Laparoscopy for Endo - Dr Reid @ Liverpool public?

[juniper76]

GL with your lap! I had both of mine in Brisbane (and privately), so can't help. From what I've heard 9 months isn't too bad a wait for the public system (still a heck of a long wait though!). I'm glad you finally have a date!

If you're interested, I have a list of recovery tips on my blog. There's a link to the blog in my signature and the link to the page is on the right-hand side of my blog. It's called "Laparoscopy Checklist". I used it to help prepare for both of my laps.

[Flaneur]

Thanks everyone. I do have PHI, trouble is with two surgeons, anesthetist, etc etc, the gap was going to be over $9000 if I went privately. Simply not something I can afford as a part time teacher Unfortunate, as my old surgeon in Victoria only charged the PHI rebate. I believe surgeons can pretty much charge what they like and don't have to stick to the scheduled fee. Unfortunately I live in a pretty affluent area where things are known to cost more for no good reason! Hence having to schlep all the way to Liverpool. But at least Reid is known as being one of the best in NSW, so hopefully it's worth the wait.

Faye, glad to hear you didn't need the resection - that's what i'm so worried about. Honestly, three nights in hospital would probably be ok for me. I have a toddler at home so it would give me a little recovery time without chasing her! Though I know I was sick of hospital 2 days after having my c-section.

Goldnegirl85, good for you, having PHI

Juniper76 - will absolutely be heading for your blog now. Thank you! Any tips on the dreaded bowel prep? Ugh!

[juniper76]

I had no problems with the bowel prep, but I didn't have a toddler at the time! You need to plan to be at home all day because you'll spend a lot of time on the toilet. If you can get someone to help you out (ie watching your toddler while you're on the toilet), that would be a good idea, otherwise, you'll have to make do as best you can. I found I spent the most time on the loo about half an hour (I think?) after taking the first dose. So, even if you can only get someone for a few hours in the morning (assuming your first dose is in the morning), you'd probably cope okay the rest of the day. I don't recall the second dose having as drastic a reaction, but maybe I've blocked it from my memory?

I was told that I will need a bowel resection one day, but thankfully not quite yet. It's scary knowing that it's in your future though. The recovery after a bowel resection is definitely longer. I needed 8 days after my first lap (stage III endo removed), but I think a bowel resection needs weeks to recover. My second lap there wasn't much re-growth and I only needed 2 days before I felt back to normal (and most of that was shoulder pain from some gas they didn't remove). Given the extent of damage you are expecting to find, I'd be planning for at least a week of you needing help, but possibly longer if they do need to work on your bowel. I'm not sure how long is required if they need to do anything with the bladder?

ps. Holy dooley at the $9k OOP! Mine were nowhere near as much, thank goodness!

pps. I stayed in hospital overnight both times, but last time I almost had to stay an extra night because my bladder wasn't doing the right thing after the catheter was removed (but it eventually cooperated late in the afternoon so I was able to go home).