Laparoscopy Tips

[mooreaboutlife]

I'm nineteen and was diagnosed in November 2017, I have my laparoscopy on Thursday and have never had surgery before. Does anyone have any tips on what to expect? thanks

[MMary-Moderator]

Hi Mooreaboutlife,

You might find our laparoscopy information leaflet useful:

endometriosis-uk.org/sites/...

I have had 3 laps now and I always write down a list of questions I have, anything I need to tell them or concerns I have. I take it to the pre op assessment, on the day of the surgery and a list of questions post surgery that I always give to the person collecting me in case I have not fully come round from surgery.

I pre cook a load of food before I go in, lots of veg soup :), I have my hot water bottles and heat pads at the ready. For the hospital bag I take a baggy button front nightie (lifting your arms really hurts from the gas), peppermint tea bags, tooth brush, deodrant, cleansing/baby wipes, sanitary pads, incontinence towel to put on the car seat, a sick bowel for the journey home and a pillow for the journey home. Do not forget a good book or magazine as well as you will be in the pre op waiting area before hand and post op area, possibly on ward afterwards.

If you ever need to talk to anyone we have a helpline and support groups as well: endometriosis-uk.org/get-su...

Best Wishes,

M Mary, Endometriosis UK

[mooreaboutlife in reply to MMary-Moderator]

Thank you very much, that helps a lot. I’ll make sure I buy some peppermint tea beforehand and I’ll have a look at the leaflets

[Hannah5198 in reply to MMary-Moderator]

This has helped me a lot to. Thank you! X

[Lilloise]

1. Ask to see any notes/photos after the surgery and take a picture for your own records (or if, like me, you just find it fascinating looking at your own insides and want to have a look at the photos properly when you get home!).

2. The one thing I had not read anywhere when preparing for the lap was that afterwards your belly button might be quite gross whilst healing - gunky, smelly and sore for longer than the other incisions. And that it will probably look quite different! A lot of people worry theirs is infected but it is quite common for it to be pretty gross and take a while to heal as belly buttons are a funny shape and get moist easily. I've found the best thing has been bathing it in warm salt water and drying gently with a cotton bud whenever it gets wet.

Good luck, you will be fine

[mooreaboutlife in reply to Lilloise]

Thank you very much I haven’t heard that so I would have worried otherwise!

[Amyjane88]

Hi I also have mine on Thursday and a hysteroscopy to. It's my first lap but I have had lots of spinal and brain surgery before. I put a post up asking for tips ect not so long ago so feel free to look at my profile and have a read.

The best tips I had was get a heat pad as most people have gas pain in belly and shoulders .... some people have a really hard time with it and are in a lot of pain and others are lucky and don't get to much pain. Most people have dissolvable stitches. Some have ones that get taken out a week later. Some have there cuts glued . I always feel sick after a general anesthesia so if you do ask for Meds to help . I also can never wee after and need catheterization .

Things to take with you.

Loose trousers or p.js. phone charger. Book or ipad. Don't for get some san towels as you may have some bleeding. Wash bag incase you need to stay in. Flat shoes or slippers. And a small pillow for on the way home to stop belly rubbing on seat belt. I always have a sick bowl and some water for trip back home to just in case.

Most people on my post have said to take two weeks off to recover obviously every one is different.

Is there anything in particular you are worried about hun?

Feel free to ask anything or send me a message.

I wish you the best of luck xxxx

[mooreaboutlife in reply to Amyjane88]

Thank you very much, good luck to you too!! I think I’m more nervous about the general anaesthetic more than anything but that’s probably just because I’ve never had an operation or been in hospital before. Thanks for the advice I’ll make sure I pack those things! I’m in a gap year so I’m not working at the moment thankfully but my boyfriend has booked for us to stay in London and go to the theatre for valentines, which he booked before I knew about the op so I’m hoping I’ll be ok for that! I’ll definitely have a look at the comments on your profile, thanks xx

[Amyjane88 in reply to mooreaboutlife]

I remember my fist time with a anaesthetic I was so worried .It sounds bad but I quite like the feeling now ... there is no other feeling like it when they put you out. Tell them you are worried they have always been so lovely when I have had surgery. If you are worried about the needle bit they can knock you out with gas then put needle in. I have really bad veins, last time it took 9 goes then ened up its my foot Haha. When you wake up its like you have had your eyes shut for a minute even when you have been knocked for 6 hours lol. I have never been able to remember them taking the breathing tube out or anything like that. Like I said I just cant wee and they will not let you go till you do a wee. I think you will be OK to go out then. Just get as much rest as you can before hand.

Good luck xxx

[mooreaboutlife in reply to Amyjane88]

Thank you, good luck with yours on Thursday too xxx

[Hidden]

If you can't wee properly or it hurts, tell them, no matter how desperate you are to go home! I made that mistake and spent the next three days in crippling pain I wouldn't wish on anyone. Your bladder will hurt for weeks afterwards and you will probably still be unable to wee properly for a while afterwards which is pretty normal because of bruising, ibuprofen can help lots!

[mooreaboutlife in reply to Hidden]

Thank you very much, I’ll keep that in mind for afterwards!

[HL28]

HI,

I’m in my 3rd week of recovery from mine.

Here’s my tips:

When you come out of surgery they make you drink tons of water. This is to flush through the drugs they gave you etc and wake you up.

Also you may be shocked that you can’t pee straight away do keep trying and don’t worry if it’s just a trickle, sit for a good while and relax and keep trying. The nurses wouldn’t let me discharge until I went.

Take a small walk with someone a good few hours after surgery up the corridor to walk and get things moving.

SICK BUCKET! I was not good with the drugs so wasn’t well, told this is normal and not to worry.

I asked for laxatives to take home as you need to have a movement. It’s normal to not for a few days but the laxatives help as some painmeds block you up.

Take a pillow or soft blanket in the car so the seatbelt doesn’t rub your stomach.

When I got home I was so tired but had to pee all night so just be aware you might be going a lot due to water and meds they give you.

The gas they pump into you stays in your body for a week or so. Keep a hot water bottle or one of those heating cushions on the go for your tummy and shoulder and peppermint tea helps break it down.

The pain goes under you diaphragm as well so laughing, coughing, sneezing etc hurts.

Rest rest rest!! I had endo removed from all over the front and back of my uterus and had cysts in there too. Just because the scars are tiny on the outside and heal quickly doesn’t mean the ones inside are too. I’m still sore and get my partner to help with everything.

Also a few things that I was told are normal: no appetite, loose stomach, fatigue. All these are normal but if the loose tummy and appetite goes on for the 2nd/ 3rd week tell your doctor. I’m still struggling to not sleep through a day.

I was signed off for a further two weeks due to the extent of the pain and discomfort I am in. My doctor told me not to be fooled by small insissions.

Don’t lift or reach up for anything either as you’ll cause further issues for the first week.

I hope that helps and just message f you need to. X

[mooreaboutlife in reply to HL28]

Thank you, that’s really helpful. I’ve never heard of the peppermint tea helping before reading everyone’s replies so I’ll make sure to buy some. Hope you feel better soon x

[India21]

I’ve got mine tomorrow and I’m really nervous too.

Ive only had my tonsils out but that was about 6yrs ago so don’t really remember much. Best of luck to you x

[mooreaboutlife in reply to India21]

Good luck for tomorrow! Let me know how it’s goes! Thank you x

[India21 in reply to mooreaboutlife]

Hi Hun, so I had the surgery yesterday and it surprisingly went better than I thought. I had very minimal trapped gas but I did my best to get up and walk the hospital ASAP. I seemed to be the last out as the anaesthetic took it out of me more than everyone else (I was so groggy) but I suppose everyone reacts differently x

I slept on the sofa last night propped up as I can’t get up properly without support. I slept from 11pm-2am then right through till 9am. My tummy feels tight and Very tender and my throats sore but other than that I feel alright at the min. Xx

[mooreaboutlife in reply to India21]

Glad to hear it!! I hope you feel better soon xx

[Katy_in_the_house]

Hi! Some fab advice from the other posters. I just want to say that I was TERRIFIED and had never been under general anesthetic before. Any way it was no big deal at all, not painful, not invasive.

Only thing I would say is that general anesthetic made me feel a bit tired and emotional afterwards, as if I had a hangover after a big night

Defo make sure you have soup or porridge or something easy to swallow...major dry mouth!

GOOD LUCK! YOU WILL BE GREAT!!!

[mooreaboutlife in reply to Katy_in_the_house]

Thank you, I have lots of porridge and soup stocked up but might be ordering a few takeaways 😂x