ovary removed...what to expect now?

[roadster]

Three weeks post-surgery for dermoid removal (laparotomy).  Surgeon removed right ovary and tube and now I was wondering what to expect.  I've read that the remaining ovary picks up the slack but what have others experienced?  Does this happen right away?  First period was on schedule but that was only days after the surgery. I felt like I was bouncing back great after two weeks but in the last couple days - not so great.  My energy level was great and now dropped.  My mood swings are all over the place and of course everyone knows the swelly belly.  I don't know if it's surgery or PMS or what the deal is.  Have others noticed hormone changes after having only one ovary removed?  Doc has me following-up at 4 weeks so I haven't talked to her since I left the hospital.  Thanks - jen

[Hudson]

Hi Connie no, at 35 your issues shouldn't be perimenopausal. lol. I think with me, I was so close to going into menopause anyway,  that the removal of the ovary just accelerated things. I'm going to do the wait and see as my gyne suggested and see if things straighten themselves out.. or maybe i'll get lucky and periods will stop completely! YIPPEE!

Hudson

[Aria 21]

YES!! I had a unilateral oophorectomy as well (in february 06) and my hormones are STILL out of control.  I noticed that my right ovary picked up the slack right away; although mine were regular, periods don't tell you whether you're ovulating, but I sure can feel it very intensely.  as far as hormonal things go, I'm still trying to get that straight,  think it's over-compensating because I'm much more emotional than I used to be.

[Gatsby]

It can take a while for the other ovary to kick in and do the job of both.  Some women, myself included, can go into a temporary surgical menopause until the other ovary takes over.  I only have 10% of my right ovary (due to the removal of 2 softball sized dermoids and the entire left ovary and tube along with 90% of the right ovary)  and it is doing a fantastic job.  I have also had a tvh, so I take bio identical progesterone in order to stay hormonally balanced.  I have never felt better.  I am 46 and feel great.
~Tascha

[Hudson]

Hi Gatsby, I was only having about 6 periods a year even before i lost my left ovary in March. Now since March, I've only had 2 periods and this one was weird. I'm just paranoid because of my past ovarian serouscystadenoma. It makes me wish I would have had both ovaries removed, not just one, but docs talked me out of it. ugh!

If it keeps up, I'll likely go in for a pelvic exam, just for piece of mind. (The nurse says, "you were just here June 1st. for your pelvic and pap" lol. I felt like saying "Yes, I know, but I'm a nutcase now and need more reassurance".)

Hudson

[daisygirl24]

Hey I am having my ovary removed the 8th, how was it after surgery as far as pain goes?  I had a dermoid removed from my ovary last year and now it is back so they are just going to take it all this time.  I know with just the dermoid surgery I was in bed for about 3 days stright, hurt too much to get myself out of bed without some help.  Just wondering if taking the ovary and tube out causes a longer recovery.

[Hudson]

Hi there, I had an ovary removed in March. I am 51 years old and experiencing all kinds of peri-menopause stuff, so it's hard for me to say if you will notice a difference or not. How old are you and were your periods regular before the surgery?

Hudson

[Connie71]

Hi,

I had my left ovary removed in June due to 2nd dermoid cyst as well.  My surgery was done laporscopically (sp?) so my recovery was relatively quick. I went back to work after 2 1/2 weeks (still having off an on pain for 4 weeks). The pain was a little more intense then my first surgery that just removed the cyst and it took me a little longer to recover (4 weeks vs 1 week). My firt two periods were like clockwork, but I just had my third and I had ugly spotting for one week prior and then my period was quite heavy for two days.  I am sure it is probably just my body still trying to adjust to the changes (however I do have an appointment to see the doctor next week).  I have not had any hormonal changes that I am aware of. I think my hormones were much worse prior to the surgery (hot flashes, etc).  As all these wonderful ladies told me prior to surgery your remaining ovary seems to take over.

Good luck with your surgery!

[Hudson]

Hi Connie, I had an ovary removed too and also had the very light spotting before a few days of "normal" menstrual bleeding. This light stuff is very odd for me, as I am used to heavy periods with clots. I posted about this earlier today, asking for input. Can I ask you if you are peri-menopausal?

I did get thru to my doctor by phone, since posting and he said wait and see what happens the next 2 cycles. If I want he will run a FSH blood test to see if the remaining ovary is still producing hormones. He seems to think I do not have enough hormone to produce much of a endometrial lining and also low progesterone, so the shedding is sporadic?? To be honest, the whole thing annoys me. lol.

Hudson

[chicken3]

Hi

I had my Left ovary removed due to cyst and incident finding of borderline ovarian cancer.

I am 43 years old and had no signs of premenopausal symptoms and now since the surgery about 3 weeks after I am now in premenopausal. slight waves of warmth, hair thinned a bit and slight harder to concentrate.  I will be having a hysterectomy in a couple of weeks and removal of my remaining right ovary.
I definately will go on HRT (I have twin 15 month and 4 year old---need my brains and wits back!!! ha!).

Everyone is different!!!
Good luck

[Connie71]

Hi Hudson,

I am only 35 so I am not peri-menopausal.  I think my doctor will also tell me to give it a few more cycles before he is concerned. Before my surgery (before my cyst) my periods were like clockwork. I can't wait until I am completely back to normal (hopefully soon)!

I hope you begin to feel normal again soon as well.

- Connie

[roadster]

I'm 35 as well and was very regular and never very heavy or anything.  I had no symptoms prior to surgery - they found the dermoid as a preventive U/S based on family history.  So everything has been thrown into whack after no problems at all.  As far as recovery - I had a horizantal incision for a 5+ inch mass with removal of ovary.  I was off pain meds 3 days after surgery and one week after surgery I felt I was back up to about 75% speed.  I thought I was making a great recovery and was getting ready to head back to work.  Now I don't know if it's PMS or hormones or something that I just need to deal with or if I jumped the gun on getting back to normal.  Thanks everyone for the input.  jen

[RavenLady]

Hi Jen,
     I am 48 so although I don't think I am perimenopausal yet, who knows.  The adjustment to one ovary took me about five months.  I had my left ovary out with benign tumors in Nov. and starting having the hot flash thing, out of the blue, in Feb.  That kind of stunk because I am an Instructor and had traveled to Virginia for a class when it started.  Of course, my entire class was comprised of adult men, as usual.  I seemed to get them about a half hour after class started and boy, what a drag, I started dressing in layers after the first one but that was somehow worse in a way, by the time I got down to my cami, the Guys were confused as to what was on the sylabus for the day!  That business subsided by May and not one since so suspect my other ovary got on the stick!  Bet its different for us all but survivable.  Hang in there Jen, three weeks is not that long and not surprised your energy levels are still unpredictable.  MV

[Hudson]

Well, it has been 5 months since I lost my one ovary and I am having hot flashes like crazy and this spotting. So, maybe my remaining ovary has just forgotten what to do? Or is too darned tired to do it? ha. Maybe I will be like you and in a few months all will level itself off? Thanks for the support :-)

Hudson

[drieth]

I had an oveary removed july 10. Had some bleeeding but since then nothing. I am trying not to get concerned, but I also am experiencing awful backaches and am so tired. I am 47 is anyone else feeling like this?

[Tar1]

Hello
    I had my right ovary removed on Friday and its now Sunday. I am having the worst pain at the top of my leg the leg on the side where my ovary was removed  has any one else had that pain?

[Barb 3]

I had a hysterectomy (with my right ovary removed due to severe endometriosis), in April of this year. I too had severe pain in my upper right leg. My gynecologist said that this was "normal" considering the fact that "things were a mess in there". It took around 2 months for that pain to totally subside. Each day it did seem to be a little better. Quite honestly, it took 4 full months for everything to feel 'normal' again.

[L3point3]

I just had my right ovary removed on Friday and I just started to bleed sunday.  Is it normal to have bleeding right after surgery?

[Barb 3]

It has been over 6 months now since my hysterectomy and removal of right ovary. One month ago, I started having problems with my contact lenses (after 24 years, problem free)! My eyes are now 'burning' all the time and I can only wear my contacts for a few hours every third day or so. My eyes don't feel scratchy or like there is something in them......just burning so badly that I want to keep them shut! My optometrist says that it may be hormonal due to the loss of one ovary? Has anyone else had severe dry eyes after ovary(s) removed? I am waiting for results of blood test to check ovarian function. I'm hoping this is some sort of allergic reaction...........

[jenni9876]

One ovary removed this week.  Hot flashes have started within five days post-op. 50 years old. Was on patch already, but this is still not preventing the flashes.  Anyone else need to adjust hormone replacement after the removal of one ovary?

[claire99991]

hiya i had my right ovary removed with the tube due to a large dermoid cyst and the left ovary now works twice as hard so i still get a period every week i had a period about 6 weeks post op so it did take a while to get back to normal but now its every 28 days as normal. Hope this helps xx

[social2005]

I had my right ovary removed Dec 19th 07.  I am bouncing back o.k.  I still experience some discomfort in my stomach and pressure.  I am beginning to feel tired more and edgy.  Is that normal.  My month check up is next Monday the 14th of Jan.  Any feedback

[courtneysings]

Im 20 yrs old, about one month ago I had a laparotomy to get my left ovary and tube removed due to a goose-egg sized tumor that had attached to both..luckily the tumor turned out to be benign. However, I have not gotten back to my normal, upbeat self. I am usually very energized, but have been very tired SINCE the surgery. Also, I have been more emotional and have severe mood swings that scare me. And also have not had a period since april. Any help?

[CaydensMommy]

I had my left ovary and tube removed in 2005 and I don't think I ever went back to the way I was before the surgery. I do get my period every month, though. I would tell your dr. that you haven't gotten a period yet if you have another surgery follow-up appointment. I was concerned about mine and actually concerned that I was pregnant because my PMS symptoms were so bad before the first period I got after surgery--it was not on schedule, and I went about 6 or 8 weeks without a period, I think. (Some of the experience is a little fuzzy to me now.) Fortunately, I got it the morning I was scheduled for a CT Scan so I knew that I wasn't pregnant. As soon as I got my period, I went on bc pills to help prevent any future cysts. (Not that it necessarily worked.....) My periods were pretty much normal from then on.  I think it took quite awhile for my moods to level out--like 3 months or something, I think, but I was also dealing with a cancer diagnosis so I think that affected me emotionally as well.  Now I'm mostly leveled out, but I think that I'm definitely more emotional than I was prior to surgery and that I'm more moody when on PMS. I will say that I feel just about as normal as can be now. It may not be the old "normal," but it's not a bad new "normal." I hope that you will level out soon. I know that it's hard, but try to relax and let your body heal. You may feel like you are physically healed because your scar may be healing really nicely, but you have to remember that you had so much done in your surgery that it may take longer for your hormones to get used to their new regimen. Take care and rest as much as you can. I hope you feel more normal soon. :)
Best of luck to you!
Glenda

[Jayne17]

I can second that. I had a dermoid and right ovary out in Dec 07 and I felt that it took my hormones a good 6 months or so to sort themselves out. I often felt extremely tired and pretty emotional - quite a bit of random crying and having to go home from work early for a sleep - which was so out of character. I really felt like I was pre-menstrual a lot of the time too - a tense feeling and the odd headache that wouldn't shift with tablets combined with nausea and over-heating. This lasted up to about 6 months after the op. All better now :- ) Thankfully my work were extremely understanding and supportive, unlike my GP who just thought I was depressed!