surgery options?

[lola560]

Hi,I've just had an ultrasound done after a few weeks of feeling unusual fullness in my lower abdomen,which has revealed that I have a dermoid cyst on my right ovary that is about 4cm.My gyn says that it will have to come out.
I am very worried,as I have never had surgery under general anesthetic before,and the thought of being 'knocked out' really scares me.I have 3 children and had epidurals with all of them,and was wondering if anyone has had this kind of surgery done under epidural/regional/spinal anaesthesia instead of general.
Many thanks

[lola560]

Many thanks for your responses,hope all goes well for you too  Sconnie  xx

[Sconnie]

Hi Lola, a laporscopy is a breeze, I had one back in November, and had the same fears of the anesthetic as you, however it all happened very quickly, firstly I had 2 sedatives beforehand which looking back did really relax me, I was wheeled into a small room before the surgery doors first, which I was glad about as I didnt want to see the surgery room, the nurses and doctors where asking where I went on holiday that year and as I was answering, I was gone! then it only felt like a few seconds later and I was waking up.  I had an inch incision in my belly button that didnt hurt at all, it had 3 stitches in it, I was sent home 4 hours later the same day.  They said I would get gas pains which I did later than night on my chest and it was completely bearable.  They gave pain meds, but I didnt take them in the end because they made me constipated which was worse!  the only pain I felt on the incision was about a week later when the stitches were tightening and they were due to come out, but again it was completely bearable.  I was surprised how easy a Laporscopy was.  Unfortunately I had a 10cm dermoid inside my right ovary, which orginally was thought to be a hemorraghic cyst (simple cyst) which they drained because they were trying to conserve my fertility (been trying for a baby for years), it wasnt, and I was scheduled for open laportomy on Tuesday just gone, only to fnd out just before hand I was 6.5 weeks pregnant! It couldnt have come at a worst time, my dermoid is now 7cm and they are removing it in week 16 of me pregnancy via open laportomy.  I just couldnt beleive of all the years I conceived just before my surgery, I just wanted the dermoid out.  I am 34 and this will be my first baby. 10 weeks I now have to wait.  They have said it will be safe for the baby at that time.  Please dont worry about laporscopy, it will be abosolutely fine, I am the worlds worse worrier, and I found it a breeze, I had 2 weeks off work.  If they do do laportomy (open incision like a c setion)you will require 6-8 weeks off work.  Hope it all goes well for you xx

[hopeshell]

Hi there,

I completely understand your fear.  It is scary to face surgery.  I have two little ones and feared anesthesia complications too.  But, it really is quite safe this day in age.    Unfortunately, you really do need general anethesia for this one. A dermoid that large will need to be removed intact which means you need a laparotomy.   It really isn't that bad.  The worst part is waiting for the surgery and the "what if" game your mind will play.  But, you want to be out when they cut through your stomach muscles.   I don't know of anyone who has had it with an epidural.  The process of being "knocked out" comes before you know it.  Please keep us posted on how you are doing and post when you have anxiety.  There are so many here who have felt the same way you do.   You can do this! :)

Shelly