In need of your experiences...
 

Hi everyone...:) !

Okay, so this wednesday I am scheluded for laparoscopic surgery. Basically it's just a fishing trip, to hopefully find some clues as to what is wrong with me. I've been suffering from chronic abdominal pain for the past four and a half years, and apart from a constantly high WBC there are no other syptoms to go on. I've had virtually every scan and test known to medicine and they've all been clear, except for my last CT which showed some slight swelling of the distal colon.

What I'm hoping to learn from all your priceless experience is what I can expect from this procedure, and how I will feel from it afterward. Curious has already (gleefully, I think) informed me of the indignity of having chronic gas after my surgery, but is there anything more I should be prepared for? How much discomfort will it cause, and for how long? And the one thing that worries me most: what are the chances of any complications occurring from this surgery?

I thank anyone in advance who would take the time to enlighten me and perhaps ease my mind a bit over this...:) :) :)

Wishing you the best Wednesday~
 

Sorry I can't help you, but I'd like to wish you the best of luck, Iealist. You can't seem to sleep and I can understand that too. I am that way, so go to bed and let me worry for you. I'll say a prayer that this takes care of any problem you are experiencing.
Best Wishes,
Fancylady:)

lap
 

Not familiar with that one either...but I wish you luck. I know how had it is not to have a diagnosis.

Well, I don't know if you're male or female :o

But, I've had laparoscopic surgery three times -- first time, looking for and not finding endometriosis, second time looking for and finding endometriosis (four hour laser surgery), and third time gall bladder removal.

In the two endometriosis surgeries, my waist was horrendously sore -- make sure you wear elastic waist pants if they are going through the belly button. I was extremely sore and uncomfortable. They move you around a lot on the table which makes your entire abdomen hurt. I tried to ride a bus about four days after the second surgery -- painful, because of all the bumpy roads around here.

After the gall bladder surgery, I was in rehab for 5 days and then home from work for two weeks. This was a 'real surgery' because there was cutting involved. Very hard to get up and down out of bed. Very hard to turn over.

Even from the first laparoscopic surgery where they just looked around for endometriosis, it's an assault on your system. Don't expect to go back to your normal routine immediately.

Make sure all your laundry is done and your bed is changed. And make sure you've got groceries. You're not going to be capable of doing that for a couple of weeks.

Good luck. I hope that they don't find anything wrong -- even though that means 'no diagnosis' again. Hugs.

Barb

Hi Idealist ~

I've never had laparoscopic surgery, but both my Sister and my Dad had their gallbladder removed that way.

Both of them came through with flying colors ~ my Sister was back to work two days later and my Dad (who is 77 and has Parkinson's) was up and around the next day!

Obviously, everyone is different. My Sister did say that the gas was a problem afteward ~ for some reason it seems to hurt worse up around the shoulder area.

Good luck ~ and I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers tomorrow ~ I hope you also come through with flying colors and also get some answers! {{{hugs}}}

Love,
dadsgirl

idealist is a he...

i figured he had better warn his family about the gas. :p not just himself for the discomfort. ok..he knows i was teasing...just a weee bit.

(((((((idealist)))))))

Thanks everybody...for the insights, prayers and well wishes from all...

Four hours to go, and I guess I'll find it all out first hand...

I know laparoscopic surgery is supposed to be a fairly routine procedure these days, but so is childbirth, and I've witnessed how "routine" that can be several times!

Oh well, it will soon be over, for better or worse, and then I can turn my mind to other things again. Like that fancy dinner which Curious has promised me in order to put some meat on my bones...:p

Take care, all, and thank you so much again! :) :) :)

How are you?
 

I hope all went OK for you today. I had a laproscopic and uterine ablation at the same time and although my abdomen didnt feel great, the anethesia was much worse than the pain for me.

I always kept a pillow handy for if I would need to cough or sneeze. Just take your time and relax and hopefully you will feel better in no time.

Take Care,
Michelle

Thanks, Michele...:)

I got through the procedure okay. It wasn't the most pleasant afternoon I've ever spent, but it wasn't so bad. Right now I'm sitting here with an incredibly sore midsection, but I'm sure that will pass eventually. It would have been worth it all if they'd found something in there, but alas, it's back to square one for me...:confused: