Laparscopy Recovery

[krchelle]

I think that an exploratory laparascopy is probably in my very near future to diagnose endometriosis or the possibilty of adhesions (caused from a previous laparotomy).  I have an appointment to discuss this with my Doctor on friday and I'm guessing we will schedule it then.  In thinking about scheudling it, I am wondering about recovery in terms of how long I will need off work.  I have seen anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks in my research.

What are your thoughts?  For those of you that have had one.  I am a preschool teacher so I am on my feet and up and down a lot.  There is some lifting involved, but I can avoid that as long as needed.  I have an awesome assistant who can take over the things I cannot do, but I am more just thinking about how many days I will need to be out.  I want to be out as little as possible.  I was hoping to have it on a Thursday or Friday and return on Monday.  Is that at all reasonable? I also thought about waiting for Spring Break so I will have a week to recover, but not sure I can wait that long.

Thanks!  Kristin

[ticked]

that is great news and GOOD LUCK!!! Glad you are with someone you trust :)

[krchelle]

Thank you so much. I had a bad experience with the surgeon who did my laparotomy in May. He opened me up to remove a large cyst and removed my ovary as well when he probably could have done a laparoscopy and maybe just removed the cyst. My new surgeon feels much of my pain is due to nerve pain from the way I was opened up and has suggested (but not out right said) that I should not have been opened up the way I was. I trust him, he has been very honest with me about what he will be doing, takes time to explain everything and answers questions. My gut was right about the last one...I didn't trust him. I hope I'm right about this one! He just mentioned the possibility of opening me up due to the severe scar tissue I may have or the possibility of bowel involvement due to my symtoms. He is going to make every effort to not do this but wanted me to understand the risk.  Thanks again! Surgery is Friday!

[ticked]

I do what you to know that no matter how difficult there is never a time when an Endo specialist needs to do an open surgery unless something comes up that was unexpected like bowel perforation. Open surgery takes a lot of unnecessary scar tissue and recovery time when it can be done minimally invasive. You don't have to do this surgery with this surgeon. There should be no such thing as an exploratory surgery then closing up. It is a waste of a surgery. Make your first surgery count and have it done by the best surgeon. That is just my opinion.

[krchelle]

He is.  Looking for endometriosis or scar tissue. However, he will take care of any problem he sees which could change to open surgery as needed snd/or extend my recovery time. Thanks for the offer. Depending on how it goes, I will definitely contact you for more info.

Thanks

[ticked]

hmm I would think that he is just exploring then. If you are in need of an Endo specialist let me know :)

[krchelle]

I will be having an exploratory laparoscopy 2 weeks from today. Doctor seems to think I can go back to work that next Monday or Tuesday, assuming all goes well.

[krchelle]

Thanks!  That must be why I am getting such a variation on times in my research!  I should know more tomorrow about what will be done. My thought at this time is that it will just be exploratory for diagnostic purposes and he probably won't even know himself until he gets in there. My current doctor is not an endo specialist, at least that I am aware of.

The lap was to remove a 14 cm cyst, left ovary and tube.

[ticked]

It will all depend on who your surgeon is (Endo specialist or reg OBGYN) and what is done.

Example

I had surgery in 2007 with an Endo specialist and the surgery was 5 hours and was extensive, recovery was 2 weeks to go back to work and couldn't lift anything for about a month and that was key hole surgery.

2013 I had surgery again with a OBGYN surgery lasted 2 hours, she removed little through key hole and left the remaining endo as it was too difficult for her due to lack of experience. Recovery was 3 days.

2014 I had a radical hyster along with deep excision to remove all Endo, my pelvic lining and part of my vagina removed due to deep infiltrating rectovaginal endo all done by and Endo specialist and key hole surgery. I ended up with a catheter for 11 days, and recovery was about another 2 weeks after that as I ended up with 2 infections because of the cath.

That being said it really does all depend all those factors.

The Laparotomy you had, what was that for? C-section?