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what's a laparoscopy like?

MarkakisMarkakis
in Trouble TTC

So,  I think this procedure is our next viable option. I am scared though and am curious to hear from people who've had it ...what it's like, both the prep and the post-op.

TIA

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Re: what's a laparoscopy like?

  • XXXXX222XXXXX222 member

    Hey there! :)

    Hey there!  Had mine a while ago so I'll write what I remember. :)  I didn't have to do a bowel prep or follow a diet, but some docs make you drink magnesium citrate and stick to eating clear liquids the day before surgery.  My only requirements were to stop eating at midnight the night before surgery, and avoid aspirin and other similar meds for the week before the lap.  I was allowed to take my asthma inhalers that morning

    I think maybe they took some blood and made me take a pee test the morning of.  Then I went to a room with a bed where they inserted an IV to start the anesthesia.  Went under some time while they were wheeling me to the OR.  I didn't remember anything else until I woke up and they wheeled me to another room where my family was waiting.  The anesthesia wore off more at some point while they were waiting for me to pee (they make you pee before they release you to make sure everything starts working again).  This was the worst part!

    When you're ready to go, the discharge nurse will go over all your instructions and hopefully hand you written versions too.  Make sure someone's with you for 24 hours after discharge in case you have a bad reaction to the anesthesia or in case something else goes wrong.  Pelvic rest until post-op appointment.  Take it easy on the diet unless your stomach feels great.  You'll probably have pain in the shoulder-- this is because they use air to inflate your abdomen and it floats up to your shoulder.  You can help move this out by making yourself walk around your home the day after surgery-- slowly.  Also, press a pillow up to your stomach and make yourself cough a few times a day.

    Mainly, just listen to your body and don't go back to work or go out running errands unless you feel really well.  Especially if they find something (endometriosis, polyps, fibroids, etc.) that needs removing.  I'd plan for a week off of work if you can.

    For the post-op appointment (about 2 weeks after surgery), the doc checked my incisions.  A few weeks after that, he checked for adhesions (scar tissue).

    Let me know if you have any specific questions. :)  Good luck!

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  • MarkakisMarkakis

    Thank you for such a detailed response! I have spent a year and a half TTC with oral meds, IUIs and IUIs with injectables. Since we can not afford IVF, my RE is suggesting the surgery to see if there might be some scar tissue in the tubes that has prevented the IUIs from working. I am scared of the surgery (wuss!) and the chance that we might not find anything that could be the reason for not conceiving, but I guess we should try everything we can...

    Thank you for your explanantion. I hope - if we decide to do it - it goes asa seamlessly as possible!

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  • XXXXX222XXXXX222 member
    :) Don't be scared!  I am the biggest wuss ever too, but everything was just fine!  Also, I sent you a PM. :)
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  • MarkakisMarkakis
    Thanks, Sulfababy! And thanks for my first ever PM...I responded :-)
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  • MrsTucker07MrsTucker07
    I pretty much had the exact same experience as sulfa. Just don't forget to walk around your house to make some of that gas go away. That was honestly the worst part. I really wasn't in that much pain which was a nice surprise. Oh, and Miralax was a life saver.  I mixed mine in orange juice and drank a glass a day. Good luck!
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  • XXXXX222XXXXX222 member

    Markakis-- got your PM. Haha, that's funny. :)

    Mrs. Tucker gave great advice!  I forgot to mention to get some milk of magnesia and colace.  The pain meds might stop you up!

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  • SweetieD21SweetieD21 member
    I had one at the end of March.  Not really any prep...shower with antibacterial soap, no perfume, makeup, jewelry, scented lotion, hair products, and no eating or drinking 12 hrs before.  The actual surgery only took a little over a half hour, then I was in recovery for about 1.5 hrs.  I was nauseous from the anesthesia and threw up twice when I woke up.  I was pretty out of it the rest of that day.  For the few days afterwards I was sore and crampy, but by about a week after I was feeling much better.  My surgery was on a Wed, and I took off work on Thurs.  My office was closed that Fri because it was Good Friday, so I had a nice long weekend.  I really wasn't in that much pain, so just advil worked fine for me.  Two weeks after I had an appt with my dr, he checked the incisions and went over what was found during the surgery (polyps and endometriosis).  We were ready to ttc again that next cycle.
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