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pain after laparotomy
Hi,
I had a dermoid cyst removed from my left ovary via laparotomy 5 weeks ago. I haven't experienced any intestinal problem. Of course I was swollen but in a week I could get back in my pants with no major problems. You wouldn't believe me but now I am flatter than before. I guess I was having that dermoid for a long time.
I am slightly swollen above the incision scar but it was much more swollen two weeks ago. However, I am still very tender. If I pat my lower abdomen it hurts. The skin is still a bit numb.
I am seeing the doctor next week. Last time she mentioned it would take me 6 weeks to recover before exercising again. As I said, it's been 5 weeks and I still feel sore. I can barely imagine myself exercising with this pain.
Is this normal? Have you experienced these symptoms. When did your abdomen stop hurting?
I had a dermoid cyst removed from my left ovary via laparotomy 5 weeks ago. I haven't experienced any intestinal problem. Of course I was swollen but in a week I could get back in my pants with no major problems. You wouldn't believe me but now I am flatter than before. I guess I was having that dermoid for a long time.
I am slightly swollen above the incision scar but it was much more swollen two weeks ago. However, I am still very tender. If I pat my lower abdomen it hurts. The skin is still a bit numb.
I am seeing the doctor next week. Last time she mentioned it would take me 6 weeks to recover before exercising again. As I said, it's been 5 weeks and I still feel sore. I can barely imagine myself exercising with this pain.
Is this normal? Have you experienced these symptoms. When did your abdomen stop hurting?
Anyone who can help me out there about pain and when to walk after laparotomy (ovaries removed) it would really be appreciated. Just want to know how long it'll take me to get back to walking 2 to 5 miles per day again. If I remember correctly, it took a few months to recover from hysterectomy but I was not active at that time. Please forgive my previous posts---I didn't know who to ask for advice.
I'm getting ready for a laparotomy to have both ovaries removed and just want to know how long it will take for me to be able to walk a mile and a half again every morning or how long to walk ANY distance and how I should start off and when? I'm very nervous. I am in a really good walk program right now and hate the thought of starting all over.
Thank you for the advise! Sorry about the post, first time on here, wasn't quite sure what I was doing!
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
Hi there. You most definitely should call your doctor. Pus is a sign of infection.
Please don't post to very old posts. Cyst related items are now handled on the ovarian cyst site. Please do keep us up to date there with your recovery.
Please don't post to very old posts. Cyst related items are now handled on the ovarian cyst site. Please do keep us up to date there with your recovery.
Hi all,
I had my laparotomy on July 14th, almost 4 weeks ago to remove a 5 lb cyst on my left ovary plus fibroids on my right ovary. They removed the cyst and my ovary and my incision is from the pubic bone up around my belly button and up an inch. The past 3 weeks I felt pretty good, got winded after light movement but just this weekend I've noticed that my incision is seperating leaving a nasty looking incision that has been leaking yellowish pus. Not sure if that is a bad sign and I should call my Dr or not, if anyone has any ideas please let me know! Im the kind of person whos hesitant to contact the Dr but if this is a bad sign I'd like to know so I could get treatment!
Thanks!
Kate
I had my laparotomy on July 14th, almost 4 weeks ago to remove a 5 lb cyst on my left ovary plus fibroids on my right ovary. They removed the cyst and my ovary and my incision is from the pubic bone up around my belly button and up an inch. The past 3 weeks I felt pretty good, got winded after light movement but just this weekend I've noticed that my incision is seperating leaving a nasty looking incision that has been leaking yellowish pus. Not sure if that is a bad sign and I should call my Dr or not, if anyone has any ideas please let me know! Im the kind of person whos hesitant to contact the Dr but if this is a bad sign I'd like to know so I could get treatment!
Thanks!
Kate
I'm 2 weeks post laparotomy surgery (to remove a colony of dermoid cysts on my left ovary) and very anxious to increase my exercising. My bikini line incision is about 5 inches but I have had minimal pain & I am doing some light stretching; my main exercise was yoga and right now I know I can't go to a class but am doing modified sun salutations at my own level. I have slight swelling above the incision and my bowels are finally back to normal after a week of constipated angony.
My advice, listen to your body and take it easy.
My advice, listen to your body and take it easy.
Thank you so much for your responses. I feel more relieved now. Yes, I am a runner. I was working my rear off to run a personal best in a marathon and bam! I have a very active lifestyle so... it's hard to be patient and I wonder when this will end. And when my doctor tells me that I can resume activity in 6 weeks but at 5 weeks I still feel sore... well, I started to get worried. What if something went wrong? And where? Because I haven't done any exercise since the day of my surgery, which was an emergency, by the way...
Fortunately my left ovary was saved but they told me that it won't be as efficient as if I had never had this cyst. It was the size of an orange and I am very petite so it was causing quite a mess inside...Gee, I'll never forget that pain... it was torsing the tubes and the ovary. Holy cow... what a nightmare!
Fortunately my left ovary was saved but they told me that it won't be as efficient as if I had never had this cyst. It was the size of an orange and I am very petite so it was causing quite a mess inside...Gee, I'll never forget that pain... it was torsing the tubes and the ovary. Holy cow... what a nightmare!
Hey now Anna.... I was back on my horse 4 weeks after surgery... (ok... just a little walking and cantering... I couldn't post worth a crud without hurting :)
Now, you'd have to push me out of that airplane and I've never been a size 2.. ever... but now the horse thing... It's an addiction :)
Now, you'd have to push me out of that airplane and I've never been a size 2.. ever... but now the horse thing... It's an addiction :)
I had a laparotomy 12 weeks ago. Yesterday I accidentally banged my tummy against the table and it was still sore and tender!! I've been walking quite regularly as well, can get into my jeans and love my now flat tummy. However, I have to drive about 25 miles to a course (only one day a week) and it saps all my energy, and I'm no slouch.
It does take some time, emotionally and physically, for your body to get back to normal. Doing too much too soon could give you muscle strain and then you'll know all about pain.
Take it easy!!
It does take some time, emotionally and physically, for your body to get back to normal. Doing too much too soon could give you muscle strain and then you'll know all about pain.
Take it easy!!
I had a laparotomy 3 and a half months ago and I still get sore. My scar still feels numb and I still find it hard to wear tight fitting clothes. Why is everyone in such a rush to get back on horses and fit into size 2 clothes and jump out of airoplanes?
Anna x
Anna x
Ladies, ladies, ladies! Please be patient. I know we all want to jump right back into our active lifestyles, but we need to be patient and let our bodies heal properly. If you rush things, you could cause damage and have a major setback and then have to wait even longer. Just try to enjoy this time and do some of the quieter things that you never have time for. Read that book, take up knitting, try your hand at gourmet cooking. Before you know it you will be back on track and jumping out of planes again in no time.
~Tascha
~Tascha
I had a laparotomy September 1, a little over three weeks ago. My skin still feels sore around my midline incisional scar that goes from the pubic bone, straight up to the navel. My stomach is still sore, but not in pain, and I can walk upright, and do all of my daily activities of living. The one thing I cannot do yet UNFORTUNATELY is exercise.
You are probably a lot like me in that you are really looking forward to being able to have a nice, sweaty workout. I personally did a few little exercises at home and got winded very easily. I did 100 kicks with my legs, forward, back kicks, and some roundhouses (a kickboxing type of routine) and very little jumping. I did a few jumping jacks, and it really hurt! I realized that my body is not EVEN CLOSE to going to the gym yet. I wish I could tell you how I feel six weeks from now so I could give more input on if what you are feeling is normal, but really I am in the same boat you are in right now.
I ALMOST went to the gym today. I am sooooo tempted to take a light impact aerobic class, like maybe a low impact step class, start off low. I thought it would help me stay positive, strong, and healthy. Plus, I really miss the release of all of those wonderful endorphines in my body when I exercise. Then I thought to myself that recovery in the scheme of things is only for a short time. From what I have been reading, six weeks is usually the recommended time to go back to work (although I have gone back to work and am fine with it, not winded at all).
A laparotomy is a major procedure, especially for me having had a large tumor removed.
I am using this time of staying out of the exercise world to heal, gain some weight back, and learn patience. Good luck to you. I KNOW by the sixth week I am going to really learn what patience is by keeping my butt out of the gym. I really miss it, as I am sure you miss, I assume by your forum name "runnerchick," running, and that running is your passion. Take care! By the way, did they remove your ovary?
You are probably a lot like me in that you are really looking forward to being able to have a nice, sweaty workout. I personally did a few little exercises at home and got winded very easily. I did 100 kicks with my legs, forward, back kicks, and some roundhouses (a kickboxing type of routine) and very little jumping. I did a few jumping jacks, and it really hurt! I realized that my body is not EVEN CLOSE to going to the gym yet. I wish I could tell you how I feel six weeks from now so I could give more input on if what you are feeling is normal, but really I am in the same boat you are in right now.
I ALMOST went to the gym today. I am sooooo tempted to take a light impact aerobic class, like maybe a low impact step class, start off low. I thought it would help me stay positive, strong, and healthy. Plus, I really miss the release of all of those wonderful endorphines in my body when I exercise. Then I thought to myself that recovery in the scheme of things is only for a short time. From what I have been reading, six weeks is usually the recommended time to go back to work (although I have gone back to work and am fine with it, not winded at all).
A laparotomy is a major procedure, especially for me having had a large tumor removed.
I am using this time of staying out of the exercise world to heal, gain some weight back, and learn patience. Good luck to you. I KNOW by the sixth week I am going to really learn what patience is by keeping my butt out of the gym. I really miss it, as I am sure you miss, I assume by your forum name "runnerchick," running, and that running is your passion. Take care! By the way, did they remove your ovary?
I've had three laparatomies. Quite frankly, 5 weeks seems a bit quick for the doctor to be thinking you'll be free of pain and exercising. It took me about 8 weeks to feel kind of normal, but if took a good 6 months before the pain was completely gone.
I would say not to push things too much. Don't rush. Your body will let you know when it's ready.
I would say not to push things too much. Don't rush. Your body will let you know when it's ready.
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