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!