Re: 1st Laparoscopy on 7/24/03
From: tina (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri Jul 18 22:44:37 2003
I just had my first laporoscopy yesterday. I also had a D&C and an
ovarian cyst removed at the same time. The only real pain I'm feeling
is in my chest and shoulder from the CO2. The incisions hurt as well,
but not as much as I thought. My doctor found and removed endo, but I
don't feel any pain from that.
The gas pain has been driving me crazy and the percocet doesn't seem to
help that pain. I finally propped myself up face down on some pillows
to put pressure on my chest and upper abdomen, without resting on my
lower abs where the cuts are. That seemed to help move the gas a bit. I
was given some information on how I'd feel after the surgery. It said
the gas pain may be worse standing or sitting up than lying down, but
it's the opposite. I feel fine sitting and standing, but my shoulder
and arm hurts like hell when I lay down.
Good luck Mandy and don't worry too much. It's really not that bad. My
only suggestion would be to have some anti-gas medicine like gas-x on
hand in case you need it, but you should make sure it's okay to take
first. I'm going to try that tomorrow after speaking to the doctor, if
the pain is still here.
At Thu, 10 Jul 2003, Kristy wrote:
>
>If anyone is having any shoulder or chest pain after laparoscopy
>b/c of the CO2 that means the dr didn't do a good job of getting
>it all out afterward.
>
>With my first laparoscopy they didn't take all the CO2 out, but
>with the last two they did.
>
>For stool issues use stool softeners. I had constipation after
>each of my surgeries. I did not push at all with this one b/c I
>knew it would hurt if I did. I just waited for it to pass on
>its own and then I went on my own with no problems.
>
>For getting out of bed and also getting in use your arms to help
>you. This will help to keep you from having your stomach
>muscles hurt more.
>
>You may feel some post-op tenderness for about 6 weeks or so and
>this is to be expected b/c of all the movement of organs inside.
>
>The length of recovery is different for each person. With my
>first surgery it was exactly 4 months, with the second one it
>was only two weeks. With the last one well, I'm still
>recovering as I later found out thanks to a message posted about
>abdominal muscles (can't remember if it was this list or the
>Women's Health one, I want to say it was that one) can still
>take a little longer to heal.
>
>With the pain meds if given any don't wait until you really need
>it b/c by then you have waited too long to take the medicine. I
>made sure with each surgery that I took the pain pill on
>schedule and always made sure to take it as soon as the pain
>started. This time though what I did was to make sure that the
>first time I started feeling some of the post-op pain after
>surgery was I took the medicine as soon as the pain started but
>after that I just kept taking it around the clock about every 4
>hours (that's what my dr told me to do) for about a week.
>
>Also, even if you think that you are feeling really good about
>doing stuff don't overdo. I've had to learn this the hard way.
>At 12 weeks afterward I thought I was ready to lift something
>heavy and I wasn't.
>
>Rest as much as possible during the next few days or so.
>
>And above all else stay positive.
>
>If you have anymore questions pls feel free to e-mail me
>directly if you like.
>
>To all that will be undergoing a lap soon I wish every one of
>you the best.
>
>=====
>Kristy :)
>
>http://www.geocities.com/sokokl/kristyspersonalpage.html
>
>For women who are interested in additional support http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Endo_Vulvodynia_PCOS/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zoladexforendometriosis/
>
>I am a Medical Secretary who does a lot of learning from reading on the Net, books, my dr(s), as well as sharing my own personal experiences.
>
>http://sbc.yahoo.com
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