[Manda]

Ok so you've had your surgery and you finally make it home, what do you want and need?

I'm trying to complie a list of what to buy before i go in so i have it on hand when i come home. What where the things that you wanted and needed? What did you forget, that you sent someone off to get?

Obvioulsy things like heat packs, ice, pads.....

So please share with me!

Thanks

[i-candi]

Is that the one you have with small incisions? I found there was minimal pain and when I was finally allowed out (bladder complications) I was in no pain.

I've had the operation with a cut from belly button down & I was in pain from that but I found moving around was the best.

[domestically~cha...]

I don't think anything for my exploratory laparoscopy...

For my operative laparoscopy (endo removed) it was just drugs every 4 hours. If I fell asleep and went over I would wake in lots of pain.

Recovery is pretty quick though.

[MrsLexiK]

what sort of lap?

I have had an operative lap where my appendix was removed and endo removed and (internal) bleeding cleaned out . This was basically emergancy surgery. I struggled getting in and out of bed for a number of days and DH had to wake me every 4 hours without fail for my drugs. I couldn't go to my house to stay as my bed at the time was really low to the floor so my mum came and helped me have a shower. I should have stayed overnight that night but rushed out of hospital as soon as I could. My SIL did grab me some trackies and some undies but this was basically wake up one night when I stayed at DH's house with massive pains and being rushed to the hospital so the only clothes I had where some work clothes, and the clothes I went to the hospital in (basically my pj's)
I found driving even at 2 weeks painful, and at three weeks when I went back to work it still hurt to sit for long periods.

The next lap I had was endo removed, nerves cut, dye put through (and a D&C at the same time) and something else with the lap. I did stay over night due to the anthestic I was on, but they didn't give me good drugs for this just usual drugs I would of got at home. I was home out of bed much easier then the last time, could shower by myself by the time I went home. I was babysitting my neice and nephew within 5 days of having the surgery and then went shopping and had lunch a few times that week. I was able to drive basically after a few days with no pain (and I did drive to my dr as one of the incesions became infected and I needed it checked out. With the first surgery there is no way I could have done that)

I did have 2.5 weeks off but that was due to my experience with other recovery but also because of the drugs they give you really affect me.

I don't know if it was the type of surgery that I had each time or if it was because one was emergancy and I had been in massive amounts of pain (and therefore tired before surgery) before going into the first one and the other was planned.

oh but both my mum and DH's mum made us a few meals.

[YodaTheWrinkledO...]

I've had a laproscopic appendectomy and a laproscopic looksie.

Laproscopic appendectomy - I used panadeine for first 24-48 hours, then panadol/nuerofen for the next 3-4 days as required.

Laproscopy just for a look? Maybe some panadeine for 24 hours, panadol/nuerofen for the next 2-3 days.

For both procedures, get up and walking as soon as you can, just don't be too rough or do anything stupid. It will hurt to sit up and lift yourself in/out of chairs and beds (particularly for the first week or so), so keep that in mind.

I recovered much faster from the looksie than I did from the appendectomy (longer procedure I suppose).

I never used heat packs or ice packs. Just some over-the-counter pain meds.

Suggest you take pull-up/elastic waisted pants or skirts to wear after the procedure. They are easier to pull on/off and less likely to irritate the wounds, IME. And I found full-brief knickers to be better than bikini style knickers, at least for the first week or so.

[Manda]

Ah yeah sorry Should have given basic background...AFAIK at this point its exploratory lap, due to sevre pelvic pain, periods getting very heavy and painful dispite being on pill. Family history of hyst from painful heavy periods.

I'm unsure whether if they find anything they will act while in there...I should find all that out at my pre op on wednesday. When they booked me in for it they didnt say much, probably because i was hysterical mess from a very painful pap and a disbeliving Gyno and nurse, There thankfully was one woman in the room who saw that i really was in pain and was trying to get the Gyno and nurse to understand all while holding my hand and stoking my head....was not in a good way after that

I know of some woman who recover very quick and others who take time...Thats fine i'll deal with what comes. Im more at this stage thinking of what items imay need when i come home, EG some woman have said heat packs help with the pain from the left over gas in the tummy etc

[mez70]

Ok I would have
Some small melolin type dressings, I have had multiple Laps over the years and my belly button wound always is ozey so i like to change it after a day or 2, I also get betadine swabs to clean around wound site.

One thing I ALWAYS make sure I have is something Fizzy to drink that makes me burp.. TMI I know but I always find I need to burp as I am so full of the gas afterwards and burping helps me lol. Also don't be scared if you get really sore shoulder tip pain as it is the Gas and damm sore and uncomfortable.

Pain relief should be written up by your Anesthestist, and will often be Pandene Forte or similar so I would wait until the day of the proceedure to see what they give you.


Good luck, It should be fine, are they doing any "Other things at the same time" i often have my tubes flushed with dye and other studies at the same time, it will depend what they find as to how much they do. I have had endo removed and adhesions split and cut during mine so all will depend.

[Manda]

Thanks mez70, Being that they said exploratory lap-in the public system, i highly doubt they will do anything while in there unless its life threatening.....more likely book me back in in another 3-6 mths

[Pooks*potters]

I had a lap to remove endo.

Pain killers.
Lots of cushions to prop up on. I had horrible pain in my shoulders if I sat up, a few well placed cushions helped me watch tv, read, eat, etc.
Some fresh dressings (those square ones IYKWIM)
After a general your lips can get dry so cold drinks and lollies to suck help.
Maybe get some meals and things ready in the freezer to make life easier if you do find standing hard like I did.

[i-candi]

My 3 ops were to remove dermoid cysts (two large open cuts and one lap).

I found the gas pain to be in my shoulders, not in stomach area.

Good luck, surgery is daunting the first time.