Positive Laparoscopy experience ✨️🖤

[Bramble_B]

When I was searching for reassurance about my impending laparoscopy, I found veryyy few positive posts. And that makes sense, bc when things go well, we're too busy living happily to come back to the forums and give an update. So I thought I should do this now before I get too much fun energy and forget!

Tl;dr: Laparoscopy day was easy, endo found and removed, initial recovery going well - 2nd day so far

Doctor: Dr Dewart - Spire Murrayfield

Caveat: I paid for my gynae consultation(£200) with my work health cash plan insurance, and my parents helped me pay for the private Laparoscopy (£4900).

Caveat 2: I am a healthy active person in my early 30s, and am aware that my experience may not be universal

Preparation in the weeks before

• Regular workouts

• Ate as healthily as possible, with loads of protein shakes

• Got lots of sun, spent time with fun, relaxing people

Preparation the day before

• Had a session with my therapist

• Got a nice AirBnB and had a 2-hr hot bath, listening to the soothing meditations I found at this site: rcoa.ac.uk/patients/patient...

• Followed fasting instructions and stayed hydrated

• Brought my childhood stuffed animal

• Bought a new dressing gown to feel good on the ward

• Packed a plastic baggie to store my jewelry/piercings - the tape they use for piercings is v bad for your skin, just take everything out if you can

Preparation on the ward

• Didn't have anyone with me; I personally cope better with anxiety when I'm not having to reassure anyone else

• Sent out a pre-written copy/paste message to my loved ones who wanted updates

• Ignored calls from that energy vampire

• Listened to spa music and held my crystals (calcite for mind, cherry quartz for body, chevron amethyst for soul), deep breathing

• Asked as many questions as I could think of to the anaesthetist+consultant, but only ones I wanted answers to

The actual surgery

After they brought me to the theatre, they put a cannula in my hand and the anaesthetist started talking to me about the wonders of the deep sea and the galaxy, the vast beautiful expanses just outside our reach. And then I was asleep.

And then I was awake! All the worry and preparation and doubt channeled into what feels like literally moments. The best nap of your life, but experienced for only 10 seconds.

I was woozy but up in my ward room resting around 10.30 (hospital check-in was at 7am). Wrote a short message update and copy/pasted again. People understand that it's a lot of brain power to update each person individually!

Slept in between nurse visits, ate lunch, snuck to the toilet by myself and put on underwear bc I hate not wearing it. But KEEP THE PAD BETWEEN YOUR LEGS. Not sure if it's universal but I bled a LOT the first few hours. Bright red, not quite period blood.

Results

"Laparoscopy today confirmed the diagnosis of endometriosis, just a small amount a mild stage two behind your left ovary and on the left uterosacral ligament extending towards the rectum. All visible endometriosis was removed. I also checked an endometrial biopsy and I changed your Kyleena removing the old one and putting in a new Kyleena for you. Interestingly the Kyleena is slightly smaller and your womb is quite small so a good choice for you. The hormonal release from the Kyleena is virtually identical to the Mirena, at 19.5µg/day compared with 20µg/day for the Mirena."

After

Left the hospital at around 13:30. Wounds didn't yet hurt bc of the pain meds, no endo pain (because excision!), good vibes. It was sunny and hot so my pal and I went for a slow 3-mile walk around the park, and bought some food I missed eating, from back when I was avoiding pain flares.

The walk helped shift the gas bubble that filled my whole torso, and it eased the shoulder pain.

At night I took omeprazole and 500mg naproxen, a zopiclone and weed gummy to sleep, and wore an adult diaper. I hate worrying about blood stains and I was bleeding a lot. Helps for the pain to sleep a bit more upright, earplugs+eye mask.

This morning is day 2. Woke up with soreness at the incision sites but nothing beneath. I can feel that the endo is gone, and I feel so emotionally healthy having finally found the cause of my struggle.

I hope someone finds this helpful 🖤

[Archi_]

Gosh, I didn’t know how much I needed to hear this, thank you for sharing! I have my surgery in a few weeks and the internet can be the devil on your shoulder at times. I hope you have a speedy rest of your recovery, and thank you for sharing your positive experience!

[Bramble_B in reply to Archi_]

Best of luck to you!! It'll be grand 🖤🖤

[Endowarrior36]

You are smashing it! Best of luck with your recovery xxx

[Kardikat]

thank you for the good news story

My gynae has advised me it’s an over night stay. Were you over night? Or home that afternoon? I’m in Aus not sure if that makes a difference. Op next Thursday and I’m so scared!

[Bramble_B in reply to Kardikat]

Different hospitals might have different policies, but I was only a day patient. I have a latex allergy and they do those surgeries first. So I arrived at 7am and left the hospital entirely mid-afternoon.

Getting any surgery is really scary - but have you watched Severance? It was literally like when they go to the severed floor in the elevator. It's wild that a procedure I stressed so much about only felt like 5 seconds and I wasn't even present for it, mentally 😅

I had the lap with excision and coil placement 2nd April, and now I have no bruising, am going on long walks, hanging out with friends etc. Creepily short recovery time.