Lap Date Finally!

[Confused_con]

Hi you lovely Endo Warriors!

So I finally have a date for a lap, 25th of October, the gynae doctor suspects endo and will remove any traces if they show up on the lap then I am being fitted with the mirena coil.

So my question is, what to expect? I know everyone is different and we all heal differently but is there anything I should bring for after the procedure? What kind of experiences has anyone had with the coil as I am still not 100% sure I want it, with mixed reviews. How long did everyone take off work? Has it healed now?

Thanks lovely ladies <3 xxx

[Catloving]

Hi I had my lap last Monday to diagnose endometriosis and they removed two small patches at the same time. I would recommend taking loose fitting clothes to wear home and a pillow to put under your seatbelt to protect your tummy on the journey home. I am signed off work for two weeks and naively thought that I wouldn’t need that much time off as I have a desk job but I am still struggling with the pain if I stand or walk around for more than about 5 minutes and I can’t sit up straight without my tummy hurting. I have spent my time pretty much lying on the sofa watching tv! The most painful bit for me was the gas that gets stuck after the op. At times my shoulder pain was extreme but I was given codeine to take which did take the edge off it! I also found that peppermint tea seemed to be good for shifting the gas and trying to walk around a little even it hurt my tummy in the short term helped make me feel a little less bloated. I was left with 3 incisions with dissolvable stitches that were covered in glue. This seems to have really helped with the healing process so far and kept the wounds nice and dry and clean. They are now at the itchy stage which I assume is a good sign that they are healing. Hope your lap goes well xx

[Natalie507901859]

Hi, I had a diagnostic lap last Thurs, though without treatment because the endometriosis they found was too complex for them to treat at the time (bowel and bladder so needs a specialist surgeon). Like Catloving said, I would take loose clothes to wear afterwards- I took a very loose fitting dress which had the advantage of no waistband, so nothing to rub against the wound. I would also take a dressing gown and slippers, which I wore on the ward before going in for my op. I ended up having to stay overnight and got my partner to bring me headphones which really helped me sleep- it was quite loud on the ward with people pressing their call buttons all the time so having some calming low volume music in my ears helped me drift off. I would also recommend writing down possible questions you might want to ask after your surgery beforehand and leaving them somewhere prominent- the Dr came round after my surgery but I was still quite out of it so didn't ask everything I would have wanted to, and now have to wait a couple of months to see a specialist. I took a pillow to stop the seatbelt rubbing in the car but found it a bit too large and bulky, I've taken a smaller cushion in subsequent car journeys and found that better.

My recovery will probably be different to yours as I had no treatment, but I also found the trapped gas painful, especially in my shoulder. This is probably TMI but I was quite contispated after the op, so I'd get some gentle laxatives in so you have them to hand if needed. They told me I could take my dressing off after 48 hours and then didn't have to replace it, but I kept it on for a few days and have been replacing it at night so I don't knock it in my sleep, so might be handy to have some dressing pads in too. One week on and I'm still feeling very tired, so I'd say at least a week off even with no treatment.

Hope everything goes well!