laparoscopic ovarian cyst removal, how long to recover properly?

[laplap]

I had a 6.5 dermoid cyst removed from my right ovary last Friday. My stomach is still really extended from the gas, is this normal? Both my ovaries are quite painful still and I am unable to lie any other way than on my back.  I have seen several people say that it only took a couple of days to recover, i am on day 6 and still not loads better by any means - i can walk around - slowly - but i am wiped out.  i also am not going to the bathroom properly - does anyone know if this is normal?

Hope you can help, i would also like to say to anyone who is waiting to have a cyst removed, not to worry because surgery is ok and the anesthetic is fine - i just want to know how long for my tummy to go down - i look like i am pregnant!

[melissam8484]

I'll chime in as well - even though it's an old post.  :-)  

It is two weeks tomorrow since having a benign tumor removed from my left ovary + biopsies of both ovaries.  My stomach is still weirdly lumpy (did organs move around or is this still swelling and will return to normal in a few more weeks?)  but definitely not as swollen as the first 3/4 days.  Still not comfortable to wear snug fitting pants.

I also had problems with being constipated after surgery - I think the Vicodin wasn't helping with that.  I had some herbal laxative tea (Smooth Move) that worked (uncomfortable the first time, but it got things going again after surgery).

I also got infections (klebsiella & enterococcus) and took some hardcore antibiotics, which probably didn't help matters.  I'm feeling fine and will probably be back at work by the end of the week (two weeks + 2-3 days, but then I'll work a day or two and then have a week-end).  I thought it would be sooner - and I could probably go back to work now (desk job) but I know I'll be slammed with work when I do go back so I want to stay rested and less stressed-out for a little bit longer.  

My doctor said that if they actually *remove* organs you recover faster than if you do what I did and remove a *part* of the ovary.  It's easier to adjust to the organ being gone than to need to heal an organ with a bit of it removed.  I'm very happy I have the organs, but that might be a factor in how long it takes to recover.  

I will say that the Vicodin made me VERY sleepy and also made me constipated.  I know I needed it at first, but when I got off it I did feel much better.  

Best of luck to everyone recovering!

[Person456]

Many thanks to all of you for this information - it was really reassuring. I had a laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy two weeks ago and people keep on saying you can recover from it in a week but I am still in pain just below my belly button. My tummy there feels really swollen and sore. I can't wear my normal trousers or even some knickers without it hurting. I was feeling like I should go back to work tomorrow but really not feeling ready for it. I am going to relax a bit now and give myself some more time to recover. I'm glad to hear it just takes some people that bit longer to recover than others. I mean I've still got a massive bruise on the back of my hand from where they put the anaesthetic in so goodness knows what's going on inside me!!!
Thanks for sharing your experiences!

[Curls]

Sorry about all my typos...

like IF you think your feeling some depression (you didn't say you were).  

Hope you are doing well!

[mhelen]

I had laproscopic surgery on June 19th and had a 5 cm complex cyst and my right ovary removed.  My surgery went fine and the discharge paper said I could return to work in 1 week but my doctor put me off for 2 weeks.  After 1 week I was felling Ok and moving around but don't know how I could have returned to work because absolutely none of my clothes fit.  I went back last week at 2 weeks but think another week off would have been better.  For one I had to buy a couple pairs of pants so I had something to wear and I also was still very tired.  Now its been 3 weeks and 2 days and I am feeling almost normal again.  Some of my clothes fit - though still a bit tight and my energy is much better.  I have been walking more this week and my doctor said next week I can go back to curves so I'm hoping the exercise will complete my recovery.  I also had Novasure (endometrial ablation) because of very long (3 weeks) periods - this is what brought me to gyn when they discovered the cyst.  This seemed to make my recovery a bit longer because I had a watery discharge up to 3 days ago.  But that's stoped now.  So 3 weeks really was the turning point for me but everyone's recovery really is different though it does help to get others opinions as a reference.  That's why I keep hanging out even though my tests were all normal.  Figure others helped me so I should return the favor.  

[Curls]

SimplyStar hit about some great points.  It took around 5 weeks for my shortness of breath SOB to go away.  I was worried when I saw some people going back to work after a few days, but the recovery time varies greatly.  It doesn't seem to have to do with the intensity of the surgery either.  Mine was around an hour & no complications at all.  Or even the prior stamina of the person seems to be a factor.  Even with the SOB better, it still was more time for me to feel really more normally energized although I could do quite a bit by that point.  Don't hesitate to call your surgeon's office and your GP's and ask questions.  I got some great info from my GP about the SOB - 3 months later when I saw him for the first time.  Also I got a call from the surgeon's office to follow up, mentioned a problem that I thought was trivial, and they thought was significant and fixable.  So, it can truly help to ask.

I felt down after the surgery and I think it was hormones (it was out of character for me), so you think that's happening for you too, especially with all the physical discomfort, it's probably very standard too.

[SimplyStar]

takes at least 2 weeks, the gas is from the ansethetic and having air pumped into the belly for observation.  Moving around helps, stool softeners work to aide bowel movements. the outside heals faster than the inside, Take the pain pills and relax, stress and strain makes things worse.  Drink plenty of fluids and eat a soft diet .