10cm ovarian cyst taken out last week ...

[violetlove7]

I just had a 10cm cyst taken out of my right ovary last week. Currently just trying to recover and hopefully get back to feeling "normal" again. Question..is it normal for your stomach to be so bloated after this surgery? I almost feel like I look pregnant from the bloat, I've been living in sweat pants for the last 6 days after surgery. How long does it take for the bloat to go away?

[krchelle]

Yes it is very normal!  I had a laparotomy as well and I  (sorry to say) did not fit back into my jeans for about 4 weeks.  I think it all depends on the size of cyst and how extensive the surgery was (mine was 14 cm with a 6 inch incision).  Hopefully yours won't last quite so long.  Luckily, it was summer and I was able to wear dresses  Once your incision heals somewhat, you may try a belly band or spanx to help you fit into your pants, especially if you need to for work. I liked wearing spanx/supportive undergarments that fit up above my belly button.  The extra support actually helped with the pain and also made my belly look smaller in my clothes.

[violetlove7]

Thank you for your reply :) They first did it as a laparoscopic (key hole)but that wasn't successful so they then did it as a laparotomy (incision on lower stomach/bikini line)..hope I said that right. Since then I've just had a lot of pain in the incision area, lightheadedness, and my stomach has just been so bloated, I can't fit into any of my normal jeans at all unless it's a stretchy fabric. I just feel like my stomach looks so huge

[old_before_my_time]

If your surgery was laparoscopic, you will have bloating because they fill you with gas (usually carbon dioxide) to get a better visual field. That can leave you bloated and in pain (even up to the shoulders). But even other methods of pelvic surgery can cause some post-op bloating. I don't know how long it typically takes to go away.