What is a laparoscopy, and why is it performed?
Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure that allows doctors to inspect the organs inside the abdomen. It is a low-risk, and minimally invasive procedure that requires a few minor incisions. Laparoscopy enables a doctor or surgeon to see inside a patient’s body in real-time, eliminating the need for open surgery. Samples for a biopsy may also be taken during this procedure.
What can aid your recovery?
After a laparoscopy, it takes time for your body to heal and for you to get back into shape. There are several benefits to speed up your recovery as suggested by  laparoscopic surgeons, These include:
- A regular schedule
Make a daily schedule and follow it. For instance, try to get up at the same time every day, bathe and dress, move around, and so on. Avoid staying in bed the entire day, as it can make you feel depressed. Try to finish your workout and take a break afterward if necessary.
- Consume a nutritious and well-balanced diet
Eat a healthy and balanced diet to ensure that your body receives all the nutrients it needs. A high-fiber diet (fruit, vegetables, wholegrain bread, and cereal) with up to two liters of fluid intake per day, primarily water, is considered healthy. Remember to consume at least five servings of fruits and veggies per day!
- Quit smoking
Stopping smoking will improve your health in many ways, including lowering your risk of wound infection and breathing difficulties following the use of an anesthetic. If you don’t smoke, even if it’s just while you’re recovering, you’ll see immediate improvements in your health. If you cannot quit smoking before your surgery, nicotine substitutes may be required.
- A positive outlook
Your attitude towards your recovery is critical in deciding how well your body heals and how confident you feel about yourself. You might wish to take advantage of your healing period to implement some long-term positive lifestyle changes, such as exercising frequently and progressively increasing the amount of activity you undertake.
What can cause a laparoscopy recovery to be delayed?
Recovery from a laparoscopy may take longer if:
- You had a health issue before your surgery; for example, diabetes. Patients with diabetes may heal even slowly and be more susceptible to infection.
- If you smoke, you’re more likely to have a chest infection during your recovery, and smoking can also slow down the healing process.
- If you were overweight when you underwent the surgery, it might take longer for you to recover from the anesthetic’s effects, and you run a higher risk of problems including infection and thrombosis if there were any complications during your surgery.
Returning to normalcy
- Be mobile even when you are at home
While rest is crucial, you should resume some of your regular daily activities as soon as you are able. As the days pass, you’ll notice that you’re able to accomplish more. If you’re in pain, consider doing a little less for a few more days.
If you have to lift something, do so with your feet slightly apart, knees bent, back straight, and pelvic and stomach muscles braced (tightened or strengthened). Lift the things by straightening your knees while holding it close to you.
- Exercise
You should be able to take a brief 10 to 15-minute stroll in the morning and afternoon the day after your operation, with a rest in between if necessary. Over the first week, you should be able to increase your exercise levels very quickly. By the middle of the first week, you should be able to walk slowly and steadily for 30-60 minutes, and by the second week, you should be back to your previous activity levels. You may need to avoid contact and power sports for a few weeks longer if the laparoscopic surgeons perform other procedures; however, this will depend on your fitness level before surgery.
- Driving
Before you go behind the wheel, make sure you are:
- Free of the sedative effects of any medicines
- Able to sit in a car and operate the controls comfortably
- Able to wear the seatbelt comfortably
- Able to make an emergency stop easily
- Able to look over your shoulder to maneuver
- Plan your trip
If you’re thinking of going on a trip during your recovery, consider the following:
- The duration of your journey – journeys of more than four hours in which you are unable to move around (in a car, coach, train, or airline) can raise your risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT); this is especially true if you are traveling soon after your surgery.
- How comfortable you’ll be on the road, especially if you’re wearing a seatbelt.
If you have any worries about your travel arrangements, you should address them with your doctor or the hospital where you have had your surgery before traveling.
Conclusion
Follow your laparoscopic surgeon’s instructions. It is the most effective approach to heal quickly and get back to your normal routine.
