get back on my feet. I had 4 holes, each stitched with two stitches and they fell out after 4 weeks. I struggled most with my blood pressure- I found if I sat/stood up too quickly I would pass out and this lasted for a week so make sure you take it steady and someone is with you. Quick tip - tape phone chargers ect to a table so you don’t have to bend to the floor to get them! Hope it all goes well. Take care xxx
Literally had diagnostic lap yesterday where I was diagnosed with endo and treated for it. I can only tell you my experience since then and it really is different for everyone but for me personally:
- the absolute worst part was getting up, getting dressed and doing all the discharge stuff when it was time to leave the hospital. That was when the shoulder pain really kicked in and I also had what felt like a really bad stomach ache just below my rib cage which I think was also the gas. I found walking up and down carefully really distracted me as sitting down was too painful. However once I got home and could get comfy in my own way I felt a lot better and this morning the gas pain already seems much better. A heat pad worked amazingly for my shoulder pain (like a long flat sausage shaped one) - made a huge difference and I would recommend buying two as I also had a small one on the top of my stomach (not where the incisions are) and that helped too.
- this may not matter to you but the one thing that threw me a bit emotionally was that I had imagined for some reason that my husband would be allowed to stay with me in my recovery room pre- and post-op and that he'd be there when I woke up but in fact he wasn't allowed in at all for any of it so I was by myself all the way through until he picked me up at the end of the day. This might be obvious to you or you might not mind but just thought I'd mention it - the nurses were nice and it was fine actually but I was a little emotional at first due to the nerves.
- my stitches are apparently dissolvable which takes up to a week. I have three incision sites and they are not actually that painful at the moment.
- be careful with moving about as I am not in that much pain lying still but it is really difficult and slow to do anything - do not lift or push/pull anything remotely heavy at first! I can't even flush the toilet at the moment ha.
- I have been told a week off should be fine but I've told work I may be a bit longer as some people do need longer and it does depend on what kind of job you do.
I am less than 24 hours post-op so this isn't the full picture but for what it's worth In summary it is not a pleasant experience but it is bearable and well worth it to get a diagnosis and treatment. Good luck xxx
Oh also - have lots of pillows ready. One for the car to protect your belly from the seatbelt on the way home, and also lots to help you get comfy when resting/sleeping. I slept with my legs at 90 degree angle resting on loads of cushions and it was way more comfortable and allowed me to sleep a lot more than I thought I would. Some people prefer to prop the top half up so they are almost sitting up sleeping x
Oh and sorry another thing - when you see the surgeon ask if they will take pictures and if you can see them. The answer should be yes to both and I actually asked to go through the gynae's notes and look at the photos again with the nurse afterwards as chances are they will come and feedback to you when not long after you wake up and you may not remember that clearly. I took a photo of the picture of my endo spots that they took as I kind of wanted a copy myself of the explanation for all the pain I've been in sorry I've totally hijacked your post but it is giving me something to do so thank you!x
Hey . First of all I hope your doing OK and your recovery goes well. Thank you so much for all the tips and information you have given me. I have taken note. Great idea about the photos and surgeon notes. I will also ask for this. My opp date is the 8th of February so I have some time to get ready. Do you have much bruising? Or is it to early to know? Please keep me posted on how your doing. Wishing you well.many thanks xxx
Sorry just realised I didn't reply about the bruising. I got a small amount of bruising but not much - actually got more from the cannula in my hands! 🙈 Good luck, not long now xx
I went back to work after a week and a half but probably needed two weeks really. Gas pain was ok for me but I drink lots of peppermint tea already and my osteopath told me to move my arms slowly as if doing front crawl and that seemed to shift it. My stomach hurt much more! I hadnt realised how difficult I would find movement for the first five days and didn’t plan ahead with meals in the freezer or anything, which I should have done.
My best investment was a plug in heat pad from amazon so I didn’t have to keep asking my husband to fill a hot water bottle for my sore tummy. (Lifting a kettle was uncomfortable for a couple of days). Also I took a nightie rather than pajamas into hospital and I then lived in that nightie (with my lovely support stockings) for the next three days. Was really glad not to have to wear a waistband.
Hi thanks for posting your tips and information. The plug in heat pad sounds like a great idea. Like you my other half is always having to fill hot water bottle up for me when I am in pain. I will also get some nighties for post opp. Did you have much uterine bleeding afterwards or bruising on tummy?
Many thanks for all your help also hope your doing OK xxx
Huge bruising on my tummy but that was because a stitch didn’t hold and they had to lean hard on me in recovery before putting another stitch in! It’s unusual so won’t happen to you. Otherwise fairly minor external bruising but I was quite swollen for several weeks so I think internal bruising may have been there.
I bled a bit afterward and then my period started on time two days later so I bled then too, but I didn’t have a coil put in.
Another tip would be bio oil for the scars. Once my stitches came out, I used it religiously twice a day for six months and I’m pretty happy with how my scars have healed. I had three incisions.
It took me about a week to recover. I second the pillows! Also stock up on your pain meds beforehand (e.g. paracetamol, ibuprofen, co-codamol). Don't be afraid to crack into the harder stuff if you need to! Hope your surgery and recovery go well.
Thank you for your advice. Yes I have a lot of pain killers at home if I need them. My opp date is the 8th of Feb. I hate the waiting. I just want it over with. Did you have stitches and did they have to be removed ?
Presume you have had your op now - sorry for the slow response! I had dissolvable stitches. They were completely gone in about a month, and now I just have a constellation of fetching scars! Hope your op went well and wishing you a speedy recovery
Hi, I’ve had 2 laparoscopies done, 1 for diagnosis and another with removal of an ovary. I have also had 2 hysteroscopies, 1 under g a with uterine poly removal , the other in an outpatient gynae clinic for diagnostic purposes.
The diagnostic laparoscopy wasn’t too bad as far as procedures go. The wind from the gas caused shoulder pain /abdominal pain / bloating over the first few days, but it was helped by peppermint tea, gentle food etc. The wounds were really small, dissolvable stitches , no problem with healing about 1-2 weeks. The anaesthetic for me was the worst bit, just getting it out the system takes me about a week. I also have low blood pressure,so post op can be tricky with getting blood pressure up. Even so, I was only in hospital half a day. Overall back to normal after 1 week.
The surgical laparoscopy was a bit different, due to the ovary removal, and issues with one of the incision sites ( I was told there were dissolving stitches, only to realise that the stitches were digging in, causing infection. I sorted out the infection and removed the stitches myself. I couldn’t face waiting to get them out. )It was much better after, but it’s the only noticeable scar I have 2 years later. I didn’t notice the bloating so much, as the pain of the ovary removal dominated everything else. I took about 6 weeks to recover from the whole procedure.
The hysteroscopy with the uterine poly removal was a quick procedure under g a. I had it done a number of years ago. Now they tend not to do i5 under g a. I would recommend taking a couple of sanitary pads with you, as you may have some minimal spotting / bleeding afterwards. Because the hysteroscopy opens the cervix, swimming is not recommended for a while afterwards. Unfortunately I got a secondary infection after the procedure, which I took a course of antibiotics for, which can happen occasionally. The hysteroscopy with no g a was easier, maybe the scopes have improved over the years .? It really was fine, a lot better than smear tests, as it is much gentler. I had a few cramps after for a couple of days, but nothing much.
No problem, I hope you get some relief with the procedures . I’ve had a full on time with my health over the years, but it’s become more manageable. Hope it goes well for you.
Hi I can't really help with the answers to your questions but just wanted to wish you good luck and a speedy recovery! 🙂 I'm having my first diagnostic lap with possible treatment (hopefully!!) They think its endo or pelvic adhesions I had an appendicectomy with appendicitis and a pelvic abcess so chance of scar tissue from that causing the chronic pelvic pain I've had for over a year now 😣 painkillers everyday. My op is 29th Jan. I'm scared but can't wait. I'll be thinking of you on the 8th! Let me know how you get on xx
Hey hen. Thank you so much for your lovely reply. I also wish you the best of luck with your lap. Do let me know how you get on and fingers crossed it gives you some help with the pain. Give me a mail and let me know how things are going. Get lots of rest if you can. Big hugs xxx
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In summary it is not a pleasant experience but it is bearable and well worth it to get a diagnosis and treatment. Good luck xxx
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