Laprascopy questions

[bal78]

Can anyone tell me the average time off work for the laprascopy procedure?  I'm having a cyst removed from the ovary and possible the ovary too.  Is the recovery painful, uncomfortable?  Any other insight would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

[rangersmom]

from my experience it is not that bad. everyone is talking about the gas bubbles. if you ask your doctor to remove the extra air before he closes up it helps. i have had 3 in the last year and not a gas bubble!  i have had them w/ previous doctors and they suck. gas x really helps too. as far as being out from work all depends on how you handle pain. i was back to work in 1 day. you just take it easy. it is a pretty basic procedure and they usually do it with you being an outpatient. i am usually in an out in just a few hours. good luck!

[shaneekirk]

Just a little trick... I know that if you put a heating pad on low on your stomach that it will help all of the gas bubbles go into the "right" places...  I learned this after my first C-Section, and it's helped lots of others too!

Good luck with your surgery!

[justscore]

I have had 3 laparoscopies.  I recovered very quickly (4 days) each time.  I was very sore but that was all.  I was swollen about 1 week and wore very loose fitting clothes for about 2 weeks.  Each of my laps were for extensive Endo on my abdominal wall, colon, rectum, uterus, ovaries and a tilted uterus.
Good luck and take it slow.........

[rpeds]

Everybody is different and it depends on many things.  Here's some of what I was told and what my experience was (knowing I was lucky).

I was told by my doctor to expect to be off work for two weeks.  I returned to work after one week but chose to take off a couple of hours early the second week.  Sitting was hard to do the first several days (standing and lying were fine).  I was told not to drive for a week (or until I could press down firmly on the gas pedal).  The way I felt, I'm guessing I could have driven by day 4, and started walking about a mile by day 4 (I normally walk about 3-3 1/2 miles). You're also not supposed to lift anything 10 lb or more for several weeks. (again, I was fine after about 10 days).

I went home the same day, took about half a tablet of pain medicines for 2 days (used a total of 2 pills), and otherwise just used tylenol.  It takes a couple of days to get rid of the extra gas and you may have shoulder pain until it's gone (the gas pushes on the diaphragm, which causes 'referred' pain to the shoulder.)

The other thing I was told which was a helpful way to think about it... I was told my stomach would feel sore like I had done a ton of crunches.  That was a pretty good description.  I'm now three weeks out and I'd say I'm 95% back to normal.

Best of luck to you!  I hope you sail through.