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Helpful Tips for Laparoscopy

Helpful Tips on your Laparoscopic Surgery
Written by Felicity Veasey

Print this out and take it to your doctor's office with you. Discuss and try to get confirmation on everything listed below.

When you attend your pre lap consultation take your spouse, friend or family member to attend with you, have a list of your concerns. You will have to sign consent form so ask all your questions before you sign.

For example;

• How long will recovery be? *This differs for each person, depending on what is done etc.
• If you find endometriosis how will you deal with it, cauterize it? What?
• Is s/he doing a biopsy
• Make a decision with your spouse. If something is or isn't life threatening what will you do.. I am referring to the removal of organs..etc...Do you plan on having children?
• What is the follow up treatment the doc has in mind? Research this before you agree to anything. Get info from your doc and also do a search on the net

Ask your doctor/GYN if you should stop taking any of your medication prior to your lap, some pills do not mix well with the anesthesia.

• Square away your insurance/payment process.
  
  
• Make your lap appointment for first thing in the morning... it's terrible fasting all day waiting for your surgery.
  
  
• Disclose all meds, including supplements to your doc and keep this list handy as every doc and nurse that sees you will need to know.
  
  
• Bowel Prep. This is VERY important. Make sure you do this thoroughly. You may need to fast the day before, depending on the time of your lap.
  
  When you do the bowel prep (if it's the magnesium citrate), drink it with a piece of ice on your tongue. it helps with the taste. also drink it through a straw.
  
  
• Have your pain prescription filled prior to the lap.
  
  
• Gas-X, or equivalent brand. You will be filled with GAS during your lap. You will need to expel it. The gas can make your entire body uncomfortable.
  
  
• You will need a pillow for the car ride, the pillow will be placed between your stomach and the seatbelt, it will act a security blanket for the following weeks. I walked around with a pillow for four or five weeks. - If you want take a stuffed animal with you, it can be easier to hold than a pillow, and may comfort you. I liked the bulk of the pillow - all depends on you. Why not bring both!
  
  
• Pads - buy the big kind. You will bleed for a few days after your lap.
  
  
• Baby wipes - or hemorrhoid wet wipes.
  
  
• Stool softeners - this is really important.
  
  
• If you live alone - have a person stay with you for the first night, and to drive you home from the hospital.. it's important.. you may have complications, they can also bring your pill bottles and water if you aren't able to get out of bed.
  
  
• If you have pets, somebody can help you take care of them.
  
  
• Change your sheets and clean your home before you go. If this is too painful - have somebody help you.
  
  
• Take out belly-rings, and put them back in very carefully a day or 2 after surgery

Your Laparoscopic Surgery

• Wear grandma undies - you want big and comfy. - They don't irritate your stitches.
• A very big and comfy dress - something with a lot of room.
• Forget wearing a bra - you wont want to wear it on the way home and it's cumbersome.
• Talk to your family and have them prepared for the fact that you will be off your feet for 2 weeks *it may not be that long this is a precaution. They will be fending for themselves.
• Pre cook food and FREEZE it, you will want light food.
• Have JELLO and soft foods ready for yourself.
• If you have any allergies - tell the doctor and nurses at the hospital.
• Ask your doc for a copy of the video or pictures.
• Exercise - do not plan on doing any. You will only be able to lift a phone book for the first week. Every body is different... take your time even for light lifting.
• Sometimes complications arise. You may need to spend the night at the hospital.. have a small overnight bag with you.
• Leave all your valuables at home, for instance, your rings, watch etc.
• When you talk to the anesthesiologist tell him or her if you are prone to nausea, they will give you a shot to help with this.
• Bring light reading material.
• Wear your glasses and not contacts.
• Remove nail polish or they will remove it for you .
• Buy throat lozenges in case the breathing tube irritated your throat.
• Shave or wax your legs and pubic area well. You are not allowed a shower until your incisions have healed.
• Wear socks (hospitals are cold)
• Have spouse or whoever is with you bring a notepad to write down what the doctor says he/she found during the surgery. You will be very drugged up and may not remember.
• Keep pets out of your bedroom for a few days after the surgery. The slightest movement may cause pain.
• Some girls like before and after pic's of belly buttons.. not a bad idea for your records.
• Records - Ask your doctor for a copy of your surgery records and pictures. *Also* keep a journal of your experience and recovery.

Post-Op

Walk, walk, walk as much as you can around your house to reduce the gas and bloating The gas gets trapped under your diaphragm sometimes and it causes you to have pain in your shoulders (it's called referred pain). It can be kind of scary but it goes away within a week.

Catheters can cause your bladder to act a little funny, this will go away if you have any problems... within a few days - to a week.

Links

Laparoscopy - http://www.laparoscopy.com
Laparotomy - http://www.dyspareunia.org/html/laparotomy.htm