Laparoscopy Q's...

[Aimz]

I'm sure there are probably a million threads with all this information but I really wanted to ask the questions myself - so sorry if you've had to answer them before!! So in regards to a laparoscopy......

How many keyholes do they make in your stomach?

Who has had problems with the gas afterwards (eg shoulder pain etc)?

How bad was that pain?

How long did you have off work?

When did you start feeling normal again?

Do the keyholes have stitches?

Does your stomach get bruised?

How long does the procedure take?

I've probably got a million more questions and I'll come back when I do!! Thanks to everyone in advance for answering my questions.

[hj1981]

Can i ask what are u getting done?

[Aimz]

Sorry - forgot to mention that part!

The GYN thinks I have endometriosis. It's a laparoscopy and removal of any endo, a tube flush and a D&C.

[Aimz]

sorry double post...

[Indadhanu]

How many keyholes do they make in your stomach? I had a tiny hole in my belly button, and a tiny hole at my pubic hair line. If you have endo and they need to burn it off they put another on in too *I think*

Who has had problems with the gas afterwards (eg shoulder pain etc)? I did, for about a day afterrwards. Pretty normal and not so much pain but uncomfy and really annoying.

How bad was that pain? Panadol took care of it for me. I was a bit stiff and bruised and getting out of bed the first day was a bit tricky (we DID have a waterbed though).

How long did you have off work? I was at uni so doesnt really count but I reckon 2-3 days would have been all I needed off.

When did you start feeling normal again? A week and I was feeling normal, no pain at all.

Do the keyholes have stitches? Mine didnt, just a bandaid over the pubic one for a few hours.

Does your stomach get bruised? Mine did, but some don't. It was mostly just around where they put the instruments in.

How long does the procedure take? For me it was barely an hour, I went under just after 10am and when I woke up in recovey it was 11am.

ETA: I had laparoscopy + hysteroscopy (the camera thing, i think thats what its called?) + dye studies (checks for blocked tubes)

[hj1981]

Oh okay
well i can maybe help u -but maybe not - ive only had laproscopic surgery to have gall bladder removed and ur answers are as follows

1. 4 key holes - one in belly button 2 on right hand side and 1 in middle of chest

2. didnt have any problem with Gas afterwards

3. pain wasnt too bad - did have pain killers - it was more uncomfortable moving around and getting out of bed etc - and i have a very low pain threshold!!!

4. i think i had a week or just under a week off work - which was pleanty of time

5. didnt really start feeling normal again until the wounds healed up and i knew they werent going to get infected or anything - i felt queesy looking at them - that was maybe a mth (is that what u meant by that question?)

6. no stomach wasnt bruised!

7. i didnt have same proceedure as u - but mine took about 2hrs - was a bit longer cause i was 29wks pregnant at the time!

So thats my experience on Laproscopic surgery

I have also had a D&C if u have any questions on that!

Hope i have been off some help too you!

[hj1981]

Ops i forgot - no stitches for me either - just steri-strips!!!

[Aimz]

I looked at my form and it says I am having a laparoscopy and a hysteroscopy (sp?). What's the difference?

What does the Dr mean when he says "We're going to flush your tubes to make sure they are working properly"? Is that the same thing you had Leasha?

[Indadhanu]

Lap is the incision thing, they go in through the stomach. Hys is a camera thats inserted ... down there ... just to check everything out. Well, thats my understanding of it.

Yep they flush them with a dye to make sure they arent blocked.

[satya]

The hyst bit is what they do when they think you have endo or if they have to get rid of fibroids etc. It looks inside the uterus. The lap is to look at the pelvic region in general (I think).

I had a lap/hyst/dye studies/D&C about 10 years ago.

I had two incisions & stitches. I was quite uncomfy around the top incision until the stitches were removed (can't remember how much later that was but I think around a week or so).

It was done on a Friday, I was back to work on the Monday but as I said I was uncomfy around the stitched area. Other than that I was fine to work.

I had some shoulder pain but it wasn't that bad. I've had far worse shoulder pain since giving birth (all that carting around of a bub can be murder on your shoulders).

Also had a sore throat for a few days after the op. It was worse than the shoulder pain.

I remember being shocked by the blood and dye on the bed when I got out of it. I just didn't expect it.

I was very wonky on my feet as I left hospital (those stairs were a nightmare) so my then hubby had the great job of trying to keep me upright.

I remember feeling really disappointed when the surgeon visited me and said they'd found nothing wrong. I couldn't believe I'd put myself through all that (as I said I was feeling pretty ordinary at the time) for nothing. I actually wanted them to find something wrong so they could then fix it. Go figure.

[Aimz]

OK I think I get it now... the laparoscopy doesn't actually go inside my uterus - it just looks on the outside and around those areas. But the hysteroscopy goes up "there" with a camera to look inside to make sure everything is ok.

I remember being shocked by the blood and dye on the bed when I got out of it. I just didn't expect it.

[Indadhanu]

Oh, I remember them pulling the gauze out of 'there' when I woke up. Yes OUT of there, they'd put it all inside to get the dye and blood. It was a very weird a feeling...

[Aimz]

OH MY GOD....

Freaking out now...

[Indadhanu]

Nah dont freak out, the bleeding, for me, lasted a day and was no worse than a light AF day.

[Aimz]

It's not the blood part...

Oh, I remember them pulling the gauze out of 'there' when I woke up. Yes OUT of there,

Can I tell them to take it out BEFORE I wake up??? I think I would seriously vomit...

[dusty]

How many keyholes do they make in your stomach? 3 each time for me. One in your belly button, and they try to keep the others below your bikkini bottoms line.

Who has had problems with the gas afterwards (eg shoulder pain etc)? Some, but sitting upright seems to help it. Only lasted about 24 hours.

How bad was that pain? More like discomfort from the gas. I found I was very sore after the operation both times. Kind of bent over double for a couple of days (remember I had big ops both times).

How long did you have off work? A couple of weeks both times (but I have severe endo). The worst was the first few days after the op. I just felt fragile for the second week.

When did you start feeling normal again? The second week after

Do the keyholes have stitches? Yes, first time disolvable ones, the second pull out ones. Both were absolutely fine.

Does your stomach get bruised? Not sure. You feel kind of sore inside more than outside.

How long does the procedure take? Can be from 15 minutes to 3 hours depending on how bad the problem is (if there is a problem at all). If it is really bad when they first look at it, and it needs to take longer than theatre is scheduled , sometimes they wont do the whole treatment during the op as theatre time is precious and they may book you back for a second go. I don't think this happens too often though.

Try to focus on the fact that most women with endo don't have too much of it (a few patches) and it can mostly be dealt with in one go during a lap and potentially with follow up drug treatment.

Good luck sweets
xx

[satya]

Don't freak out. I never saw the gauze get taken out. If it was there at all, it was taken out before I woke up.

The pad under me wasn't that bad either, I just didn't expect it, and certainly didn't expect it to look kinda purple (blue dye & blood combined). I freaked for a second til I remembered I was having blue dye put through. Just something to remember in case they do the dye with you. It's perfectly normal to look purple.

[Aimz]

At least I know now so I'm prepared for blood and dye...

When I was 16 I had to have a colposcopy (biopsy) which was done without any anaesthetic. It hurt like HELL and I was traumatised about it for years - even now I still cringe when I think of what it felt like. But the worst part was when I got up and saw this pool of blood on the tray underneath me. Mum had to catch me while I fell to the floor. I was out cold!

Hope that doesn't happen again..

Will they give me any pain relief?