[Inny2009]

Im getting a laprascopy here sometime soon but I cant afford to take off of work...I talked to my boss who said she would try to find me some light duty work ( I work as a housekeeper at a hotel) after my surgery but cant do it if my doc says no. I asked for the day of my surgery off and the day afterwards to give me some rest and then go back to work. Am I fooling myself? Will I be physically able to do this? I havent talked to my doctor yet to tell her of my plans. I figure if im this sick and still working then i should be just as able to work after surgery...can sometime tell me what I can expect? Should I try to work or is this something i should just give up now??? Thanks

[Perna]

No, sounds like you should be fine: http://www.ivf.com/laprscpy.html

I had my appendix burst and was in the hospital only a couple days, was operated on Friday morning, out of the hospital Saturday afternoon and knew of others who'd been operated on that same day by my surgeon who went back to work that Monday!

That's an idea, can you schedule it near a weekend so you have an extra day or two off if it worries you?

[shezbut]

Hi Inny2009,

The laproscopy really is pretty simple. Pretty uncomfortable as it's occurring, and less uncomfortable afterward. The day after I was fine. Took a couple of Tylenol and the pain was pretty much gone.

Feel better soon ~ gentle hugs to you!

[ECHOES]

There are many kinds of laparascopic procedures that are performed, from simple procedures to complex procedures, so it depends on what you are having done specifically.

If resting is a part of your recovery, you will risk doing harm to yourself if you don't follow your doctor's instructions for what to do afterwards. It's best to talk to your doctor to ask if post-op instructions are known now; it might be that they won't know until the surgery is over.

[Perna]

Echoes, I got laparascopy and endoscopy mixed up, thought they were the same. It's not surgery, it's just a look-see of the female organs performed kind of like a colonoscopy.

[ECHOES]

Laparscopic surgery covers a wide range of medical issues.
The gall bladder and other internal organs such as the pancreas can be removed laparscopically. Knee surgery includes laparscopy, using the scope to shave cartiledge or repair tendons. Many kinds of procedures are done laparscopically these days; it is less invasive and recovery is much faster.

[Fresia]

I have had more lap's than I can count at this point. Recovery depends on the lap. A pelvic lap is minimal recovery time. An abdominal lap like for a gall bladder takes a bit longer. You'll be on your feet same day or next day for both but lifting and movement will be restricted a lot longer for the an abdominal lap and light duty is really recommended. It is important to let your abdominal muscles heal in both cases. They are core muscles that you need for everything.

Either way, during the procedure, they will use a type of gas to inflate your abdomen. They remove most of it before closing. However, some may remain and it takes a day or two for it to completely leave your body. There is no harm to it. However, sometimes when you sit up in that day or two that follows, what they don't always remember to tell you is that the gas can move putting pressure on your upper organs so when you sit up you may experience discomfort; all you have to do is lay back down and it relieves the pressure.

Best wishes and speedy recovery!

[eskielover]

Laprascopy is still surgery (in many cases) that doesn't open up from the outside. They just make small incisions to stick the surgicial impliments in on the end of the tubes they insert (sometimes even lasar surgery). Less trauma & recovery time than having to have a surgical incision heal ontop of the surgery itself.

But in most cases, a surgery is still done unless they are just going in to look around & see what they find.....& one still has to heal from the surgery without doing damage....thus the need to take it easy even after the laprascopy. You need to find out exactly what your Dr is planning on doing & what the possibilities are. It may be just a simple procedure, or it may be more complicated, or they may not know the extent of the surgery which can also make a difference.

I wouldn't make any plans without talking to your Dr & finding out exactly what to expect.

Just FYI, Knee surgery is done arthroscopically, not laprascopically

[anna342]

After my laparoscopy I wouldn't have been able to return to work the next day, even if it was light duties. For 24hrs after a general anaestetic you are not supposed to do anything involving decision making/responsible tasks. I would give yourself a few days at least, depending on the actual kind of surgery, like the other's said.

Things to consider from my post op experience:
- Air they pump in during the surgery to your abdominal cavity can remain in there a bit and rise to the shoulders after surgery. Nothing needs to be done, and it will go on it's own, but it can be very painful.
- Although they are not large, the incisions still hurt and still have stitches in them.
- The procedure will cause you your tummy to swell, which can be uncomfortable.
- Any thing found and possibly treated may lead to more pain/long recovery time, you should be aware of what this could be by asking your dr before surgery.

I don't want to put a huge downer on this, but you do need to be aware of what you may experience and need to deal with.

[Inny2009]

wow, thank you so much everyone for your advice!!

[sabby]

everyone has touched on all i can think of. i've had a couple myself, both with different recovery times.

wish you luck with yours (((((((((((((( inny )))))))))))))))))