Question for Curls

[jms_9967]

Curls,

Since I'm moving closer to my scheduled surgery (9/6) I wanted to ask you about your experience.  Your comment that you were nervous since you hadn't had any surgeries since you were 5 is exactly how I'm feeling--I had my tonsils removed at age 5 and been healthy as can be since then (I'm almost 40).

Sorry to ask you to repeat some of the great advice you had given in another post, but was there anything you can suggest to help ease the anxiety?  Also, what had happened with you to result in having the surgery (was it a cyst, how large, what kind, etc.)?  I also forget if you said you had a laparotomy or it done laparascopically.

Thanks in advance for your advice--from what I've read it really seems like your situation is/was very close to mine.

-Janet

[Curls]

Sounds like you are all set!!!  Glad my experiences could be of help, and it was not trouble typing it again - just have to remember the facts...  I'm not sure if searching finds entries by user?  I've had trouble with that in the past, worked sometimes and not other times.

You're plan of action sounds very good.  I haven't heard of requiring the colonoscopy before, but that's smart.  And if there is anything, they can do just *one* surgery.  I have my first one set for end of Nov.  I'm not actuallly looking forward to it, but it will be nice to have it completed.  One grandfather died of colon cancer and my Dad's had lots of polpys removed.  

Anything you can do to distract is the way to go...  But it will be over soon enough.  The idea of surgery was so overwhelming, but it really wasn't that bad.  I was awake for what, 2 hours on a bed with an IV, before they put me out - and that's all there was too it.  Then, a few days of feeling crumby-ish and a while longer of being less than full speed.  And keep in mind that ovca is very rare indeed.  What you see on the forum is a concentrated group - for just those purposes.

Talk to you soon...

[jms_9967]

Thanks so much for typing that up again.  I just went back and did find your earlier post--I think I must use the search engine incorrectly because I can never find anything and I have to manually go back and scan all the messages.

I'm hoping I can have mine out laparoscopically as you did since it sounds like the recovery is much easier than the full open incision.  They are going to take my right ovary because the 8cm cyst has pretty much destroyed it.  Plus, my other ovary is fine and I wasn't planning on having children at this stage anyway.  My doctors will also have a gyno-oncol available in case the biopsy they will do comes back malignant.  In that case they will do a vertical incision and everything goes.

I agree with you that I've got to get my mind on other things--I've got a bunch of doctor appointments next week and I have my colonoscopy next Friday (my doctor requires all patients over 35 to have one prior to the surgery just to make sure there's nothing else going on).  Then, the following Thursday I go in for the surgery.  I keep telling myself that in less than a month this will all be over.  I'll definitely let you know how things go.  Thanks again for the info--it helps to hear from someone who has gone through it.

[Curls]

Hi Janet,

It does seem like I'm typing it up a lot so you might want to do a search for curls and see what I said.  I had an initial entry back on July about the whole thing, and one reply recently to Casey06 about surgery suggestions.  

I had a 3cm cyst that was stable for 1 1/2 years then started growing and sepatating.  I had it removed laparascopically by a gyno-oncol.  She tried to shell it out, but it had grown into the blood supply.  Luckily, it hadn't stuck to anything.  It was an endometrioma but there was only one other spec of endometrisis which she eblated.

The surgery really wasn't that bad.  I was worried about complications, and it being scarey with IVs and whatever at the hosptial, but none of that was too much to deal with.  I'd asked for no pain meds until I woke up, so it took a few minutes to take down the level and then that was fine.  I was nauseous but the nurse brought in a doc, mumbled a bit, put something in the IV and I felt better in 20 minutes.  It wasn't a fun ride home for the hour, well only the last 15 mins when my mom missed the exit and had to drive extra time and I could feel her guilt.  I was definitely more cranky and snappy than my norm, and I did stay on the motrin (ibprofin) for a number of days.  However, I didn't feel that bad, and it wasn't nearly as scarey as when I have to take responsilbity and do something.  I just had to keep breathing and relax with whatever was happening.  

I'm sure you'll be fine.  You might want to call your hosptial and ask the surgery preop nurses what the process is the day of surgery, just to take some of the mystery out of it.

I hope this helps!  So many women have been through it, and there's so much here to read.  One thing though to keep calm - don't spend time very much looking things up on the internet.  It's too easy to get stressed out that way.  

You've got a little wait, but if you can keep your mind on other things, you've don't the hard part - deciding what to do, and now it's up to your doctors.
Take care!  Keep us posted, and let me know if there's something specific you wanted to know.
Curls