Bloating after Laparoscopy for Cyst Removal

[foureight]

Hello, I hope I am following the rules and doing this correctly.  I've been reading around the forum but did not find answers to this question specifically.  Sorry if I missed it.

I had laparoscopic surgery for removal of a benign cyst from my right ovary 10 days ago.  I am ~25 years old and had been having symptoms for five months (main symptoms: lower abdominal pain, extreme 24/7 bloating and stomach distention - I look(ed) pregnant!).

Recovery is going ok, I've healed from the intubation and incisions (closing up nicely had only 2) but my organs (ovaries & uterus) do still hurt.  I can handle this but I am still so swollen/bloated/pregnant looking.  Is there an accepted time frame for this pregnant swollen look to go away?  I know everyone is different but I'm just wondering if I should plan on buying more "fat" clothes or can look forward to being my old self soon.  Thanks for any comments about your experiences with this.

My followup visit with my doctor is in 6 days.

[MarieMichele]

It takes approximately a month for post-op swelling to decrease. Of course it varies by person, too.  Much depends upon how much work they did internally and it is always more than what is visible externally.  The fast healing of the incisions is no indication of how much more internal healing is still needed.

[foureight]

Thanks for your input MarieMichele.  I'm getting concerned, and perhaps I shouldn't be.  I'm 12 days out from surgery now and I'm just as swollen and bloated as I was before surgery.  I feel the same as pre-surgery, all the pressure like I have a balloon under my skin.  The uterine and ovary pain is gone so it is just as it was before.  

My doctor told me 2-3 weeks and if it was only the cyst causing my bloating/swelling I would be back to normal, otherwise it was something else causing it.  I really want it to just have been the cyst.  I see him in 4 days and am so afraid he will say 'Something else is wrong with you if you still feel the same.'  I will make sure to ask him if it's possible I just need more time to recover.........I am hoping this is the case.  

[maggie12345]

It will take 2-4 weeks for stomach to back old place. For surgery they fill gas inside abdomen. They move organs. You will feel, some part of internal organs are misplaced, when you will laugh, you will separate outer later and internal organ. It will take time for whole system to go back to same old place.
Wear lose clothes and take rest, don't do active work for while.