What is pelvic laparoscopy?

Pelvic laparoscopy (say "lap-uh-ROSS-kuh-pee") is a type of surgery. It can help a doctor diagnose or treat a problem with your pelvic organs. These include the uterus, intestines, or bladder.

This kind of surgery uses very small cuts. These cuts are called incisions.

To do this surgery, a doctor puts a lighted tube through incisions in your belly. This tube is called a scope. It lets your doctor see your organs. Then the doctor inflates your belly with gas. The gas makes it easier and safer to see your organs. After putting special tools through the scope, the doctor can see or remove what is needed. Next, the doctor releases most of the gas from your belly and closes your incisions with stitches. These incisions leave scars that fade with time. You may also have some shoulder or back pain. This pain is caused by the gas your doctor used to inflate your belly to help see your organs better. The pain often lasts about 1 or 2 days.

You will probably be asleep during the surgery. But if you are awake, you may feel some stretching and discomfort in your belly. Either way, you will not feel any pain.

After the surgery, you will stay in the hospital for about 1 to 4 hours. You may be able to go back to work the next day. But some people need to rest for a few days to a few weeks before they can go back to work. It depends on the type of surgery you had, the type of work you do, and how you feel.

Some people need more surgeries or treatments after this surgery. It depends on what the doctor finds.

Activity

• Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover.
• Try to walk each day. Start out by walking a little more than you did the day before. Bit by bit, increase the amount you walk. Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation.
• Avoid lifting anything that would make you strain until your doctor says it is okay. This may include a child, heavy grocery bags and milk containers, a heavy briefcase or backpack, cat litter or dog food bags, or a vacuum cleaner.
• Avoid strenuous activities, such as biking, jogging, weight lifting, and aerobic exercise, until your doctor says it is okay.
• You may shower. Pat the incisions dry when you are done. Do not take a bath for the first week after surgery or until your doctor tells you it is okay.
• Ask your doctor when you can drive again.
• You may need to take a few days to a few weeks off work. It depends on the type of work you do and how you feel.
• Ask your doctor when it is okay for you to have sex or use tampons. Do not douche.

Diet

• You can eat your normal diet. If your stomach is upset, try bland, low-fat foods like plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, and yogurt.
• Drink plenty of fluids (unless your doctor tells you not to).
• You may notice that your bowel movements are not regular right after your surgery. This is common. Try to avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements. You may want to take a fiber supplement every day. If you have not had a bowel movement after a couple of days, ask your doctor about taking a mild laxative.

Medicines

• Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. You will also get instructions about taking any new medicines.
• If you stopped taking aspirin or some other blood thinner, your doctor will tell you when to start taking it again.
• Be safe with medicines. Take pain medicines exactly as directed.
  • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
  • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, take an over-the-counter medicine such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve). Read and follow all instructions on the label.
  • Do not take two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to. Many pain medicines contain acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be harmful.
• If you think your pain medicine is making you sick to your stomach:
  • Take your medicine after meals (unless your doctor tells you not to).
  • Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine.
• If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.

Incision care

• If you have strips of tape on the incisions, leave the tape on for a week or until it falls off.
• Wash the area daily with warm, soapy water and pat it dry.
• Keep the area clean and dry. You may cover it with a gauze bandage if it weeps or rubs against clothing. Change the bandage every day.

Other instructions

• You may have some light vaginal bleeding. Wear sanitary pads if needed.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing, and avoid anything that puts pressure on your belly, such as a girdle, for a few weeks.
• You may want to use a heating pad on your belly to help with pain.

Surgery can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for surgery.

Preparing for surgery

• Be sure you have someone to take you home. Anesthesia and pain medicine will make it unsafe for you to drive or get home on your own.
• Understand exactly what surgery is planned, along with the risks, benefits, and other options.
• Tell your doctor ALL the medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies you take. Some may increase the risk of problems during your surgery. Your doctor will tell you if you should stop taking any of them before the surgery and how soon to do it.
• If you take a medicine that prevents blood clots, your doctor may tell you to stop taking it before your surgery. Or your doctor may tell you to keep taking it. (These medicines include aspirin and other blood thinners.) Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do.
• Make sure your doctor and the hospital have a copy of your advance directive. If you don’t have one, you may want to prepare one. It lets others know your health care wishes. It’s a good thing to have before any type of surgery or procedure.

After surgery, it's normal to have a sore belly, cramping, or pain around the cuts the doctor made (incisions) for a few days. You can expect to feel better and stronger each day. But you might get tired quickly and need pain medicine for a few days. Some people are able to return to work the day after surgery. Others need to recover for a few days to a few weeks before going back to work.

Sometimes pressure from the gas used during surgery causes other side effects. You may have pain in your neck or shoulders. Or you may feel pressure on your bladder and need to urinate more often than usual. These side effects should go away in a few days.

Do not lift anything heavy while you are recovering so that your incisions can heal.

• Follow the instructions exactly about when to stop eating and drinking. If you don't, your surgery may be canceled. If your doctor told you to take your medicines on the day of surgery, take them with only a sip of water.
• Take a bath or shower before you come in for your surgery. Do not apply lotions, perfumes, deodorants, or nail polish.
• Do not shave the surgical site yourself.
• Take off all jewelry and piercings. And take out contact lenses, if you wear them.

At the hospital or surgery center

• Bring a picture ID.
• The area for surgery is often marked to make sure there are no errors.
• You will be kept comfortable and safe by your anesthesia provider. The anesthesia may make you sleep. Or it may just numb the area being worked on.
• The surgery will take about 1 hour.