Laparoscopy recovery question..

[C.Ann]

DD will be having a surgical procedure done via laparoscopy on Wednesday.. If all goes well, she'll be home the same day - if the doctor finds other issues that she suspects have been causing ongoing problems, she may end up having a hysterectomy..

We're thinking positive though and hoping that it will just be the simpler procedure, she'll come home as schedule, and the recovery will be very short.. However, she is one of those unfortunate people who suffers terribly from the gas pains afterwords (she's had laps in the past for other issues) and I'm wondering if anyone here has any advice regarding the best way to handle those pains..

I thought I read here on the DIS that it was best to lay flat on your back - but I've also heard (or read) being in a reclining position is best..

If anyone has had a lap done recently, what worked best for you? Are there any medications that help - such as Gas-X or something along those lines? Of course she'll talk this over with the doctor on Monday - at her pre-op visit - but first-hand information (as opposed to how things are "supposed to be") is often more helpful..

Any suggestions?

Thanks..

 

[twinboysmom]

Lots of walking to make it move. I have had several laps and suffer with the gas pains as well. I walk all over the house for days. Laying flat will just make it worse. Hope this helps. I can sympathize.

 

[twinboysmom]

Oh and by the way, as for gas ex, won't help unless they are going into her colon. I would assume that she's having a lap for female probes and the doc will inject the air around her female organs in her abdominal cavity.

 

[momof1princess]

i had my gallbladder removed laparoscopically in 1996, and i was allowed to go home the same day. had the surgery friday morning, went back to work the following monday morning. i was sore, but doing well.
i also suffer from gas pains after a lap procedure (also had gastric bypass surgery in 2004) and the best thing to do is walk, as much as possible. as a PP said, gas-x and other related products won't help. good luck to your DD!

 

[LuvOrlando]

I had that agonizing pain after my c-section. they didn't touch my intestines but the trauma nearby shut down my bowels. From what I remember, the pain was from the bowels starting up again, absolutely agonizing. What the hospital did was give me gas-ex atevery meal and limit my food intake to things like jello & broth day one and slowly reintroduce me to foods.

Glad to see you back CAnn, I hope your daughter does well and recovers quickly.

 

[smphbear]

I have had 3 lap surgeries. One of them was a hysterectomy. As everyone said, walking is a must. Just a few hours out of recovery from the hysterectomy, I was up and walking. I had to stay overnight at the hospital, but the recovery was not bad at all. I did not even have to take pain meds once I was out of recovery. It took a little time to return to full energy, but it wasn't bad as surgeries go.

Good Luck to your daughter!

 

[kellyg403]

I agree with others, walking is the best cure. From past surgeries done, the first day when I could not get up and walk around for whatever reason were always the worst. Once I started moving...well..other things started moving as well.


Kelly

 

[quentina]

When lying on back, bend knees to have legs pulled up. You need to help the gas out.......even if the legs are on pillows or something, get them up.

 

[pilotwife_02]

Another suggestion, bring a pillow she can hold against her stomach on the way home and if/when she coughs (which she will probably have a scratchy throat from the breathing tube they will use while she's under) hug the pillow.

I would suggest some hard candy to help her throat too.

I've had for laps and not every time did I have the gas pain, so hopefully she won't either.

Good luck!

 

[rie'smom]

Walking did nothing for my gas pain as it was lodged in my shoulder. It hurt worse than any section or abdominal surgery than I've ever had. It took a few days to dissipate. That was the only surgery that I ever needed pain pills once I got home.

 

[arminnie]

Honestly I've had some major,major lap surgeries and the skill of the surgeon and how he releases the gas has a lot to do with it. I went to a major physician on the faculty at Stanford University who really helped pioneer lap surgery. Really, really the best. He patients rarely had any gas problems.

 

[C.Ann]

Thanks so much for the responses..

When time allows, I'll pop back in and update you on how things go for my DD.. We're feeling very optimistic, so I'm sure everything will work out fine..

 

[linda0706]

This is just my experience, but I've had 2 laps. The 2nd one I had the bad gas pains the took a couple days to dissipate.

But the first time when the nurses got me out of bed the very first time within a couple hours of my surgery, I felt nauseous and heaved like I was going to be sick. But instead of vomiting I had the longest, loudest, rumbliest burp you could imagine! It hurt like the dickens but I got rid of all that gas in one single belch! No pain whatsoever afterwards!

 

[krcit]

I agree with the previous posters. Walk, walk and walk some more! I had my gall bladder out and as soon as they let me I walked the halls of the hospital for as long as I could. I had minimal gas pains.