Scared about lap surgery may 10

Your first lap can be very scary.  Hell, your second lap can also be scary

Deep breaths.  Worrying about it won't make it any easier.

Your recovery depends on your procedure and your body.  My first surgery recovery was a painful three weeks before I could return to work.  My second surgery, I was feeling great on my first day, although still medicate and took 2 weeks off to heal.

Tips for going home the same day: 

* bring a tiny pillow to put between your belly and your seatbelt.  Those travel neck pillows work wonders.

* fill all of your prescriptions before you go in for surgery.  Make sure you ask for an anti-nausea prescription if they are also giving you narcotic pain killers.  Day 1 I didn't know Percocet made me vomit and had to wait 'til Day 2 before could pick up anti-nausea pills.

* you may have excurtiating pain climb up your left shoulder.  This is sometimes normal for laparoscopic surgeries - it's the C02 gas working it's way around.  And it hurts.  Gas-X, little walks around the house, and a heating pad on your shoulder help.

* talk to your doc about recommended stool softeners or enemas for post-op non-pooping.  Second surgery took me 7 days to poop...

* have help with you for the first several days 24/7.  This means around things the house, or even getting out/into bed or EVEN on/off the toilet.  *HELP*

* don't overdue anything.  

* if you have pets that like to sleep with you, move them to another room and don't let them in. Nothing hurts worse than your cat jumping on your post-op stomach at 2am.

* don't be afraid to call your doctor and ask "is this okay?" or "is this supposed to happen?!?!"

I hope this helps.  Everybody recovery differently.