I have my first Lap procedure next week for investigation and to remove a 4 cm endometrioma on my left ovary. I have 2 weeks booked of work for recovery. I’m not really sure what to expect with the surgery and recovery does anyone have any tips?
We also want to start IVF early next year does anyone have any experience with this ? I’m not sure yet if there’s a period I will need to wait before starting fertility treatment I plan to ask my consultant.
Thank you
hi lovely! I am literally booked in for the same procedure next Tuesday! X2 5cm endometrioma on my left ovary so in all honesty I would be pleased to see the replies as I feel a little like you and would love some tips!
I have seen some responses from other posts and they say to get lots of peppermint tea and capsules to help afterwards, a pillow for inbetween your seatbelt for the drive home as the seatbelt will be on your incisions
Hope your feeling okay about your surgery and wishing you all the best xx
I’m booked in next Monday, wishing you all the best with your surgery as well ☺️
I’m feeling relatively calm about surgery, I think this is because I’ve been in soo much pain recently so the fact that surgery should help with that pain is helping my thoughts stay positive, though I’m still a little apprehensive about the recovery also my period is due around my surgery date the consultant prescribed provera which should delay my period a couple of days but will mean it should come in my first few days recovering.
How are you feeling about the procedure ? and can I also ask if you had a long wait for surgery? We ended up going private as my symptoms were worsening and I was told I wouldn’t be seen by the gynaecologist until some time next year (they couldn’t confirm a date) which wasn’t a suitable option for me.
Thank you for the tips, I’ve been living on peppermint tea in recent months, it’s the only thing that seems to help my nausea and digestive discomfort so will defo try the capsules, I've added a pillow to my list to take with me also.
I’ve had surgery once before under general anaesthetic and I remember on waking up that my throat felt sore and dry I think because of the tube they put in to help with breathing, sore throat sweets helped so I’ve added a pack to my little bag I’m taking with me
hello! I’ve literally just had this surgery a week ago (endometrioma removal 4cm from left ovary!) found left ovary stuck down but in the right place but no other endo. I had a 2 week sick note from the hospital so have 1 more week off work. The first few days were really hard and I was so anxious before the surgery. I’m in pain but mainly it’s tiredness now. It does feel better now the cyst was removed and I can move in ways I was not able to previously like bending down and twisting - also I’m a lot less bloated!
My only advice is try and bring something or someone which will help to calm you down and bring a list of questions for the consultant before and after. My consultant who did the surgery gave me a new medication dionogest but I had no time to discuss why I needed to change from the mini pill and it’s given me such bad side effects and the gp knows nothing about it and can’t prescribe it, so do ask as many questions as you can before and after. NHS staff were really lovely though. I would also say don’t try and rush back to work give yourself enough time to recover. Also peppermint oil is your friend and you might be very constipated after because of all the meds! And wear loose fitting clothes nothing, heavy - I made that mistake a few times and left me feeling worse. Good luck hope it goes well.
Thank you for sharing, and glad to hear that you already have less pain with the cyst removed hope the rest of your recovery goes well ☺️ I will give myself the time to recover, i initially thought I’d be back to work in a week and then my consultant advised that it would be at least 2 weeks, I had some time already booked off over Xmas so may not be back in work until January. Really good tip with the clothes I will plan for loose fitting tops and leggings if not to uncomfortable.
good luck, hope it goes as well as possible!
Hey,
I had a bilateral cystetomy last year. I had 2 weeks off work and 1 week working from home. The first 5 days were pretty rough but was able to get up and do things after that. I did have a 10cm and an 8cm removed and stage 4 endo removed too which may have been why it was so painful! Get some pepper mint tea and a V shaped pillow which helped me sleep at night!
Are you going private for IVF or the NHS? I was put on decaptyl post surgery which meant I didn’t have my period for 6 months. We had to then be actively trying for 6 months before referral to the NHS. But if you are going private I would make the appointment for as soon as you’re feeling up to it to get the ball rolling. The whole process of IVF and waiting around is very painful!
Something I found no one mentioned to me was about how your fertility is affected by a cystectomy. Unfortunately one of my cyst returned 3 months post surgery but I am about to go into my second round of IVF due to a low egg reserve likely from surgery/endometriosis.
Thank you for the advice, I initially wasn’t soo keen on the surgery due to possible impact on fertility and ovarian reserve, but the pain is too much to manage.
We went private for the Lap and have been referred by the GP for fertility , the fertility nurse in my area did get in touch with me after i contacted PALS to find out waitlist times, she said i will be seen next year but couldn’t tell me when or how long the average waitlist is.
Our current plan is to go private for IVF as soon as I am healed to get things moving sooner.
Wishing you all the best on your journey !
Yeah I don’t blame you they are extremely painful!
If you haven’t already had your tubes flushed I would ask them to do it during your surgery as that may speed up things with the IVF from the NHS side.
Hope all goes well
All the above advise and also take some sanitary pads with you, I Bled alot after my cystectomy. Good luck
