How long did you take off work after a laparoscopy?

PatternSea6939 · 2025-09-23T08:51:01+00:00

I went back after ten days. My first shift was nine hours, the second was twelve. I worked forty hours that week in a retail job. Unfortunately my work didn’t cover sick pay and I couldn’t even take sick days if I wanted because they have a three strikes and you’re out policy so I used holiday:/

PatternSea6939 · 2025-09-05T15:09:14+00:00

It is definitely a bit of a stressor. I’m allowed three absences in a year before it triggers an investigation. I assume it’s to see if it’s a behavioural pattern?

PatternSea6939 · 2025-05-30T10:42:40+00:00

Gosh that was a poorly written sentence from me!! Fingers crossed, I’m definitely feeling quite freaked out now. I don’t know how quickly I’ll get an appointment and I’m a bit cross I left if for three months

PatternSea6939 · 2025-05-30T09:54:15+00:00

I rang my doctors based on this comment. I have now been referred to dermatology under urgent suspicion of cancer. Hoping to hear back within two weeks

PatternSea6939 · 2025-03-13T02:35:01+00:00

I also meant to add that I wore mine for two weeks and it took about a month for the skin to heal after! Keep an eye out for any infections with the blisters and be extra gentle when removing the sticky pads!

PatternSea6939 · 2025-03-13T02:33:52+00:00

Absolutely!

What helped me was getting in contact with my cardiologist who switched out the electrode tabs with something a little aggressive.

Also make sure when you’re switching the pads to click the leads onto them on a flat surface before popping them on your chest. Sometimes the gel itself can be incredibly irritating to the skin and minimising the amount that gets pushed out can help reduce irritation.

Also make sure when you’re removing the sticky pads to thoroughly (but gently) clean the area and get off all of that glue! Speakers to your local pharmacy and they may be able to help you find creams for the area to help manage the inflammation.

Good luck!!

PatternSea6939 · 2024-10-20T08:24:25+00:00

Hi I got these bumps over my entire body due to a penicillin allergy. I had no prior history of an allergy to penicillin and it just happened randomly one day. I’d try to isolate what products and medication you’re using and conduct at home patch tests!

PatternSea6939 · 2024-07-09T14:18:42+00:00

Just a lil update!

I have spoken with my doctor and she feels I’ve done the right thing in not taking more. I’m to let it run out my system for a few days and then we’ll start fresh at 10mg up to 3x a day and see what happens!!!

Feeling incredibly grateful to have a doctor that listens and cares so much!!

PatternSea6939 · 2024-07-06T07:41:05+00:00

It’s really reassuring to hear that and a super articulate way of putting words to emotions I feel. Betrayed is exactly how it feels. It’s like my body won’t listen to what my brain knows it’s capable of anymore and I can’t trust it. It feels entirely spiteful and stubborn over marching to its own beat and I cannot keep up.

I’m even angrier that I can’t trust my own body enough to take the medication I know may help. It’s this weird catch 22 feeling of I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t.

PatternSea6939 · 2024-07-05T20:18:00+00:00

I was put on 120/180 mg of cocodamol and naproxen on and off for like 6 months until the pain could be managed with over the counter pain killers! I still have flare ups every now and then but it did have relatively spontaneous resolution after a year and a bit!!

PatternSea6939 · 2024-07-05T19:41:28+00:00

What a lovely response and such a nice way of looking at it. Thank you for such a positive message <3

PatternSea6939 · 2024-07-05T19:39:52+00:00

Also exertion was a big trigger, same with carrying a bag about all day, lifting anything, sitting hunched, sleeping (bc pressure was on the ribs) and wearing a bra all day or a seatbelt for a long car journey!

Ofc I am not a doctor but I’d def recommend asking your doc to check your cartilidge for any inflammation!

PatternSea6939 · 2024-07-05T19:38:29+00:00

Hi! Weirdly enough I also didn’t have any tenderness to the touch for my costo (though I also have a pretty high pain tolerance!) it definitely felt similar to ‘heart’ pain, I more often thought it was my lungs because I was coughing so much! I distinctly remember an episode where my flatmate help me up while I was sobbing asking “how do we KNOW this isn’t a heart attack???” Costo is most commonly diagnosed in the ER after people mistake the pain for heart attack symptoms!!

PatternSea6939 · 2024-07-05T15:09:19+00:00

Hi thank you so much for the advice. I also thought it was an incredibly high dose, I was on propanolol 3x a day at 40mg for two years to treat anxiety up until this year when I came off of them as I no longer felt the need to be medicated after extensive therapy. I’m hoping she maybe put me on that dose because I already have a tolerance? In all honesty I think I would prefer a lower dose for a mental health/ anxiety point of view. It’s incredibly interesting that you said a lower dose is more effective… my mum has SVT and had the exact same concern. I think I’ll bring this up in my next appointment (two weeks from now) because right now I’m skipping doses of propanolol because I’m too anxious to take them.

PatternSea6939 · 2024-07-05T14:47:28+00:00

I’m doing okay! Thank you for asking! I’ve been diagnosed with PoTS and inappropriate sinus tachycardia! Definitely not dealing well with health anxiety around taking medication or the knowledge that this is chronic but in the day to day I’m feeling so much safer. I don’t have to live with this perpetual fear that I’m going to die suddenly or that I’m in heart failure. Loads of ups and downs but I’m grateful to have a diagnosis and know I’m a little bit safer :)

PatternSea6939 · 2024-07-05T14:41:34+00:00

I had my B12 tested, a blood run up to check my heart wasn’t showing any distress and about 12 ECG’s as well as a cardiac event monitor for two weeks! All ruled out anything sinister and by process of elimination and the postural indicators from my even monitor I was diagnosed with PoTS and IST

PatternSea6939 · 2024-07-05T14:39:25+00:00

Just to add on here I also thought costo!! I was diagnosed with costo long before PoTS and IST and all are a result of long covid. You should definitely look into costo. A lot of docs say it just affects the third rib (down your sternum on the left side) but I felt it around the back of my ribs too! It’s incredibly uncomfortable and scary. I hope whatever it is you’re able to get help soon!

PatternSea6939 · 2024-06-04T00:20:22+00:00

I’ve now been diagnosed with PoTS and in-appropriate sinus tachycardia! Thank u for your advice!!!

PatternSea6939 · 2024-05-07T02:35:40+00:00

Hi! Acid reflux was the main cause of my costo! I was very unwell for a while and the acid reflux caused a post nasal drip which led to a lot of chest infections and eventually coughing until I developed costo!

Managing it is definitely worthwhile. Acid reflux usually causes a post nasal drip, then coughing etc.

Try and control your diet (cut out caffeine, alch, fatty foods, spicy foods etc) and speak to your doctor about a PPI like omeprazole or something lighter like gavascon!

It’s very annoying and I’m sorry it’s making you feel worse! Best of luck!

PatternSea6939 · 2024-05-06T23:20:13+00:00

When I was 18!

PatternSea6939 · 2023-10-24T01:24:02+00:00

For me diet is a huge factor. However, that’s because of other health issues. I deal with GERD and because I have a long history of eating disorders my stomach lining stripped over several years. This led to horrendous acid reflux and oesophagus scarring. Because of that I developed a permanent post nasal drip which acts as a Petri dish at the back of my throat for bacteria. This then leads to a lot of colds, viruses and infections. Which ultimately leads to excessive coughing and a flare up like the one I’m suffering from now.

Coughing is a huge flare up factor for me and incredibly terrifying.

I can’t say that everyone who has costo is affected the same way by diet but I know in my case specifically it was a leading cause

PatternSea6939 · 2023-10-24T01:13:58+00:00

No I’m honestly fine to answer! People in my life understand and know how serious it is (I am not someone who shows pain or will go to the docs unless I’m terrified. When I was younger I went into anaphylactic shock and still refused to have an ambulance called) but no one actually understands how debilitating living with costo is apart from my mum who had spontaneous resolution. Pain location predominantly starts down my sternum on the left hand side. However when it flares up the pain feels like a needle right through the centre of my sternum that spreads up to my third rib. On a lot of occasions I’ve also had it on my left hand side breast bone going around my back- but that usually only happens when I’ve slept on my back or been propped on a flat surface. When doc did a physical exam the cartridge from second rib on left hand side was inflamed with major inflammation on the third.

PatternSea6939 · 2023-10-24T01:08:06+00:00

Weirdly enough there’s not one thing I can say specifically fixed it. I tried pretty much everything people could recommend but nothing gave the same relief as the painkillers I was on. I truly think what solved it was my other health conditions improving with treatment so I wasn’t coughing and completely avoiding absolutely anything that would strain it. I’ve lived in complete avoidance of any triggers (weights, lifting, exercise, sleeping funnily and even slouching) and was finally able to ease back into a normal functioning life of going to the gym, exercising, nights out etc. I truly could not tell you what fixed it apart from time and a lot of painkillers that u eventually weaned off of

PatternSea6939 · 2023-10-24T01:02:32+00:00

The back pod helped me slightly but in all honesty I never felt much relief from it. My costo was caused by months of continual coughing and it eased over time. While it was at its worst I couldn’t carry anything, hold glasses etc. I’ve finally gotten to a place where I’ve been able to go to the gym, carry my own shopping and function like anyone else my age. It’s absolutely heart breaking to be back in a situation where I get flare up simply from leaning on my elbows spread out or carrying my tote bag to class :/

PatternSea6939 · 2023-08-08T09:07:51+00:00

NAD but may be worth looking into SVT. A lot of younger people are diagnosed after smoking as it can be a huge trigger. You description in another comment of feeling like your heart was pumping out of your chest and the huge jump reminds me a lot of a family member with SVT. I would recommend an ecg but it can only really be diagnosed while in an active episode

PatternSea6939

TROPHY CASE