I am one week post surgery. Last week, I had surgery to remove a softball sized ovary and a large mass (football sized) that was behind my ovary. I had suffered with back pain for the last 2 years and when my pcp referred me out because he thought it may be a woman problem, I did not expect the pain of this recovery. The gyno told me to think of the surgery like a c-section. In some ways it was. They opened up my c-section scar for a 3rd time, which in itself is hard!
I did not know about the additional football sized mass when the doctor went in. He decided on laparotomy because of the size of my ovary. When he explained the surgery before hand he had basically told me that he would remove the ovary and do explorations to see what else may be causing the problem. I have no freaking idea how a CT scan and ultrasound had missed a FOOTBALLL sized mass, but when he went in, he found it directly behind the ovary.It was pushing on my back as well, and he thinks this is what has been causing my back pain for so long.
But my problem is that I didn't expect to be in so much pain. After previous c-sections, I had been up and walking after a few hours. The hospital wouldn't let me walk until almost 15 hours after surgery. When they did, it was minimal and then back to bed. The pain was excruciating. Nothing like what I had felt when I had my babies. One week later and I still have to rely heavily on my husband. My 2.5 yr old can barely sit on my lap without causing me to wince. TMI warning, but I can't wipe myself in the rear. I can't fully bend to put on socks or pants.
I make myself walk, but it's more of a hunched shuffle with a walker or cane. I can manage around the house but for outside walking, I need to have someone with me. I can't pick up anything too heavy and by that I mean, I went to pour myself some milk and almost dropped it.
I can't lay on my side, step into the bath, or get out of a recliner without help.
It's only been one week but I feel like an invalid. I am still on the codeine. I wouldn't consider not taking it and normally I stop taking that stuff after a day or two and switch to tylenol or advil. To be honest, I'm scared of what the pain could be without the pain killers. The good news is, the wound from where they cut me open looks fabulous. It's not like I have an infection - at least I don't think I do. I have no fever or anything like that. I think it's just removing what they did from me. It was way more than I thought was coming out.
I am going to the dr. on monday. I would like to hear back from anyone that has had this and their experience. Thanks!