FAQ Laparoscopy

Frequently Asked Questions about preparing for Laparoscopy

an alt.med.endometriosis FAQ

revised April 27, 2000



Copyright © 1998, 2000 Susan Strandskov



Information contained here draws from the experiences of women who

have had laparoscopies.  It is intended only to offer practical

hints and suggestions.  It is not medical advice and should not

be substituted for medical advice.







>I'm about to have my first laparoscopy.

>What should I expect?



This is a general anesthesia procedure (you will be asleep).

Local anesthesia laparoscopies are sometimes done for those who

cannot tolerate general anesthesia, but general anesthesia is

the norm.



You will have an incision in the navel and an incision or two near

the bikini line, and perhaps one or two other tiny incisions.

Laparoscopy incisions are usually very small, less than an inch long.



Sometimes a laparotomy becomes necessary, with a larger incision,

but most endometriosis surgery is done by laparoscopy.



Patients are usually released the same day as the laparoscopic

surgery.  It's unusual to spend more than one night in the hospital.





>How bad will it hurt?



There is no way to know in advance.  Your doctor should give

you pain pills.



Consider your usual recovery time, and whether you usually bounce

right back from an injury or illness, or take much longer than

the healing time the doctor anticipated.



Experiences differ, but most of us complain that the gas used to

inflate the abdomen rises to the highest point of the diaphragm

and causes a feeling of painful pressure inside our shoulders.

Strolling around and slowly and gently shifting position helps to

expel the gas from the abdomen, and lying down flat helps take the

feeling of pressure off the shoulders.  This problem usually lasts

only a day or so.  An anti-gas medication may be helpful, but be sure

to ask your doctor if it's okay.



Constipation is common and makes the pain worse.  If necessary,

ask your doctor about using a gentle laxative like Surfak or Milk

of Magnesia.



Different people have different sensitivity to incision pain.

As to internal pain, much depends on the amount and type of work

the doctor does during the surgery.  If you have an extensive amount

of endometriosis removed, don't expect to recover as quickly as a

woman who only had a laparoscopy to have her "tubes tied."  Some

women feel reasonably well in just a day or two, but many of us do

not feel even near-normal for a couple of weeks.





>How should I prepare for surgery?



Make sure you have good nutrition, rest and exercise while you

prepare for surgery.





>>Plans to make as soon as you know you will

>>be having surgery:



Discuss with your doctor exactly what is to be done and get it in

writing.  Be specific about your wishes regarding possible removal

of uterus and ovaries.  Be sure that your husband (or the person whom

the doctor might call upon for decisions) also understands your wishes.

Realize that in surgery sometimes emergencies do occur, but make

certain that everyone is starting out with the same plan and

goals in mind.



Ask the doctor if he will let you fill your pain-pill prescription

before the surgery, so the medication will be on hand when you get home.



When scheduling your surgery, remember that you must have a

responsible adult drive you home from the hospital (or if need

be, accompany you in a taxi) and help you get settled at home.

You will still be very groggy on your release from the hospital.

Also, a responsible adult should stay with you for 24 hours after

the surgery.



Make preparations, clear your schedule, and discuss the situation

with those who depend on you.  Don't plan on doing anything but

lounging and taking leisurely walks for three days after the lap.

Your doctor may tell you to go back to work in three or four days,

but many of us have found that is far too soon, especially for a

job that requires any physical activity. (Depending on the

circumstances, and whether you sit at a desk or do heavy lifting,

your doctor could order a much longer recuperation time.)  Arrange

to take at least a week off work if you possibly can, and warn your

boss that you may not be up to full-time work for even longer.  That

way, if you feel well and can return to work earlier, it will be a

nice surprise.  Otherwise, if you haven't allowed enough time for

recovery and you have meetings scheduled, or you have no one lined

up to fill in for you, it may become a crisis.



It is critical to have some help with housework, if you must go

right back to work.  And plan to lie down during your lunch break

rather than scheduling business lunches.  You will need extra rest

for quite some time.  Don't expect to be able to keep up with all

your usual activities.  Doing too much can increase your pain and

cause you to feel discouraged.



Feeling tired and a little depressed is normal after surgery (but

holler for help if you feel more than "a little" depressed).  Be

good to yourself.  Plan ahead so this can be a time of healing

and nurturing yourself.  Arrange to have some things that you

find comforting within reach -- some favorite music, a soothing

herb tea, a cozy robe, for example.  It's helpful to borrow

some cheerful movies from friends to have on hand to watch during

your recovery.  Borrow rather than rent, if you can, so you don't

have to worry about the rental return date.  Advise friends that

you may be phoning them to get some cheering-up.



Go through your closet ahead of time and find loose, comfortable

clothing.  You will need loose clothing for a couple of weeks

after surgery.  (Consider socks or knee-high or thigh-high hose

rather than panty hose.)  You will have an incision in your belly

button which will be easily irritated, another incision or two

lower down, and your belly will be temporarily puffed up.  You

won't want your clothing to squeeze the incisions. Select something

very loose and easy to put on to wear to the hospital, including

footwear that is easy to put on and panties with a waistband that

does not run across your belly-button.  Sweats usually work out okay

if they are loose and the waistband fits higher than the belly button,

but a loose dress is even better.



You might want to get yourself a cane.  This will be strictly for

appearances when you go out in public.  It will provide a visual

clue to the strangers you pass that perhaps they should be the

ones to step aside, and hopefully they won't elbow you in the belly

or be rude because you are moving so slow.



Be sure you have at home an ample supply of the cosmetics you use

every day -- in the days after surgery, time spent running to the

store for deodorant is time better spent resting!  Have on hand some

gentle laxative in case it becomes necessary, an anti-gas preparation,

and some Tylenol or Advil for use once you stop your pain prescription.



You will need to have maxipads and pantyliners on hand.  Expect some

bleeding after surgery.  Don't use tampons.





>>A few days before surgery:



A few days before surgery, get caught up on your laundry and vacuuming

so you won't be tempted to do this too soon, and stock up on groceries

(include some easy-to-prepare food).  Have clean sheets ready to put on

the bed the day before surgery (and not your best white linen, since you

will have some bleeding).  Try to get caught up on any chores which

involve lifting, because lifting can hurt your incision like crazy!



Also deal with chores requiring accuracy and mental effort, like

bill-paying.  You are likely to be groggy from the anesthesia for

a few days.



If you have young children, prepare them for the idea that your

tummy will be sore after surgery and that you will not be able

to lift them.  You can sit on the sofa and have them crawl into

your lap, however, perhaps protecting your incisions with a

small pillow.  Practice this maneuver.



Have some jello on hand.  In fact, make some the day before surgery

so it will be in the refrigerator when you come home from the

hospital.  You will need to eat lightly and may even feel nauseous

for awhile.  Saltine crackers are also helpful.  Ginger Ale or 7up

is helpful.



Be prepared to accept help when it is offered.  Family and friends

are usually worried and eager to lend a hand during the first few

days after surgery, but they will probably forget about it long

before you are completely recovered.  So, enjoy the pampering

while you can.  (And get someone else to do the cooking!)



Laparoscopy is major surgery.  Your recovery will go more smoothly

if you take care of yourself and don't try to push it.





>>The day before surgery:



Gather the things you need to take with you to the hospital.

Don't forget your insurance card and ID.  In the car you are going

to ride home in, place a small pillow you can hug against your

incisions, to ease the bumps along the way.  If this car doesn't

have a trash can, include a plastic bag just in case you get ill

on the ride home.



Be sure to take time for light and healthy meals the day before

surgery, and be sure to get plenty of fluids.  STRICTLY follow your

doctor's orders on when you should stop eating and drinking, but

have a light snack and a glass of water as the time limit approaches.



Have your loose, comfortable clothing ready for the next day.  Put

the clean sheets on the bed and have some bedding ready for the sofa,

if you will be spending time there.



Find an enjoyable activity for the evening before surgery, so that

you can begin the next day in a calm and pleasant frame of mind.







FAQ is for general information purposes

and does not constitute medical advice.



Some material contained in this document appeared

previously in a copyrighted document, an FAQ

Compiled by Susan Strandskov, August 1997

with input from Heather, Anne, Erica, Tamar,

and the members of alt.support.endometriosis

Copyright 1997 Susan Strandskov







An alt.med.endometriosis FAQ

Copyright © 1998, 2000 Susan Strandskov

All Rights Reserved.

Please do not copy this material to use elsewhere

without express permission.