How long can I expect to be down after Laparotomy to remove dermoid and ovary?

[dimples7]

I have 5 children ages 16 to 4 and have had 4 c-sections, but it has been a while so I don't remember how long it took me to feel better.  I am figuring about 3 weeks to feel at least most of the way better but I have heard it takes longer to not feel so tired.  

I am trying to cover all my tracks.  My kids have already started school so I have to arrange rides and stuff.  My husband will be able to take off the first 4 days but then we will be relying on others to help.  I have no family around but a good group of friends from to church that are ready and willing to help.  I am so thankful for them.

Thanks!

[Gatsby]

Hi there.  Since you are having the laporatomy, you will have at least 6 weeks where you can do no lifting, vacuming, etc.  No lifting laundry baskets and groceries either.  You are to be waited on hand and foot.  After the 6 week time period, if your dr. says so, you can begin to ease back into your old life.  You will have severe tissue trauma and it will take your body 6 months to 1 year to fully recover.  You will know if you over did it because pain and fatigue will set in.  Take your pain meds As Directed.  Once the pain gets ahead of you, it is so hard to catch up.  Don't forget to get a stool softner as the pain meds tend to make you constipated and you really cannot strain at all.  Keep us posted!  You are in my thoughts and prayers.  Godspeed
~Tascha

[scoutshadow]

You have a 16 year old who will be very willing to take on the extra jobs (not driving), but laundry and ironing, for perhaps some pocket money (boy or girl it makes no difference).  Wave a few bucks in their direction and watch them go!!  Anyway my 13 year old was only too happy to help (much to my surprise!) - they seem to understand.  For the little one's now is the time to get the DVD's in and be thankful of this wonderful technology - how did or mum's cope?

It's wonderful when you have a system in place where others can help.  Make the most of the 'rest' periods.  You will be able to do some light cooking etc after two weeks.  Just stay off the heavy lifting.

Remember:  when you feel tired, your body is telling you to take a rest - DON'T ignore it.

Good luck.

[Jess079]

Hi Dimples,

I had a laparotomy last Thursday. I was in the hospital 3 nights. I feel just a little bit better everyday. I am walking upright now. Today was my first trip out, to a post op appointment, and I feel pretty tired. So easy does it! I am scheduled to go back to work after 4 weeks off but my doc will write me out an additional 2 if needed. No driving. Don't worry about the scar. My incision looks great. Very, very thin and parts of it already have the scabs off so I can see how nice it looks underneath. I had staples, which I hear makes a big difference in the scarring. Hope my experience helps you prepare for yours! Oh yeah, I totally agree with getting something to help with constipation. The morphine gave me such bad gas for two days, it had no where to go, so it made me throw up for those two days. I finally got a suppository and it worked wonders.

Good luck and God Bless!
Jessica

[dimples7]

Thanks everyone.  I have already had a family meeting with my kids and we scheduled a night for my older 4 to help with dinner and cleaning up.  See that will be my problem, if I see a big mess in the kitchen it will be hard for me not to stand there and clean it up.  I know I will need my rest so I will have to depend on them.  My 16 year old does drive so if she can bare to make time in her busy schedule she will be helpful.  Seriously though, I know that if she sees I need her she will be there for me.  Daughters are great that way!  She can round up the others to whip my messy house up in a jiffy if she wants too.

Thanks again for being so helpful. I am glad I found this place.
Carrie

[turtledovemom]

Hi, Carrie...
My thoughts and prayers are with you for good news and a complete recovery.  Just a thought on recovery time...you'll read about some women who have really "jumped the shark" with their recovery time.  For whatever reason, they were able to push the envelope and get back to work/driving/lifting/etc well before the routine 6 week restriction period.  If you can at all manage it, please don't do that.  As women, we tend to put ourselves and our health behind the needs of others.  This is definitely not the time to be doing that.  You deserve to recover patiently and completely.  Give yourself the gift of time, and promise yourself that you'll be willing to ignore messes etc.  Keep us posted!
peace,
Anne

[Grateful06]

I am 3 weeks out and I would ordinarily say I'm doing well, it is just carrying my baby around that I cannot do well, it hurts so very bad.  So lifting is the one thing I'd avoid for as long as possible.  I can't avoid it, so I have no choice.  I wish you the best!

[mom2maddie325]

I am 8 weeks post op and 25 weeks pregnant. I was back to work at 4 weeks post op and considering that I am pregnant too, my stomach muscles healed pretty quick and I was back on my feet, walking well after about 2 weeks. I felt that the more walking I did, the better off I was.
Good luck!!!!

[maur5]

Hi Good to know you have so much help need to plan our recoverys! I'm having surgery in 2days ladies and not sure if I'll have a laparotomy or just a laporscopic procedure.  Cyst is 3cm yet I have free fluid in cul de sac what do you think ladies which will it be laparotomy or laporscopic?

[mamamichele99]

Hi ... I had a 10cm dermoid cyst removed laporscopically back in March.  I would think a 3cm would be no problem!  I then had to go back in August because I had another dermoid, this time 15cm+.  I had to have a laparotomy this time because it was just too big.  I think it was much bigger than the 15cm that the CT scan showed a week prior.  Anyway, pray for laparascopic ... this recovery has been so much harder!
Good luck!

[mamamichele99]

Does anyone know anything about pregnancy and delivery after removal of one ovary through laparatomy?  I know you can get pregnant with one ovary, but would I be able to deliver naturally after this surgery or would I have to have a C-section?
I'm not sure we're even going in the direction of another baby, but I had a miscarriage in March of this year, so I think about it.
Thanks!