Stressing out over surgery!

[Jane781]

Hi Ladies,

Hope you’re well.

I’ve just received an operation date for a laparoscopic surgery with bowel shave / bowel surgeon for stage 3-4 with bowel Endo in just two weeks time (NHS)!

Last time, I had gyno laparoscopic only as an Out patient (wasn’t diagnosed in bowel then) but this time I’m an In patient. Has anyone had this? How long did you stay in hospital? Is it much worse?

Totally freaking out, I want to cancel, but have another huge cyst and everything is swollen and stuck together.

So sick of this horrible condition

Thanks in advance,

xxxxx

[JulesUK]

That’s great news with waiting times being as they are and the positive you don’t have months of waiting thinking about it. I know it’s scary just think of the positives that you will have the attention your endo requires and within a couple of weeks the op will be over. I stayed overnight once and think I was discharged about 12 the next day and that was only because I was waiting around to be discharged. The good thing is if you just need to sleep after your op you don’t need to be concerned about getting up and moving! I wonder if they are stating you are on inpatient because you’re later on the list of operations? Sometimes if you’re well enough after an op they will let you leave but of course that all depends on time and the operation being carried out. Last time I was in hospital I ended up leaving about 10pm. I know it’s difficult but try not to worry. Get your bag ready and prep some meals for ease when you come out and get some nice comfy clothes to hand and line up some books or Netflix you’ve been wanting to see! Best wishes for your operation. x

[PandoraEx]

Hey, i had surgery just over a year ago now for stage 4. It was bowel surgery as well may be a bit more complicated than yourself as i ended up with a bowel resection. I was in hopsital for about a week after this. Pain wise you'll be ok just a bit bruised - the surgeons were amazed.. they seem to think we have a higher pain threshold with endo! Good luck with your surgery you'll be ok. X

[Cayrie1992]

hi I’ve just had total hysterectomy and bowel shaved ,didn’t no until they where in their ,I only stayed 1 nite ,hope next day x

[Simo7]

I had a a bowel shave with laparoscopy the time before last operation. I didn’t have to stay in then, though I did with my last operation and that was less work! I think they’re just erring on the side of caution as they won’t know how much they have to do to the bowel until they get in there. They may keep you on a drip (pain medication) and sometimes a catheter for the night (you won’t feel anything, they’ll do that while you’re under anaesthesia) You’ll be sleepy anyway so you won’t really care, try not to worry, I know it’s hard, it’s an awful disease but hopefully this will buy you some pain free or reduced pain time 💕xx

[ferns80]

Hi

I had an outpatient laparoscopy which diagnosed my stage 4 rectovaginal endometriosis in 2018. As it happens I ended up being kept in overnight as my temperature was a bit high.

I was referred to the specialist endo centre and had the endometriosis surgeon and a bowel surgeon in 2019. My endo was deep and everything was stuck together. The op made such a massive difference to me - I was pretty much pain free for about 2.5 years and even though I am on treatment again the pain is nowhere near as bad.

I wouldn’t say the inpatient surgery was ‘worse’ but it was a longer, much more complex procedure and I did feel a bit worse the first few days - but not dramatically so. I don’t take well to anaesthetic so I think a lot of it was down to that.

Actually my experience as an inpatient was much better.

The surgeons were brilliant and explained everything, the anaesthetic person was also great talking through things and explaining. the nurses and all the staff were lovely - the cleaner would cheer me up saying oh you look much better than yesterday etc! After the surgery the surgeons came round and explained everything again. It was a much better experience than when I was an outpatient where someone spoke to me for about three minutes before and after the op and I felt like a bit of an inconvenience when I had to stay overnight.

In total I think I was in for 4 nights with the bigger surgery. I went in the night before as my surgery was early and I was in an extra night because they were worried about infection as there was something showing in my bloods and I had about 3 hours to travel home so they wanted to make sure I was okay before discharge.

The worst thing for me was that anaesthetic always make me sick, so I was quite sick after. That always happens to me though even for really short ops. The main source of pain the day after was wind but once that was out it wasn’t bad at all! they gave me heat pads to help with that. The first time I went for a number 2 after the op was a bit painful but totally manageable. Maybe TMI but once the first one was out it was totally fine.

I just rested the first wee while but recovery was totally fine. I was back to work after 6 weeks on a phased return.

Hope this isn’t TMI and all this to say, I found the inpatient experience actually better because I had more time with the doctors, my surgery was more complex than my first lap but recovery was actually better than I expected. I was pretty anxious about everything too but if you let the consultants know you are nervous they’ll talk you through everything.

[Jane781]

Thank you all for being so thoughtful and helpful, you are all wonderful.

Once last question, do you have to do any bowel prep?

Loads of love and hope to you All.

Thanks again,

Xxxx

[TheUntamed in reply to Jane781]

Yes, in case they needed to do a resection. I would make sure to ask for the lower volume one and avoid the 4 litres.

[TheUntamed]

I just had a similar surgery done privately and stayed three nights. I could probably have gone home after two, but wanted to be sure that it would all be okay. (Went home early when the cyst ruptured in January, and after the first lap, and really regretted it.)

[Jane781 in reply to TheUntamed]

thanks lovely, hope you’re ok now x

[Purplebex]

Hi Jane, was reading your thread, how did you get on? Hope all went well xx