Has anyone had one??
How long did it take you to feel human again??
I am having one in 1 1/2 weeks, and just trying to work out how long I will be out of action doing every day things.
I have been told I need a week off work as I am a landscape gardener so alot of heavy lifting, but wondering on every day things.
My partner will be with me the day I have it done, and maybe the day after. If not I will get the teachers to send some atuff home with my son and he can have a day off school to keep an eye on me.
But just wondered anyone's experiences of it.
Lea :) :)

I had one about 20 years ago or so; it was very straightforward - they were having a look inside to see if I needed anything removed - and apart from the strange feeling as the gas used to inflate the belly making everything easier to see dispersed (no idea where it went!) it was simply a matter of getting over the anaesthetic. For day-to-day stuff you should be fine, but as you say, no heavy lifting or vigorous vacuuming!

Haven't had one but nursed thousands afterwards :)
It is not so much the laparoscopy that requires you to need someone with you for the next day or two as the general anaesthetic which can leave you feeling groggy and, thankfully less so these days, nauseous.
You will be alright doing light stuff around the house and can take care of yourself but you should leave any heavy lifting for a week or so.  Your consultant will advise you about that especially if the exploration was tricky involving freeing of adhesions etc.
You will not be able to drive for 24 hours for sure and some insurance companies require 48 hours.
Hope they get you sorted soon, Lea :)

I have had 2 but again it was many years ago -late 80s. I do remember it vividly though as the one thing I couldn't do for a week (apart from heavy lifting) was bend down. (Other than that I was fine. Needed to lay down the first day, came out of hospital the same day it was done.) Back then I fed all the cats we had (a few less than now) from separate bowls on the floor. I can't remember how I managed to put them ON the floor (maybe my ex had done), but I do remember not being able to pick them up again. So each time I brought in my Golden Leo, pointed to each empty bowl and just said "Fetch" and he brought them to me. :) After a few goes he even realised if he stacked them inside each other he'd have fewer picks!!

I have had a few over the years and all very straight forward, out of hospital following day and back to work week later.  not painfull as such, just tender as you would expect.  within a fortnight you had forgotten it had been done :-)

I had one in the mid 90's.  Overall felt fine in myself but i had a pain in my shoulder's for days afterwards.  I was told this was from the gas used to inflate the area which travelled up to the shoulder area's. My job at the time did involve lifting so ended up taking nearly 2 weeks off work.
Good luck with your's, i'm sure you will be fine. x

I too have nursed post op laparoscopies and it very much depends what they find and do during the procedure as to what the recovery time is. Only having 3 small incisions makes folk think it is nothing but some serious disection may have gone on inside so be guided by what you are told post op on what you can and can't do.

> I was told this was from the gas used to inflate the area which travelled up to the shoulder area's.

You would think so wouldn't you :) but no the gas merely irritates the diaphragm, which also stops it escaping any further, and the shoulder tip pain is one of those funny referred pains.

Wendy is spot on about the shoulder pain - weird!  My tummy button looks like noughts and crosses have been played courtesy of 3 such lovely occasions.  The worst bit was the wind. Peppermint drink was what I was given which is supposed to make you burp it away - not always successful!  I also found driving was quite uncomfortable with the first one depending on which way I turned the wheel!  Hoovering didn't need an excuse I simply asked OH to do it (probs for longer than necessary!) It also does depend on the reasons and if you may be upset/worried etc of the outcome.  Hope it all is fine though!

Sx

The gas , carbon dioxide I think, is trapped in the abdominal cavity so no way for it to escape, burping or farting won't help, after the holes are sealed up,

the gas disperses through the body after about 24 hours. i had my gallbladder out by laparaoscopy 2 years ago. i stayed overnight and had pain around the gall bladder site and a bit of shoulder pain. didnt feel groggy from GA as these days you wake up not even feeling tired! 4 days later i was shopping with hub in sains and was back at work after 2 weeks. when my hub had gallbladder out 25 years ago by open procedure,he was off work for 3 months!
i would recomend lap procedures to everyone

thank you everyone
mine is to check to see if I need a Hystorectomy. highly likely so just looking in my abdamon no further. and if there will be any procedure then it will not be key hole. .(not wanting to put exact thing on here. not from my view but from some people would not want to read about women's problems where if it was a dog we would talk about it openly :)  )
so all it will be is exploratory. Pete is going to try and get off the Thursday after the op on Wednesday.
all your  experiences are useful as I like to know real experiences. not text book or scare mongaring
thank you  Xx
lea Xx :)

thank you everyone
mine is to check to see if I need a Hystorectomy. highly likely so just looking in my abdamon no further. and if there will be any procedure then it will not be key hole. .(not wanting to put exact thing on here. not from my view but from some people would not want to read about women's problems where if it was a dog we would talk about it openly :)  )
so all it will be is exploratory. Pete is going to try and get off the Thursday after the op on Wednesday.
all your  experiences are useful as I like to know real experiences. not text book or scare mongaring
thank you  Xx
lea Xx :)

Hi all.
Well I went to theatre at 9.30, out by 10.30 and discharged by 1pm!!!!
But oh the pain :o :o Not the scars, that pain has only kicked in today.
It was the pain from the Gas :o :o
Until 8 oclock last night I could not lay down. As soon as I laid down the gas made excrutiating pains in my shoulders and chest and stopped my breathing properly until I got up and walked around. I had to walk around every half hour to move the gas around to stop it hurting even when propped up in a reclining chair!!!!
But I did get a good nights sleep.
So thankyou all for your advice and experiences, they have helped ALOT.
Champdogs at its best, not just for dogs but humans as well :) :) :)
Lots of love to you all xxx
Lea xx

Feel better soon Lea,lots of tea and sympathy on here :-)!

You poor thing, hope you're feeling better soon.

dont worry, the gas pain only lasts a day tops