Swelling after surgery

About 2 weeks ago I went to the emergency room with severe pain in my lower right side.  I thought it was appendicitis but a CT scan showed a dermoid cyst (teratoma  7cm X 5cm X 7.4cm) growing on the lower right side of my abdomen.  The tumor was removed last Thrusday along with my right ovary and fallopian tube.  Today is my 5th day post op and I feel pretty good.  I have never had surgery before and I really did not expect this to interfere with my active lifestyle as much as it has I haven't been able to do anything alone, bathe, go to the bathroom I need help with everything.   I'm a healthy 25 year old woman and I also have the Swollen Belly!!  IT's sooo depressing I just want to cry everytime I see it especially living in Florida where bathing suit season is year round.  How long does this normally take to subside?  I'm more grateful about the tumor not being cancerous than about habing an enlarged stomach but it really does affect me emotionally when I see how large my belly is.  

I have been wearing a girdle (approved by the doc) when will the swelling subside?

Also when will I be able to workout again.  I know it will me months before I can return to my normal routine of running about 5-6 miles 4 times a week and weight training 5 times per week.  When can I atleast do YOGA and will this help healing or hurt it?

[KellyK725]

Hi!

I have my surgery scheduled for next Tuesday so I don't have first hand experience but I'll tell you what I've heard.

From what I've heard from the other girls who have gone through it, you have about a month or two until the swelling goes down. Just relax though, once it goes down, I'll bet you'll be even skinnier than you were before surgery....that was a big cyst they got out!

I'm trying to prepare myself for the swelling...like you, I am extremely weight concious, I also run and workout every day. I'm not looking forward to the mannnnnny weeks of slow walking being the only exercise I can get.

Just hang in there...I'm sure it's frustrating but by getting the cyst out, you just avoided soooo many other health problems!

P.S. I'm also in Florida and I'm hoping my swelling and scar don't look so bad by June or so...that's when the beach is perrrrfect!

[babypooh]

In my experience, the swelling went down after about 2 weeks.  But it was even better after a bout a month.  I'm glad you had your surgery and that everything went well! About working out, it's usually between 6 to 8 weeks that they tell you to wait, but talk to your doctor about it. Every case is a bit different with recovery time and your doctor needs to approve it. Good luck!