Post op essentials.

[ChloB]

Hi everyone. My laparoscopy is Monday and I just don’t know what I need to bring to hospital but also what to have around in the house post op to make it more comfortable?

[luthien]

Hey, wow it's coming round quick!

Hospital - Take an overnight bag to hospital even if you're only in for the day. Pack a change of clothes (jogging bottoms and a loose top), some loose pjs, change of underwear, toiletries (sometimes they let you have a shower), baby wipes (freshen up), sanitary pads (spotting after lap), tablet (to watch stuff while waiting and after), mobile and charger, a good book. Peppermint capsules or tea (health food shop), any medication you're currently on.

Home - hot water bottle, painkillers (ibuprofen and paracetamol can be taken together), plasters (to cover the incisions, they give you enough for a day, I just got mepore 5cm by 7cm or similar from Amazon), water bottle (to make sure you drink fluids), comfy clothes (bloated first few days) and comfort foods. Natural anti-bacterial creams such as colloidal silver, tea tree, witch hazel or aloe vera to put on the incisions after 24 hours (I find savlon dissolves the scab and makes it open up).

You can bath after 24 hours but pat the wounds dry, take it easy and keep to your normal day routine as it helps recovery, drink lots of water before and after the op as it helps flush through toxins (stick to the nill by mouth rules you should have been sent), expect a bit of urine holding after the lap - anaesthetic can take a few days to get out of the system. You'll have shoulder pain from the gas they use to inflate your abdomen - don't worry that's what the peppermint is for, it'll go in a few days. Most women have bloating and spotting - the organs have all been moved about and are now recovering, the uterus doesn't like being moved around so gets a bit stressed. Expect your next few periods to be heavier so have extra pads ready - also the first may not be on time.

Hope this all helps xx

[ChloB in reply to luthien]

That is amazing!! Thank you so so much. I will be doing an Amazon delivery ASAP. That’s honestly most helpful reply ever. Thank you! I’m very lucky with my op date it was meant to be in February but there was a cancellation and they booked me in! xx

[Kirst625]

Hey, best of luck for Monday - it'll be grand. I asked the same question on another forum ahead of my lap on Wednesday and got a really good response and have adapted to what was the most useful:

Throat or boiled sweets (throat can be sore after)

Peppermint tea bags, polos (I am also still using colpermin peppermint capsules as the trapped CO2 is still painful at times in shoulders and collarbone)

Small pack of wipes and soft tissues (soft toilet paper for home too)

Slippers/ dressing gown

Loose comfy jimjams or clothes that are loose on your tummy and easy to get on and off, same with shoes - all for coming home

Music / earphones / tablet / book or mags to read

Phone charger

Pillow for car journey home (put across tummy under seat belt)

A slow and considerate driver! If travelling for more than an hour I was advised by the surgeon to stop and have a little break and gentle little walk around.

Toothbrush/ paste

Hair brush, dry shampoo and some basic make up if having your face on helps you feel better.

Prepare a few things next to bed (or sofa) for when you get back, mags, painkillers etc so you have everything to hand. Have a good help on hand. If lots of meds given do a little spreadsheet/ ticklist and note times etc as if given strong drugs it can be hard to keep track!

Follow post op instructions to the letter, rest but do get up and about too for gentle walks.

Hope that helps. Maybe daft question but how are you feeling about it?

[ChloB in reply to Kirst625]

Thank you so much I have added a few bits to my shopping list. As for how I am feeling... it is such a weird one- this is my second in a year and a half ( I don't remember the last one at all I was living with my parents and my mum did everything for me). I am in so much pain right now and it just hasn't stopped since the end of November... I just want the pain to go, so I am really looking forward to the op- I know it isn't a certainty but it is a chance and even if a weeks post op the pain I am in right now is alleviated enough so I can leave the house for longer than 45 minutes I'll be happy. I really trust my doctor, I try my best not to think about any negatives- I will deal with them if they happen but I don't want to waste what little energy I do have on worrying about the what ifs. In my first op they found endo all over both ovaries and the bowel and the pain I am in right now is identical to what happened before that op, so I feel it is likely that endo will be found and will be removed. I am having the coil fitted in the hopes it will mean my 3rd op doesn't have to happen for longer than a year and half (I hope that makes sense). The fears more when will it come back, when will it hit again

[Kirst625 in reply to ChloB]

Sounds like you've been going through a lot with it and you've got a really good attitude towards it. It's fab you have trust in those treating you, so important and can make a huge amount of difference. Best of luck for Monday and keep us posted xx

[Thecraftyadder]

I think the others covered most of it but I'd also add extra pillows or cushions on your bed as sleeping flat can be very painful initially due to the gas. Also have some laxatives or stool softener in the house as pain meds can bung you up after surgery. Hope it all goes well

[ChloB in reply to Thecraftyadder]

Thank you so much! I actually have a 12 foot pregnancy pillow to ease the endo pain already- it's amazing!