Booked my lap today - experiences?

[ausgirl]

Had put this in general but got no response - thought some of you endo girls might be lurking ......
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Having my lap on Thursday 25th June - not sure whether to be excited, or what - but will be relieved to know what's going on inside me!

Would anyone like to share their experiences - what is done pre op, what to expect on the day, what to expect after depending on what's done. I don't have my preop visit with gyno until the week prior so can't ask all of these things until then.

Thanks in advance

[toby]

Hi Ausgirl

is the lap to check things out or to remove the endo? I had a lap to check things out 2 months ago and it was only for 30mins. after it, it was a little sore and a bit of bleeding. I had it on the Fri and was pretty much ok by the mon, but decided to take the mon off any way.

If you mean a lap to remove the endo, well im having that along with other things this friday, so will be able to tell you then.

[CrystalBoo]

I had some cysts removed but it was a few years ago now and my memory is not so good. Um, really what I remember most is the shoulder/back pain afterwards (while still in hospital) I recommend taking your own heat pack of some kind because it's really common. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[ausgirl]

The lap is to investigate suspected endo with possible removal and removalof endometrioma on left ovary.

[Amy_jellybean]

Hi girls,

Im going back to the gyno tomorrow about a Lap.

I had abnormal cells (CNI 4) on my cervix when I was 19 after a colposcopy, went back in 4 weeks later for a Letz procedure to have the abnormal cells removed and have finally got through the mamouth waiting list at King Edward to been seen....yay!

[dusty]

Hi Ausgirl I have moved this into the Endo/PCOS area as many of the women in here have experienced laps.

I have had two laps. For one of them I was given a (foul!) solution to take before the op to clear my bowels. Both laps I was under anaesthetic and woke up fine. Was pretty sore for the days following and it was at least 2 weeks before I felt better. The wounds were minor and caused little 'conversation' scars one in my belly button the other two below the bikini line.

I was so glad to have my laps. They discovered endometriosis which has affected my fertility and were able to treat it. Its better to know what is going on so we can get something done about it IMO.

Good luck!

[xoxTinaxox]

Hi Ausgirl

I had my lap back in February this year. It was to investigate and treat endo that may be present (which is was). I had sever endo that my gyno had managed to remove all by cutting it out. The procedure itself went for about 30 minutes.

On the day you will have to fast for at least 6 hours before your op, including no water. A nurse will go through a series of questions with you before you are admitted. After the procedure its just a matter of how your body copes with what it has just gone through. For me I had no shoulder pain, just abdonimal bloating that lasted a few days. I think it also took about 1 week for my bowl movements to become normal again.

2 months has now passed since the op, and I'm still waiting for my period to get back to normal.

The pain associated with endo is slowly going away which is really great! I am now booked in for IVF which is due to start at my next cycle.

I have also started Chinese herbal medicine and Acupuncture, which also helps heaps with endo - if thats an avenue you'd like to explore. I have heard so many great things about it. It actually helps your body naturally get back to normal with amazing results!

Good Luck!

Tina
xoxoxox

[ausgirl]

Were those of you who had a fair amount of endo removed required to stay in over night or did they let you go home that evening?
My gyno says it he removes major amounts I will expect to stay in for 2-3 days minimum - but then perhaps he's saying that just to make sure I am prepared. I handle pain pretty well.
I read somewhere on the net where someone had to wee and poo before they were allowed to go home - is this true? I can't imagine that you would be able to poo the same day after fasting.

Also do you have to shave before hand?

[Brooke03]

ausgirl,

I have had 2 laps, my first one better than the other, i seemed to recover better from that one. I too had to have the worst bowel prep the day before and that is not at all plesant. As for the day of the op I had to fast and that is about all. With mine i didn't have to shave or anything they did all that when i was under.
After the first one i was out the same day but with the second one i had really bad shoulder tip pain and was only in over night. The bleeding afterward was not really as bad as what i thought which was good. I was able to leave as soon as i ate, drank and walked to the toilet and back with out feeling sick and dizzy.
And neither of mine worked which is a pain as i have found out now that i have adenomyosis as well
It is different with everyone but there is nothing to be scared of.
I have a feeling the i will be having another one soon as i am thinking about TTC.
Good luck and i hope that everything works out xxx
Brooke

[Ducky]

Ahoy.

I'm getting my first lap on May 8th (it's dawning closer )
Going off what my obgyn and gp said, they will try to make you pee but they will give you a dry cracker and see if you can hold that down before they let you go.

For the shoulder pain you're meant to move your shoulders a bit when you wake up to stop the gas from settling. However I doubt anyone would remember that.
Good luck with your surgery.

[Amy_jellybean]

Hi girls,

Just got home from my appointment with the Gyno. I am all booked in to have my lap done on 9th June that they find whatever is wrong. I have been given a few pamphlets to look through and have been told the rest of the info will be sent out....actually feel a bit nervous now that its all booked.

[ausgirl]

*bump*

Haven't really had my questions answered yet!

[tharr]

I had one done a couple of weeks ago. Mine was investigative for suspected endo.

It was done under day surgery and I was home by lunchtime. I'm not sure quite what you want to know but I'll run you through my day.

First off, nil by mouth from midnight. I had to check in to day surgery at 7am. After paper work was completed I changed into a hospital gown and went through to a pre-op room. Here they checked my vitals - blood pressure, any meds etc. Then I got on a trolley and the anesthetist came to talk to me about me health and what he was going to do. Then he put the canula into my hand ready. They wheeled me into theatre and onto the operating table and then put in the sleepy drugs. Cue mental block.

When I woke up I was in the recovery room. Felt very light-headed and spaced out for a while. After about half-hour to an hour they moved me to sit in a chair and a bit later brought me tea and toast. The doctor came to speak to me and it turns out I had mild endo which he had removed. When I felt ready they let me go home (no toilet trip required). For the rest of the day I felt lightheaded and not quite with it. Apart from that I was lucky with after effects - no pain, only 1 or 2 twinges in the shoulder. I did have a very sore throat though (from the breathing tube in theatre).

The next day or two I had to move carefully as the incision sites were a bit sore but each day I felt better and better. By the third day I felt normal again. Stitches came out after 5 days. I had some sensations inside - i think where the endo was treated and that lasted around a week. Not painful as such, just like I didn't want to stretch too much.

All is all the whole experience was better than I had expected, and I felt well looked after. I really would try not to worry too much. You will be fine

Hope that helps.

[JLeigh29]

Aus-girl. I have been totally honest about what I went through below. Mine is just one story though, and most likely won't be anything like what happens with you.

Warning: *****Please only read if you are prepared for all the gory details! This is not a nice story!*****
I had a lap for endo investigation and removal about 4 years ago. The dr suspected pretty severe endo and told me I'd probably be required to stay in o'night, 2 days if it was really bad.

I had to drink the horrible bowel prep the day before (do not leave the house while doing this. In fact, don't leave sight of the toilet!). I had to fast for 6 hours before the op, and went through the same pre op routine as tharr. One of the nurses shaved the top part of my pubic area, just below the belly button.

After I woke I felt really nauseous as a result of the anaesthetic and spent the next 48 hours vomiting, even though I hadn't eaten for 3 days. Obviously, they wouldn't send me home. I had four tiny incisions, one in belly button, one in top of pubic area and two either side. They're about 1/2 cm now. I also contracted an infection in hospital, so ended up spending 8 days in hospital on an antibiotic drip. I was in quite a bit of pain (pulling sensation inside, abdominal pain and bloating) and it took a week for me to regain control of my bowel. I had a catheter for about the first 3 days. I couldn't get out of bed for nearly three days, and had to have help showering until I went home.

The gyno found and removed "the most severe endometriosis I've ever seen in someone of your age" from my vagina and just near the bowel wall. If it'd been any closer to the bowel, I'd have needed a bowel resection. The gyno put me straight on the pill full time (no sugar tablets) as a hormonal treatment to help prevent the endo recurring. However, his preferred treatment would have been for me to get preg asap. That wasn't an option at the time.

I ended up being readmitted to hospital for two days, two days after I came out, due to severe abdominal pain. I didn't have any shoulder pain though, which seems common.

A month later the gyno did a follow up lap as day surgery. He checked that I was healing properly and not scarring. This was a short procedure, only about 15 minutes. Again the anaesthetic made me nauseous and I spent an extra 3 hours in recovery (and no food! Everyone else was given sandwiches and drinks.) Everyone in the day surgery had to do a wee before they were allowed to go. All up I took around 3 weeks off work and it was nearly six months until I felt good again.

Now, having said all that, having the lap was the best thing I ever did. I had terrible endo symptoms before the lap, which disappeared straight away.

Good luck Aus-Girl and I hope I haven't freaked you out too much!

[nic]

Far out! I just did a HUGE post and my computer shut down!!

ok, pre op and on the day - I went private and met my FS at our first appointment who booked me in for 2 weeks later. I then didn't see him till the morning of my op. I didn't meet the anaethetist till the same morning either.
I arrived early in the morning. Taken to my room and asked some questions again to make sure they had the right person. They gave me some betadine soap, told me to have a shower and wash myself and not to forget my bellybutton. They gave me an earbud to wipe over the soap and then use it to clean my bellybutton. I got dressed in their lovely backless gown and throw away knickers that do up on the sides. I had a lap, with dye and curette, so you might be able to wear cotton knickers if you are having the lap only?

They came back in, gave me my name bracelet, went over my history again and gave me a shave. They had their own shaver, with a sterile pre-packed clipper attachement, so it only gets used on you and then thrown away.
My FS came in for a chat about what he was going to do, where I was on his operating list (think I was 2nd, couldve been third) explained that I would see him later on that day and all going well I could go home that night. Anaethetist came in later for our first meeting. Asked my history, previous op's etc.. told him I was nervous and he got something for me to calm down.

The first person on the list took longer than expected for their surgery, so I was delayed in going to theatre. May be something to be prepared for as well...you are sitting there watching a clock, and waiting and waiting then wondering. so don't worry if they are running late.
Eventually they took me to theatre, well these rooms they have off to the side of the theatre. FS came and saw me again, and they wheeled me into theatre. I was introduced to the theatre staff, anaethetist came over with his assistant and they set me up and put the needle in the back of my hand. They put the mask over my face when ready, and chatted to me while I drifted off to sleep.

I woke in recovery. I was in theatre for around 45 minutes. Stayed in recovery for a little then taken back to my room. The nurses came to check my BP and temp for a little while and eventually they gave me a little something to eat and drink. They disconnected the drip, but left the needle still in my hand.

When I first got up out of bed and stood up, I was pretty dizzy. Had some pain, but it was manageable.
I had to wait for the FS to come to see me, which he didn't show up till around 5-6pm. We had a chat, he explained what he found, asked my history again, told us we would need IVF and to make an appointment with him for the following week so we could have a bigger chat with him about our plan. the fee for the follow up visit was included in the initial amount we paid to him as well.

Eventually the nurses came and took the needle out of my hand. I think they were asking if I had been to the loo or not, or if I had passed wind.

I had some yoga pants to wear home as well. You will want something loose fitting and comfortable round your tummy. Also, some footwear that is easy to put on without needing to bend down will help too.
A nice wheat bag or heat pillow. I used this for the shoulder pain i was having. Some people find it eases if they are laying down, some find it is better if they are elevated a little.

You will probably need someone to drive you home as well. I had to sign a form saying that I wasnt going to drive myself for 24 hours after surgery.

I also had this sticky stuff over the 3 incisions, which I just stood under a hot shower to help ease them off after a couple of days. Didn't have external stitches, so didn't need anything removed.

Ok, can't think of anything else at the moment, hoping that might have helped to answer some of your questions ausgirl

[esperan]

Hi Ausgirl,
I had a lap to remove a cyst from my left ovary in Dec/08. The bowels preparation was the killer... I wish i have never to do it again.... during a week I had to eat select food from a list. Nothing that had too much fibre... A day before surgery had to stop eating by 11am...had to drink loads of this preparation that tasted like a salty lemonade and going to the toilet every 30 min. I hated it.
On the day of lap I was fine... didn't even feel hungry in the morning. My cyst was bigger than expected, so instead a 1 hour surgery it was 3 hours!!! Woke up in pain... extreme pain on my belly and shoulders. Nurse gave me drugs and in 10 min. I was fine... I had to stay in hospital overnight and had a pee drip attached. On the same day I had a shower, but it was painfull to walk... It was scared to sleep in the hospital so I asked my DH to sleep in the chair of my room... poor thing... I had to take a week off work but after that i was fine (but could not wear jeans for a month...just loose clothes) Scar is not big at all. I didn't have to poo in the hospital before I left, but they ask you to contact them if you have any issues with your bowels working back again...
It's been now almost 5 months, I'm already on my second IVF cycle...
and... intercourse doesn't hurt anymore...
Good luck!!

Cost $ 2500 (hospital + doc fee) back from private health insurance $ 1500.

[Mrs P]

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!

[ausgirl]

Thank you girls, those are the answers I was looking for. My doc's receptionist said he said to tell me I needed to be prepared to stay in 2 -3 days if I had major surgery or longer. I am assuming he wanted to give me aheads up on worst case (an maybe incase I was a sook when it came to pain!). I really don't like staying in hospital if I can avoid it - no one sleeps there anyway!
7 weeks and counting......