Pain after laparoscopy

[Meadowsweet11]

I had my first laparoscopy 9 days ago for excision surgery of deep infiltrating endometriosis. Luckily it wasn’t too extensive but they told me they couldn’t get it all as it has infiltrated deeply into my womb. I had a deep adhesion attaching my womb to my bowel and some smaller patches on my ovary.

Anyway my question is really about pain after a laparoscopy, mainly how long did you experience pain for and how long were you on strong painkillers for? I stopped taking the painkillers (started out with codeine, paracetamol and ibuprofen but had to upgrade the codeine to tramadol on the first day out of hospital as the rest weren’t touching the pain) 5 days after the surgery as I really don’t like taking them, but the past three or four days since I stopped I have woken up with excruciating pains in my abdomen, similar to some of my more severe endo pains in the past. Sometimes they seem to die down after I go to the bathroom in the morning and yand other times they persist in waves throughout the day. They only last for less than 20 seconds but are very very severe... like a 9 out of 10 on the pain scale... and I’m basically wondering if this is normal? I’ve heard of people going back to work a week after their lap and there is just no way I could have gone back two days ago, I’m still in bed for most of the day and exhausted if I move around or walk anywhere.

I’ve emailed the nurse but am interested to know if anyone else has had similar symptoms and how long it took them to feel better?

Thanks xx

[Cazywazy]

Hi so sorry your still in pain, I had my laparoscopy nearly 4 weeks ago and I’m still getting the pains like you are experiencing it’s so frustrating like you I could never have gone back to work after a week. I was signed off for 3 weeks but I have taken another week and I’m due back Monday. I’m also taking ibuprofen, paracetamol and tramadol but over the last week I have only taken tramadol twice so I must be getting there. But the pains you described are exactly what I’m experiencing I thought it was down to having a coil in surgery.

Take your time and don’t rush back I know you feel it’s not getting better I did too, but I did turn a corner about a week ago and I feel a little bit normal again. I hope this helps you see a light at the end of the tunnel. Just listen to your body and don’t push yourself. X

[Meadowsweet11 in reply to Cazywazy]

Thanks so much for your reply, and sorry you are suffering as well.

Sounds like you’re having a similar experience... it’s frustrating because I felt like I was making good progress the first few days after the lap (while I was still on all the painkillers), getting up and moving around a bit and feeling not too much pain after I got the tramadol, but now I feel like I’ve gone backwards a bit after coming off the painkillers.

I’ve had to go back to taking tramadol today which feels frustrating but it’s also nice to not be in pain, I guess recovery is a long process and you’re right about not pushing ourselves. Glad you feel you’ve turned a corner, hopefully I’ll get to that point soon too,

Sending hugs xx

[Meadowsweet11 in reply to Meadowsweet11]

Also that’s interesting what you mentioned about the coil because I didn’t have the coil inserted and am getting the same pains, I’m hoping it’s just the pains of the tissue healing after surgery trauma, rather than my old endo pains still there, but they are quite similar to the stabbing endo pains I have had in the past. Hopefully in time they will subside for both of us.

[Thereshope]

I'm 4 weeks today it's pretty normal to experience pain your very early on still . I'm still not at work and still have slight pain so just be patient rest up. I find a hot water bottle helps and also not to eat to much I find this helps hope you feel better soon x

[Meadowsweet11 in reply to Thereshope]

Thanks lovely, glad to hear it’s normal, I just hear of some people recovering so quickly and back at work and think I’m so far from that, but I guess everyone’s recovery is different and it depends on the extent of the surgery we have too. Hope your pain goes away soon x

[Thereshope in reply to Meadowsweet11]

I just thought are you due on or ovulating because it can be excruciatingly painful after this kind of surgery when you do.. as I found out x

[Meadowsweet11 in reply to Thereshope]

I came off the pill straight after my op (I really didn’t want to be on it but they made me to reduce bleeding for the op but let me come off it right away) and I bled really heavily about two days after the op which I thought was maybe a period or withdrawal bleed from the pill, although it could have just been bleeding from the surgery. But I was on painkillers at that point so not sure how painful it was, if it was even a period.