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Recovering From Your Laparoscopy

 
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Recovering From Laparoscopy

When approaching any type of surgery, you usually gloss over the details of recovery – I know I did. It’s kind of like the list of side effects on pharmacy inserts; we don’t think about them until they actually happen to us. But after I underwent my first laparoscopy, I was surprised by my recovery period and what all it entailed. I therefore want to share my story with others, so that they won’t be shocked like I was.

Most people go home and sleep after a big surgery, especially one involving anesthesia. Not me! I was released from the hospital at 11:00 AM, and I was so uncomfortable for the rest of the day that I couldn’t sleep. The biggest reason for this was the air they pumped into my body during the surgery. I had no idea how painful it would be! My lower abdominals were completely bloated to the point of a faux pregnancy. I was also bruised pretty badly around both of the incision sites, so I pretty much looked like a gangster mommy-to-be.

The instruments they put in my vagina caused some major bleeding. I experienced the same flow as that of a normal period, so I had to wear a pad for the rest of the day (tampons were prohibited for a week after surgery).

Because they cut through muscle, I couldn’t stand up on my own. My husband would grab my hands and propel me forward if I wanted to get out of bed. Sitting on the couch wasn’t a possibility, due to the pain involved in standing up and bending over.

It hurt to go to the bathroom, because I was forced to sit at a 90 degree angle on the toilet, thus squishing my stomach muscles together. In fact, all bodily functions – including breathing, digesting food, and drinking – hurt because they would cause my intestines to move, thus increasing the amount of pressure on the area.

However, nothing hurt worse than the pain of lying down in a completely horizontal position. Doing so would cause all of the air in my abdomen to rush up into my lungs and chest, which pretty much amounted to the sensation of a heart attack. I had to sleep in an upright position for four nights after surgery for this reason alone.

I was given a prescription for Percocet and ibuprofen to manage the pain. I’m not sure that they did any good, but they did succeed in making me excessively drowsy, which is why I opted to stay in bed most of the time.

I was finally back to normal on the fourth day after my surgery. It doesn’t sound like a long time, but it was sure longer than I expected, especially when I experienced my specific symptoms. Now, all that’s left is a scar inside my belly button and a marble-sized chunk of scar tissue on my hip.

Here is an article on What to expect during your laparoscopy

Add a Comment3 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Omg. Thank you for this post. I just experienced the pain with lying down flat and thought something was wrong with me. Your description was on the dot. I couldn’t breathe, talk or move. I was able to get a scream out for someone to come rushing in. I wished that I had seen this sooner!!

July 17, 2018 - 10:04pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

i had a laproscopy and didnot know what was happening to me.the pain was unreal. my doctor didnot tell me that i would have chest pain after surgery or the pain when lying down or walking. it is three months now but i cannot eat meat as it feels like rocks settling in my tummy. i then roll with pain.i am so annoyed with the gas that keeps building up. how much longer to be normal again?i am living on painkillers..

April 7, 2010 - 2:48pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

I has the same surgery today in fact. Up three hours after. Dressed and on my way home. Slept I my bed. Just liquids, solids tomorrow. Extra strenght Tylenol.

January 9, 2018 - 10:50pm
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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