Laparoscopy experiences?

Here we go again. I sincerely apologize to anyone who finds this repetitive, but I am struggling to find any coherent or meaningful experience to draw from here.
Since I’m dealing with endometriosis, they’re preparing to surgically remove the lesions, which means I’m headed in for a laparoscopy. I feel as though I have researched almost every conceivable detail, yet one question remains stubbornly unanswered—exactly how long will they insist on keeping me hospitalized? If the recovery period turns out to be extensive, I might just 🙂
Furthermore, has anyone actually managed to navigate the prep process without undergoing a full enema, relying solely on laxatives and a strict diet?
And for those of you currently living through this (if there are any of you out there), once you had the endometriosis removed, did it ever return? If it did, what was the timeframe?
Good grief, I really am such a neurotic mess 🙂
Anyway, where have you all been, and what has your experience been like with your doctors?
My thanks to everyone who takes the time to respond 🙏 🙏

stormymaker24 said:Here we go again. I sincerely apologize to anyone who finds this repetitive, but I am struggling to find any coherent or meaningful experience to draw from here.
Since I’m dealing with endometriosis, they’re preparing to surgically remove the lesions, which means I’m headed in for a laparoscopy. I feel as though I have researched almost every conceivable detail, yet one question remains stubbornly unanswered—exactly how long will they insist on keeping me hospitalized? If the recovery period turns out to be extensive, I might just 🙂
Furthermore, has anyone actually managed to navigate the prep process without undergoing a full enema, relying solely on laxatives and a strict diet?
And for those of you currently living through this (if there are any of you out there), once you had the endometriosis removed, did it ever return? If it did, what was the timeframe?
Good grief, I really am such a neurotic mess 🙂
Anyway, where have you all been, and what has your experience been like with your doctors?
My thanks to everyone who takes the time to respond 🙏 🙏

I had emergency surgery to remove endometriomas from both ovaries along with some adhesions. They finally let me go home after four days, mostly because I wouldn't stop begging them. Ultimately, discharge depended on my CRP levels being under 50. As for the prep, they didn't give me an enema since I arrived quite hungry and with empty bowels due to the pain-related diet, so I didn't face any issues post-op.
In my case, the endometrioma is slowly returning, though I manage it with birth control pills. Any slight change in pain sends me into a panic, even if it's usually nothing serious. Every three months, I have to get my Ca-125 tumor markers and CRP checked. If those are within the normal range, I'm fine. I also go for ultrasounds frequently.
The catch is that nobody can guarantee I won't need another surgery. That's the truly exhausting part.
Hope this helps.

For stormymaker24,
I got back from the hospital about four days ago—had a laparoscopic procedure to remove a stone and check my gallbladder. I'm just wondering if this will actually help anything much long-term...
The timeline was pretty straightforward: they admitted me on day one, surgery was the next morning, then I spent a third day under observation before finally heading home on the fourth. Thankfully, there weren't any complications that kept me stuck there longer than expected.
Regarding the enemas, though... here are a few tips...
When I first saw THAT TUBE they were planning to use for the insertion—you know, the one for... well, you get it—I felt a sudden wave of nausea. It hit me right then that I had to advocate for myself and talk my nurse out of using that specific tool. I told her how I’d just barely managed to deal with hemorrhoids only a month before being hospitalized, and that my wounds were still incredibly tender, so I asked her nicely if she could please use something thinner and smaller. And of course, she could... She used a thin rubber catheter instead, which she lubricated with some baby cream first, and honestly, I barely felt a thing. She connected THAT TUBE to it after, but by then, the discomfort wasn't really an issue anymore. You've just gotta be resourceful, I guess...

Thanks, ladies... I’m just wondering where you all ended up, because I’m looking at finishing my care at Mayo Clinic, and frankly, I have no idea which doctors I need to avoid at all costs. I refuse to tolerate subpar treatment—I’d sooner lose my mind than accept anything less than excellence, lest we end up with 😁
@ wiredpuma5—when did you undergo your laparoscopy?

stormymaker24 said:Thanks, ladies... I’m just wondering where you all ended up, because I’m looking at finishing my care at Mayo Clinic, and frankly, I have no idea which doctors I need to avoid at all costs. I refuse to tolerate subpar treatment—I’d sooner lose my mind than accept anything less than excellence, lest we end up with 😁
@ wiredpuma5—when did you undergo your laparoscopy?

I went to Holy Spirit. The entire staff there, from the doctors to the nurses, was excellent. I can't speak for Petrov, but I'm doing everything I can to stay far away from them, as I've heard their reputation isn't great.
I had my surgery about a year and a half ago.

Sorry, I'm actually out in Vž right now.

stormymaker24 said:Here we go again. I sincerely apologize to anyone who finds this repetitive, but I am struggling to find any coherent or meaningful experience to draw from here.
Since I’m dealing with endometriosis, they’re preparing to surgically remove the lesions, which means I’m headed in for a laparoscopy. I feel as though I have researched almost every conceivable detail, yet one question remains stubbornly unanswered—exactly how long will they insist on keeping me hospitalized? If the recovery period turns out to be extensive, I might just 🙂
Furthermore, has anyone actually managed to navigate the prep process without undergoing a full enema, relying solely on laxatives and a strict diet?
And for those of you currently living through this (if there are any of you out there), once you had the endometriosis removed, did it ever return? If it did, what was the timeframe?
Good grief, I really am such a neurotic mess 🙂
Anyway, where have you all been, and what has your experience been like with your doctors?
My thanks to everyone who takes the time to respond 🙏 🙏

I had my surgery at Holy Spirit about two years ago. Generally speaking, you aren't getting through this without an enema 👎 but it isn't actually that bad; honestly, it’s not scary at all. For me, having a pap smear at the clinic was way more nerve-wracking than the enema. What really traumatized me was the shaving. I forgot to do it myself at home, and when the nurse came in with the razor, I nearly fainted. Plus, I'm super ticklish, so I'd definitely recommend just doing it yourself at home first. 😁
My endometriosis is under control now thanks to taking Yasmin birth control pills, so things are smooth sailing for me at the moment.
I ended up staying in the hospital for four days. They wouldn't let me leave early even though it was my birthday on day three, but everyone there was so kind and helpful, from the doctors down to the nurses. You could ask them anything and they were always happy to help.
Oh, and I really hope you don't end up needing a drain like I did. I have no idea why they even put one in me, but having it pulled out was hands down the most disgusting, awful experience ever, even if it only lasted five seconds 🙂 . But hey, I survived. Don't worry, you'll be fine; you've got this. I was totally spiraling, convinced I'd have an allergic reaction to the anesthesia and die right on the operating table 🙄. I was such a total crybaby during those days. 😍

One tip: make sure you pack plenty of pads and those intimate wipes, plus some disinfecting wipes—I used those Ajax wipes for everything. I couldn't go to the bathroom without thoroughly wiping down the seat before using it and flushing. In a hospital gynecology ward, you can pick up just about anything from those toilets.
During those four days, I dropped five pounds—partly from fasting and probably partly from the enemas. 😬

Thanks, Angela Wright. Honestly, looking at everything, I’m starting to think I should just head over to Holy Spirit; I can't decide whether to schedule myself at Petrov based on where I live or if I should just try to blink my way through this whole ordeal with a smile...
I have to say, after hearing everyone's horror stories about Petrov, the mere mention of that hospital gives me the chills. 😲
Ugh, I have a massive phobia of anything involving the rectal area—I suppose I had some issues during my anal stage😁—so the idea of an enema absolutely terrifies me, though I suppose I'll just have to power through it. 😁
By the way, are you still dealing with those intense cramps, or did they finally let up once the underlying cause was removed?
Sigh, it isn't even the procedure itself that scares me; it's the thought of being stuck lying in a hospital bed that honestly makes me want to burst into tears. 🙂

stormymaker24 said:Thanks, Angela Wright. Honestly, looking at everything, I’m starting to think I should just head over to Holy Spirit; I can't decide whether to schedule myself at Petrov based on where I live or if I should just try to blink my way through this whole ordeal with a smile...
I have to say, after hearing everyone's horror stories about Petrov, the mere mention of that hospital gives me the chills. 😲
Ugh, I have a massive phobia of anything involving the rectal area—I suppose I had some issues during my anal stage😁—so the idea of an enema absolutely terrifies me, though I suppose I'll just have to power through it. 😁
By the way, are you still dealing with those intense cramps, or did they finally let up once the underlying cause was removed?
Sigh, it isn't even the procedure itself that scares me; it's the thought of being stuck lying in a hospital bed that honestly makes me want to burst into tears. 🙂

My first period arrived before I started birth control, and it was significantly lighter and less painful than the ones before. But ever since I started Yasmin, it’s been a total game changer. No pain at all, and the flow is barely there—it lasts maybe three days, four if you count the spotting, which is nothing compared to how it used to be. Just thinking about the suffering I went through... ugh. My only regret is that I'll eventually have to stop taking the pills, and I am definitely not ready to deal with that pain again.👎

So, I finally made it to Petrov!

Honestly, I have nothing but praise for the doctors and the nursing staff. They’re incredibly professional and genuinely attentive... I really don't have a single complaint (well, except for a stitch that popped, but they did warn me to stay on strict bed rest because my skin is quite thin, and I might have overdone it just a little bit).

Every single woman I know who’s had surgery for endometriosis—myself included—never ended up needing a drain. It’s usually just three or four tiny little incisions that heal up incredibly fast, and you're back home within four days. Honestly, this is the first time I'm actually hearing about someone having a drain after an endometriosis procedure.

Nathan Peterson11 said:Every single woman I know who’s had surgery for endometriosis—myself included—never ended up needing a drain. It’s usually just three or four tiny little incisions that heal up incredibly fast, and you're back home within four days. Honestly, this is the first time I'm actually hearing about someone having a drain after an endometriosis procedure.

I guess I was just destined to be the "special case" in everything I do.🙄

I remember my surgeon telling me—unrelated to the drain issue—that they found some yellow body tissue that had leaked out slightly. Since I started bleeding again on the second day, he figured it was probably just my period. It’s possible he decided to stick a drain in because of that, but honestly, I have no clue.😕

Anyway, they ran that drain through one of the small incision sites and pulled it out on the third day.

The girl who was sharing a room with me had a drain, whereas I didn't. But she was dealing with endometriosis affecting her bowels, so maybe there’s a connection there? 😕

Hey everyone, I’m looking for some advice. I have a clear 7x6 fibroid and an endometriosis polyp, so I need to figure out which surgeons are actually worth seeing for laparoscopy in the area. Does anyone know which specialists are reliable? Also, what kind of testing should I get done beforehand—and does it matter if my results are a little older, say from a month ago? On top of that, I’d love some practical tips: what should I pack for my hospital stay, how much pain are we talking about 😲 , and honestly, how long did it take you all to feel "human" again after the procedure?

I’ve heard conflicting things—some people swear by Memorial Sloan Kettering (my gynecologist seems to think they're the gold standard), others suggest Mayo Clinic, while some insist on Johns Hopkins or even Cleveland Clinic... I'm honestly lost at this point, so I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences with different hospitals and doctors..

Thanks so much for any info you can share!
🙂

Hey everyone, I’m looking for some input regarding a bit of a situation I’ve got going on.
So, an ultrasound just picked up what looks like a dermoid cyst—it’s sitting at about 4x5 cm on one of my ovaries right now.
The doctors have given me two options: go ahead with laparoscopic surgery to remove the cyst, or just hold off since my tumor markers came back normal.
The cyst itself isn't causing massive issues—though I do get the occasional sharp, stabbing pain in that area from time to time.
I’m young, and having kids isn't even on my radar for a few more years—so should I pull the trigger on this procedure now, or is waiting actually a smart move?
Right now, I have the chance to get in for a laparoscopy with a top-tier surgeon pretty quickly.
Appreciate any thoughts you guys have...

Michael Newman18 said:Hey everyone, I’m looking for some advice. I have a clear 7x6 fibroid and an endometriosis polyp, so I need to figure out which surgeons are actually worth seeing for laparoscopy in the area. Does anyone know which specialists are reliable? Also, what kind of testing should I get done beforehand—and does it matter if my results are a little older, say from a month ago? On top of that, I’d love some practical tips: what should I pack for my hospital stay, how much pain are we talking about 😲 , and honestly, how long did it take you all to feel "human" again after the procedure?

I’ve heard conflicting things—some people swear by Memorial Sloan Kettering (my gynecologist seems to think they're the gold standard), others suggest Mayo Clinic, while some insist on Johns Hopkins or even Cleveland Clinic... I'm honestly lost at this point, so I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences with different hospitals and doctors..

Thanks so much for any info you can share!
🙂

Bumping this. Honestly, same here. If anyone's been through this, please share some info.....