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?

[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.