scared about op-please help!x

[pinkygirl]

hi, not quite sure what to say as i havent posted anything on here before, but for the last few weeks this site has helped me quite a bit and gave me lots of info i didn't know.

basically i found out over a month ago i have a huge 20cm cyst. this really freaked me out as although i had put a lot of weight just on my stomach,i saw the dr and he felt my tummy and said it was just fat (even tho i'm really slim every else!) so i really wasnt expecting anything when another (woman) dr finally sent me for an ultrasound. i even felt a tiny bit relieved that i finally knew what it was after months of people asking if i was pregnant! then the scary realisation it could be cancer etc. i found out from a CT scan that its 99%clear of cells but they won't know for def until they look inside me and send it off. i'm having my operation this wednesday(12th) and the surgeon thinks i'm having my left ovary and tube removed(but won't know until she looks inside because the scan couldnt show where cyst was def coming from)

so i'm basically really scared as i've never had an operation before and i've got a phobia of being put to sleep also have really bad anxiety problem (from bad experience in my past) which isnt helping.
anyway,i'm so sorry for going on, just was wondering if anyone could give me any advise,and what to expect-i've heard a lot about swelling-does that mean my stomach with stay the size it is now? and the big worry i have is if they find something is wrong with my other ovary when they are operating will they just remove it?can i ask for them to freeze my eggs? i'm only 21 and i really want children.

thanks for reading anyway,sorry msg is so long!!
laura xxx

[Jan214]

Try not to be nervous about the surgery because that just feeds on itself and usually makes things worse. You know that already I guess if you have anxiety issues.  I have had over a dozen surgeries and they have all gone off without a hitch.  Make sure your hospital does give you a xanax or nerve pill in pre-op because not all of them do because of lawsuits.  Take your own if they don't.  Definitely do find out about freezing your eggs beforehand as they will have to be prepared for that if it is needed.  You will have some swelling after surgery from the gas, but you should notice a definite improvement right away.  After I got out of surgery my onc told my husband that at least I had my flat tummy back, although at the time I wasn't thrilled considering that flat tummy had a HUMONGOUS scar on it.  Now the scar doesn't look awful and it is tanning so....  You did not say what how they were going in.  Are they trying to do a laprascopic surgery or are they opening you up?  When I had large cysts when i was your age they did the surgies laparoscopically as they weren't worried about cancer even with my cysts being so big.  This last time they pretty much knew going in it was cancer so they had to do a big incision to get my ovaries out whole so as not to spill any cells.  If they are doing yours laparoscopically than they aren't worried about cancer. I will keep you in my prayers and hope for a favorable outcome.  Good luck to you.
Jan

[butterflytc]

Best of luck with your surgery this week. Hope all goes well, and don't worry too much, it is normal to be nervous the day of operation, will only last til they put you to sleep. when you wake it will be all over with. Let the healing begin
all the best
butterflytc

[marie3B]

I'll be looking forward to hearing that all went well and you are fine!!!!!!!!! Marie

[pinkygirl]

thanks everyone for replying you've given me lots of encouragement, you're all such strong women. i will hopefully post again after the op!
lots of hugs, laura x x

[marie3B]

I had always been scared of surgery. If my surgery hadn't been forced on me by the emergency situation I probably would have kept putting it off out of fear. As it was I had a huge surgery. They took an unbelievable amount of me out during the operation. And guess what??? I woke up talking to the nurses in recovery and felt fine. The nurses said they were talking to each other and I joined in their conversation before I was all the way conscious!! Getting the bowels to work again was the main thing. There was some sore / tenderness of the incision. The pain meds helped with that.

Donna is right about freezing the eggs. They'd need to do that before the surgery. Just express your  concerns to your doc before.

I wish you the best, Marie

[nat234]

I too am post-op and like Shari4444 my incision was also from the belly button down. It was my first ever surgery, I was absolutly terrified, so much so that I thought about backing out of the operation and just dealing with my problem till menopause. (heavy bleeding during my periods, 11 cm fibriod, 2 ovarian cysts)

I told my doctor more than once how terrified I was, she was very compassionate and understood completly, she put my mind at ease by going over a few of the details of the surgery with me. Although sometimes, like my nurse, they can give you too much info which could make you panic more. Anyway all the staff were great, they gave me something to calm my nerves just before I went into the OR. I had a nurse talking to me one moment...the next I was in my room. It was great, afterward I couldn,t beleive how much stress I had put my self through.

As for the operation, I had bloating with gas in the abdonim, the more you move around afterwards the quicker it leaves your body. The bowels will be a little slow the first week, thats normal reaction to the ansthetic, I had minimal pain too, felt like I had done a ton of sit-ups. You just have to be careful moving around, going up an down stairs etc. Your doctor will explain all that to you.
take it easy, try not to worry,voice your concerns, let them know that your nervous
let us know how things go
Lisa

[Shari4444]

Hello, my young friend,
    I am post-op one week with an incision that went from my belly button down to my pubic bone, and guess what????.......hre I sit at home with minimal pain writing to you!!!!
Also, remember, your incision IS going to be alot smaller!!
    Please, get ahold of your doc before surgery and allow him/her to alleviate all your fears. They work for you and that is their responsibility. Personally, I'm going to keep positive thoughts for you and think about what a "breeze" this surgery is going to be for you. Last week was my first, ever, surgery, too, and look, I survived and cancer-free, may I add. Good Luck my friend!!!!!
                                  Hugs,
                                     Shari

[msjazz]

If you are concerned about freezing eggs or possible removing of your other ovary, you should call your dr.s office and find out before surgery. I don't know the answer to whether they can do that once you are in. As far as the cyst, they are usually benign. I have had abdominal surgery 4 times in my life. I don't remember anything about the actual surgeries, they always put me to sleep. You will be sore, possibly some temporary swelling, and possibly some bowel issues for a couple of weeks. No lifting for a while, but overall this will be a temporary issue. Try not to worry. Let us know how you are.  Donna