Complex Ovarian Cyst (9cm) Need surgery. Help!

I went to the doctor a few weeks ago for a check-up and the doctor discovered a cyst during my pelvic exam. He did an ultrasound in his office immediately and discovered that I have a 9 cm complex cyst on my left ovary. He also scheduled another ultrasound outside of his office. He said I need to remove it right away. I also took a blood test - CA 125 to see if it might be cancerous.My doc believes its benign and keeps saying that he's not worried. My blood test was clear but I'm just worried sick. Now I'm waiting on authorization from my insurance to schedule the surgery. I'll be having an exploratory laporatomy. Has anyone had this surgery before? PLEASE give me all the details. How long is the surgery? Hospital stay? Recovery time?

I'm 24 years old and have been married for several years now and my husband and I have been TTC for a few months now. My period was somewhat irregular as a teen but has been normal for the past two years (with the exception of one or two missed periods - I just thought it was stress related). The dr says he will try his best to save my ovary. Two of my cousins (from my moms side) have lost their ovaries as a teen due to an ovarian cyst. I really really want to have children and I don't want this to effect anything. I'm just worried sick. My family keeps telling me not to worry but how can I not? I'm constantly crying and have lost 8 lbs already probably from stress. Will I able to concieve (conceive) with one ovary? How do I know if my other one is healthy? PLEASE HELP MEEE!!

[asdf125]

I havent had my surgery yet, I should be able to answer some of your questions.
The exploratory laporatomy is a vertical incision I believe, from your pelvic bone and usually up to your belly button - for large cysts (much larger than yours), they would sometimes want to cut almost up to your ribs. Depending on your situation, you may be able to get a bikini cut, it is basically the same as a c section and is easier to hide if scars bother you.
From reading here, open surgery takes an hour or two? Im not sure. You would then be in hospital for a few days (3-5?) and the recovery time would be 6-8 weeks with very little lifting.

Cancer is very rare in young women, and with a clear ca-125 I wouldnt worry too much about that. Unless of cours you have a history of ovarian cancer in your family, but it sounds like that isnt the case.

Hopefully your doctor will be able to save your ovary, but even with one ovary concieving shouldnt be a problem. You would need to find out when it would be safe to have sex after surgery and if TTC would need to wait a bit longer to avoid putting too much stress on your body.

I would reckomend reading "My Experience after Laparotomy surgery for ovarian cyst" on page 2 and stalking this forum for more answers.

[tuz88]

Thank you so much for your input. That makes me feel much better. I just scheduled my surgery for next Thursday at noon. I wish you good luck on yours.

[lot12]

Hi
I just had laparatony surgery two weeks ago to takeout fluid filled cyst 7.2cm on ny right ovary

surgery lasted about 1 1/2 hrs recovery 2hrs
hospital stay 2days for me.
PAIN IS Ok the frst day post-op
about a week of pain so dont forget ti drink you meds... actually my stich did not bother me much my shoulder and chest did it would hurt so badly special when you stand up... they say it was gas but after 4days the painwasbearable... hate wearing the binder but it helps for support have to wear it for atleast a month
Aftet 3 DAYS i got my biopsy result and by Gods grace it was benign

my advice for you after surgery is hust get lotsbof rest dobt move around to much the first week but walk around the house to prevent blood clots and muscle pain
practice deep breathing excersise
pray to God

good luck on your upcoming surgery dont worry to muxh everything will be ok... remeber 95% of all cyst are beningn
sori for all the typos
if you have any questions feel free.to leave me a msg.

[tuz88]

Thank you so much. Was the doctor able to save your ovary?

[lot12]

hi
yes she saved my ovary... my cyst was actuallt growing on my fallopiantube she said she had to do it very slowly because the wall of my cyst was so thin

[Worried1957]

I have just had my surgery scheduled for the 24th, a week from tomorrow.  I have had 3 us transvaginals done and my cyst has stayed the same.  Therefore, I am favored for a benign result.  My CA125 was 3.6 which was good.  I am 54 so the dr is removing my right ovary with the cyst and hopefully my left ovary if it can be removed safely.  I have been going through menopause for about 2 years.  I am nervous about the surgery also.  I have had laparoscopies in the past, but not anything removed.  I am worried about steps and driving.  I have 32 steps into my apartment and was hoping not to have to stay with someone.  Left me know how your surgery goes and give me a heads up if you would.  Good luck with your surgery and God Bless.

[tuz88]

I too live on the second floor and have a whole flight of steps to my apartment. My surgery is scheduled for this Thursday so I will let you know how it was for me to go up those stairs. Good luck to you!!

[Riggssmum]

Oh hello ladys

i am so glad to find other people going through what i am.
my surgery is a week today the 1st nov 2011, i thought it was just key hole. reading the above and other posts on here it sounds like i will have a bigger scar.  i am on my 5th week off work already as the pain, bloating, heart burn, nausea have been so bad i got signed off work. i was hoping to be back at work (as a nurse on a busy ward) 2 weeks post op. I have recently lost 5 stone in weight and this has upset me (stupidly) as my pants won't fit i look pregnant.  are any of you having these symptoms?
i have really been trying my best to forget that i am having surgery so i don't just sit worrying but it is getting close and so now i am getting frightened.
i hope all your surgeries go well and asdf125 that your ovary is saved. i am only 29 and have not had babies yet. but as soon as this is over we will be trying.  This has given me and my fiancee a wake up call we are not getting any younger.

please please all keep in touch x x good luck all

[asdf125]

Thanks Riggssmum, I really hope they can save my ovary as well, but Im starting to think it is unlikely.

I think quite a lot get their cyst removed through laparoscopy, they normally use 3 holes although Debtrap on this forum got 4. Some of us are just a bit more complicated and need open surgery! Hopefully you will be able to get it done by keyhole surgery.

I know how upsettiing the weight loss can be, regardless of how happy or unhappy you are about your weight. My cyst is probably 3.5 litres, I reckon that would be 3.5kg or so. Yes I look pregnant. Problem is Im only 1kg above my normal weight!! My cyst works as a gastric band at the moment, combined with stress and loss of appetite. They say the cyst is affecting my insides the same way as a pregnancy would, but if that is the case, how do pregnant women eat so much!?1?

Denial is my way of dealing with this as well, but I can imagine it will catch up on you when you get close to your date. Ill be in your shoes in a couple of weeks!

You say you are a nurse? Is it good or bad to know "too much"? Any advice for the rest of us? I would love to know if there is anything I should do pre op, I am normal weight, so I guess I need to focus on not loosing any more weight. Been told to go off the p pill to decrease the risk of stroke. Anything else I can do to help my body recover from the surgery? Vitamins, exercise?

[Debtrap]

Hey girls good luck to all of you and it's been 5 days since my laparoscopy...and today I left the house and walked around... All in all surgery really wasn't that bad, and if you don't have lil children to pick up it's even easier...I had no problems w gas or shoulder pain the only issue is that I just have problems w #2, as of right now..,,
Prior to surgery I did try to attempt to do a mini bowel cleanse some doctors recommend it others don't and I stayed away from aspirin, herbals and vitamins, and alcohol...I also drank plenty of water....now regarding the types of surgery laparotomy and laparscopy...I had robotic laparoscopy so my surgery was performed via a robot and because of this he was able to save my ovary since robotic arms can turn and twist in 360 degree angles as compared to the human
hand.,,my dermoid was 8cm and he did make the bellybutton incision larger to get the dermoid out...now if my regular ob did this surgery he would have done a laparotomy..,.so I think the method depends on the surgery skill of your doctor, and yes some bigger cysts can be still drained and removed via laparoscopy...it
depends on the size and type of the cyst...after having robotic surgery I would recommend this technique to anyone who is planning on having a cystectomy my scars are very small less than a half an inch on the sides...he was able to remove the cyst intact via the scar in my bellybutton which is less than an inch, the camera they use has higher resolution than traditional laparoscoy and I only have stitches on the inside of my cuts and the outside is sealed with what looks like krazyglue which Is pretty cool...I had my surgery in nj :) good luck to all of you!!!! God bless!