Booked my lap today - experiences?

[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!

[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?

[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.