Ever had a laparoscopy?

jayjay5 · 06-21-2009, 08:06 PM

Hi there

Has anyone ever had a laparoscopy under local anaesthetic rather than general?

I was due to have a laparoscopy to investigate pelvic pain last Wednesday morning, but it was cancelled the night before. I have since found out that because it was a small hospital, they can't guarantee an anaesthesiologist will be available for the full length of the operation and because my BMI is high (I'm around 20st, that's 280lbs) they said they needed one. Needless to say I was pretty upset to be told I'm too fat for the surgery! And why they couldn't have mentioned it earlier rather than 7pm the night before....

Anyway, I've been given a choice - have the operation under local anaesthetic in about 3 weeks time at the original hospital or get referred to a bigger hospital - but that would mean waiting to see a new consultant, then waiting to get scheduled in for the operation. It could be several months.

I'm veering towards local, simply to get it over and done with. Has anyone had it done this way and would advice for or against it? I have no idea what to do. Thanks.

s~tyro · 06-21-2009, 10:15 PM

Well, I've had several laparoscopy procedures (to drain cysts) done. However, I was always under general anesthesia and my anesthesiologist was present for the entire surgery. That's really important because you need to be monitored carefully. I've heard there's a greater risk of injuring internal organs, etc. if your BMI is higher, but that doesn't mean the surgery can't be done...they just need to be very careful.

My husband has had a hernia repair done under local anesthetic. He said he preferred being knocked out completely because he hated waiting for the feeling to come back to his lower extremities. That was his only complaint...he's just impatient. :o)

PCOSarah · 06-23-2009, 01:03 AM

My Lap was under a general. They really poke around down there. I was given photo's taken during the procedure and they checked my liver and appendix along with my uterus and girly parts obviously. I was pretty sore afterwards. I cant imagine being awake through it!! GL!

PaisleyVixen · 06-23-2009, 01:46 AM

Im doin mine local too.
my doctor says theres less complications with local,
and u wont see what they are doin cause they will put a sheet up.
GoodLuck
keep us updated!

Eva37 · 06-23-2009, 07:04 AM

i had mine done general, too.

LaBigGirl · 06-28-2009, 05:50 PM

I'm putting up my vote for general anest. I had two laps last year and was grateful to be put under for both. I get combative during partial anesthesia, I would have to have a really good reason for them letting me stay awake.

tiffanyleigh614 · 06-29-2009, 02:14 PM

I've never had local, but had a friend who had a boob job and they just did local for her. She was completely conked out. They numb you up real good and then give you other medicine to help relax and usually you pass out. Come to think of it, I have been under local, I think. I've had a colonoscopy and they didn't put me to sleep but I sure was passed out and couldn't remember a thing, also I had an endoscopy and the same situation, passed out and didn't remember a thing. It actually might turn out better to do a local, because after the surgery, you'll still be numb for a little bit and won't feel any pain, atleast one would think so. Good luck.

jayjay5 · 07-06-2009, 12:18 AM

Thanks for the replies. I've since found out that I'm NOT having the laproscopy after all, just a hysteroscopy because they don't want to do the laproscopy under local. They think I have a uterine polyp so they want to investigate further. However, I've had a polyp before and the pain was like period pain, along with the bleeding. This time though, I still have the period pain but I also get sharp pains in my side, a little higher up so was hoping they'd find the cause of this too. But I guess we're starting with the hysteroscopy and going from there.

SnowFlower · 07-06-2009, 04:30 AM

They gave me twilight for my first hysteroscopy as I didnt want to be put out.. 2 weeks ago I had another hysteroscopy plus a lap, d and c and ovarian drilling and they would not let me have local.. they said it was way too much and dangerous without being put out so I got over my fears and did it. Hugs!

northwoodsgirl · 07-08-2009, 05:57 PM

I would have preferred to have local for my hysteroscopy but my dr preferred general anesthesia. I had such horrible side effects from general. Good luck with yours.

s~tyro · 07-09-2009, 09:23 AM

I forgot to mention my blood pressure severely dropped during/after my second laparoscopy. Normal should be around 120/80, but mine dropped to 60/40. That's low and the numbers are very close together...not good. I've had general anesthesia before that one and after it and that didn't happen to my knowledge. I wonder if the anesthetis miscalculated something...I don't know. All I know is the nurse continued to tell me not to try to get up unassisted because I would probably faint from the low blood pressure. When I did stand up for my husband to wipe all of the iodine stuff off of my back (I think they paint your entire body from head to toe...ha ha), I started feeling my head spin and the nausea come on. My blood pressure did eventually go back to my normal numbers, but it took awhile...probably once everything completely wore off. Like I said, I don't think I've had that happen again. However, it did scare the crap out of me.

jayjay5 · 07-18-2009, 07:39 AM

Thanks again for the replies. I had my hysteroscopy, a Mirena inserted and a large polyp removed on Wednesday and although it was very painful, it was over pretty quickly. It was weird being awake in the operating theatre with your legs akimbo and about 10 people wandering about!

The pain went away later that day and I was fine on Thursday but I've been in quite a lot of pain the past two days despite the painkillers they gave me (Co-codamol and Voltarol). I read that the pain is supposed to go after 48 hours, not get worse so I'm a little concerned about that? It's like period pain but it's also in my buttocks and thighs which is odd. Also, and this is probably nothing (hopefully), about 2 mins in the consultant asked me when I had my last smear test. I said a year ago and he said ok that's fine.

Dragonbabyx3 · 07-20-2009, 10:11 AM

I can't say that this actually eased my fears about having hysteoscopy. I am having one done on the 31st, and they are just doing a local. What am I going to expect? He is concerned with my family history of cancers, and what the ultrasound brought up, that I may have a polyp. I have never gone through any of this before, so I am a bit shook up. Can you shed any light?