My Laparoscopy

I thought I would write down my experience regarding my recent surgery, including costs, so I can keep all of the information together and hopefully help somebody else out in the process. Sorry about the length :)

The lead up
Back in May this year, I had a Sonosalpingography – basically a HSG using saline instead of dye. I was diagnosed with the Hydrosalpinx in the right tube, meaning the tube was full of toxic fluid and therefore, completely blocked. There was still a chance I could fall pregnant, although highly unlikely as the fluid killed the sperm that made it to the tube, and also meant I was running a very high risk of an ectopic pregnancy and a higher risk of miscarriage.

My FS at the time didn’t leave me with a great deal of options (‘I don’t think surgery is the way to go, go and talk to your husband and call me in a few weeks when you’ve decided what you want to do. Here’s some Clomid’) so I decided to find somebody else who would help me. After consulting Dr Google, I found a FS about 10 minutes from home that is one of Australia’s leading laparoscopy surgeons and is a specialist in dealing with Hydrosalpinx. He was amazing. At that first appointment, we devised a plan – which was a huge thing for me. He agreed that removing the tube would be the best option, I just wanted it gone. I left with a list of possible surgery dates and IVF information sheet. I was scared, but very happy that he actually listened to me and answered my questions.

Surgery Day
15th of November was booked for the laparoscopy. I was nervous, but also very excited. I knew that it was major surgery, but I was looking forward to have the ‘bad stuff’ removed from my body. I knew it was another step closer to having my baby.

My surgery was booked for 9am so DH and I rocked up at 7.30am. I walked in to the hossy and burst into tears. I just lost it. I was so scared about what was going to happen. As soon as I ‘checked in’ though, I was fine, I obviously just needed to get it out. DH and I sat around for about half an hour, laughing and joking around until they called for me to go into prep. DH left and went to work, and I was led to a little office where 100 questions and a HPT followed. I was lying in the bed in my lovely open back gown and sexy compression socks, waiting for about half an hour. At about 8.45am a nurse came in to get and wheeled me into the ‘pre-surgery’ room. I spoke to 2 different nurses, the anaesthetist and my surgeon and they all commented on how relaxed I was. I said ‘oh well, I know I won’t remember anything anyway, so no point getting stressed about it’.

Into surgery I go and the last thing I remember is the anaesthetist’s assistant telling me I could go to New York and my surgeon would pay for it :)

(I've since found out that I was in surgery from 9.15am until 10.50am. My right tube was removed completely and my surgeon cleaned up some scar tissue around both ovaries and my left tube)

I woke up in recovery and all I wanted was a drink of water because my throat was killing me, which I Iater found out was due to the breathing tube. I dozed in and out for ages, I do remember asking the time – it was 11.45am. I don’t remember being wheeled back into the same room I started out in, but I remember the nurse coming by and asking me how I was feeling. I kept asking for water and then dozing off again. I could see the clock, and it was about 12.30pm by now. I asked the nurse what time I could leave and she said sometime in the next hour. I asked her to call DH as he was at work in the city, and had to catch the bus back to the hospital. She got me some sandwiches and some water, which was the best tasting thing I’ve ever drank! I had trouble eating the sandwich, I think I only had about 2 bites because my throat was just so sore.

She put my bags on the end of my bed and told me I was right to get dressed and left. I am still a little surprised that I was left to get dressed on my own, as it took me a good 10 minutes to dress myself. I dressed in my comfiest and loosest PJ pants, a singlet and a cardigan. The nurse than walked me into the ‘ready to go home’ room... a room full of recliner’s where we had to wait before seeing the check out nurse. I remember how cold it was in that room, although I kept falling asleep. Someone got me a blanket, no idea who! I vaguely remember DH arriving, but one minute I had my eyes open and he wasn’t there, and then all of a sudden he was! He kept drinking my water and I was trying so hard not to be cranky at him, but I just feel asleep again :)

I was called up to see a nurse although can barely remember any of the conversation. She told me I needed to go and wee before I could leave the hospital. I shuffled off to the loo, where I experienced the worst burning sensation – like a UTI times 100!! I was able to pass a little urine, so was allowed to go home. The nurse got me a wheel chair and DH ran off to the chemist to get my pain relief and some more water as I had already finished the bottle I was originally given.

Home
I was still dozing on and off in the car but I remember asking DH for a water ice block. I was hungry, but knew I wouldn’t be able to swallow anything other than ice. We stopped at the service station and DH ran in. He bought me 4 Lemon and Lime Splices... OMG... best things ever!! By the time we got home it would’ve been about 3.30pm, I wasn’t tired anymore, but was happy to lie on the couch and eat my ice blocks!! Because I had drank so much water, I needed to go to the bathroom what felt like 8 million times before I went to bed. I had to get DH to help me sit down and stand up off the toilet seat, and woke him up a couple of time that night to help me to the bathroom. I actually slept really well that night, although my hips got really sore from me sleeping on my side (I normally sleep on my back). I found it painful lying on my back with my legs straight because it felt like my stomach was being stretched, which hurt the incisions. I ended up on the couch by 2am the first 3 nights with pillows propped under my legs and a pillow over my stomach.

I tried not to move around too much that first week, but I am one of those people that even if I’m hurting, I can't sit still. I didn’t leave the house or even go down the back stairs for 3 days and I was going insane. By Thursday night, I demanded DH drive me to Target just so I could walk around... I lasted 5 minutes before I started getting dizzy and feeling sick. I pushed myself and went out every day between then and Monday, when I went back to work... where I only lasted to 8.30am Monday, 2pm Tuesday and 9am Wednesday. I ended up taking the rest of the week off and slept pretty much the whole time. My incisions as such weren’t too painful, but I was struggling finding any energy at all. The following Monday (2 weeks after the op) I powered through and have been fine ever since.

If I can offer one word of advice to anyone having their tube/s removed... seriously, take it easy. I was shocked at how much the small amount of walking around the house I did affected my recovery. I didn’t cook, do washing, folding or any housework for 2 weeks... just walking to the kitchen to get a drink was enough to put to sleep for half an hour. Showering was difficult too, DH had to wash and dry me because I couldn’t even bend over to dry myself.

Costs
Up front surgeon’s fee - $1300 – had to be paid the Friday before surgery
Medicare rebate - $579.45
MBF rebate - $193.15
Out of pocket - $527.40

Anaesthetists fee - $914 (originally $962, 5% discount for early payment) – Invoice received a week after the surgery
Medicare rebate – $231.15
MBF rebate – $76.90
Out of pocket - $605.95

Hospital fee - $250 Excess paid on the day of the surgery
(actual fee was $1767, due to PHI I only had to pay the Excess level our cover dictates)