Laparoscopy for Endo - Dr Reid @ Liverpool public?

[Flaneur]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone else has had Dr Reid as their endo specialist and had surgery with him (or with his staff) at Liverpool Public, as a public patient? I'm booked to have mine March 1st after 9 months of waiting for it. Just wondering what I can expect? I'm also having Dr Morgan in on the surgery as a bowel specialist.

Thanks!

[faye*]

Hi Flaneur, I just wanted to wish you luck with the surgery. I had the same operation done in September last year but mine was in Ballarat. Also had a bowel specialist in on the surgery but luckily a bowel resection wasn't needed. I recovered well within a week and was pretty much back to normal after about 2 weeks. The only issue I had was a longer hospital stay than I felt was necessary. I expected to be going home the next day but was in hospital for 3 days...

[Goldengirl85]

Wishing you luck! wow 9 months to wait, I'm so grateful for my private health I had mine done straight away, I couldn't imagine having to wait 9 months to have it done

[faye*]

Wishing you luck! wow 9 months to wait, I'm so grateful for my private health I had mine done straight away, I couldn't imagine having to wait 9 months to have it done

I had almost a 9 month wait as well, I now have private health Learnt the hard way that it is worth having...

[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).

[faye*]

I was a bit different with the bowel prep, the first dose did nothing for a few hours it was more after the second dose and I was going right up to when I went to bed and then it started again when I woke up. My last go on the toilet was when I arrived at the hospital... In saying that it still wasn't as bad as I expected but use flush able wipes rather than toilet paper... Sorry if too much information! Good luck I hope the bowel resection isn't needed and it all goes smoothly

[tk1999]

"Schlep all the way to Liverpool" - I hope there aren't staff from the hospital on this forum - they might take offense to a comment such as that.

Hope all goes well for your surgery

[Flaneur]

tk1999 - Sorry, I guess you misunderstood. I was using the word as a noun, as in "A tedious or difficult journey." I don't see how that is offensive to any of the staff? I live an hour and a half from Liverpool, with several excellent hospitals between here and there. Have you ever had a bowel prep? Last time I had one it was difficult not to sh*t myself on the fifteen minute drive to our local hospital. An hour and a half is a long way to go when I have a family here, have to stay 3+ nights and have to undergo a bowel prep. My apolologies if I offended you and thank you for your well-wishes.

Faye - my last bowel prep was similar. It was awful. I'm even thinking of going on a juice fast for a couple of days beforehand in the hope it helps. Dreading a long drive if it's anything like last time. I still needed to go as they wheeled me into the prodedure. I do NOT want to know what I did in there when I was unconscious! (sorry, tmi!). Thanks for the tip about the wipes.

[juniper76]

Sounds like I got off easy with my bowel prep!

[Flaneur]

Juniper I so hope I have one like yours next time!

thanks for the tips on recovery, too. I really appreciate the help.

[faye*]

I had an hour drive to hospital too so you can imagine lol

[Flaneur]

Surgery has now been moved to the end of April, so I can stop stressing for a bit. If only I wasn't in excruciating pain
Thanks anyway for the advice, ladies.

[faye*]

Oh sorry it's been moved later, that happened to me about 4 times!! So frustrating...

[Laura may]

Hi, just wondering how your surgery went with dr reid and how you found liverpool? I am booked in for lap soon.

[Flaneur]

Hi, just wondering how your surgery went with dr reid and how you found liverpool? I am booked in for lap soon.

After over a year on the waiting list and being moved six times (!!) I fell pregnant, so I didn't have the surgery. Honestly, I was so relieved, after being messed around for so long and treated awfully by his secretaries. Hopefully this pregnancy fixes my endo, if not buys me some more time. I had great success with accupuncture to deal with the pain and I think that's what helped me get pregnant too.
Laura May I'd love to hear how you go though, as I might have to hop on that waiting list again eventually

[Laura may]

congratulations! I saw dr reid for the first time last week and have been really impressed thus far given the horrible treatment I have had until that point.
I'm booked in as a priority so should be a maximum of three months wait.
As I'm about 6 hours from Sydney I have been desperately looking for information on the hospital and particularly anyone that has had a lap there.