Surgery next week - recovery advice

[Mindboggle]

Hi everyone

I've already had surgery to remove endometriosis but during the procedure they found it was a lot more severe than originally thought.

I've been referred on to specialist centre and am due to have surgery next week to remove endometriosis from my ovaries, uterus and other areas. I've been told I will be off work for about 6 weeks.

But my surgeon wasn't very chatty and hasn't explained much about what will happen after.

Has anyone else had this operation and if so what was your recovery like. Is there anything I can do now to prepare? Or can anyone suggest any things they found helpful like complete bed rest, or is it better to move around? Should I get a hot water bottle or cold compress ready?

I really have no idea what's going to happen and my pre op assessment isn't until 4 days before surgery and I kind of want an idea now of how I'm going to feel.

[Aghl]

Hi. I went through surgery on monday. When I can out of op the surgeon said and I quote... u have endometriosis and I repaired it then walked off. No after care advice nothing. I went my doctors yesterday and advised that I drove there and instantly got told I should not be driving as i wont be insured after abdominal surgery. The nurse was lovely and told me to speak with gp about getting signed off. Between 4 to 6 weeks. Not what i had in mind at all... i was prepared for a week off work. You think u r ok but then you try do something and ur body fully disagrees. Listen to your body. I am now trying to

[Mindboggle in reply to Aghl]

That's awful care. I've not been told about not driving either, so thank you for that.

I hope you have a speedy recovery.

[Rehanat]

Hey- I had my lap in March and it ended up being a 7hr op! I would say the first wk take it really easy, rest as much as u can but also walk around at home a little. I felt fine after 2wks and after 3 I was mostly back to normal. But saying that I still took it fairly easy and didn’t over exert myself.

You may heal on outside but inside takes a bit longer so just remember that.

[Mindboggle in reply to Rehanat]

Thank you for your reply.

I have a toddler at home and I'm just a bit worried that I won't be about to play with him or give him cuddles on my lap.

It's reassuring to hear you recovered so quickly. I had awful visions of being bed ridden for weeks!

[Rehanat in reply to Mindboggle]

I have a toddler too- 13 months when u had my op and it was fine. I was still able to have her sit in my lap and cuddle but not lift for the first wk at least. X

[Laura_T]

If they’ve told you 6 weeks it sounds like they anticipate it’s going to be incision surgery like c section instead of lap which is normally 1-2 weeks off work. My friend had that surgery and she couldn’t drive for 6 weeks and the recovery takes longer. So probably going to be very sore, they might have to put drains in and the hospital stay might be longer than would with lap. I’d say if you are confused about the procedure find out the secretary’s email or number of the consultant and get in touch that way. Sometimes they are so vague that this is the only way to find out things. Hope this helps x

[Sfarre]

It definitely took at least four weeks recovery after my lap (which took hours as the endo was extensive). I needed a full month off work and did struggle to sleep while recovering. Expect to be very sore, and to need good painkillers and regular hot water bottles. To be completely honest, it actually took me a few months post surgery to feel fully normal and myself again. I wasn't expecting it to be like that, which is why I'm telling you so its less of a shock if it's like that for you. Hopefully not though! Best of luck with it, sounds like you are in good hands.