Booked my lap today - experiences?

[Floweryfields]

Hey ausgirl,

I had a lap last year. One thing to prepare for is shoulder pain. The gas they use to 'blow up/expand' your insides while they're in there can irritate your diaphragm, which can cause referred pain in the shoulder-tips. For me the ONLY thing that helped this was a heat pack (the wheat ones you can microwave are awesome). Painkillers (even prescribed ones) didn't help. So, definitely make sure you have one on hand when you get home.

Also, I think my op was on a Tuesday and I didn't work for the rest of the week. I spent a lot of time on the couch and didn't move too much, consequently the shoulder pain hung around for a while. I think if you at least try to be a little mobile after the first couple of days it will help it go away faster. On the day I went to have my stitches out (I had 3 incisions in total), DH was away, so I drove myself. Walking back to the car afterwards I had the most full-on shoulder pain (this was like 6-7 days after the op) that I nearly fell over!! So I think the gas was still built-up. Anyway, don't want to freak you out, just be prepared and you'll be fine!

I didn't have any endo removed so can't comment on staying in hospital, I did it as day surgery.

Random fact - if you have a belly ring, you'll have to take it out as it can interfere with the equipment! I took mine out and decided that, then aged 29, I could probably live without it ha ha.

Gross fact - your wound may ooze a little. Also when you wake up from the lap you'll probably have to 'clean yourself' up a little when you first go to the bathroom. (TMI but it's just some blood and the fluid if you have your tubes flushed etc etc) I was a bit embarrassed but nurses are very professional. I think they supplied me with a pad for the trip home but good to have one in your handbag just in case.

You'll definitely need someone to drive you home. Take a book/mag to read while you're waiting to go in.

Hope that helps, any other Q's just ask!

On the discharge thing - did you have a hysteroscope (sp?) as well? If not I am wondering why you would bleed from the vagina if the lap is done inside the stomach not inside the vag if you get me? I am not having the hysteroscope just the investigative lap - will I need to take pads with me anyway?

[beckie73]

HI Girls

Im new on this site but i think it may be more informative than the one i was previuosly on,especially with all my problems!

2 weeks ago i had my 3rd lap for endo, 1 in 2001, 1 in 2006 and now this one. I found myself a wonderful FS who specialises in endo and laps, he doesnt burn it off he cuts it out and has assured me he will be very suprised if my endo comes back at all, yippee.

This time i had 5 cuts, previuosly i only had 3 but no pain at all really, just the wicked shoulder pain. I also had a hystroscopy to check out all my bits an dthey found that my cervix was blocked from scar tissue from op for abnormal pap in 01 and that i have a hole in my uterus due to c section not healing from 2 years ago so all in all i htink the outcome was a good one and well worth the lap an dthe few days of pain.

[esperan]

Good luck!
In my case I stayed one night in hospital but my doc actually wanted me to stay longer...
I'm stubborn and I didn't want to stay there and thought I would be better at home...mistake...
Just to let you know, the hospital bed (with remote control to every single position) was a lot better than a 'flat' bed at home....hehehehe....
First night at home had to sleep on the recliner in my living room...Hurts to lay down and stand up for at least 3-4 days... but the first 2 days are the worst...
I had 4 incisions - Lap was on Monday and on Thursday went to take the stitches out.

[Mrs P]

On the discharge thing - did you have a hysteroscope (sp?) as well? If not I am wondering why you would bleed from the vagina if the lap is done inside the stomach not inside the vag if you get me? I am not having the hysteroscope just the investigative lap - will I need to take pads with me anyway?

Hmm yeah I think I had the hysteroscope as well - from memory I think it was mainly the fluid from the tube flushing. But I guess it wouldn't hurt to take some in your bag anyway

[JLeigh29]

I didn't have the hysteroscope, but I bled for several days afterwards because they found and excised the endo in my vagina. It depends where they 'go in' - in my case they inserted instruments there! - and what you have done. I'd be prepared, just in case!

Good luck again!

[Ducky]

I had my lap on Friday.
It went well, they got the majority of the endo find out in 2 weeks if I need another surgery.

The most painful ordeal out of my whole surgery was the shoulder pain.
I've spent most of my time sitting up, I dreaded the fact of laying down.
A big praise to Dr Karuna Raja, Although I was initially frightened by the hotmail account (I'm a I.T. Network major) she was an amazing comfort and did very good work.

I also suggest shaving yourself before the surgery.
I had a very low incision and the clear tape got caught on the hair. I ended up cutting it out because of it pulling on hair.

[31becc]

Hi Girls - thought I would join this thread, as I have book a lap/hsg for 22 May - am a little nervous about what they could find. I have been on chlomid for #5 cycles BD around O and nothing. So hopefully will get some answers next week.

Ducky thanks for the tip - might take that into consideration!

[Nay]

Hi ausgirl

I had my first lap in 07, and am getting my 2nd in June.

I was told that it would be a day surgery and that i would be fine to go back to work in a few days. Only i spent 3 nights in the hospital and had 2 weeks off work.

I had endo removed by burning it off with a laser. Some of the other members have said they had theirs cut out, so maybe that is the difference. When i woke up i was so disorientated that i crashed out again and didn't wake up until the night time. I was in excruciating pain and could hardly move at all.
The shoulder tip pain was unbearable, and going to the toilet was even worse. I bed for a few days as well
As i was in hospital for 3 nights, i was bed ridden and couldn't even get up to go to the toilet. I had to call for a nurse to use a bed pan every time i needed to pee. (which was every few hours).
When i finally got to go home, i was bed ridden again. My stomach was all swallon and yellow and i constantly felt nauseous.

its seems that everyone experience is different, depending on the severity of your condition and where it is located. - i did take one thing from the surgery tho... i now cannot stand anything touching my belly button. I used to have a belly ring and could not put it back in after i recovered because the sensation of something in my belly button made me nauseous... it pretty much recreated the feeling i had after surgery.

This time around, i am getting a hysteroscopy and die studies done as well. Due to my past experience, i am not looking forward to june at all. I actually feel pain all the time. most people only experience the pains when they have their period, only i have that pain without them too. Its a burning sensation in my pelvic area. I have no idea if any one else has this feeling too?

Good Luck Ausgirl, and try not to get freaked out by everyone else's stories.

[JLeigh29]

Nay - I had pain at other times too. That's part of the reason it took so long to diagnose me with endo. I had an endoscopy for suspected stomach ulcers and all sorts of other things in the years before. Another reason was that I was so young and the drs I saw all said endo isn't usual/likely/possible in someone so young (I first saw a dr for period pain when I was 18) - that's just not true.

31becc - Good luck with your lap. Not long to wait to get some answers.

[Nay]

Nay - I had pain at other times too. That's part of the reason it took so long to diagnose me with endo. I had an endoscopy for suspected stomach ulcers and all sorts of other things in the years before. Another reason was that I was so young and the drs I saw all said endo isn't usual/likely/possible in someone so young (I first saw a dr for period pain when I was 18) - that's just not true.

31becc - Good luck with your lap. Not long to wait to get some answers.

I was 20 when i first had it removed, but i was around 16 when the extreme pains started. The doctors just kept giving me pain meds.

Its getting to the point where it is interfering in my day to day life, like work. I've had to call in sick both Friday and today due to the pains i'm getting, and lets just say my supervisor isn't exactly nice about it.
My gyno is wanting to push the surgery forward by 2 weeks. I think im going to have to, it just a matter of sorting it out with work and the hospital now.

[JLeigh29]

Nay - I had to ask for a referral to a gyno because my dr was happy just to keep on trying pain meds and put me on the pill with no breaks. She wanted me to 'wait a year and see how you are'. Once I got to the gyno, I had my lap just a couple of weeks later - it all happened so fast and gyno said there was no time to waste. Turned out he was right and my endo was just a mm or two off the bowel wall. If it had been any closer it would've meant a bowel resection.

I'd definitely move forward with your lap if you can. Good luck.

[31becc]

Nay & jleigh - I saw my FS on Thursday just been and he has booked me in for Friday this week - he said that there was no point in waiting and I didn't really want too. I would definately bring it forward if it is going to give you some answers.

Nay the pain sound horrible. I don't get too much apart from when I get AF - I feel very nautious. Mind you my hips are really really really painful around ovulation - which apparently i am doing, the dots are connecting~

[JLeigh29]

That's great Becc. Let us know how it all goes.

[Nay]

becc and jleigh - thanks heaps. I spoke to my boss today and told her straight out, that if they didnt want me to have any more days off due to the pains, then they have no choice then to push my leave forward. thankfully it worked and im now scheduled for june 5th. its going to be a tough weekend because im actually meant to be moving house at the same time. lol i feel so sorry for my partner right now. His going to have to do it without me, ahh thats love though, right? lol

Good luck to everyone who is getting their laps done soon. I truly wish you all success.

[Amy_jellybean]

Hi Nay,

God we are in the same situation...i'm booked in to have my op on 9th June and my husband and I are meant to be getting the keys to our new house on the 10th! No heavy lifting for us

[Ducky]

*Before I write this, I am seeing a doctor on Monday just thought I'd ask here first.

I had my surgery on the 8th of May, but nearly 2 weeks later I get this sharp pain just above my right hip when I pee. Did any of you girls experience this? Does it go away by itself?

[YDI]

i had a diagnostic lap in sept 06 nothing was removed as my gyane said it was too extensive and was all over the bowels so referred me to a endo surgeon and colorectoral surgeon. For the diagnostic lap i went home that day and had maybe 2-3 days off afterwards.

In June 07 i was scheduled for surgery and had a 6hr laparotomy that included a double bowel resection. Was in hosp for about 2.5 weeks and off work for just over 3 months.

[JLeigh29]

YDI - Sorry to hear about your major surgery. Can I ask, how has the bowel resection affected your life since? Are there certain foods you can't eat? And, has there been any sign your endo has returned? What are the chances of it coming back? I am going to my gyno on Tues and am concerned my endo has returned. It was so close to the bowel last time and if it has returned, considering my symptoms a bowel resection is a distinct possibility. I am trying not to jump the gun, but can't help but think about it.