Newbie in pain!

[Hollie2018]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this and I'm finding it all so helpful. I had my second lap on wesnesday and I'm finding the pain awful. It's also very painful in my back.. is this normal for everyone else?

Any recommendations as to how to get better quicker ):

I'm taking tramadol and that doesn't seem to be touching it.

Thanks for your help x

[Boodie]

Hi there? It is normal to be in in pain in my experience. My incisions healed within 6 weeks but I have chronic pelvic pain I suffer with. Keep an eye on yoyr incisions and run warm water over them and get plenty of air at them to help them heal. If they start oozing or smell then get them checked out. Have u tried codeine or ibuprofen or paracetamol. Try and walk a bit each day to help keep and build strength up. It's also normal to have some bleeding. Possibly try an ice pack or heat pack for pain. Hope this helps x

[Hollie2018 in reply to Boodie]

Thank you for your reply. I'm having tramadol and paracetomol I can't take codeine as bad side effects. I'll deffo try an ice pack/heat pack. Just finding my back so sore when I'm walking!

Thanks (:

[Boodie in reply to Hollie2018]

Another thought is when they were moving you on the bed or when you were asleep, the docs may have pulled your back unknowingly. Hopefully it will ease for you soon x

[KEndo16]

Hi, take is slow and easy and you’ll heal soon. Heat pad or hot water bottle on areascthat aren’t your scars might help, drink plenty of water, start taking painkillers with no minutes of error ie. with military precision by setting an alarm, get lots of sleep or if your body doesn’t want to, just get plenty of time with eyes closed doing nothing or be still reading/ puzzling. You’ll have good days ahead and the odd bad one too, but take each hour as it comes and you’ll be OK.

[KEndo16 in reply to KEndo16]

ps distraction is key: when you have the energy write cards or letters to friends and family, write anything, it might help to transfer your inward looking self to the outside world with hardly any effort, plus you might get one or two letters in return when you are more receovered, and who doesn’t like receiving letters?!

[Penelopeel]

Back pain is very common with endo and I get back pain. It also moves around a bit. Why are you having a second lap? Are you on progesterone tonsuppress the endo?

[Catness]

Hey, sorry to hear you’re in pain. I’ve copied and pasted this already today on a post for someone about to have a lap but it talks about post-lap recovery so I’m hoping some of it may be useful to you. Sending (gentle) hugs xx

Hello

I’m about to have my fifth lap so I hope I can pass on some tips which I have found helpful.

I think the most important is not to put expectations on yourself. I told myself the first time that I *should* be back up and normal in 2 weeks and gave myself a really hard time when I wasn’t. After laps which have included excision surgery (as opposed to burning/abalation) it’s taken 2 weeks to get back on my feet and around 6 for my energy to come back and to start to feel ‘normal’ again. The first 3-4 days is usually just spent completely resting and getting used to how your abdomen is feeling. It can be a bit of a shock as the surgery scars don’t look like much on the outside but there has obviously been quite a lot done inside. Feeling a bit down about it all is perfectly understandable! If you are able to I would tell your boss it will be 2-3 weeks to be on the safe side.

I found one of the worst things to deal with post-surgery is the shoulder pain from the trapped gas which they fill your tummy with in surgery. Peppermint tea really helps to clear the gas, as does moving around little and often in the first couple of days (even if it’s just a supervised trip from one room to the other). Also eat very lightly after surgery (I have a chunky veg soup) as all the pain killers and anaesthetic drugs bind you up and the first bowel movement can be quite uncomfortable. I really advise asking your GP or consultant for some Laxido, or something similar, when you are discharged. It’s a stool softener and just makes ‘going’ a little easier!!

I don’t have children, but I do have a very needy lap cat and she managed to pop my stitches by jumping on my tummy after my first surgery. I imagine with little ones that could also be a worry so best to keep a pillow on your stomach to avoid any unwanted surprise hugs.

I’ve found that sleeping on my back for the first few nights most comfy but other ladies say they prefer a reclining chair to sleep in as it can be very painful trying to get vertical from completely horizontal. I always have to get my partner to help me up in the night.

I have always been told by various consultants that I can’t drive for a full 6 weeks after surgery due to the wounds healing and in my experience (though it’s different for everyone) it’s very uncomfortable to have the seat belt on my stomach. When you’re being driven home ask whoever is with you to bring a pillow with them to put between your tummy and the seatbelt as it will be far more comfortable.

I would take some pads to hospital with you as you will bleed and they will insist on putting those banana-boat maternity pads in there. They’re very uncomfortable and just being able to change into something a little more discreet always makes me feel a little better. I also find knickers with a waist band that isn’t too tight is more comfy and either take a sleeping top to hospital (I always have to stay over at least a night due to my other illnesses) or I’ll find loose fitting PJ bottoms.

Some ladies do get a touch of post-surgery blues after a lap - I have a couple of weeks where I feel very blue and down. If this does happen it’s very normal and will ease up, as will the pain. Pain-wise Lots of ladies recommend taking your pain killers as prescribed to ensure they’re not taken off guard by pain (as opposed to not thinking you need to take it and then chasing the pain when it comes on).

That’s all I can think of for now - best of luck with everything and if I remember anything else I will come back and post again xxx

[Hollie2018 in reply to Catness]

Thank you so much for the reply. It is very helpful and reassuring. Your post has made me feel positive. Hope you are well x