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advice for laparotomy cyst removal?
I am having my 7cm dermoid cyst removed through a laparotomy this friday. Im really nervous for the surgery and especially the recovery. any advice on this to do after the surgery to speed up the recovery time?
thanks for your help
thanks for your help
I am actually getting a 10cm dermoid removed this coming Monday via laparotomy. It makes me so happy to hear that you are feeling better after 1.5 weeks! I just got a great job and I was supposed to start next Monday, but I had to defer my start date so I could get this surgery. I am really anxious to finally start the new job though, so I am hoping that I am fortunate enough to experience a speedy recovery!
Six years ago when I was 16, I had a 18cm dermoid lapriscopically removed from my right ovary during an emergency surgery (they kept the ovary though). I was rushed to the hospital after experiencing a few hours worth of crippling pain and they quickly diagnosed it as a dermoid. I recovered pretty quickly (able to move around the house after 4-5 days, back to school after 1 week), although the first few days were miserable. I have been asymptomatic since then, although I get ultrasounds once a year to make sure things are going well. Up until now, things looked fine other than the occasional functional cyst.
Unfortunately, a few days ago they found a 10cm dermoid on the right ovary (same as when I was 16). They think the reason that it is there is that during the laporiscopic surgery, they did not completely remove all the solid remnants of the dermoid (they said that in hindsight, they probably should have done the traditional surgery or they should have just removed the whole ovary) . Anyway, you should be really happy that they chose to do the traditional surgery! Although I was grateful that I had really small scars and a quick recovery last time around, I would have rather spent a few extra days/ weeks in bed when I was 16 than to have to go through this now!
Anyway, i am thrilled to hear you are recovering so quickly! Best of luck to you!
Six years ago when I was 16, I had a 18cm dermoid lapriscopically removed from my right ovary during an emergency surgery (they kept the ovary though). I was rushed to the hospital after experiencing a few hours worth of crippling pain and they quickly diagnosed it as a dermoid. I recovered pretty quickly (able to move around the house after 4-5 days, back to school after 1 week), although the first few days were miserable. I have been asymptomatic since then, although I get ultrasounds once a year to make sure things are going well. Up until now, things looked fine other than the occasional functional cyst.
Unfortunately, a few days ago they found a 10cm dermoid on the right ovary (same as when I was 16). They think the reason that it is there is that during the laporiscopic surgery, they did not completely remove all the solid remnants of the dermoid (they said that in hindsight, they probably should have done the traditional surgery or they should have just removed the whole ovary) . Anyway, you should be really happy that they chose to do the traditional surgery! Although I was grateful that I had really small scars and a quick recovery last time around, I would have rather spent a few extra days/ weeks in bed when I was 16 than to have to go through this now!
Anyway, i am thrilled to hear you are recovering so quickly! Best of luck to you!
Thanks everyone for your help. I had my surgery about a week and a half ago and it went really well. the first couple day were pretty rough to even simply walk around my house but i feel so much better now. THey expected to to a smaller incision of only about 3 inches however the incision is about 5 inches and the cyst was about 9cm.
If I had done the surgery with laparoscopy my doctor said they most likely would have had to remove the overy and since im only 16 he wanted to save my ovary.
thanks for your advice everyone
If I had done the surgery with laparoscopy my doctor said they most likely would have had to remove the overy and since im only 16 he wanted to save my ovary.
thanks for your advice everyone
I had a laparatomy last year. It was an emergency one, so I didn't get to prepare myself for it. I remember waking up in so much pain afterwards- but they quickly give you painkillers and muscle relaxants. While those help, I'm not going to lie, they do not completely erase the pain. You will be very very sore. I was in the hospital for 5 days.
At home, I pretty much slept the entire first week. I was lucky enough to be able to stay with my parents during all this, thank goodness. I wouldn't have been able to fend for myself. Hopefully you have someone around to help you. I lived off soup and crackers and water.
Honestly most of it is a blur because I was stoned off pain pills most ofthe time. But while it is important to get up and move when you can, DO NOT OVERDO IT! You will take two steps back whenever you overdo it.
Just let your body heal. Get some good books or movies, a comfy body pillow, and be patient.
Good luck!
At home, I pretty much slept the entire first week. I was lucky enough to be able to stay with my parents during all this, thank goodness. I wouldn't have been able to fend for myself. Hopefully you have someone around to help you. I lived off soup and crackers and water.
Honestly most of it is a blur because I was stoned off pain pills most ofthe time. But while it is important to get up and move when you can, DO NOT OVERDO IT! You will take two steps back whenever you overdo it.
Just let your body heal. Get some good books or movies, a comfy body pillow, and be patient.
Good luck!
Not all cysts can be removed with laparoscopy. A functional cyst for example, filled with fluid, might be easier removed through a small hole than a dermoid cyst like Josie has, which usually contains variable types of tissue. Maybe that is the reason.
I was just curious why are they not doing a laprascopy? That would be much less invasive and only require about a 3-7 day resting period where a laparatomy requires at least 4 weeks. I've have had much larger cysts removed through a laprascopy, but I've had a laparatomy as well. I only ask, because your recovery would be much quicker and the scarring would not be nearly as bad. A laprascope will only leave you with three little puncture marks and a laparatomy will leave you with a somewhat large scar right about where a bikini would rest. I would ask the doctor about this definitely!
Hey Josie,
Don't worry, just be cool about it.
The good news is: you won't feel a thing! One moment they ask you to count back from 10 and the next... *plop!* it's already done! The whole procedure won't be part of your reality, and that is great.
Of course, after the surgery, your belly will be painfull and you will have to recover.
I've had a laparoscopy to remove an almost 9cm functional cyst and some other stuff. Mine was not dermoid though.
You asked for some advice, he're are some things that
crossed my mind:
Right after surgery, if you should be in PAIN, ask for painkillers. If the nurses are a bit reluctant in giving them (which they usually are), just exaggerate. My doctor told me: No need to be in pain, that is totally unnecessary, taking a substancial amount of painkiller for a few days won't harm you.
SLEEP. Sleep as much as your body wants you to. Don't feel obliged to talk to your partner/family who came to be with you in the hospital or at home. Sleep.
If you stay overnight in the hospital before or/and after the procedure, and you can't sleep, because your nervous, anxious, in pain or uncomfortable, just ask for some medication to sleep.
BRING to the hospital:
Cash money, phone and charger, cleaningtissues (really, you'll see), comfortable loose undies, socks and flipflops (ideal stay-warm-slip-in-hospital-combination although it looks ridiculous haha), clothes to go home in that won't put pressure on your wounds, food you like (muffins have been suggested) and of course someone you love - or better: you can count on. To do all the stupid stuff you can't do yourself laying there. Let that person help you to get comfortable; pillow, blanket, water, blinds, remote controlls to all there is to remotely controll in that room, etc. And sent that person away if he or she makes you less comfortable then you would be being alone ;)
ASK your doctor before the surgery when he/she (him-/herself!) will come to visit you afterwards. It's important for you to know when you can get information on how it all went and what hapened. Will he/she visit you the same day of the next or - in your case - after the weekend? Around what time? Take any information that others (nurse, spouce, mother) give you afterwards lightly, because although they may have talked to the doctor, they are not a doctor and they too are emotional and might just slightly understand things differently than they are. Thank them and just wait for the doctor to inform you. Ask your spouce/friend/family to make notes of your talk with the doctor though, since you won't remember it all later.
The GASS... well that's a pain in the ***. Or in the belly actually. They will pump some gass into your abdomins to create space to see and to move. It's the gass you usually create biologically anyway, so don't worry. The only thing is, you will need to loose it afterwards. But gass had the tendency to float upwards. If you sit up, it might float into your schoulderarea and cause something alike musclepain. Don't worry, just lay down flat, relax your belly, breath for a while, feel it bubbling, send your loved ones out of the room and... fart. As much as you can. Just let it go. Otherwise the gass will make you quite uncomfortable pressing on the operated areas. It might take you days to get rid of it all.
CRY if you feel like it. A few times.
BACK TO WORK in a few days after a laparoscopy, they tell you. Well, yes you might. But maybe just don't count on it. I've read many comments of many women and I have had my own experience. You could be fairly ok after a few days, walking about in the house, making coffee, writing emails, taking a shower (yeh!) etc. But it took me a week to be able to walk to the farmacy around the corner, and another week to not fall into a deep deep sleep after getting back home from it. Just take your time to recover.
Make sure you make ARRANGEMENTS for when you come home. You may not be albe to go to the supermarket and also not to the farmacy for that matter! Make sure you have (precooked frozen) food in the house and someone who can get you any medication you might need the day you return home. Vacuüm before you go and do the loundry. Have others walk you dog and watch your kids.
Take good care of yourself and in the end, you'll be much better than you are now!
Good luck friday, let us know how you are afterwards.
Don't worry, just be cool about it.
The good news is: you won't feel a thing! One moment they ask you to count back from 10 and the next... *plop!* it's already done! The whole procedure won't be part of your reality, and that is great.
Of course, after the surgery, your belly will be painfull and you will have to recover.
I've had a laparoscopy to remove an almost 9cm functional cyst and some other stuff. Mine was not dermoid though.
You asked for some advice, he're are some things that
crossed my mind:
Right after surgery, if you should be in PAIN, ask for painkillers. If the nurses are a bit reluctant in giving them (which they usually are), just exaggerate. My doctor told me: No need to be in pain, that is totally unnecessary, taking a substancial amount of painkiller for a few days won't harm you.
SLEEP. Sleep as much as your body wants you to. Don't feel obliged to talk to your partner/family who came to be with you in the hospital or at home. Sleep.
If you stay overnight in the hospital before or/and after the procedure, and you can't sleep, because your nervous, anxious, in pain or uncomfortable, just ask for some medication to sleep.
BRING to the hospital:
Cash money, phone and charger, cleaningtissues (really, you'll see), comfortable loose undies, socks and flipflops (ideal stay-warm-slip-in-hospital-combination although it looks ridiculous haha), clothes to go home in that won't put pressure on your wounds, food you like (muffins have been suggested) and of course someone you love - or better: you can count on. To do all the stupid stuff you can't do yourself laying there. Let that person help you to get comfortable; pillow, blanket, water, blinds, remote controlls to all there is to remotely controll in that room, etc. And sent that person away if he or she makes you less comfortable then you would be being alone ;)
ASK your doctor before the surgery when he/she (him-/herself!) will come to visit you afterwards. It's important for you to know when you can get information on how it all went and what hapened. Will he/she visit you the same day of the next or - in your case - after the weekend? Around what time? Take any information that others (nurse, spouce, mother) give you afterwards lightly, because although they may have talked to the doctor, they are not a doctor and they too are emotional and might just slightly understand things differently than they are. Thank them and just wait for the doctor to inform you. Ask your spouce/friend/family to make notes of your talk with the doctor though, since you won't remember it all later.
The GASS... well that's a pain in the ***. Or in the belly actually. They will pump some gass into your abdomins to create space to see and to move. It's the gass you usually create biologically anyway, so don't worry. The only thing is, you will need to loose it afterwards. But gass had the tendency to float upwards. If you sit up, it might float into your schoulderarea and cause something alike musclepain. Don't worry, just lay down flat, relax your belly, breath for a while, feel it bubbling, send your loved ones out of the room and... fart. As much as you can. Just let it go. Otherwise the gass will make you quite uncomfortable pressing on the operated areas. It might take you days to get rid of it all.
CRY if you feel like it. A few times.
BACK TO WORK in a few days after a laparoscopy, they tell you. Well, yes you might. But maybe just don't count on it. I've read many comments of many women and I have had my own experience. You could be fairly ok after a few days, walking about in the house, making coffee, writing emails, taking a shower (yeh!) etc. But it took me a week to be able to walk to the farmacy around the corner, and another week to not fall into a deep deep sleep after getting back home from it. Just take your time to recover.
Make sure you make ARRANGEMENTS for when you come home. You may not be albe to go to the supermarket and also not to the farmacy for that matter! Make sure you have (precooked frozen) food in the house and someone who can get you any medication you might need the day you return home. Vacuüm before you go and do the loundry. Have others walk you dog and watch your kids.
Take good care of yourself and in the end, you'll be much better than you are now!
Good luck friday, let us know how you are afterwards.
I think others' attempts to speed up recovery has only prolonged their recovery time. It's not the time for exercise other than walking, no heavy lifting, etc. The best way to recover faster is to take it easy and not try to do too much too soon.
You can read my laparotomy story in my profile in the "About Me" section. I definitely can relate to the pre-op nerves. I was a nervous wreck and now I try to sooth others' fears. Best wishes to you!
You can read my laparotomy story in my profile in the "About Me" section. I definitely can relate to the pre-op nerves. I was a nervous wreck and now I try to sooth others' fears. Best wishes to you!
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