laparotomy question

preppynewlywed

Hey, girls!

I have posted here a few times in the past month or so, but I have a question.

I am having a laparotomy at the end of July, and I was wondering what your recovery time was.

I will have a new job by then that will be about 50% travel [flights]. ?I suspect I will be starting this position in the next two weeks. It is a desk during the 50% I won't be traveling.

I want to take the least amount of time off as possible without being unhealthy. ?I have heard everything from 4 weeks of complete recovery to 8 weeks. ?I am planning on telling the new company about the surgery at the beginning of July so they can delay my travel if necessary.

What are your thoughts and experiences? ?How long did you take off of work if you had a desk-type job?

Carmela752

I just had my laparoscopy/hysteroscopy/other various procedures about 10 days ago and am still feeling very run down...which isn't anywhere near as invasive as a laparotomy.

Anyone I know IRL who has had open belly surgery has taken closer to the 8 weeks to go back to work and feel pretty normal.

I think it somewhat depends on your own individual body, and whether you tolerate procedures well and bounce back quickly or not. (For instance, I do not!)

If I were you, I would probably tell them 6 weeks minimum, with the very strong possibility of 8 weeks (especially with travel involved.) Or I might just tell them 8 weeks, just to make sure there aren't any problems and they don't try to pressure you back too soon.

Good luck, I hope everything goes smoothly and that you recover quickly.

preppynewlywed

Carmela752:

I just had my laparoscopy/hysteroscopy/other various procedures about 10 days ago and am still feeling very run down...which isn't anywhere near as invasive as a laparotomy.

Anyone I know IRL who has had open belly surgery has taken closer to the 8 weeks to go back to work and feel pretty normal.

I think it somewhat depends on your own individual body, and whether you tolerate procedures well and bounce back quickly or not. (For instance, I do not!)

If I were you, I would probably tell them 6 weeks minimum, with the very strong possibility of 8 weeks (especially with travel involved.) Or I might just tell them 8 weeks, just to make sure there aren't any problems and they don't try to pressure you back too soon.

Good luck, I hope everything goes smoothly and that you recover quickly.

Ugh...I was afraid of that. ?I am really hoping that they realize a laporoscopy will be sufficient after my MRI on Monday.

I am supposed to go to my sorority sister's wedding the first weekend in August, and I will be so sad if I miss it...plus I really didn't want to take that much time off of work. ?Maybe I can work out something where I work from home.?

Carmela752

My doc briefly considered a laparotomy for me, so I'm glad it wound up not being needed, for sure.

If you work from home, I'd still probably give yourself 4 weeks of pure down time, and start small.

I know for me, much of last week is still a bit fuzzy, and even now my brain doesn't seem to be functioning up to par. I just can't remember stuff I should know.

I had to force myself to get moving this week because my summer classes started...I already felt like crap that day anyway, and I had to force myself to go and sit through 2 3 hour classes. I thought I was going to die...felt like passing out, sweating, hot and cold flashes. I don't think I retained too much information. ;p Then spent the next day surgically attached to the couch after sleeping for 12 hours. (This was one week post op for me.)

It's crazy how much it affects your body. Well, not really. But ykwim.

piccolina09

Hi, after having a lap last April and finding severe endo, my choices were a laparotomy for pain management, or proceed right to IVF, as that was my best chance for conception due to my kissing ovaries. 
Please know that I was told the laparotomy could compromise my ovaries and their production, and since I wanted to get pregnant first, I would worry about long term pain management after I had my children.  It took 3 cycles to get my BFP and I strongly believe people with endo have less of a chance per cycle due to many factors. So, I had to be persistant! GL to you!

preppynewlywed

That's the other thing...I am in grad school, and I really can't afford time wise and scholarship wise to take off the last 6 weeks of summer.

This is a royal mess.

Let's just hope my MRI shows something indicating a laproscopy will be sufficient.?

MayM

I had an emergency laparotomy 2 years ago, the day I was supposed to start a new job. I wasn't able to work for 8 weeks, and when I did go into work I was still not fully up to par. Sitting at a desk was totally doable, but my belly was still swollen / none of my clothes fit right / and I was not back to my normal agility. I would definitely tell your employer 8 weeks, and if you come back early they'll just be happy.

I've also had a laparoscopy, which as you know is much easier. I don't know your particular situation, but I would advocate that a laparotomy should only be done in dire / very few situations. In terms of endo.,  a surgeon with the proper skills should be able to use laparoscopy.

Lastly, you may want to also consider having them start laparoscopically and then switch to a laparotomy if necessary. MRIs aren't perfect when it comes to the abdomen, and it really isn't a big deal to switch from the simpler procedure in the middle of things if need be.

Good luck, and wishing you a speedy recovery!

micheleleigh

I went back to work 3 weeks after my laparotomy. I had a desk job, so I wasn't needing to walk around constantly or anything. I found that after a couple of weeks of relaxing at home, I was totally bored and in need of something to do. My gynecologic oncologist released me right after removing my staples. You will probably be really sore for about a week (not sure how old you are but I was told that youth helps recovery time; I was 25), and then it's a steady process of recovery. At least, that was my experience.

Also, I just wanted to add that I had a vertical incision (from my belly button on down) due to the fact that my doctor was looking for signs of ovarian cancer, and this made wearing pants pretty uncomfortable. That was the majority of my discomfort when I did return to work, but it was manageable.

sunnybrook.

I had a laparotomy in Feb to remove fibroids and endo. I am a pretty quick healer and handle pain well. My RE was shocked that I was walking upright one week after the surgery. I don't work outside of the home, but I do have a 32lb foster son. I took 2 full weeks to just rest and had friends and DH take care of little one. I thought I was ready to handle it after 2 weeks. I was so wrong. I cried the first day I was by myself with him and realized how much i physically could not do. Not to mention, I do not handle anesthesia well. I was sick to my stomach and developed motion sickness from just turning my head. These lasted for about 3 weeks. I was uncomfortable sitting for long periods of time but I think that was more due to my specific procedure than to the actual laparatomy.

It really did take me about 8 weeks to recover. I do believe part of this was b/c I just overdid it. It took me about 5 weeks until I could get through the day without having to nap. If you have the surgery, I would tell them that you cannot travel for 8 weeks. You really do need to take care of yourself if you want to recover. Hope things turn out well.