Laparoscopy Recommended by My Doctor

My mother had the same symptoms and she found out it was Fybroid Tumors. Mention that when you go to the dr.

You should be ok.I had 4.I think it would have been helpful for me if I had someone with me.So,you might ask hubby to go.You will be ok.Don't worry about it.Its a little painful but when its done you will be ok.I have PCOS.Caused heavy cycles with barely any break.You might look up PCOS and see if you have it.Best wishes!

Dear Sharon -
I am a surgical nurse, so here's the scoop on surgery (the way it is at my hospital, anyway): When it is time for surgery, the nurse and anesthesiologist will both come to talk to you, asking a lot of questions you've already answered about 5 times (LOL). The anesth. will do a quick exam, then just before you go to the OR, often will give you a dose of Versed, a sedating medicine like Valium, to help ease any jitters. Once you are in the OR, you will be asked to move on to the operating table, and the anesth. will place moniters and an oxygen mask on. You then get medication through your IV to get you off to sleep. Once you are under anesthesia, a breathing tube (endotracheal tube) will be placed down your throat to help you breath during surgery, and the nurse will position you for the procedure (lithotomy = legs in stirrups like at the GYN office). You abdomen and perineal area (privates) will be cleaned, your bladder emptied with a catheter, and then you will be "drapped" with sterile coverings, leaving only the needed areas exposed. The surgeon will place a device through you vagina into your cervix so that the uterus can be manipulated during surgery. Now a small incicion will be made just below your belly button, and air will be placed into your abdominal cavity (peritoneum). Once there is sufficient space between your abdominal wall and your organs, a tube (cannula) will be placed through the incision and a laparoscope connected to a camera will be placed through the tube. One or two other incisions will be made, with tubes placed for instruments, usually on the side of your lower abdomen. The docter will look around (the camera is connected to a TV moniter) and possibly take pictures. Instruments are used to move bowel out of the way or remove adhesions (scar tissue connecting bowel or other organs to the wall of the peritoneum). If any problem is seen that can easliy be fixed (a small cyst, small amounts of endometriosis), the docter will usually take care of these. When the procedure is finished, the air is let out of your abdomen, and all instruments and tubes are removed. Incisions will be closed with either suture (usually absorbable), staples (one or two) or surgical glue. The manipulator will be removed from your cervix/vagina and your legs will be taken out of the stirrups and placed flat on the bed. The anesth. will then begin waking you up, and remove your breathing tube. Once you are awake (sleepy, but no longer under anesthesia), you will be moved back to a stretcher or hospital bed and taken to the recovery room. While there, you will be monitered, may have oxygen on, and will be given pain medication as needed. If your docter has chosen for you to have a foley catheter (a tube that goes through your urethra to your bladder and stays in place)in place, you may feel the need to urinate - the nurses will remind you about the catheter. Often after laparoscopy, patients will have shoulder pain - this is from residual air in the abdomen and is "referred" pain, meaning your shoulder has no reason to hurt, your brain just thinks it should.

Long enough? This is all I know, as I leave the picture after the patient is in recovery. However, feel free to e-mail me with any other questions I might be able to answer. Good luck!
J.

S.-
Go to Portland to a real Chinese doctor trained in China or Taiwan in Chinese medicine. He will give you Mother's Soup. You will be cured.

That's what I did over 30 years ago for abnormal bleeding following a miscarriage. Everything went just fine and about 10 years ago I completed a perfectly normal menopause uterus intact.

I have also taken several friends suffering from "Women's troubles" following childbirth or nursing to Chinese doctors with excellent results.

Doctors consider uteruses trophys. Keep yours. Whenever they are in doubt they just cut it out.

Hi S.,

I just had one June 2. Mine was to tie my right tube(long story) in preparation for having another child. I felt like the very worst part was the preparation. I had to stop eating at 4:00 the day before and then do a bowel cleansing (same as for a colonoscopy). This meant drinking a horrible salty saline liquid that makes you have non-stop diarhea (be sure and have Tucks on hand because it BURNS!!). The actual surgery took about an hour and a half. The surgery was at 10:00 and I was home by 4:00. I was very glad I had worn sweats to the hospital because I was very bloated and didn't fit into my jeans until 2 1/2 weeks later. I also didn't want anything rubbing the area (belly button and a small incision a couple of inches to the right). I took narcotic pain medicine on a regular schedule for about 5 days and then just at night for a couple more. Not being able to lift my 2 year old for three weeks was a challenge. I had to have a lot more patience for her to do things in her own time (climb in and out of the car, etc). The doctor said I would be back to normal in a week. I really feel it took two weeks to regain my energy and feel completely back to normal. Hope this helps. Good luck to you!

I have had 3. 2 for cysts and one for endometriosis. In the one cyst case they knew for sure what was going on, but with the other two they didn't know much before they went in. In 2 cases I was in and out the same day and 1 I had to stay overnight, because I was having a very hard time getting up after the anesthesia. The days following the surgeries weren't very eventful. I didn't need that much pain medication after the 3rd day and was pretty much getting around after a week. I wasn't a mom yet when I had my surgeries, so I don't know how it would have gone with little ones. It was definately less painful and far less invasive than a c-section. I have a couple of tiny scars, but several have vanished completely. I have to say that I felt a lot better once the issue was resolved with surgery. Good luck to you and take care.

Also something to help with all the left over gas inside, if you lay with your hips slightly elevated it will help let the air escape. You might also want to get some gas-x or something. After I had a cyst removed I think the gas pains in my chest etc were the worst of it.

S.,
Don't sweat it, it is very monor surgery, and recovery is very minimal. They make a very tiny cut in your belly button, and insert a camera to look around. you will go home with a bandaid on your belly button, and maybe feel like you have a small bruise, after a couple days you will feel fine. hope that helps, and good luck to you.
L.

good morning S.,
i have had 4 Laparoscopy surgeries.... the first being when i was 22 pregnant and it was a tube pregnancy....the 2nd surgery was a D & C, 3rd was a tubaligation, and the 4th was my hysteroscopy and endometrial ablation..... the surgeries are all done thru the belly button where they make a small incision so that way they can get the scope thru, then there are 2 smaller incisions below the belly button just diagonally from it to the left and right..... both are used for the other inturments they need..... the surgery is a breeze non invasive and faster healing time.... and NO stitches to keep clean or to worry about gettin infected.... they just pull the incision together which is less then 1" long each and tape them.... you have maybe 1-2 day of lounging around,(or at least i did) and then i was back to doing normal activities.... here is a link i found.... read it cause it tells you everything....

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/laparoscopy-1615...

feel free to email me if you have any questions....
____@____.com

good luck

I know it's troublesome when doctors don't know what's wrong, but that's probably why they are doing the surgery. That surgery is basically a exploratory surgery so hopefully can find the source to your pain. The only reason I know this is because I was a nurse assistant for many years, and it was a very common surgery. As far as the recovery goes, that's basically up to you and your body, but I suppose they will tell you up to six weeks. I wish you luck and answers to your pain.

I had this done several years ago - overall the surgery went well. Sent home that same day. As I recall the recovery was actually more painful than a c-section - partly because you actually went home. It wasn't horrid enough to say I wouldn't ever do it again but my husband had to help me go to the bathroom and I couldn't stand up straight. I went back to work and I was gray moving around - so just make sure you have lots of help when you get home. The other thing was the pain meds really made my heart beat too fast so I only took half of one. I can't really remember how long it all took but it was probably less than a week and you really needed the longer side to fully recover.

I had three incisions. One belly button and two on side. Believe me I really didn't want to see the pictures.

Hi S.~

I had laparoscopic surgery to romove my gallbladder. It is a less invasive procedure, recovery is quick and the pain was not as bad as the gallstones, in fact it was much less. I'm concerned that you would be having this done before trying medication. I also suffered from the same thing you describe, the nonstop periods and the debilitating pains that went from my uterus down my thighs to my knees! My OBGYN put me on a hormon medication a very light dose. Straightened my cycle right out! What a relief! Now I take the medication for the first 10 days of the month, I start my mensus 3 to 5 days later, it lasts 5 to 7 days, I have minimal cramps and I am a happy camper! I would encourage you to try some type of medication before you have any invasive procedure, but if it comes down to having the procedure, laparoscopic is the way to go.
May God's Blessing be on you S., and give you strenght and courage durning this trying time in your life.

Mandy

S.,

I see you already have a couple of answers here but I wanted to let you know my experience was quite different, so I think that everyone's recovery is different as one of the other mom's said. I had the laparoscopy for endometriosis last June. I also had 2 incisions one in the belly button and one below around the pubic area. Since your laparoscopy is going to be more exploratory as the Dr. doesn't know exactly what he will find you may not have a lot of actual "scraping" or working in there, just more looking. I had scar tissue removed from the endometriosis by laser. I woke up in recovery and was still feeling fine (I'm sure thanks to the pain meds) they keep you there until you are a little more coherent and can keep some dry toast down or something. They just want to make sure you can eat a little something with your pain meds. When I went home I mostly rested in bed and slept for the rest of Friday. By Saturday I graduated out to the couch and sitting up, and got up and went to church and ran errands on Sunday. So my down time wasn't but a day and a half or so, and I didn't take too many pain meds as I didn't have much pain. There was a little deferred pain in my shoulder as the nurse was saying, but very little in my abdomen and incision sites. My biggest challenge was keeping my 2 year old boy from crawling across my stomach...he did elbow and knee me right in the belly button a couple of times. OUCH! So as the other mom's said not everyone's recovery is the same, but I also wanted to share my recovery with you to let you know yours might be on the lighter side as well. I hope all goes well.

B.

I've had laporoscopy two times. If I ever had to have any kind of surgery this would be the one I would want. It is easy and as far as the pain, I think that depends on you. For me, I have kids at home and knew that I needed to get back into my routine as quickly as possible. New studies show that if you get up and moving as soon as possible your muscles don't get sore and you actually heal quicker. Your tummy is very tender after surgery. Make sure you have arrangements for help with your kids once you get home, cause most times they will send you home afterwards. I personally recovered better at home because I was more comfortable and in my own surroundings.

The first procedure I had was to remove my galbladder. I remember being very nervous. The docs gave me some kind of relaxing meds and I think I laughed my way into the OR room.

When you come out of surgery and they ask you if you want something to drink. Don't take the orange juice. After you drink it then have to pee, it burns from having the catheder in.

You'll be ok. It really is a great way to have surgery and if you set your mind to healing, it won't bee too painful afterwards, plus they give you great pain meds. Ha ha.

Good Luck

I had a laparoscopy about 5 years ago for pain. I didn't have crazy periods, but we could not find the source of the pain and through the procedure, found endometriosis. I remember clearly that the procedure was almost pain free for me. I was very groggy and tired the first two days after, and my range of tummy motion was slightly limited for the first week. But I never had to take a single pain pill and within two days after the fatigue wore off, I was back to my regular daily routine. The difference is I did not have kids at the time. For you, I would be a little more careful with lifting the kids for the first week or two. The surgery only requires 2 small (about 1 inch) incisions. one in the belly button and one down on your hairline. They fill your abdomin with air (you may feel bloated for a couple days) and look around with a little camera, whatever they do after that, depends on what they find. I wouldn't be worried, its a quick and simple procedure with a very easy recovery.

I can't tell you anything about the procedure, but your 3 week visit from "Aunt Flow" is something I know about.

Up until 5 years ago that's the way my periods were. I would be on the couch, curled up and crying for 3 weeks at a time. And it never waited for 28 days before starting again. I drove everyone nuts!!!

We tried the pill, depo, lots of pain relievers... nothing helped. Nothing, that is, until after my daughter was born. I had an IUD put in. (I think they're called IUC's now.)

They are placed and replaced every 5 years. Mine has been a God send. My periods slowed over the next 2 months and then stopped all together! Now I'm not saying this will be your case, but it is worth a try.

My husband has been happy, the kids are happy and most importantly, I'M HAPPY!!!

Talk to your doctor to figure out the risks and benefits of an IUD/IUC. It's worth discussing.

Hi S.,

I had one done about 2 years ago for endometriosis. The doctor did a great job - I had two little incisions. One in my belly button and one below that along my pubic line. I have the entire surgery on video and during the procedure, the doctor talked to me and showed me exactly what he was doing. It was kind of freaky to watch, but cool at the same time! As far as recovery goes, I think that it totally depends on the person and how much needs to be done once the doctor is finally in there. I took longer than normal to recover and had problems with pain for a while afterwards - not at the incision sites, but internally. Usually though, recovery can take from a few days to a week, and then you'll be fine. Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions!

Hi, I had a laparoscopy about 5 years ago to look for endometriosis. Honestly I don't remember a lot of it, but my husband just told me that I had a lot of pain in the incision area because they cut through the stomach wall. I guess it was just reallly sensitive for a while afterwards. And the general anesthesia took a while to recover from too. But it couldn't have been too bad since i don't remember it that much!

I also wanted to recommend seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist. Not sure what exact kind of pain you have, but I recently started seeing someone for a different reason (help with pain from my epesiotomy scar) and she has given me a lot of insight into other reasons that I was experiencing pelvic pain in the past that probably don;t have anything to do with endometriosis. She says that a lot of obgyn's don't even know about pelvic floor physical therapists, but this woman seems to know more about the female anatomy than any gyn I've ever been to!

I had this done a while back. The one piece of advice I can give you is to lay flat for many hours after the procedure. As a previous person stated, people often get sore neck, shoulders or sever headaches b/c of the left over gas trying to escape. These are HORRIBLE pains. The more you lay flat, the leftover gas will disperse through your body and you won't have those pains.

Hey S.,
I know you have received many comments, though I just wanted to say that I had a lap about a year ago, and it was nothing. There is a small incision with one stitch and it lasts about 20 minutes. There is no pain really, except at the incision origin. My lap was also for a pregnancy "ordeal" if you will. And the prep wasn't too bad either. I just had to abstain from eating for 24 hours before the lap. Nothing else. Ask your doctor if you feel uncomfortable about it and he/she will explain it to the fullest. I hope you didn't this too late!!

I had a laparoscopy 11 years ago for the same reasons, I was in pain, and the ultrasound did not show anything. The doctor found lots of cysts in my ovaries. The surgery does not hurt, and the recovery is not painful. I took a week off from work (I am a teacher), and during the second week I tried to move as little as possible (didn't walk around the class, the kids came to me). I recovered well, and was left with three tiny marks (two to the side and one in your belly button)that eventually disappeared (along with my pain! hooray!).

I do medical transcription and I transcribe outpatient surgeries. I am not sure what kind of detail you want, exactly, but if you would like a sample of a laparoscopy report, I could e-mail one to you.