I got my cysts out!

[LetsMango]

Yesterday, March 30th, I went in for laparoscopy to have my two large ovarian cysts removed. One had disappeared completely since my ultrasound last month! The other one shrunk a little bit, but was twisted. The doctor also found some mild endometriosis, which she treated. (I had no idea I had that). I am feeling alright today. I am in pain and very bloated. I need to make sure to stay ahead of my pain pills!

[luba28]

Congratulations on getting to the "other side" of the surgery - it feels great doesn't it?  I'm almost 3 weeks past mine.  And, like you, I can't bring myself to peel off the surgical glue - am just letting it come off naturally.  

As for the occasional pain, that's normal.  I had my post-op Monday and the doctor told me that some pain is normal, after all your body just went through surgery - which is a major trauma to the body.  And, the inside stitches take much longer to heal, so you will occasionally feel pulling and/or pain as it heals.  In addition, some scar tissue may be developing during the healing process, so this could add more sensations.

Keep taking it easy and give yourself a full 4 weeks before you're back to normal - possibly even longer.

Take care

[wolfmom4]

I just stumbled on this forum, and am SO glad I did!  I am 6 days post-op from surgery to remove a 1cm simple and a 4cm complex cyst.  They also found some endometriosis.  My recovery seems like it is very slow, so I am very frustrated.  But, after reading everyone else's experiences, I find I am not alone! =)  
One of my biggest concerns was that the pain I had before surgery, returned today.  I was panicked.  Thank you all for sharing your experiences.  It has put me at ease to know I should just give myself more time to heal on the inside.
I also have the surgical glue, but I'm a bit lightweight when it comes to peeling it off, especially in the bellybutton.  Maybe I will build up enough courage to try it....someday! =)

[teeniepoppet]

Hi girls, it's so nice to read from two others who are about as far out of their surgery as I am - am at three weeks now and last week i got so freaked out about the recurrent pain that I went back to my hospital and asked to be seen (didn't have a follow up booked) - turns out it's probably a hematoma formed under my belly button, basically a jumped up bruise (seriously, how dumb did I feel!) but am having an ultrasound on it to make sure tomorrow. This whole thing has just been a total education in listening to my body, being patient and not freaking myself out with imaginings! Hope you both continue to heal well, and thanks for contributing and making me feel better! ;o) xx

[luba28]

Hmmm - I haven't peeled mine away yet - I'm letting it peel off naturally and it none of them have completely come off yet.  The larger one is just at the edge of the incision as of this morning, so I guess it will be coming off soon.  I'm hesitant to peel them off myself as my incisions still seem a bit tender to the touch.  The incisions are still scabs - I guess that's cuz they're covered by the glue so haven't had air exposure to heal faster.  Maybe I'll get brave later this evening and try to slowly peel them off myself - if the "coward" in me will allow. (LOL)

[dorigen]

Hey Luba,

Great to hear about your follow-up!  I'm glad everything went well :)

I had surgical glue too (no stitches) and i peeled it away almost a week ago.  On two the of incisions it did not hurt at all and naturally peeled off.  On the other, it seemed tender, so i waited another few days then took it off and it came off nicely.  

I wish i had taken it out of my belly button sooner though... it seemed like the skin grew around the glue in a way, and now i have a crevice in the scar (ew!).  I'm all my bikini so i hope that clears up, but other than it was easy.  Almost all of the incisions are pink scars at this point (most of the scab is gone).

[luba28]

Me again - I forgot to ask a question.  My surgeon did not do stitches on my incisions.  I was surprised when I woke up to see this shiny stuff on each of my incisions and around my belly button.  It was surgical glue and apparently many hospitals are starting to use this for smaller incisions.  Also, there are apparently some studies and research being done to possibly modify the substance somewhat to allow surgeons to use this glue for internal implants in the future.  This surgical glue has been used in battlefields as temporary sutures, so its not a new thing - but apparently just recently started being used in hospitals instead of the standard sutures.  I did a bit more research about this and was totally awed by what I read.

Anyway, my glue patches are curling at the edges and slowly wearing away.  My doctor said that I can peel them away if they bother me - but the thought of peeling them off the incisions sounds to me a bit like pulling off a bandage from a "booboo" - YIKES!  I'm opting to just let the glue wear itself away slowly by itself.  He also told me to apply Mederma, Vitamin E, etc to the incisions to reduce scarring.

[luba28]

I saw my doctor yesterday afternoon and asked about the pain.  He said that is normal, it could be scar tissue forming or it could just be the aftereffects of the surgery itself.  My right ovary was removed and I've been having more pain on the left side and he told me the reason for that was that he worked from the left side during surgery, so that was why the incision was larger on that side and I'm feeling more pain since that side was manipulated a bit more.  My pathology report came back "benign" and he told me everything he did during the surgery, including that he looked at the left ovary and it looked good, and he also looked at the uterus and it seemed fine.  He said that there are some small adhesions on part of the bowel where the cyst had partially attached, but it was so slight and he does not believe in creating problems and messing with organs that aren't experiencing any problems.  

I'm so totally relieved and with the exception of not feeling totally up to snuff - I'm ready to do a victory dance.....well, maybe not quite a dance yet (LOL).  My doctor told me not to expect to be able to get back to normal activities for at least another 2 weeks.  I came back to work yesterday, but am only going to be doing partial days for this week, and possibly some of the next week.  I'll go as long as I can each day and then let my body rest when it needs to call it quits.

Hope you're doing as well.   Hugs to you.

[dorigen]

I'm two weeks out just like Luba.  I'd say my energy is 90-95% back to normal, but oddly, like the others, i've been experiencing the same pain i had before surgery too!  What initially sent me in was this excruciating pain that i thought was appendicitis.  If that was a 10, then what i've been feeling is probably a 1 or 2, but it's definitely the same pain :P

My followup isn't for another week (yes, they schedule them 1 month out!), so i won't be able to ask any questions until then.  

Luba, what did the doctor say?

[luba28]

I had my Laporoscopy surgery on the 26th.  My Post Op is this afternoon with the surgeon.  I went back to work this morning for a few hours and became tired within the first hour.  Like the other ladies said, it may seem like you're alright, but it takes a while for everything to heal on the inside and for your energy levels to come back.  As for the pain, I kept taking my meds until late last week - and didn't take them on Saturday.  Sunday morning I started having pain on one side and took Advil all day long to try and keep it in check.  I'm curious to find out from the doctor this afternoon why the pain would start up again 2 weeks after surgery - as someone said earlier, perhaps its the scar tissue forming???

Best to you and do take care of yourself, and don't be afraid to keep taking the pain meds until you absolutely don't need them anymore.  

[fungirl1011]

Unfortunately, in my experience, it is possible that you are developing another cyst, BUT most likely it is just your body healing on the inside.  Even though you look healed and feel healed on the outside, the inside takes longer to heal.  Also, you could be developing some scar tissue too.  It definitely wouldn't hurt to ask your PCP what she thinks is going on.  Why is your post-op appointment so far away?  Please let us know what you find out.  Hope you get to feeling better soon.  Don't be afraid to take the pain meds if you need them!!

[LetsMango]

I am glad you are going well dorigen! Sorry for the delay in my response.

I now have a question for you ladies. As you know, I had my cyst taken out on March 30th and the gyno found endometriosis, which was treated. I was recovering quickly from the procedure and haven't taken any pain pills since the 4th day. I now feel pain similar to what I did before my cyst was taken out! What can be causing this? Am I redeveloping something or is it just from the surgery? My post-op isn't til June 1st, as I will out of province at the traditional 4 weeks. I have a pap smear tomorrow with my GP, should I be speaking with her?

[dorigen]

Congrats on your surgery!!!  I had surgery on the 26th and am feeling pretty good as well.

I agree with fungirl - stay ahead of your meds and don't let the pain get out of control!  I thought i was "better" so i stopped taking vicodin which was a mistake!  That was 2 days ago... i though the same thing again today and again, i should have been taking something - advil at the very least.

So hang in there and it's wonderful that you feel good, just don't get ahead of yourself :)

[fungirl1011]

I'm glad your surgery is over and you are on your way to recovery.  Remember to stay ahead of the pain by taking your pain pill.  Once the pain gets out of control, it is really hard to get it back under control.  Get lots of rest, and make sure that you are walking a little each day.  This will help get rid of the gas you  may experience.  Take it easy and pamper yourself.