8.5cm cyst coming out w/ laporoscopy or laporotomy

[AuroraCind]

Hello,
I'm scheduled for a laporoscopy that will almost definitely be a cystectomy on July 9th. I have a 8.5cm cyst on the left side that is possibly an endometrioma.
My biggest concerns are that it will have to come out with a laporotomy instead of the laporoscopy. My doctor says it depends on how things look once they get in there with the scope. My biggest fear, though, is losing my ovary. I know I can still have children with only one, but since I'm 28 and not even married yet, I'm not planning on kids in the next 5 years or so, so I'd like to hang on to my reproductive organs as long as possible so I can have them when I want to make use of them.
Oddly, I'm not that scared of cancer, because I know the odds are so small that it's malignant, though the thought has crossed my mind.
Does anyone have any advice about preparing for surgery that will help me recover faster? Should I be following a particular diet?
Also, has anyone with pain from a cyst found that it's worse when you drink carbonated drinks, or am I imagining that? I didn't have any significant pain until after the cyst was found, so I kind of wonder how much is real and how much I'm imagining.

[mhelen]

I too am having laporoscopic surgery (hopefully) to remove my right ovary and a complex cyst. My cyst is only 5 .5 cm and though I haven't noticed any pain from carbonated beverages I can definitely relate to wondering if what your feeling is real or imagined. I have been feeling pressure on my right side, occassional pains and a weird sensation like a ballon being inflated.  I keep wondering whether I am more intune to the sensations because I am focused on my right side or if I am exagerating things I would otherwise ignore for the same reason.  Kinda like what came first the chicken or the egg.  :-) My surgery is scheduled for June 16th and this site has been a blessing for information.  I've been hanging out about a month and its a good place to get information, I am a lot more relaxed about the cancer risk than before I started reading posts , now I just have to get over the surgery anxiety which is growing the closer the date gets.  Best wishes to you on your surgery.

[rmarie]

I can address the preparing for surgery questions, decrease your caffeine intake, it keeps you less jumpy and helps your anxiety level.  Follow a good healthy diet, fruit and vegetables and get a normal amount of sleep.  If you don't exercise on a regular basis, I would recommend you just start walking.  If it is a laparotomy, for whatever reason you will do better if you are stonger, that being said get out of bed as soon as possible, you get out of the hospital quicker.  
I don't know about the carbonated drinks, I gave them up 5 years ago, from my experience, I do know that if there is an alien in my body - I focus on it more and give it feelings that weren't there.  Had they been there before, I wouldn't be where I am today.  Good luck with your surgery, and someone can probably answer you reproductive concerns. I did have a cousin who had an ovary removed 60 years ago for a cyst, and they told her she couldn't have children.  She had 5 after that.  

[libbyisi]

Hi, I was scheduled for a laparoscopy in Jan to remove an 8cm cyst, but unfortunately the procedure ended up being a laparotomy with removal of my left ovary.  The cyst ended up being endometriosis (and ovarian cancer, but that is rare)   Like you I concerned about my fertility (I'm 24) but women have successful births with even partial ovaries remaining - I remember reading some posts about this topic in the past; browse through the archives on this site if you're interested in reading them.  When I asked my gyn/onc about my chances of being fertile with one ovary (and chemo on top of it), he said that it's hard to say because simply having endometriosis may indicate the presence infertility problems.  
As far recovery from surgery, like rmarie said get out of bed as soon as you're ready.  I spent one night in the hospital and my nurse came to get me to walk the halls regularly (although at the time all I wanted to do was stay in bed, it's for the best).  Afterwards it took about a month to be feeling myself again so exercise now and be strong for whatever lies ahead.  Best, Libby  

[cindy loo]

hi there PLEASE HELP.  I have a simple cyst 7.5 cmwhich is due to come out who knows witht the national Health- we are in England.  I am haveing laproscopic surgery. first question is how soon after surgery will i be able to ride and jump my horse? and please tell me when I will go back to have a flat tummy I am luckily enough to have one at the momentprobably due to the stress of all this.