post surgery

[ally71]

last friday (6 days ago), i had a 12.5 cm cyst removed and my ovary by a bikini line cut. basically what i wondered was anyone who has had this surgery initially in not to much pain but then more severe pain. i have been fine till yesterday and am now really sore. don't know if it is that the stitches are getting tighter as i heel or what. i have dissolving stitches and will not have a follow up for another 5 weeks.
i have not got dressed today as i am in so much discomfort.
i await your fantastic advise x

[smats]

i had surgery 5 days ago for a 14 cm cyst and they took out the left ovary which it was on. my right ovary is alright. i had hysterectomy few years ago.
i cannot begin to describe how scared i was last week at this time. would i be alive ? would i ever walk again ? will i be a victim of some terrible mistake ?
only those who go through it know how illogical fears are but they are there, nevertheless. life is precious.
today i took a short walk in the sunlight and it felt good to be alive and not at the end of any mistake.
i am doing the walk and the exercises suggested by NHS leaflets. i take lactulose every other day and it helps a lot as i dont have to exert any bowel pressure. also, i eat well -soups and salads and this helps with trapped wind.
i felt really low this morning and couldnt get out of bed but the sunshine coaxed me. it felt wrong to not go out for a walk. and i am glad i did it. then i came home, wanted to leave this world and join some charity to do selfless work. that came to nothing after sometime when i read osho Rajneesh on charity work. spiritual talks so easily available online do help. i am not religious but sometimes, it it so soothing and does the trick of getting into a better mood.

[Valkyree]

well, today was my follow-up with the doctor that performed the surgery... so far so good... it's been almost 3 weeks since the surgery. The incision has healed over nicely, tho it is still sore... and very hard underneath... and, the tests all came back negative for cancer and endometriosis. The 2 cysts, however, were baseball-sized dermoid cysts... oh, I am so glad they are out!!

So, so far so good... just some numb spots at the incision point and also the skin on my right thigh, which the doc said should go away with time.

I guess it's back to work after only 3 weeks... we'll see how it goes.

glad to be back in the pool!!

Hope all are doing well!

Karen

[Toni128]

Hey Ally
Glad your surgery went well.  Just a note on the overdoing it!  Last night I had some friends over to play cards...I barbecued for them first.  At one point I started to get really tired and sore (I had my surgery 2 weeks ago), and was going to take a Tylenol, and my 3 friends assured me i had taken one not ten minutes before!  No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't recall taking it.  Here I was thinking maybe I could go back to work on Tuesday (I'm a teacher, don't really want to miss the first month back at school!), but if I can't remember taking a pill, how will I manage a full day in front of a classroom?  The outside DOES heal faster than the inside, that's for sure!
Now I'm going to have a shower, then a little lie down!
Hugs,
Toni

[Valkyree]

Hello All... I went to the Emergency room 2 Thursdays ago with severe abdominal pain and swelling... they did a CTscan and found large masses near my ovaries... they explained that they were likely dermoid cysts (which I had never heard of and wish I hadn't after my husband went home and did a Google search on them)... they admitted me into the hospital immediately and I saw a GYN the next morning. She said the cysts (which ended up being chocolate cysts, one burst or leaking) were baseball sized and that she wanted to do surgery that afternoon. She had hoped to just do a small incision in my belly button, which they started with, but ended up opening me up at the bikini line as well... there was alot of scar tissue inside and part of my intestine was fused to one of the cysts. They removed both of my ovaries, both cysts and one of my tubes... a general surgeon came in to release and make sure my intestine was fine, which it is... they used dissolving stitches and I took all the tape off on Friday... the incision looks good, but it's very hard underneath and my belly is still a bit swollen and gassy.

So, it has been a bit over 2 weeks since the surgery... was feeling better everyday (the first week was rough - constipation) but Friday, I decided to go out to dinner with friends... I thought I would be fine, thought it would be nice to get out, took my time getting ready and I felt pretty good...but it was too much too soon I think. I felt very weird, in pain and sweaty and a bit dizzy about 2 hours into the evening out.... and then when we got home my incision and stomach were very sore & hot... almost on fire... and man, was I exhausted all day yesterday! That told me that I could not go to a concert tonight.. that would be way too much... so... I guess it's a slow process... I am hoping to go back to work after 3 weeks off... I have my followup appointment with my doctor on Thursday.

Glad to have found this forum to read that it does take some time to recover... Taking it one day at a time... hope you all heal quickly!! :)

[Jaxsie]

Thanks for the details Ally71, this is really helpful for me. I am planning on seeing if I will be OK to fly - I am assuming it will be a no though. I hope your recovery continues to go well and the details are helpful for those of us awaiting surgery.

best wishes, Jaxsie

[Morrowville]

Ally, it sounds to me that you might be over-doing it.  Call me a baby, I had a full hyst/ooph in early April and went back to work in emails three weeks out, but you didn't see me leaning over the sink or the laundry for a full 8 weeks.  I'm STILL not sweeping or vacuuming, and watching the dog hair float around can be pretty entertaining if you're bored!  (just kidding, even my 8 year old is sweeping for me).
I know the outside heals alot faster that the inside too.  I am 4 months post op, and have gone back to work full time, and manage the home just fine ('cept the sweeping, of course).  But if I overdo anything, I feel like ****.  If I go to a BBQ, or a concert, or a friends house--I can generally be certain to wake up the next day feeling exhausted.
So, I take it easy.  True friends will wait.  BBQ avoidance might someday help my waistline.  Traveling has been a problem, because I sometimes visit my customers.  But everyone is understanding of the situation, and I am old enough to tell it like it is.
I wish you Gods speed in your recovery, and the ability to listen to your bodies' cues on when to rest and watch those dust bunnies play!

hugs,
Morrowville

[ally71]

thanks for all the asdvise and support
Jaxsie, i was initially told it was only 4cm with a complex part at my ultra sound. i saw my G.P. the next day and then waited 3 weeks to see the specialist. the day i saw her she told me it was actually 12.5 x 9.5 x 6.5cm with a solid area of 3.5, she examined me booked me in for the operation the next week and sent me next door for my pre op and CA125 blood test. it was all so quick. better like that though than loads of waiting round.  i did not have a laparoscopy due to the size and solid part instead having a horizontal bikini line cut, but they were able to reassure (although i know it is not a reliable indicator) me that my blood results were fine prior to the op. i had surgergy at 3.30pm on the friday and by saturday morning i had the i.v. fluids out and the morphine pump, then my catheter was removed sunday morning. i was immediately able to pass urine. i was discharged monday at 8.30a.m. feeling really much better than expected. i must say the wind pain that everyone talks about is so uncomfortable, i was given lactulose in hospital and had my bowels open on the monday which certainly helped.
i did have the one day later where i didn't feel great but i have managed to do light loads of washing and hang it out, i have heated meals daily and done dishes, and general household jobs to keep ontop of the house.
hope this helps anyone awaiting surgery xx

[Sandymac]

Trudie is so right... You must not overdo !! This still is surgery and that was a decent sized cyst for sure !! You take it easier and keep us posted.

Sandy  

[TrudieC]

It is very important to remember that the gas pains can be worse than the surgery pain so keep walking and take Ovol or Gas X.  You also must keep on top of your pain meds as it is harder to catch up.  Overdoing it will definitely make you more sore.  Walk a bit and relax.  

I had a vertical cut with staples.  I didn't have follow up with the doctor until 6 - 8 weeks out but did come in twice during my 2nd week for removal of staples by the nurses.  Good luck with your recovery!

[Jaxsie]

Hi ally71,
glad to hear you are doing well post post-surgery. I am going to be heading back home to have an op done - was this a laperoscopy? How long did you have to wait for treatment?
I have all my docotors details from here in the US and I guess I would just pass them on and wait to speak to a specialist.
thanks for any info you can give and stay healthy

[ally71]

thank you for all your replies, surgery was scheduled but as far as i was concerned they could have took everything as i have an 11 year old, am 37 and do not want any more kids. i don't know if things are different here in England, (i know alot of the expert replies on here are from america,) but i was told on leaving hospital my follow up will be in 6 weeks and was only issued with a 2 week sick note, (although i am definately extending this as i was advised to have a month off from my job as a teaching assistant.) and was given co codamol and diclafenic for pain relief.
i now think i was suffering yesterday cause i may have over done it the day before and also i think the stitches are getting tighter as i am healing. all my stitches are dissolving ones. to reassure anyone a waiting surgery up until yesterday i felt absolutely fantastic, having expected to lie on the coach for 2 weeks, but instead found myself in no real discomfort and bored stiff. today i again feel really well and alot of the swelling has gone down, so i can for the first time see my cut myself!!
thanks as usual for all your support and advise xx

[drmofval]

Oh my gosh girl! They removed your ovary? Do you have any kids? I am dealing with a 12cm cist on my left ovary and i have another large one on my right. Talk about having some luck.. or not! I have no children at all and I am so afraid they will take them both out. How are you dealing with everything after the surgery? Was it scheduled?

[Sharon2714]

congratulations on being on the other side of surgery ... i pray ur recovery goes well
if ur anesthesiologist was attentive there should have been enough pain medicine post op to take the edge off the pain so that u could use the PCA for relief and rest ... so what ur describing is what i believe should be the "normal" post op pain ... i a not u and i dont have ur tolerance so i can only relate thru ur comments ... i had a bit of a hard time post op and a vertical incision from pubic bone to diaphragm and it was almost 4 weeks post op that the pain really receded ... i am 4 weeks and 1 day now ... i thought my recovery would be further along ... i drink plenty of water take walks and increase my household chores daily ... the road is ore of a marathon than a footrace ... i pray u patience with ur body in ur recovery and a much more swifter one than mine
love
sharon

[Sandymac]

The only thing I would say is that 5 weeks does seem like a long time.. I only had 3 small incisions and had a follow up in 1 week then again in 3 weeks.. I agree with Heidi.. Perhaps a call to your Dr. is in order. and please let us know..

Take care,
Sandy

[justscore]

I have had 3 bikini cuts and wound separation but never any "pain".  Are you on pain meds?  You say "pain" and then you also say "sore".  IMO, "sore" is much different than "pain"............  
It seems a bit unusual to not have a follow-up for 5 weeks.  If you are concerned, then call your Dr.  Maybe they can see you before your scheduled appointment.  As far as soreness goes, it lasts for quite a while.  It always helped me when I walked around outside for a little while.  The fresh air and moving those tired/sore muscles seemed to help.  I may want to try a heating pad IF your Dr says it's ok.
Hope you feel better!!!  Let us know how it goes..........

Heidi