Always tell your doctor or nurse:

• If you are or could be pregnant
• What drugs you are taking, even drugs, herbs, or supplements you bought without a prescription

You may be asked to stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), warfarin (Coumadin), and any other drugs that make it hard for your blood to clot.

On the day of your surgery:

• You will usually be asked not to drink or eat anything after midnight the night before your surgery, or 8 hours before your surgery.
• Take the drugs your doctor told you to take with a small sip of water.
• Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive at the hospital or clinic.

Arrange for a ride home after surgery.

You will spend some time in a recovery area as you wake up from the anesthesia.

Often, you will be able to go home the same day as the procedure. Sometimes, you may need to stay overnight.

The gas pumped into the abdomen may cause abdominal discomfort for 1 - 2 days after the procedure. Some people feel neck and shoulder pain for several days after a laparoscopy as the carbon dioxide gas irritates the diaphragm, a pain which is felt in the shoulder. As the gas is absorbed this pain will go away. Lying down can help decrease the pain.

Your doctor will give you a prescription for pain medicine or tell you what over-the-counter pain medicines you can take.

You may resume your normal activities in fewer than 2 days. Depending on what procedure is done, you can usually begin sexual activities again as soon as the bleeding (if there is any) has stopped. Ask your doctor what is recommended for the procedure you are having. Do not lift anything over 10 pounds for 3 weeks after surgery to decrease your risk of getting a hernia in your incisions.

Call your doctor if you have:

• Bleeding from the vagina
• Fever that doesn't go away
• Nausea and vomiting
• Severe abdominal pain

Images

Endometriosis

Pelvic laparoscopy

Pelvic adhesions

Ovarian cyst

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Review Date: 02/21/2010
Reviewed By: Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)