6 Questions to ask your specialist before your laparoscopy
Seeing a new specialist for the first time can be daunting and overwhelming, or if you’ve been seeing them for a while and they suggest it could be time for surgery it can bring up those same feelings! I’ve got you covered with six questions to ask them before you have a laparoscopy. Make sure you write them down in a notebook or on your phone so you have them with you in your appointment — this will avoid you having that mind blank that comes when they say “any questions?”.
How do you remove endometriosis? Do you use excision or ablation?
This question is incredibly important because we know that excision is the gold standard when it comes to removal of endometriosis. Excision is where they cut out any visible endometriosis to avoid this tissue re-growing and is associated with longer term relief from symptoms, as well as the ability to send tissue removed for testing (histopathology). Ablation is where endometriosis tissue is burnt and is associated with higher rates of recurrence and potential organ damage due to the heat used, and the inability to send tissue samples to histopathology.
Do you look for endometriosis in areas other than the uterus and ovaries? Do you look in places such as the bowel, bladder, diaphragm and wider peritoneal cavity?
Another important one to ask, as endometriosis is not exclusive to the uterus or ovaries, and can be found on any organ in the body. Ensuring your surgeon looks in places such as the bowel and bladder can assist in improving any associated symptoms should endo be found there, such as pain or urgency.
Is the tissue that is removed sent for histological testing to confirm endometriosis, and will surgical photographs be taken?
Confirming the presence of endometriosis through histological testing by pathologists allows peace of mind and validation that you do in fact have endometriosis, after what can sometimes be an excessively long journey to receive answers. This is the same for surgical photographs. These are beneficial in validating your experience and confirming that endometriosis was present. It’s also important to ask if you can have copies of these reports and imaging for you to refer to, as needed (e.g. on days where you are doubting yourself or being hard on yourself and need that physical evidence and reminder that you do have this chronic health condition and to be gentle with yourself). Furthermore, if you do happen to change specialists, it can be helpful to take along any histopathology results and surgical photographs to assist them in your initial consult.
How soon after surgery will I know the outcome of the procedure? Will you discuss any findings on the day, post procedure?
If your specialist doesn’t see you post op on the day, don’t freak! They may have a big caseload that day and may simply not have time. However it’s important to ask if they normally discuss any findings with you briefly, send a quick text or call your next of kin as it can reduce any anxiety when you’re waking up. Regarding tissue testing, this may take a few days or so, so asking about results and when you’ll know what was found can be helpful with setting expectations that are realistic. Each specialist is different, and some may meet with you a week post op, whereas others may meet four to six weeks post operatively.
Will the surgery be a day procedure or will I need to stay in hospital overnight?
Some specialists will perform a laparoscopy as a day procedure, meaning you can go home the same day as your surgery, and others will have all of their patients stay in overnight. There is no right or wrong here, and it’s important to know what the proposed plan looks like, as this will assist with preparing for your op! Should you be going in for day surgery, it’s still a good idea to take a little bag along with things you may need should you have to end up staying in overnight.
What is the proposed post-operative management plan? How long do you expect recovery to take and how long will it take to return to activities such as work, driving or exercise?
Knowing about what a management plan might look like post op can assist again with managing those expectations and reducing anxiety. Specialists will often provide a hand out with instructions and guidelines around returning to everyday activities, however it’s still important to ask, as everyone’s situation is different. It’s also important to know about recovery time when planning for time off work, as well as any other responsibilities you may have. This post operative management plan can also be from a holistic viewpoint as well. Knowing if your specialist works collaboratively and refers to other allied health professionals such as pelvic physiotherapists, dietitians, naturopaths, acupuncturists or exercise physiologists is important to know, because surgery is only one part of the management for endometriosis.
Asking these questions should not be a problem for your specialist. If your doctor does dismiss your concerns or questions, or brushes them off without answering, that’s not okay. You have the right to quality care, so asking questions about your procedure and post op care is completely okay. You want someone who you feel comfortable asking questions with and is happy to answer those questions, and takes their time too. If you aren’t happy or confident with the responses to their questions, it is also okay for you to get a second opinion from another specialist too.
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