Are problems from recovery from laparotomy normal

[Jazzeroo]

I was diagnosed on August 22nd as having a 22 centimeter borderline tumor in my abdomen on the right side.  My onc/gyn recommended I have a unilateral oophorectomy with possible total hysterectomy. I went into the emergency room due to pain and had surgery performed September 1.  The doctor was able to remove my right ovary and fallopian tube, and I can still have children, although I do not want any and did express this.  I am only 32 years old, but that has been a decision I have made long ago.  My appendex was also removed during the staging process for cancer.  The doctor says during surgery everything looked good, and he removed a watermelon sized tumor.  I weighed before the tumor was removed 112 pounds.  Since the surgery, 11 days now post surgery I look like I have lost about 10 pounds.  I am due to see him for my follow-up on September 22nd so he can sit down with me and go over the pathology report. He may recommend two chemo sessions.  Since the surgery I have constant constipation for which I have had a suppository for and drink prune juice.  I still look like my eyes are sunken in, appetite is okay, nothing like it was before. My burning incisional pain is gone, but I find that I cannot walk upright and I feel very fatigued and tired. When I look in the mirror, I look sick. Are these symptoms normal?  I did work a little bit today (I am self-employed and work from home) and I did finish a work product.  How long after surgery do you think it is recommended to go back to work full-time?  Sorry for the different digressing thoughts, questions.I'm new to the forum

[Jazzeroo]

Thank you EVERYONE for your input. Now I know I'm not alone.
       My constipation has gotten better thanks to Starbucks coffee today. I feel so much better than I did when I wrote that message. Every day I'm regaining strength (thank goodness.) I am feeling back to my old self. Today I can see that I look healthier, the sunken eyes gone.
A question I never thought of until I read the last comment: How does the doctor know my 22 centimeter mass is a borderline tumor if the pathology report has not come in yet? Well, I was told from the doctor that by the way the growth looked on the CT scan that it was a borderline tumor. He said to do research online, which I came to the conclusion that on the scan maybe the cells look like they could "possibly" be cancer, maybe not, such goes with the name "borderline." The doctor did not want to biopsy the tumor because he said it was so large that he could biospy one part and it could come back fine, but then another part would not(plus to keep it from leaking if it is cancerous.)  I got to a point where I could not breathe well, was in EXCRUCIATING PAIN, and could not walk upright and went into the emergency room. My doctor scheduled the surgery three days later, on Fri, Sept 1. I will be seeing him this Friday. He did call me yesterday, and good news: He said the biopsy from my left ovary that is still inside of me came back clean. He said he is still waiting for the final pathology report of what the tumor is.  He assured me I could have children, but that doesn't matter to me anyway because I plan to adopt when I feel the need to have children(a decision I've made a long time ago.) When the final pathology report comes back, I will give you the good news.

[sdp4314]

I agree with everyone.  All the symptoms you described are normal.  I kept getting the "you look so thin" comment right after my surgery.  Well, I am not getting it anymore!  It's normal to lose weight after a big surgery like that plus with your "watermelon", no wonder.  Constipation is a biggie with pain meds and abdominal surgery. So, drink plenty of water and try to eat normal again. It usually takes about 4-6 weeks to return to normal.  However, everyone is different in that area.  Just listen to your body.

Best of luck to you,
Shawn

[wubbie3]

The constipation is normal, too... You're on pain meds, which cause it, plus you had invasive abdominal surgery, which can cause it too. So women having this surgery get a double whammy. Keep going with the softeners and liquids to keep things moving. Try and avoid things like cheese and dairy which tend to bind. Remember, no matter what, don't strain trying to go... it makes the ab muscles hurt more, and can cause imflammation in the surgery area, which just makes everything hurt more and longer.
Hang in there... the first week sucks, the second week gets better, but you probably won't feel like yourself until at least four weeks after.
Hang in there, and keep us posted!
~Marianne

[shazzybow]

hi i went through the same op as you 4 weeks ago, but my cyst was smaller. i am hoping to get the path results this week. i too couldnt walk straight until this week, also its only this week that my constipation has gone. i still have the swelly belly although i suspect that some of this is wait gain from eating well and sitting around! i am normally very active and train several times a week,i am certainly not up to that level yet but definitelg getting stronger everyday. my biggest problem has been getting the wound to heal (that's a long story for another day)but it is nearly healed now. i hope that gives you an idea of post op recovery, but everyone is different and you need to listen to what your body is telling you. oh, and my doc said 6 -8 weeks off work.best wishes, sharon.

[Gatsby]

Try not to rush your recovery.  You do not want any setbacks.  Take it easy and if constipation is a problem, try prunes and drink plenty of water. You also need to get up and walk....a little, just to get the body moving.  Nothing strnenuous.
~Tascha

[scoutshadow]

I really cannot add anything further that hasn't already been said.  The whole thing must have been very overwhelming for you.  Just to say take it all very easy and if you feel you've overdone it you must take a rest.  You will be soon back to your old self - it just takes a bit of time.

My query is if you have not yet had the pathology results, how do they know it is a borderline tumour?

[Anna-maria74]

jazzeroo,

welcome to the forum. Everything you have described I went through. I couldn't walk up right for days, I lost over a stone in weight, my arms were like little sticks, my eyes were sunken. I looked so awfull that before I got my pathology report I really had convinced myself that something was terribly wrong. I too had a 20 cm tumor. I said something to my husband which I am not going to repeat in here but honestly I looked like **** lol. He even very tactfully said I looked like one of the lolly pop head celebs.

I now weigh more than I did when I had the cyst grrrrrrr but I look healthy. Its a major operation and I suspect that before the cyst was dx you might have been trying to diet in an attempt to "loose weight" which was actually the cyst. It is not uncommon for woman with large cysts such as ours to become seriously malnutritioned due to trying to shed weight that doesn't exist. For me the hospital food was so dreadfull that I didnt eat for the 4 days I was there either. So you had pre-op dieting, bowel prep and then 4 days of not eating.

Give yourself time to recover it takes a long time to feel strong again. I am still building up now and its been 10 weeks. I can't help with the grey area of borderline but I am suprised you are having chemo - didnt think that was how things were done. Others, such as scoutshadow,  will be better informed for these questions!

Anna x