lap recovery time

[1880emma]

hi everyone , I’ve got a date for my first lap. Just wondering what the average recovery time is, I get it’s very dependent on what is found etc. To be honest my symptoms have been so much better as I’ve been taking a cocktail of herbal remedies that have been amazing for the pain so I doubt they will find much but who knows. I also think I am peri menopausal so not sure if that is making a difference to symptoms, changes in Estrogen maybe ?

[JT1992]

I had my first Lap on 18th January. This was also my first time of having general anaesthetic. They say recovery varies between people, and it depends on what they find and how much they remove. They said I have 'moderate' Endometriosis and managed to remove most of it. I was very tired for the first couple of days from the anaesthetic, and could walk around and shower but couldnt really move much due to the insicions

By the 21st/22nd i was going for short walks. And then worked from home for the w/c 23rd Jan, I worked from home because it hurt to sit for prolonged periods and I was better lying with my laptop. I was also in PJ bottoms because everything rubbed my wounds. The following Monday i was back at work full time (office based) and by the end of that week I felt pretty normal. You're still not meant to lift anything heavy or do any exercise until 4 weeks (according to my surgeon). I'm now almost 3 weeks in and the stitches have gone and the wounds have pretty much healed.

The pain was definitely not as bad as i thought it would be.. I was on Coedine for the first week and then managed just on paracetemol. Hope this helps.

[1880emma in reply to JT1992]

it does thank you so much

[SS10]

I had me second lap before Christmas and my recovery time was 2-3 weeks, the one I had in March 2021, was much longer. It depends on what you’re like generally. The first time I hadn’t done much exercise and ate well but didn’t anticipate the endo being as bad as it was, (stage 4). This time I made sure I trained a lot and for me that helped, but he didn’t do as much this time around. All I would say is listen to your body, some days you’ll be shattered and others you’ll want to get up and do lots. Walking definitely helps and peppermint tea helped with the gas as that can hurt your shoulders. I didn’t get that this time as I did make the anaesthetist aware that the previous lap I had the pain for a week. Hope it goes well, x

[1880emma in reply to SS10]

Thank you , I’ve got peppermint to take so hoping that helps.

[JT1992 in reply to 1880emma]

Yes I forgot to mention the gas! Probably the most uncomfortable part of the recovery, but only lasts a few days. It was when it was in my chest area that was the most painful, as it hurt when I breathed, but it quickly moves around. Unfortunately there's nothing you can really do to ease it as the gas isn't in the bowel so wind settling tablets don't help! They say to try and walk around every now and then to get the gas moving

[1880emma in reply to JT1992]

I look forward to that then 🙄