Tips for Lap tomorrow

[C765]

Hi ladies,

I've got my lap tomorrow and just wondering if anyone has any tips on what would be useful to take?

My sister has had keyhole surgery before and said taking something like a hot wheatpack might be helpful for the gas pain in the shoulders and neck after. Just wondering if anyone else had any other tips?

[emily_1]

Hey, i have my Lap tomorrow as well!

I’ve been told peppermint tea is a must have to help with the gas pains but I’ve also been told not to put heat on the incisions something to do with the bruising but if it’s for your shoulders it should be fine just make sure you don’t put it on your stomach as i think it can delay healing. Oh and a pillow for the journey home has also been recommended but I think that’s everything. Good luck x

[Holleymuzz in reply to emily_1]

Hi girls!

Iv had 4 laps for numerous things, removal of cyst, cystic tumour and gallbladder removal, the last time they went in they actually found the endo! Just goes to show how hard it can be to spot.

My top tips are, PEPPERMINT tea is a must, and emily said.

Gentle moving can release any trapped gas, so if you can get up and move around a little at a time, laying down all the time won’t shift it.

The pillow! Massive help! Just laying it across your tummy can make you feel safer! If you sneeze or cough you tense so I found having the pillow there and holding it against you eased the strain a lot. Also getting up from a laying position, swing your legs off the bed/sofa first and use your arms to push u up right. Having a lap means your tummy muscles will be cut so try as much as you can to ease the strain on it.

Much love and luck to you both. Keep me informed! Would love to help any way I can x

[emily_1 in reply to Holleymuzz]

Wow 4! That seems like a lot you poor thing! You’ll be a pro then haha!

Thank you for your advice! Getting so nervous now! Eee xx

[C765 in reply to emily_1]

Thanks for replying girls 😊 and sorry for not replying yesterday but you were really helpful. Hope your lap went ok today Emily. I've been diagnosed with endo on the bowel and bladder, he mentioned something about scar tissue but I can't remember exactly what he said cos I was a bit out of it.

[Sarahxnxhannah16]

Hey I'm scheduled for my 5th lap 15 th March, this 1 is resulting in a hysterectomy and cutting away extensive adhesions and endo, my last surgeries I packed very loose baggy joggers and a baggy top and a hoody, house coat and slippers, my own pillow, I also took my iPad I downloaded films and tv series I like to watch u may be waiting a while b4 u go down, a couple magazines and a writing pen, take pjs and an overnight bag (just incase) my last lap they really wanted me to stay in, also pack ur own pads as they supply very large uncomfortable bulky ones, good luck xx

[C765 in reply to Sarahxnxhannah16]

Aw thanks so much for replying, I took practically everything you said and it's all been so useful.

[Sarahxnxhannah16 in reply to C765]

Aw I'm glad I cld help, how did u get On? X

[C765 in reply to Sarahxnxhannah16]

My bowel and bladder are covered in endo and he mentioned somewhere else has it slightly, I think entrance of the womb or something but I can't really remember now. He mentioned something about scar tissue else where but I forgot about that too. He couldn't remove it today as he wants me to empty my bowel so it reduces risk. Where do you have it?

[Sarahxnxhannah16 in reply to C765]

It's so annoying that they come tell u when ur still kinda out of it and unable to remember anything they said, I have stage 4 endo on my bowel it's on my uterine artery and blood vessels on the bladder my bladder is also stuck to my stomach wall on my uterus pouch of douglas pelvic wall left ovary and tube then i have the adhesions which are very severe, i also have a bicornurate uterus and that is the reason i have to get the hysterectomy as iv had 3 babies and from 3 pregnancies my womb is all messed up and mishapen and doing more harm than good i am getting to keep my ovaries and have been told to expect endo to grow bk he was unable to say when but it will 100% b bk as he wont be able to cut away it all, I have to have keyhole for hysterectomy and laparotomy to fix my bladder x

[C765 in reply to Sarahxnxhannah16]

Aw you poor thing you must be in agony with all that. No one deserves to be in that much pain. I hope you manage to get comfort eventually and I've got all my fingers crossed for you x

[Sarahxnxhannah16 in reply to C765]

Yeah it's awful at the moment especially having 3 kids to take care of, I'm on strong cocodomol and oxycodone daily for the pain but im never pain free even with what I'm on, counting down the days for my op xx

[Hormone-hell]

Hi G765!

Good luck for your surgery : )

I found the following useful:

- Carrot juice - helpful for shoulder/gas pain

- Lots of fibre

- Ginger tea - for any nausea

- Gentle painkillers - didn't want something too strong as it gave constipation and made going to bathroom a little more difficult

- Really baggy clothes - gets plenty of air to incisions