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Avatar universal

Surgery has been sceduled....scared

Well, it has finally happened, my surgery date has been set. I'll be going under the knife the 27th of Feb. My dr is out for the next 3 weeks for her recovery from knee surgery. She wants me in the 1st day she returns, She is doing 3 procedures at once. A lap, a cytology and another thing which requires injecting the abdomen with fluid thats "sticky" and then drawing it back out. It will adhere to the organs and bring back cells from each organ. If she see's what is going on in there, she will turn the procedure into a hyster. I wont know what happened until I wake up. If she doesnt see obviously whats going on, then I'll be home the next day and wait a week for results....if she does see whats going on, and it is a hsyter...I'll be in the hospital for 3-5 days.

I'm a little scared and nervous now....a date set means its real now. Has anyone been through this kind of thing? What will pain after be like? What are some things I can do to prepare for the recovery? Thanks all  :)
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Avatar universal
Hi, I'm 1st time here. I have a surgery appt on 2/14 to remove my 2 complex cysts on my right ovary. I found out these cysts back on 11/2005 during my pregnancy. They look like they are growing after I gave birth. On 12/30/06, the ultrasound shows 2 complex cysts at 2 cm & 3 cm. Today 2/9 it shows only 1 cyst at the size of 5 cm. Probably they merged? I had a pre-ops appt this morning. My doctor said they look like endometrioma... I am scared.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Casper--I had a laparoscopy done in November--I think the recovery depends mostly on what they find.  If it is a benign cyst only, it shouldn't be too bad.  In my case, they expected to remove a benign cyst only, but I turned out to have severe endometriosis (the cause of the cyst).  So the planned 30 minute surgery took about three hours instead.  I wasn't working at the time, but if I had been, I would have wanted about 2 weeks off from work to recover.  I was pretty sore and  walked kind of hunched over the first week.  The gas pains were the most intense pain, though.  Maybe since you're getting that fluid put in, there won't be as much room for the gas?  I didn't have that test done, so I'm not sure.  You might ask your doctor to write a prescription for pain meds before the surgery, so you don't have to bother with it afterwards.  I had a hard time getting mine filled because my pharmacist didn't have the doctor's DEA#, and she never called him back when the next day (Friday) when he tried to reach her.  My pharmacist finally just filled it out of pity when my husband told him what it was for.  Otherwise, I would have been really miserable all weekend.  Good luck, I hope everything goes well for you.
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167426 tn?1254086235
maybe someone needs to invent an abdominal air pump with a reverse gear. I wonder if any surgeon ever thought about leaving an air drain in and using abdominal massage to get the darn air out. I remember taking care of a hugh woman, 400#+ , her retained air was terrible. Nothing we could do to help her.
Helpful - 0
140437 tn?1215109742
HA HA HA humour is what gets you through hon for sure. I used to joke about waking up to a belly full of tumble weed and nowt else. The good news is that a laparoscopy has a much faster recovery speed - a few days versus 6/8 weeks for laparotomy. The scaring is almost nothing at all and you can go home the same day. By all accounts the only symptom that is worse is the gas pains because they actually fill your belly full of air. Mind you I have to say I find it hard to believe because I had a laparotomy and by god the gas pains where horrific - far worse than the incision pain.

Anna x
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Avatar universal
laparoscopy---that is the surgery she is doing. along with the cytology and the fluid thing. She said there will be 3 incissions as well as the one thru my belly button. One on each side of my belly button(just slightly lower) and one above the pubic line. She will also have an "instrament" up in *there*...YIKES...I'll tell ya this. it will be like "lights, camera, ACTION" going on up in my stuff.....  
Helpful - 0
158061 tn?1202678326
My surgery date could not have come fast enough.  Remember there is a growth inside of you that does not belong there, and you need to have it gone, so surgery is a good thing.  You can go through anything to get rid of the unknown, you need to know what it is.  The majority are benign so take comfort in that - if it isn't, best to get it early and start the battle against the disease.  Surgery and anesthesia has come along way over the years, and we really remember the bad stories.  Ask questions every step of the way, get out of bed following surgery, take the pain meds and walk.  Most important take control, you will feel better.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm schelude for surgery 2/13, I know when they told me they were doing surgery it was scary, even though I figured they would but I quess it's the finality of it. Just try to take one thing at a time, I was so upset yesterday with Urologist who cancelled appointment I had. Pre-admission Dr. found I still have UTI and prescribed antibiotic-my 8th antibiotic since Sept. When I asked if Urolgist could call me because of having surgery and I'm concern because of infection. They told me to make another appointment and there are no openings till after surgery. I called GYN who is removing my ovaries cause of a Dermoid Cyst, to find out if it's okay to take medicine and also let him know about UTI. GYN called today and said that was fine, I got so worked up because I was afraid they would cancelled. You do just get scared but this site is great just reading about these brave women and what they face helps you to not feel alone. Take care
Helpful - 0
140437 tn?1215109742
The thing with an ovarian cyst is that apart from the specifics (such as laparotomy, laparoscopy, things with fluid :)etc)we ALL go under not knowing what we are waking up to. That is the nature of the beast - and I feel is the scariest part of it. We can deal with what we know but the unknown requires passing the choice over to someone else, blind faith that a perfect stranger will do what is right for you.

However surgeons dont go around removing organs for the sake of it - despite what some might say lol. You said you were having a lap that doesnt distinguish between a lap-arotomy or lap-aroscopy, at least it doesnt for me anyway. Which one will dictate your pain and recovery (its all doable I promise).

Dont worry your gonna be fabulous

Anna xxxxxx
Helpful - 0
178345 tn?1242536246
Hi...I am in the same boat as you...My surgery is scheduled for 2/16...It was previously cancelled was suppossed to be 1/26 but I ended up getting a virus.  I too am extremely nervous and worked up.  I am trying to take it one day at a time. I will be having a laprotomy because I have 2 cysts 12cm and 10cm which they say are to large to come out through laproscopic.  I have found so much support on here and so much good advise..I also will not know if they need to a do hysterectomy.. I am going for another sonogram tomorrow to see the status of my cysts. As far as I know the recovery is diffeent depending on the surgery that they do.  Just take it one day at a time and keep the faith.
Helpful - 0
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