Laparoscopy

[Bluelady-sing]

How does this work? Is it through your belly button?

Did you keep your knickers on

Are you sedated or general anesthetic

[C2691]

I had my laparoscopy under general. I don’t think they would do this under sedation. No you just have a gown on, they give some people those hospital paper knickers but I didn’t get them.

I had 2 incisions. One in belly button and one further down. I know some people have 3 incisions though. It depends what you’re having done.

[Bluelady-sing in reply to C2691]

Ok. Culturally it would be strange to wake up with no knickers on.

Particularly If the surgeon was male

[C2691 in reply to Bluelady-sing]

When I woke up the surgeon wasn’t there. I was just in recovery with lady nurses. I’m sure it will be fine. 😊

[Bluelady-sing in reply to C2691]

The idea of waking up with no knickers on

[Hidden in reply to Bluelady-sing]

Hi. I was able to leave my own on, had my op Friday just gone and they did leave some paper ones too. I am sure if you explain that you would feel more comfortable they will understand and want you to be comfortable.

[willemine]

They make three little holes 2 above your belley button one below your belly buttom and they blow your belly up with gass so they have more place to look. In those holes they put there camara and surgery aquitment. Most of the time you re sedated.

[PelucaPastora83]

Good morning. I had a laparoscopy in December so everything is fresh in my mind. In answer to your questions...

I had 3 incisions - one threw belly button, one near my hip and one about 3 inches below belly button but I think it depends on the reason for your laparoscopy. You wear good old nhs paper pants and It’s under general anaesthetic. Hope that helps and let me know if you have any other questions. The NHS website is really helpful too x

[Yas45]

Hi I had my lap done in July last year so when I got to the hospital they gave me clothes to change which was a dress, a gown and paper like knickers. I also got stockings to wear for blood clots. Then the anesthetic and surgeon will come to you and talk about the operation.

When you go to the operating theatre I had a pillow with me and I had to lie down but leave the back of my dress open. Then I was given general anesthetic and when I woke up in the recovery room I was told I had 4 cuts by the surgeon and she told me what they found. i had a cut on my belly button one just on top of your bikini line and one on each side of the bikini line. I also felt like I was on my period as I could feel blood and I was told that I had a pad on and it is normal to bleed after the operation.

For me the pain of the cuts was bad and I was given paracetamol, morphine and buscopan. i was given naproxen to take on discharge and I was taking that and co cocodamol for a week.

My advice is that if your feeling nervous tell the nurse and surgeon as I was so scared I threw up when I got to the hospital and was really stressed out as it was my first operation.

The endometriosis forum was really good for me to help me prepare for the operation and the recovery

[Yas45 in reply to Yas45]

To add I didn’t have the knickers on when I woke up just a huge pad.

[Bluelady-sing in reply to Yas45]

How long did the bleeding last?

[Yas45 in reply to Bluelady-sing]

I think I was bleeding for a week

[Bluelady-sing]

How did you wear a pad? With the paper knickers?

How long did you stay in hospital? Was this NHS or private?

[Bluelady-sing in reply to Bluelady-sing]

Do you think if I ask the nurse(female) they will put my knickers on

[Bluelady-sing]

Was the surgeon female?

[Alaine1 Administrator in reply to Bluelady-sing]

I’ve had 4 laproscopies. Surgeons can be male or female. There will be other medical staff in the operation such as scrub nurses, anaesthetist who will be a mix of male and female. Usually it’s your consultant who carries out the surgery. They don’t put the paper knickers back on after the surgery as the originals are cut off plus it would be very difficult to put a new pair on. I’ve always had the attractive stockings on for this surgery and others I have, it’s more or less routine to be given them. The pad they put on afterwards is a maternity pad but usually you are advised to bring your own in for travelling home. The bleeding I’m afraid is individual. Some don’t bleed much whilst for me it was a couple of weeks but the endometriosis and adenomyosis means that I suffer both prolonged periods (3 weeks) and heavy. Some people also find that their period is delayed for a few weeks to months after this type of surgery. Unfortunately I’ve never been that lucky and had a period the day after surgery whereas the others were on time. I hope this helps.

[Bluelady-sing in reply to Alaine1]

How long did you take of work?

[Bluelady-sing]

Would they let me put on some granny knickers to hold the pad post cooperatively can I choose a surgeon

[Alaine1 Administrator in reply to Bluelady-sing]

The surgeon is usually your consultant who you see in the clinic. You’d have to ask if you wanted a different surgeon but it would be unusual to ask for a different surgeon because of their gender especially as women will be present whilst the laparoscopy is going ahead. Plus whilst you can ask there is no guarantees they will accommodate your request and if they do it might mean your wait is a lot longer.

With the knickers you’d need to wait until you were back on the ward if you are staying in or some hospitals have an area especially for day case surgery only. Most people go home the same day. I’ve stayed in for 3 out of 4 laparoscopies.

I took 3 weeks out for 2 of mine and 2 weeks for the remaining two surgeries. In hindsight I should have taken longer off as I struggled a lot at work and hindered my recovery. How long you will depends on what they do. If there is no endometriosis present and nothing else is found the surgery will only be very short so probably 5 days maximum will be needed. I hope this helps.

[Bluelady-sing in reply to Alaine1]

Whilst they are in there can they suck out out any old lining. I think I have endo

[Alaine1 Administrator in reply to Bluelady-sing]

If there is any endometriosis present they usually remove it at the same time. The gold standard is excision although on and around the ovary it is sometimes necessary to do ablation instead

[Bluelady-sing]

Ablation?

[Alaine1 Administrator]

Ablation is a method of removing endometriosis if it is very superficial or on/near an ovary as gynaecologists worry about impacting on fertility

[Hidden]

I had a laparoscopy Thursday last week. I had a female consultant (not my normal one) but there was a mixture of male and female staff who were present. I had a hospital gown on and the stockings but no underwear as I had a coil put in while I was under. You have to leave your gown open at the back as it makes it easier for the surgeon to get to you. I had 2cuts, one in my belly button and one to the left of it. I had a pad in between my legs when I came round and once i was on the ward I was able to get ready (although I was extremely sick so couldn’t do anything) I was given tea and toast and had to do a wee to prove things were working normally before being let home. Been very sore the last couple of days and more tired than usual which is normal but everyone is different. Just listen to your body! X

[Bluelady-sing in reply to Hidden]

How long were you in hospital. What was the laparoscopy for

[Hidden]

It was to see if I had endo as I had lots of different symptoms but I don’t. The consultant said it’s good news that I don’t have it but also annoying as I have no answers. She did say if she was to have found any she would have burnt it off if it was a small amount and if there had been a lot I would have been booked in for more surgery. I am now being referred to a bowel specialist to get answers. I was in and out the same day. It was along day as I was so sick after the op (morphine didn’t agree with me!) and I couldn’t wee as much as they wanted x