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Laparoscopic Surgery

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Posted 9/3/2008 10:44 AM (GMT 0)
So on the 11th I have an appointment to schedule another bowel resection.  I will be having a Laparoscopic surgery this time, unlike the last which left me with a 6 inch scar and an at home recovery of 3 weeks. I was wondering, whats a general recovery time with this kind of surgery?
Posted 9/3/2008 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
I had a laparoscopic gallbladder removal years ago and I was fine within a week. I had a bowel resection a year ago that was supposed to be laparoscopic, but after they got a look at the mess inside me, I ended up with a 10 inch incision. So just be prepared, it might not turn out the way the surgeon has it planned!
Posted 9/3/2008 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
I too was scheduled for lap resection but ended up with 7" wide open cut. I think the hospital stay time is a little less with the lap..maybe only 3-4 days from what I've read. As for the recovery time I would guess activity would be alittle easier with the 3 smaller incisions rather than 2 small and 1 huge like I had. As Kimberlayn said, be prepared that you might wake up with more than you expected...that's what happened to me.

GOODLUCK!!
Posted 9/3/2008 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
Ty for the responces. Ya I understand things may not go as planned and I might end up being cut open again.  It was a big suprise to me the first time when I woke up and felt my stomach and I had 10 staples in it lol.  Maybe I'll play lets make a deal with my surgeon and tell him if he MUST cut me open, at least cut along the same scar...and use stitches instead of staples this time so the scar isnt as wide. haha

Posted 9/4/2008 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
Don't forget that even though it is laproscopic and doesn't look like much on the outside, it's still major surgery. You still need to take it easy for as long as your surgeon orders. Do not, no matter how good you feel, lift anything even close to your restrictions. Hernias are not fun.

You may feel better on the outside rather quickly and then tend to overdo it, or you may still feel bad long after you expect to feel better. I had a laproscopic bowel surgery and was surprised at how tired I still felt six weeks after the surgery. It may have been because I usually have C but I had D for a few months after the surgery.

Ask your surgeon what size incision will be necessary to remove the "guts". My surgery was considered laproscopic but I ended up with a 2 or 3 inch incision so they could get the intestines out. She did an amazing job with the incision, you can barely see it.

Don't you stay in the hospital until your bowels start working again? I would guess this would be the same no matter what type surgery you had.

I had had previous ab surgery for endometriosis and adhesions. My surgeon was concerned that the adhesions would be a problem and she have to switch to conventional surgery. She said it wouldn't affect how long I'd be there unless I didn't get up and walk or if I used a lot of pain meds. Walking speeds up the healing process and narcotics slow down the intestines.

My surgery was on a Monday morning and I was in the hospital until Saturday.

Good Luck
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