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776572 tn?1360290739

Dermoid and possible ovarian removal

I am having surgery in approx. 2 weeks to remove a tennis ball sized dermoid on my right ovary. From what the doctor has told me, my right ovary isn't at all visible and all they can see is the mass. It is highly likely that I will lose my right ovary... While I feel lucky that I will probably still have one ovary, I am also wondering how the removal will impact upon my body and my body? What are the effects of losing an ovary (how does it feel)? And how long does it take for the remaining ovary to bring hormones back up to a 'normal' level?

I'm just wondering how I should prepare for my emotional state after the surgery, if I should be ready for mood swings, etc. I already have vicious PMS and moodswings lol!

I have fears about the mass being cancerous but my doctor has told me the likelihood of cancer is low (I'm 32). I have a history of ovarian cysts and have had surgery before to remove them . My dermoid was diagnosed via a transvaginal ultrasound after years of steadily worsening pelvic pain, dysmenhorrhea, bowel problems, etc. Does anyone know how accurate this method of diagnosis is? My understanding is that I will probably be fine but that they truly don't know what they are dealing with until they get in there and biopsy it... Another reason why the idea of having a laporoscopic procedure worries me somewhat... She says she is going to biopsy the tumour inside of me!! Is this really a good idea??!!

Thanks for taking the time to read my post, and all the best to you All!!! xoxo
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776572 tn?1360290739
Thanks so much for writing to me! It helps immensely just to hear about your experiences. I am much less afraid when I know what to expect...

Novaries43: thanks for the info (will pick up the book for sure) and explaining how they perform the procedure to me. I was actually debating requesting a laporotomy just so that I wouldn't be exposed to any potential malignancy -- however low the risk was!!  I did have a C-section with my daughter and really didn't want to have to go thru that long recovery if unnecessary, but my fears were ruling me. How are you adjusting to your change, btw? It's great news that so far your results have been benign... let us know how the final path report goes.

furrycat: Thanks for the info on how the removal affected your emotional state. I'm thinking since I already am very hormonally sensitive (can't even take the birth control pill because it makes me so wacko and depressed) that I probably will be on a roller coaster for a bit afterward. And you're prob right: they do say the anaesthetic can also put you on an emotional rollercoaster. I assume you are feeling better now, emotionally speaking? When you say "normal periods", do you mean you are still on schedule or no cramping/pain? I'm seriously hoping the pain will be resolved once this thing is removed...

kjodi: Wow, Congrats on your pregnancy! But truly sorry to hear that you now have another dermoid... Let us know how it goes. Not sure if this helps but I have heard that when they find them when they are very small that they can be relatively easy to remove... and often they are slow growing, which means perhaps you could have the chance to have another baby before it gets to a critical point, if it even does end up growing bigger ... at least that's what my reading has said.

I really wonder what it is that makes us susceptible to getting these?? Perhaps it is hormonal? I'm curious to see if the book Novaries43 has recommended has anything on this...

Have a great day everyone -- I'll be sending good thoughts your way!

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Avatar universal
Hello, I had my right ovary removed due to a large dermoid at the early age of 20. I also had 1/4 of my left ovary removed as well.
My periods returned to normal and my remaining ovary kicked in full charge...so much so, that I am now pregnant 10 years later. And now with only 3/4 of my left ovary remaining I've been informed that I also have a small dermoid on whats left. I'm hoping that it doesn't enlarge and that I have to have surgery again because if I do I will not be able to have any more kids.
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Avatar universal
Hi, I had a dermoid and my right ovary removed at the beginning of January.  I was really emotional after the surgery, cried every day for about 3 weeks and felt really depressed.  I think it could have been the anaesthetic though.  My remaining ovary kicked in straight away and I have had normal periods since.  I'm the same age as you btw.

I had a laparotomy (open surgery), not key hole, and my cyst was sent off to the lab for histology.  I had a trans-vaginal ultrasound which spotted the solid 'thing' and I then had an MRI scan which confirmed the diagnosis of a dermoid cyst.
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Avatar universal
I just posted before about a book that is very informative in educ women about hormones your ovary make and effects on the body (helps with HRTherapy knowledge in my case, as I lost mine 10 days ago) Pls. read that post.
Also, specific to your question: I had both ovaries removed 10 days ago, one was consumed the other was not, but I opted to remove it as I did not want this to happen again. Yes, I will get early menopause, but I am 43, & have been blessed with a "full family", so the choice was clear, for ME..not sure what yours is, so...
Can't believe he got it via laproscopy. Amazing, as mine was 10cm+ (grapefruit). It's scary yes..I feel for you. But, they insert a bag into the lapro tube, encapsulate it, and then break it apart to remove it, so that if it is cancerous, it wont spread (I believe that is how it was explained to me). They biopsied my uterus & nearby organs to make sure it was "clean" right there in surgery (pathologist is on site), and if suspicious cells, then they would have removed my Uterus too, but didn't have to. Thank god all orig biopsies proved clear, but still can't help to be worried about "final path reports", as it's all very frightening. But, Surgeon told me straight out it was "typical of clean/non-Cancerous Dermoid Cyst", so I'm thinking positive.  If you've had a c-section or other abdominal surgery, the after pain of laproscopy is minimal in comparison.  Good Luck!
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