Hey....So happy to hear that you've scheduled your lap. I KNOW that you fear surgery...but TRY to look at this as a "good" thing, a solution. You'll do just fine and hopefully rid yourself of this pain and anxiety. We're all cheering for you=)

I just had one this past month. I think it went pretty good. For me as time got closer I got more nervous until the pain was just so bad I could not wait to get in there! I had big baggy sofy pants and a soft warm sweatshirt. That was nice, and home made soup already made so I could just heat it up while everyone was busy. I am also taking something called symplex F. I dont know if anyone has heard of it but it is a hormone stabalyzer, and it helps keep those crazy little guys ina better order so you can feel better sooner. Also since you will be in for a little while and not in the sun taking Vitamin D3 will help keep a little ray of sunshine in. Well I am no expert but this was all helpful things for me since I was pretty alone and had to be back at work on day 4:/ praying for you and a quick recovery with happy days ahead

Having my 4th on Tuesday. Make sure to drink lots of water in the weeks before surgery, helps in recovery. Make a few meals to freeze so you only have to hear up during recovery. Comfy loose pants for after surgery. Lots of movies ready to watch (I was too tired the first few days for reading!). Getting up and walk a lot in the first few hours after surgery...even if it's just down the hall and back....it helps the gas move out. Someone told me to take an anti gas med for the silver pain from the gas....I thought this was crazy since the gas is in your abdominal cavity not your intestines...but it totally works!! :) one last thing...for the first two days or so take your pain meds on time even if you feel you don't need them. After my first lap I was feeling pretty good when I got home (anesthesia was still wearing off!!)....since I want feeling bad I didn't take pain meds until I desperately needed them.....which was too late....I could never then seem to get ahead of the pain....so my next two surgeries I made sure to take the pain meds on time! :)

I had 2 in 5 months. It's really not that bad, although I will say that the more they do the harder the recovery will be. The gas pains suck bit if you cough when you start getting tingles in your shoulder it'll help lessen them. Also don't forget to take stool softeners!!!!! Trust me on that one. And I am in total agreement with Christine about staying on top of your pain. Don't wait until it's unbearable to take your meds or else you'll NEVER catch up to it. Good luck!!

I agree with all the advice above. Most important thing is to take care of yourself. Good luck hun!!

Charcoal pills I was told help with the gas pain...

Also be careful and let your doctor know herbs and stuff you go on so you're not taking something that might cause complications (ex vitamin e causes bleeding like Advil)

I had my first lap last week! I was so scared too, because this was my first surgery. It went really well and I was only afraid until after I got my IV. They have me some Versed which helped me not remember anything basically.
I did wake up in a lot of pain 7/10 to me (but I only have my miscarriage pain to compare it to). My post op nurse gave me some Demerol and it helped almost immediately.
I made sure before I had the surgery that I got some Simethicone chewable gas pills (I've been taking 4/day). And I got some Colace stool softeners because the narcotics you will take will constipate you. (I'm taking 2-3 a day of those).
All of those are over the counter and you should get them before you go for surgery (:
I also got a rice pack that I could heat up in the microwave and a cold pack to alternate for when I was laying in bed.
Take it easy and good luck with your surgery. It's normal to be nervous, but it will hopefully work out well and they will be able to remove some/all of your endo.
Hugs!

Pups, I am definitely looking at this as a good thing. I cannot continue on as I am, I have 2 small kids and at least a week out of the month I can barely stand to hug them bc it hurts. :( we rough-house a lot and my littlest (20mo) just doesn't understand why I'm laying in bed and not playing. Kwim?

Thanks everyone for the tips. I never would have thought to take gas tablets!!! Definitely going to pick some up. I'll have help from my MIL after (they live next door) but I'll make sure and freeze a few meals. I think I'll start on that this weekend. Maybe start making double of a few meals/wk so I can freeze some without any extra trouble.

This will be my 2nd surgery, I had a tonsillectomy a few years ago (yes, it is absolutely a horrible recovery as an adult) so I am a big advocate of staying on top of pain! I'm always preaching this to my inlaws. Lol!

Thanks again EVERYONE for the tips, I greatly appreciate it!! This is a great support group. I'm finding very few people know much, if anything about endometriosis and my pain is often dismissed as being no big deal. I don't want pity but a little sympathy would be better than the dismissal of how bad I feel