Had diagnostic laparoscopy, poor discharge letter & post-op help

[KFitzWoof]

I’ve finally had a laparoscopy and I think I’ve had therapeutic treatment (maybe diathermy? No idea) via a private hospital as nhs would make me wait 6 months to a year. I have photos and the consultant explained to me when I came around from GA that I have endometriosis and nodules on my ovaries but thankfully my fallopian tubes are fine so she didn’t think fertility will be affected. I have copies of the photos taken during my surgery but I don’t know what stage I am, I can’t remember what she said about if she treated the endometriosis and my discharge letter doesn’t detail what I had done to me. A lot of the photos just look like I have barnacles everywhere haha

I have a follow up appointment in like 3 weeks time with the consultant but I don’t know what to expect. Is it normal to not have detailed notes post surgery and waiting for the follow up appointment?

Also, I had my surgery Wednesday late afternoon and changed my dressings Friday night. When should I remove them?

When do you stop wearing compression socks? I’m autistic so I don’t understand what quantifies as ‘normal mobility’. Like do I need to wear them all the time? When do I stop wearing them?

sorry for all of the questions, I just don’t feel like I know enough to help myself.

[Tangoandmax]

Hey, I just had a lap on NHS and had also received little to no information re. Aftercare. It’s absolutely abysmal. I would have thought private may have been better but obviously not.

I’d reach out the to consultant secretary and get them to confirm what was carried out and treated. I’m super impatient though, so you could wait three weeks if you wanted.

I also got no instruction re wound care, I left my dressings on as they weren’t bloody when going back to clinic for stitch removal, they told me I should have removed the day after surgery and kept them washed (with just water) every day and patted dry. I did Google but a lot of the information was contradictory, it’s probably best to reach out to the hospital/ward you were discharged from to get them to confirm. I’m now two weeks post op and incisions are thankfully healing ok despite the lack of care instructions.

I can’t believe how often this happens. Like you’re just expected to know! All the best with your recovery xx

[KFitzWoof in reply to Tangoandmax]

Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s so frustrating isn’t it? They just told me to change my dressings after 48 hours but then another nurse said to keep them on for 3-5 days? You are so right about conflicting information online.

I wasn’t told about any stitches or anything. I assume I have the dissolvable ones… I’ll contact my consultants secretary like you suggest.

Thanks for your well wishes, glad you’re fully recovered now 💚 xx