C/S recovery vs laparoscopic

kimmlet · December 2012

I have had 2 laparoscopic surgeries where I had to have fairly large cysts removed through an incision just above my pubic bone. For other reasons it looks like I will have to have a c-section, I'll find out more at my appt on Thursday, and I'm really curious if anyone has had both of these and can compare the recovery.

I understand that a c-section is much more invasive so I imagine recovery time + pain will be worse but I wonder if it's a huge increase or not. When I got home from my most recent surgery last March I could walk, but not standing straight up and I had to keep a pillow over my abdomen when I laughed or coughed to help with the pain.

I don't want to go into this thinking it will be the same because I know it won't but I'm trying to calm my nerves a bit by telling myself I've been through something similar and it wasn't too too bad. Have any of you been through both?

newly_naugler · December 2012

I had my gallbladder out with a laparoscope. C-section was more painful. They were 6 weeks apart. I found it more difficult to get up and down with the c-section because the incision was lower and larger. As long as you keep on top of your pain meds though, you'll be fine.

kpearse99 · December 2012

I'm the opposite. I had my appendix removed 2 years before my cs thru my belly button and I thought recovery was worse. With the cs I wasn't put all the way under, so I didn't have to recover from anesthesia, which I don't do well at. Also the appendectomy was in the middle of my core so it took longer for that to feel healed than with my cs which was lower.
I still needed the pillow to cough, laugh and sneeze but I thought my cs recovery was much easier and quicker.

capulet · December 2012

I haven't had laparoscopic surgery myself, but my dad and DH have both had gall bladder surgery in the past couple of years and it seemed to me that their recoveries were surprisingly difficult compared to my c/s recoveries, considering the c/s is more invasive. (My dad had other complicating medical issues, but DH didn't.) I think it helps to have the hospital stay after the c/s surgery - DH's gall bladder surgery was outpatient and it seemed like it was rougher for him to come home right afterwards than it was for me after a few days. The first few days after the c/s are probably harder, but you'll be more attended to. And by a week or so after both my c-sections I was feeling 90% back to normal - I wasn't doing anything intense, but I could do a moderate amount of walking around the neighborhood and stores and such.

Gipper0809 · December 2012

I had my gallbladder removed laparoscopically a couple of years before having c/s with DD. The recovery for me was a cake walk compared to my c/s. I had a little pain and soreness for a few days but overall, it was really a non-event.

My c/s on the other hand, was a nightmare and I had major issues with the incision, amongst other things. Very sore for a while and had to really take it easy for a few weeks afterwards.

lovebug33 · December 2012

I had laproscopic surgery with my gall bladder. They were comparable in pain, but the c-section I had to take more drugs to control the pain. However, I didn't have a baby to take care of, I didn't even get into a bed for 2 weeks, and I laid around and did nothing with my gall bladder. So, that's why I think the c/s was worse. And, they cut me open!

RachieTK · December 2012

klasala318:
I'm the opposite. I had my appendix removed 2 years before my cs thru my belly button and I thought recovery was worse. With the cs I wasn't put all the way under, so I didn't have to recover from anesthesia, which I don't do well at. Also the appendectomy was in the middle of my core so it took longer for that to feel healed than with my cs which was lower. I still needed the pillow to cough, laugh and sneeze but I thought my cs recovery was much easier and quicker.

this. I had laparoscopic gall bladder surgery in college, and the recovery was at worse than my c section recovery. My section was planned and I was not at all uncomfortable two days out- the worst for me was not moving stuff or listing the carseat since I felt fine.

LRamsey716 · December 2012

I have had 2 laproscopic procedures for endometriosis with a total of 5 inciscions (two belly button, one middle above pubic bone, one on each side above ovaries). I had an emergency c-section to deliver twins due to preclampsia. I would say the recovery from the anesthesia for the laps was worse just because I don't do well with anesthesia at all but the general pain was worse for the c-section. With the laps I was up and moving around with little to no discomfort within 48 hours. Both were done on a Friday and I was back to work on Monday with no issue. I was in bed for 24 hours following the c/s b/c i was on a mag drip. When I was finally able to get up it was pretty rough and I had trouble peeing, I assume due to the catheter. I wasn't able to use a compression band for 1 week followign the c/s per dr orders. I was making trips back and forth to the nicu multiple times a day. The first day I needed a wheel chair and couldn't stand for more than 10-15 minutes. The 2nd day I made myself walk down to the NICU and could stand for a bit longer. By the end of the week I was able to walk from the parking garage to the NICU and stand for appx 30 min at a time before needing to sit. Once I could put the compression belt on it felt SOO much better so I highly recommend getting one! I only took ibuprofen while I was in the hospital (up to 4 days post c/s). After that I didn't need anything. I have a pretty high pain tolerance though..

to sum it up, I would say the c/s recovery is worse but neither is really that terrible...

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