Surgery in less than a month, would love to hear your experience

Women's health
1

Hello friends, I am due for surgery on Dec. 12. 

I have a 5 cm simple fluid filled cyst on my left ovary.  It has been there for 12 years (started at 3cm). Never gave me any issue until a couple of months ago I felt a strong pressure feeling on my lower left side of my abdomin. It also felt like the top of my left leg was being squeezed, like an elastic was being wrapped around it. It felt like this for about 5 days in August. then I was fine again, and then it happed for about 5 days in September. That was when I booked to have the surgery because I was getting worried it was twisting or something. Anyhow, it hasn't bothered me since for the last 2 months.

So I am due for surgery in less than a month and they are planning on removing the cyst and the ovary and the fallopian tube. all done with laparoscopic surgery.

I have a lot of anxiety and I am very nervous of this proceedure. I haven't have surgery before and I am very sensitive to medications. 

I also have an intense fear of vomiting. I really really do not want to wake up in the hospital and vomit. I read some of you do, and some of you don't. Aside from that fear I am also worried that the surgeon will somehow damage my bowel, or bladder by accident. I am so scared of ending up worse off than I already am. I am basically fine now, but feel I should still go through with the operation. I would love to hear any experience with laparoscopic surgery and the removal of just one ovary. thanks so much!

2

Hi Lily, try not to worry too much. It is a routine surgery they do often and you'll have time with the anesthesiologist to discuss the meds. I told mine that I was prone to nausea and I got anti nausea meds with my general. I didn't feel sick and they offer them with your pain meds after surgery, or just ask. I had laparotomy as I also had a large fibroid twisted in my broad ligament, they had to open me up, and I was sick 5 days after surgery when I got home - which hurt like hell, but with laparoscopy it would be much less painful with just the smaller incision sites.

After I was home and felt sick, I took dramamine (also made me sleepy) or you could try bonine (they don't make you sleepy) - just simple travel sickness pills work. The other ladies on my ward who had laparoscopies were up and about quickly and home soon after their ops.

They put gas to raise your belly so have very little chance of making a mistake injuring your bladder or bowel. They just have to tell you the risks by law. I had an 9cm cyst on my ovary, but they saved the ovary and managed to just remove the cyst. You could ask if it's possible to save the ovary? I had bad gas pains beginning about 24 hours after, try to drink some peppermint tea asap to even prevent this and keep mobile to get rid of trapped wind.

You'll be much better after surgery, look forward to it and think good things - you'll be more confident and have less nerves smile

3

Hi jayne. 

Im getting surgery done too and cannot get keyhole. Was your experience bad? Had you much pain I am so afraid of the surgery and the pain I'll be in. Also had to uto get staples in your wound? My issue is too that in pregnant and obviously very anxious about risks of miscarriage. Did it take you long to recover and were you off work for long? Sorry for all the questions. 

4

Thank you so much for your reply! Did you find out why you vomited 5 days after the operation? Was it because you developed an infection?

5

No infection, it was just nausea as I hadn't taken anything was just thinking I was okay after the surgery as the anti-nausea meds worked so well. I guess if I were going to go through it again, I would take the travel sickness meds and drink the peppermint tea asap to prevent rather than cure. So, I would advise taking them before feeling sick smile

6

Hi ... i didn't know whether keyhole was going to be successful or not for me, but when I came round I could feel my 6" incision. Don't let that scare you. It wasn't painful, I was just aware of it. I had a PCA (patient controlled analgesia) for the first two nights and the first day, so I had no pain and slept a lot.

I also had a catheter in so didn't have to get up for the toilet. As the catheter was put in during the op, that was fine. When it was taken out on the 2nd day post op, it is just deflated and slips out - no pain. Was glad to have had it.

The 2nd day you have to get up, at least sit in a chair. You need to clear your chest after being horizontal. Lean forward and support the incision site makes it bearable.

The first week was sore and I had pain first time sitting up, but just short lived. Roll onto your side and push up with arms with help. I wasn't pregnant, but felt like it for a few days, but just supported my belly on the short walks I made.

The first couple of weeks after getting up, I could feel it was tender, but move slowly and get up slowly. After two weeks, I felt much better and after 4 weeks now I feel fine... so you could do office type work, but I got a note for 6 weeks.

My incision was all stitches inside and a tape over the wound the first few days. So you just see a line, which closes up in about a week. No stitches to be taken out, nor staples.

I would avoid nausea by taking preventative measures as in my previous post, as being sick is painful... argh... also laughing for the first couple of weeks - avoid comedies or funny people ... that hurt the first time in the first week, luckily I didn't sneeze as that would have... so avoid people with colds, things you're sensitive to and black pepper smile

As you're pregnant, they're going to take extra care of you and do their best to protect the baby. A pregnant lady on my ward was fine and she stayed in a bit longer, but was taken great care of. smile

7

Thanks so much for your reply jayne. It's great to hear of someone's experience. I think I'm just an emotional wreck as am nervous about surgery and also risks to our baby. Did you have an ovary or any tubes removed?

8

Hi Janine, I had a 9cm dermoid cyst on an ovary... they saved the ovary and just removed the cyst. They only opened me up as my 8cm fibroid was stuck in my pelvic broad ligament. They left everything ... my sister had an ovary removed a while ago and went on to having a baby, but am glad I still have both.

Try walking to ease nerves, half hour a day I usually walked in evenings and when I first found out I needed surgery and possibly open surgery, I was very nervous. Then after I came to terms with it, met the surgeon, visited the pre op nurse, visited my ward, I was happy, calm, slept the night before... only when I was on the table breathing the gas and getting the anesthetic I thought oh no, it's not working... ha ha, then I woke up all done. Much easier than giving birth! smile

9

Hi Lily.

I to am having this laparoscopic surgery tomorrow for a cyst on my overy. except For me I am 6 weeks and 3 days pregnent. I too am so scared. anyone know the chance of me losing my baby/

10

I to am having this laparoscopic surgery tomorrow for a cyst on my overy. except For me I am 6 weeks and 3 days pregnent. I too am so scared. anyone know the chance of me losing my baby/

11

It's so scary. Let me know how you get on and find your experience. At least your recovery from the operation will be lot quicker. Hopefully they will be able to tell you quick if the baby is ok. Let me know how you find it all. I'll be thinking of you. Im sure you are anxious as am I for gow the baby is and also the surgery. I've never had anything done in hospital before and am so scared of the surgery also. 

12

Hi lilygirl.  I've just had 9cm cyst, both ovaries and fallopin tubes removed last Thursday and am recovering well.  The surgeons know what they are doing and you won't end up worse than before the op.  I did vomit after the op but only have a very vague recollection of it because I was still woosy from the anaesthetic. I was also mostly water.  I did feel much better after being sick though, and it was only once into a cardboard container placed by the bed just in case.

Best wishes for the op.  When is it?

xxx Kathy

13

Hi I had a 14cm cyst removed from my right ovary on the 10th October. I was scared like you about being sick after surgery and with it being my first ever op I didn't know what to expect. I have a huge sick phobia and I can't stand being sick or people near me being sick!! 

I asked the anethatist to give me anti sickness which she did just before putting me to sleep she also made sure it was on my notes so if I felt sick when I came round they could give it straight away if I asked. I had to have open surgery because of the size and and position of my cyst but they luckily saved most of my ovary. I was cut right across my lower stomach. When I woke up in recovery I had a mask on and all I realy remember is tasting the anaesthetic in my mouth and needing a drink. I felt the tiniest bit sick like I needed to burp more than be sick so I didn't ask for any more anti sickness. I had a cathater in but still had the urge to wee which I found weird. I had my surgery at 11.25am and woke in recovery at 1pm. Another thing I was worried about was the tube they put down your throat and I dunno why I worried as its put in when your asleep and out before you wake! 

I was in recovery from after surgery til 6.30pm in and out of sleep til around 4.30pm then all I remember is the bleeping of monitors and unfortunately people near me getting sick and being suctioned. But I didn't freak out maybe cuz the anaesthetic. I was linked to a drip and wasn't allowed to eat I was finally allowed to sip water at around 10pm. I hardly had any pain but was scared to move!! All I took was 2 tablets of 1mg paracetamol didn't want anything stronger as had trouble last hospital admittance due to tramadol and codeine making me constipated. At around 2am I was in pain so they gave me strong paracetamol through iv which helped. After 24 hours of surgery I wanted to get up and get cathater out so I could get home. I managed to get up out of bed myself nurses either side as they said to go very slow as you can feel sick and light headed. It hurt quite a bit pulling yourself up. But I did it and once I started walking up and down the hospital ward they took my cathater out. My Mum is a nurse an told me to walk supporting my tummy and make sure you walk upright. And it really does help supporting tummy. I had to stay in that night too so I had the surgery fri am and got home Sunday 3pm. That was the earliest I could go. I then had to have 2 weeks of fragmin injections which is blood thinning. Luckily I went and stayed with my mum for a week so she did these then showed my partner how to do them. 

I had some problems with toilet and highly advise peppermint water as the gas build up hurts!! And try and move around as much as possible to help the gas disperse! I had some trauma inside from the cathater which made me have blood clots when I weed few times and felt bit uncomfortable and like a urine infection. I had to take laxatives too to help me go as the pain from that didn't help. I got signed off work for 8 weeks so I am due to go back 8th Dec. I had my stitches out 1 week after surgery I had a single suture stitch where they weave inside you and tighten with little balls. When you go to have it out the nurse just cut the ball off and then pulled stitch from other side just felt slight discomfort for not even a minute! My scar has healed very well and all my layers inside were stitched with dissolvable stitches I can still feel some stitches dissolving which doesn't hurt but where they are dissolving it feels bruised on my tummy and slight pain occasionally. I have pictures of what the surgeon took out of me and of my scars at different times if anyone interested I can email them pictures. I haven't got my follow up appointment until 11th dec so I don't know what it was as they originally thought a dermoid cyst. But if anyone has questions I am happy to help or answer.

14

I am scheduled to have both ovaries removed on Dec 17th. I am not so nervous about getting sick as to how sore I will be and for how long. I have no one to help me so I will be alone after the surgery. I was wondering how long they usually kept you after the surgery. I am very nervous about going home by myself but I'm probably just being a baby!

15

Hi there, Im formy surgery in the next few weeks.  How have you faired out.  How was the baby?  Its so scary having surgery never mind been pregnant.  I will be about 18 weeks when I get my surgery and dont know how I feel.  I am not able for laparoscopic surgery as my cyst is too large.  So I am so afraid of how much pain I will be in afterwards is it unbearable?

 

16

I did it friends! I actually had the operation! I can't believe it smile

I was sooo scared, but it wasn't bad at all. And NO I didn't get sick after! YAY! YAY! YAY! I asked them to make sure they gave me lots of anti-nausea and they gave me 3 different kinds. I did great. Thanks again for all your replies and support.

17

Hi lillygirl.  Well done!  Are you home already?

xxx Kathy

18

Glad you're okay Lily. I had my cyst removed on Wednesday along with ovary and fallopian tube

I am still recovering, slowly but surely. Hope you have a speedy recovery 

19

Hey lily girl glad all went ok for you. It's not a nice experience but like you I hd myself built up that much it wasn't as bad as I thought. The first time getting out of bed for me was the worst but it gets easier each day. Recovery will take a while for me but just glad alls ok with me and baby. Feels good to have it removed and done. 

Have you got much of the gas pain in your shoulders or anything that was bad for me I found it very sore and still have it at times. 

20

Yep! I was home 2 hours after coming out of surgery!