Hi. I'm just curious if any of you has had a laproscopy before and what the after effects were. I am going in on Monday for mine and I'm a bit nervous as to what to expect afterwards (as far as pain, and all that). I don't think I should be worried about it, but from what I've read online - people have said that the days after are very painful. I guess I'm looking for what you all felt (I know some of you through these boards) and what I should be set for with this next step in infertility.
When I spoke to my doc today, he said that I will feel "as if I had drank 12 beers and will have a hang-over affect for a few days." I laughed, as he knows I don't drink. I guess I'm looking for feedback from someone to let me know how they felt and what to expect.
Any advice or words would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a ton. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* :angel:

I've had it before. I thought I would be clever. Schedule it for a Friday morning and be back at work on Monday. I ended up out of the office for a whole week. I think part of it may have had to do with the extensive endometriosis removal that took 5 hours. I felt like I had been stabbed. Took me a few days to get up and move around at all. However, I've heard much better stories from others. I think it really depends on what they're going in for.

Mockanaitis~ Sorry, I should have said what they are going in for --- To be honest - they are going in to make sure I don't have endometriosis or any other issues that could be delaying pg. We've been ttc for almost 2 years - and nothing. So, the doc told me that if he found anything - he would treat it and let dh know. If he doesn't see anything, then - we go from there.
THANKS for the response! I appreciate it. :angel:

I have had it done 3 times. The most recent was this past May. All were done due to endometriosis. The first time it was painful, hurt to cough, sneeze, roll over in bed, sit down, etc---the pain only lasted a few days. The 2nd time, it wasnt near as bad...and the 3rd time was not bad at all. When I first woke up from surgery--it was SORE...they gave me pain meds right then, and that was the last I suffered from it. It was like I didnt even have it done.

Now....please listen to me...I learned the VERY HARD way!! After surgery, prior to your discharge, they will have you to go pee. PLEASE TELL THEM IF YOU CANT, OR IF ITS ONLY A LITTLE!!!! I never understood the importance of this...until this last time!! I was soooo hungry that I was wanting to get out of there sooo bad---so I told them that I peed...no problem. WELLLLL.....bad lesson learned very well. I drank 2 cups of drink while in recovery, a big tall cup of soda after getting something to eat...came home, didnt feel that I had to pee at all....but did struggle to try. Nothing. So, I drank 80 oz---yes 80 oz of water in an hour and a half.....still couldnt pee no matter what I done. I pushed, I strained....nothing!!!! To make a very long story short, after 6 hours, and all that fluid, I was miserable--had to pee, couldnt. So was taken to the ER and catherized...HAD TO WEAR IT HOME!!!!!! (was able to remove it the next day). Not the end of the problems yet...oh no--just had to keep having problems :(----all that struggling, straining I did to pee--not for a B.M.---just to pee----gave me one heck of a hemmorhoid---was soooo miserable with that for a solid week!!!!!!! So please make sure you are able to pee after surgery---so very important!!!! Good luck.

I had a lap done about a 1 1/2 yr ago. It was not too bad. I was sore for a few days and very bloated. They pump your stomach up with air so they can see around so after the procedure, the air tries to escape and it can try and come out at different places. With me it was through my shoulder, so I just elevated my feet and the pain would go away. I had it done on a thursday and was back to work on monday. It only took an hour. It felt like I had been asleep forever, it was actually the best nap I ever had!!! HTH!

I had a laperoscopy, hysteroscopy and while they where in there they decided to do a D&C. So my 1 hour operation lasted 3 hours. I woke up in no pain whatsoever. My throat was soar because they used a breathing tube but my body was not. The next day I had pain but it was in my uterus, probably from the D&C. I had fibroids and they took them all out and had them tested for Cancerous cells, I am all good. Good luck, don't be scared, it was not that bad, the worry was worse than the pain, besides they give you some really good drugs to take care of pain if you have any :)

Thank you all for your replies. I find it helpful to hear from others on what they did and what worked best for them. I know that every situation is differnt, but I learn well from others. I'm not too nervous as of yet, just more apprehensive than anything.
Ladybug - thank you for the words of advice on going pee afterwards -- WOW. I would never have thought that it could be that bad that you'd have to go back in for a cath. Wow. I'm glad that everything worked out for you - and thanks for sharing your story!
Have a great weekend ladies! Hopefully you all have good weather to enjoy - ours here (Chicago area) is cooler than normal - everyone is saying its
Aug-tober! Smiles & hugs -- :angel:

You are quite welcome! I NEVER thought that not peeing would be such an ordeal either--HUGE lessoned learned there. LOL---Had I known how important it was, I would have much rather been honest, than to have my hubby have to take me to the ER, then having to wear that VERY embarrassing catheter bag home!!! so anytime I hear that someone is about to have surgery--I make sure they understand to please let the nurse know if you have trouble doing so. I always just thought that it was routine to let the patients pee just simply because they hadnt since before surgery, never knew that there was a health reason why they had you to go pee--no one ever explained it to me! But as someone mentioned about the gas---they do "fill you up" with carbon dioxide--to make it easier for them to see everything.....I forgot that detail until I read it in that post...they do try to get out as much of it as possible, but it is impossible to remove every bit of it, so my dr told me that I needed to lay down as much as possible so that the carbon dioxide that was left in the body could evenly distribute throughout the body, instead of gathering in one place, and that if I sat up for awhile and felt pain in my chest/shoulders---to just simply lay back down....and it would go away---and it did help. I think that is for the first 24 hours after surgery that you could have that discomfort. Good luck and hope all goes well!

jlteaches, how did your surgery go? Is everything ok? Did you have endo or anything? Are they going to start you on fertility treatments? Hope all is going well :)

Jteaches
How are you? How was the laparoscopy? Are you OK? I hope you are feeling OK.
Wish you good luck

I posted what happened under "Good luck Jlteaches" -- sorry I just can't write it again... tired and wore out!

Thanks for ALL your well wishes!!! I truly appreciate them!!!!!! You guys are great! :angel: