Average recovery time of laparscopy??

[PARISGV]

I am trying to get a general idea of how long it takes one to recover from a laparscopy to remove an ovarian cyst (complex 4.5 cm).

I am sheduled for surgery on 2/27 and I have house guests arriving 3/4 and a road trip planned for 3/8-3/12. My friends are traveling from the US and can't change the travel dates.

I went for a check up two weeks ago and have been back 4 times since with the surgery being scheduled as soon as possible. The doctor said he prefers not to wait.

I would love to hear about other peoples recovery from similar operations.

Thanks!

[wubbie3]

I was sent to the ER in December with what they thought was appendicitis, and the MRI showed an ovarian cyst. Went to a gynocologist, had an TV ultrasound, and it showed a hemmhoragic cyst about 3.6 in diameter. Gyn put me on birth control pills to see if it would go away. 2 1/2 months later, it hasn't.
So she's giving me the option of waiting 6 weeks to see if it's a stubborn thing and will go away on it's own, or having a laproscopy done to remove the cyst.
From what I've been reading, some of y'all had huge cysts, and not the smaller 3.6 diameter type. I have plans all though April, and don't really want to give them up (the trip at the end of April is the most important, but...)
What do y'all think? Is it a good idea to wait another six weeks, or should I have the surgery done right away?

[worried 1]

I have a cyst on my ovary roughly the size of a golf ball. How long should I expect to be out of work?

[Curls]

From what I can gather the recovery varies a lot and has mostly to do with how much was done inside.

I had laparsopic oophorectomy of 4.5 cyst on Jan 25th.  After a week and half, had a definite improvement felt a bit better. So, two weeks afterward, yesterday I tried returning something to a store down the road, and didn't do well.  My mom says that 6 weeks after her hysterectomy she was walking around the house fine but tried grocery shopping and nearly passed out.  I've come to the (tougue in cheek) conclusion that the doctor's 1-2 weeks is actually the amount of time it takes for patients to finally stop calling the doctor's with questions...  I'm a bit of a slow healer, but I definitely need another week and won't be back to (my - I have other medical stuff) 100% even at that point.  Just pressing the gas pedal hurt a tad.  I could be doing a few hours of work a day if I needed to, but wouldn't be back at work.

From the dates you listed, I'd wonder if you could move the surgery to after your weekend trip?  My surgery was delayed two weeks because my surgeon was at a conference, and no one was worried about that.  (Something to ask your doctor of course.)  

I have a friend who this year had a laparsopic and then a laporatomy for the same persistant reoccurring 17", pushed everything out of the way, cyst.  She thought the recoveries were very similiar.  I think her lap was unusually difficult and the tomy was easy.  My doctor's nurse told me that even though the incisions heal quickly with the lap it would take several months or 6-8 weeks to recover because plenty had still happened inside.

Good luck with it all!
Cheri

[Gatsby]

DocGynOnc is right.  I went in for laproscopic surgery which was done, however when the dr looked in I had 2 softball sized dermoids, not one smaller one as the radiologist reported.  So my three incisions (sp) were 3 inches each instead of less than one inch, so my recovery was a bit longer.  The surgery also took 3 hrs as opposed to 1 hr.  However I am doing much better now.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.  God Bless
~Tascha

[Becca1176]

Hey, I had a lap on January 26th.  They didn't remove anything, but it took me a good 10 days to feel like "myself" again.  Definately, do not plan anything for the following couple days. You will be a bit uncomfy and in pain.  Just when you think you're feeling better, you tire out very easily..so don't try to do too much. It's very frustrating and I was not prepared for that. Could you possibly get someone to help you out a bit - getting the house ready and all? You shouldn't be lifting much.

By day 10 I was ready to take on the world...okay..not the world but my 3 little girls.  

Good luck and keep us posted.

Becca

[Whiz]

This is the second time I've had lap surgery...  I'm not a wimp so much when it comes to pain -- but you don't want to over do it!!  As mentioned before, rest, rest, rest and take your pain meds.  It took me about two weeks to be able to get back into my regular clothes, but I still moved a little gingerly.  I do believe everyone is different, so you may be lucky to feel as good as new in a week!  If you have a road trip planned, I would move your surgery up a week or two if you could...  just so you will be in optimum shape for a good time!

[nursepatient]

Depends on your overall health.  My friend who is 43 recently had a lap and she was hosting dinner in a week and back to her daily running and soccer routine in 2 weeks and feeling great. I'll pray all goes well for you.

[Gatsby]

Just make sure you rest as much as possible.  If you do too much you will feel it.  Drink plenty of fluids and maintain your pain meds.  Don't let the pain get ahead of you.  My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
~Hugs, Tascha

[TJPINK]

Hi

I am having laparscopy surgery Monday to remove a Large simple cyst (alien) 19x15x9 left ovary and tube, and to remove dermoid cyst from right ovary.  I have been advised the recovery time for this will be 2 weeks max, however due to the size I may have to have open surgery the recovery time is longer 6-8 weeks.
You shouldn't need to cancel any of your plans!
Good luck to you!

TJ