Scared! Your experiences?

[Hannah889]

I have just turned 18, and have been told - after an ultrasound, various blood tests, a CT scan and an X-ray - that I have a 9-10cm cyst on my right ovary. I have not been directly told it's not cancerous, but all the tests were 'reassuring', and I assume that if the ultrasound (the very first test I had) and the blood test indicated otherwise they would have told me before discharging me... Is it generally safe to say that it is unlikely to be malignant?

I am going to have surgery to remove it, although I do not have a date yet. I think it is likely to be a laparotomy, from what the doctor said, to remove the whole ovary (which is a bit scary, but if it has to be done it has to be done!) I was hoping to start uni at the beginning of October, but am now worried that I won't be sufficiently recovered. I hope to have the operation next week, but have yet to have a confirmed date.

Basically, the point of this is to ask all of you who had similar operations how long it took for you to recover, and whether you think I could get to uni around five weeks after the operation. Are there any longer term effects which could affect my uni experience? I don't want to be away from home and miserable for my first term.

Also, just a general talking through of the entire thing would really reassure me. This is the first medical experience I've ever had, and it's all gone very quickly. I'm terrified, and would appreciate some reassurance/advice from people who have been there so so much.

Thanks in advance.

[MarieMichele]

You should be able to walk at a normal pace, but not run.  Carrying books should be limited to just a few because of the weight.  But I think you should be able to go to school after that amount of time.  You will probably still tire out easily and may be sore after being vertical for a few hours (standing or sitting) but you will manage since it is important to you to be there.

[Hannah889]

Hey everyone! Thank you for all your replies, they all helped calm me down a lot!

So I have my operation date - the 8th. A week today. Which means I will have around 3 weeks and five days of recovery time before I go to uni.

Now, I'm beginning to make peace with the idea of surgery, and feel a lot calmer about that, although I'm still kind of anxious. I'm mainly concerned with after the surgery, when I'll be limited in what I can do for myself. Probably because I'm quite young and completely unused to the idea of needing people to do things for me! But I'm sure I'll get used to it. I won't really have a choice, I suppose.

What I'd really like is frank, honest advice, about the recovery time. Am I being completely ridiculous in hoping to get to uni less than four weeks after my op? I mean, I'm not planning on doing the usual wild activites that Freshers indulge in - it's not really my scene anyway. I'm planning to be very sensible, early nights, etc, but I just really want to be there, for matriculation and the beginning of lectures and everything. I worked so hard to get there, and I want to start off well. I'm hoping I'll be okay to make my lectures and just enjoy the whole beginning of uni experience - I'm not bothered if I have to have early nights and mid-day naps, and opt out of the various activities. I just want to be there!

Anyway. Sorry, that was a bit of rant. My question is, really, will I be able to cope, and function enough to get to uni on time?

[MarieMichele]

So now you are probably really confused!  These are questions you can ask your surgeon and based on your surgeon's experience and recommendations you should make your decision.  Whatever he/she has the best experience in is where you should put your trust.

[ChristaHale]

I heard horizontal heals much more quickly. i had two c-sections and the insitions were both horizontal. the old school way was vertical and leaves a visable scar.

[MarieMichele]

My surgeon pursuaded me to go with vertical saying that heals better and faster.  The horizontal one is preferred by those that want to hide the incision inside a bikini bottom (but I've heard from ladies that still have pain in their horizontal lines).  Frankly, my verticial one is fairly hidden as well since it starts below the belly button and it's completely pain free.  No complaints.

[Hannah889]

Oh, another question I thought of - is there a certain incision which is quicker to heal? Because you can have a vertical or horizontal one, can't you? Or are they both pretty similiar in terms of recovery time?

[Hannah889]

Wow, thank you everyone for your replies! I'm definitely reassured - I read your about your experience, MarieMichele, and the whole operation process is slightly less worrying!

I might just do that - ask about the possibility of a laproscopy. The doctors do know about my hope to go to university in October, so perhaps they'll decide to do a laproscopy without me asking.

Luckily my parents are being wonderful and thinking about renting properties up by my university so they could stay with me for the first few weeks, in case I need help. I feel so awful for making my parents take time off work, whilst they have to spend even more money to look after me.

I just wish it wasn't something I have to cope with for my first few months at uni... It's going to be hard enough! Oh well. It's for the best, I suppose.

Again, thank you all, and I will definitely keep you posted!

[ireneo]

I'm just wondering if your doctor would consider doing a laparoscopy if at all possible. Last year I had a 10cm cyst, my ovary and tube all removed laparoscopically. Just the 3 small incisions. Yes, I had a big bruise too but so what. My doctor said she would try to remove it that way and if she ran into trouble, then she would open me up. But she did it.

I didn't feel great the first few days. But I was able to move around slowly. I did keep a pillow over my tummy just because my cat likes to sit on my lap. The hardest part was waiting for my bowels to wake up. I hated that bloated, crampy feeling. But within a week I went back to work. Couldn't do the heavy stuff but I stayed busy.

It wouldn't hurt to ask your doctor. If you have the open incision, it will take longer to heal of course. But Trudi is right, within 4 weeks you should be pretty mobile, just have some limitations.

[TrudieC]

I had a grapefruit sized cluster of cysts removed a year ago June.  My pain was pretty much gone after 4 weeks but for another 2 - 4 weeks I was still rather tired.  You may be able to handle school but remember that you cannot lift or twist for 8 weeks.  If you decide to go you will need someone else to move you and you will need to get lots of rest.  When you do too much it takes you backward and brings on the pain.  Good luck and do come back and keep us posted.

[MarieMichele]

I had a laparotomy earlier this year.  I'm older than you, so perhaps I healed a bit slower.  I was back to work after 6 weeks, but was still sore and incredibly tired halfway through the day for those first two weeks back.  Then the cruel idiots laid me off and I've been job hunting ever since.  Talk about having a LONG recovery period I don't even need.

You can read my entire surgery story in my profile in the "about me" section.  It was also my first real surgery experience and I was just as scared.  Perhaps my story will help you get through this.  If a coward like me can get through it, anybody can.

Best wishes to you.  Let us know how you are doing and don't be afraid to ask more questions.  Yes, there's an excellent chance it is benign, but at that size, the cyst needs to go.