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After Laproscopic surgery - 3 questions

Hi I am new to this forum and wish I had found it when I first found out I had a "mass" on my ovary and a CA125 reading of 79 and didn't know what anything meant.  

Eventually it turned out to be a benign 11cm cyst and I had it and my left ovary removed by laproscopy nearly 6 weeks ago now.  The size of my incisions are slightly longer than normal due to the size of the cyst.   I seem to be taking a long time to recover - certainly longer than the 2 weeks suggested!  Internally things are still very uncomfortable.   How long does it take for the "swelly belly" to go away? Clothes that are comfortable in the morning are deathly tight by nighttime!!
  2. I have continued on Orthocept (birthpill) without a break since the operation but for the last 2 weeks (coincidentally since I have been back at work) I have had intermittant bleeding - one day there might be nothing, then the next a spotting, then another day a real flow of blood.    Do you think that my body is trying to have a period ? (orthocept is fairly loss dose).   3.  WHY does the remaining ovary get the most awful  pain in it?  This vaires between a stabbing pain and a dragging cramping pain.    I hope some of you can answer these questions or someone just let me know that they also experienced these things.   Thanks I would really appreciate knowing that what I am going through now is "normal" !!  :-)
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Avatar universal
Yes i had a laparoscopic  done in 1/20/2015, it is three months April 20, 2015 and couple weeks.  Am not on my feet quite  yet. My belly is still sollwen, i had a hernia, and a hole in my belly so i did 2 surgery in one. Still can't  clib the stairs or go shopping  it take time to walk. Still trying to heal it is longer than i thought to heal. Next will be 6months and still feeling pain. Like if i stand up too long, or walk too much pain and belly start getting heavy.  I have kerp drinking water and pee every second.  If drink the then i pee i feel pain, when more water i dont feel the pain when I pee.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I had total hysterectomy oj 12/07/15...it's been almost 2 months (so 7 weeks since).  I can say that I finally don't feel anything!  I had to be careful as the pain meds constipated me and I had to double up on laxatives to get it going again.  Just now I seem to be back to normal in the bowel department.  I will say that my bladder works great although it feels different - probably cuz I had cyst/mass sitting on it for so long.  Anyway, I was feeling as if the dang thing was still in there - kind of a phantom pain maybe?  Cuz with the todal there is nothing in there but my bowels and vagina with a cuff and maybe it was a soft spot on bowels instead of phantom pain.  Well it's gone now, but it does concern you - I'm 57 so I would give healing a good 2 months and also stuff has to rearrange itself in there too.  Just sayin....:)
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Avatar universal
I just had the same surgery it's been two half weeks and I still have pain when I pee, and sharp pain in right side abdnomial pain ***** no pain meds help how long will this pain last my stitches have healed on outside,please help
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Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
Ladies - Thank you for sharing your experiences. Hopefully, that will help others who come here. For those of you still recovering, I hope you are soon back to normal.
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Avatar universal
First of all I want to say thank you to everybody who posts here, because reading them was really helpful for me, that is why I want to share my experience in case it helps anyone.
I am 29 and I went to laparoscopic surgery to remove 2 endometrial cysts on my left ovary (3 and 6 cm). When I woke up after surgery I found out that my left ovary and tube had to be removed because (as doctors said) the whole ovary was in cysts and there was no healthy tissue left. I remember as a nightmare the burning pain in my belly and crying because of this unexpected bad news, as I want to get married and have children so much. The hardest were first two days (I went home on a second day after the surgery). I had pain in my belly, in my shoulder and It was very hard for me to get out of bed. However I felt almost normal in 1 week and went back to work in 2 weeks.
Most importantly I was waiting for the result of the analysis (which took 10 days) and thank god the cysts and formations were not malignant (just endometriosis). I had my period on 24th day after the surgery without any annoying pain and I started taking up the birth pill on the 5th day of period (as instructed by my doctor). I didnt had any bleeding except few spots at the first day of surgery and I feel fine in every way. Only thing that concerns me is getting pregnant (than I had to stop taking pill) and how less are my chances with one ovary and I am also scared if the cysts form on my right ovary :(((( please if someone had similar operation and had kids afterwards write to give me hope. I know everybody says you can get pregnant with one ovary, but I've read it may be tricky, and I've read that women with one ovary have menopause earlier. Best wishes to all women! Stay Healthy!
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Avatar universal
How long you were off work after laparoscpuc surgery remivalvof cyst?
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Avatar universal
I had laparoscopy one week ago. I had severe left side constant ovary pain for a year. Felt like a knife was being pushed on my ovary harder and harder with no breaks ever. They found some tissue that they thought was endometriosis that he burned and cauterized. Not much. He found two red spots on my appendix that is sent for a biopsy. No results yet. I still am having the bad ovary pain. The first few days I did not. It seems to build throughout the day. Considering ER. I have 3 incisions. One in belly button, one four inches below belly button and one at crease of right belly. Having shooting severe pain down the middle of my pelvis. In so much pain and no meds are working. I don't know what to do. Is it too soon to say surgery didn't work?
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Avatar universal
I had my surgery yesterday, My only complaints are acid reflux and abdominal pain but that's it, hopefully I will be fit for work in 2 weeks, any suggestion on the Acid Reflux?
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Avatar universal
I am seven weeks today out of surgery. I had my right ovarie and fallopian tube removed, because of mass on ovary. I had a hystorectomy in '03.
I still have pain in area where ovarie was. Also if I do any heavy lifting or even try to Zumba the pain is throbbing. I was already on premarin before I had ovarie removed. I feel like something is wrong, I dont sleep at all. I have absolutely no interest in sex. Im extremely irritated by everything. I feel like Im going crazy.
CAN ANYONE HELP PLEASE!!!
Confused??
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Avatar universal
My doctor just informed me that the cyst on my left ovary needs to be drained or the ovary needs to be removed. I had my uterus taken out several years ago. Not sure what to do. I'm afraid that the cyst will return. Any suggestions?
Helpful - 0
225036 tn?1294509400
Ladies, it would probably be better if you started a new thread as many people do not read the posts when they are outdated.  If you start a new thread, you will probably get more answers to your questions.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello,

I had a 2 inch ovarian cyst on my right ovary which Ihad removed along with a tubal ligation a 2for 1 have you.  This Monday will be 4 weeks after my surgery an my tummy is still bloated especially at night.  I have consulted with my doctorand she statedthat it is normal.  Well at this point I have come to terms that recovery might take longerthan I expected but we still have to live a normal daily life right??  I have found that Control top Pantyhose or mid thigh tights help reduce my "loose gut" feeling and Chamomile tea helps reduce some of the inflammation.
Hope this helps some of you, it has worked for me so far.
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Avatar universal
I had a hysteroscopy and a laperoscopy plus a gas drain to have adhesions cut which were attaching the bowel to the abominal wall. I bled for two weeks aafter the surgery and my GP gave me progesterone tabs which stopped it. I am still in pain in the area the adhesions were removed and I have been told that this casn last for up to 6months. Because your intestines move alot, it slows the healing down and causes inflamation. Stay at home stay relaxed and let your body heal.
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Avatar universal
For me, everything started with an abnormal pap I think. I felt fine though and nothing happened until one day I was having sex and there was a sharp stabbing pain near my ovaries. I went to the E.R. where I found I had a blood filled cyst. They sent me home and told me it would go away on its own and they would monitor it in 2 days. Well, next day I spent all day on the phone trying to get a followup appointment as recommended while my pain worsened. By the next morning i was a total mess and when I went into my appointment two doctors looked at me. The first was about to send me home. The head surgeon/OBGYN then came in, took one look at me and gave me a second pelvic exam and said I needed surgery. They said I had "exquisite tenderness". I just know it felt like I was dying. I had the 2.5" cyst removed about 3 weeks ago in an emergency kind of situation. I was drugged and left before I was really feeling ready, and ended up back in the E.R. the next morning after a night of unbearable agony. The only good that came of that day in the hospital were the drugs. Nothing except this "D" drug, can't remember the name...could even relax me or ease the pain a little- not even vicodin with ibuprofin or morphine. I was in horrible pain for about 1.5 weeks-couldn't get out of bed kind of pain. Moving, walking, even talking hurt. Cooking was out of the question. Friends helped by bringing me meals. (If you are going into surgery and have time to plan, this could be the biggest life-saver, having people who can cook for you or pick you up some food, bring you movies, books, etc while you're recovering) I experienced many of the post surgery symptoms you all have desbribed. I was doing much much better but now I am having complications. I don't want to freak anyone out-- If you have surgery and are in pain you may just be healing and it may take awhile. Don't let a doctor feel like your pain isn't real or significant. Bodies are fragile, and amazingly strong at the same time.It takes time to heal but you will heal! Anyways, I was feeling loads better and was getting back to grad school/thesis stuff, when I started experiencing this horrible discomfort under my ribs. I can't find any comfortable position that relieves it. It feels like someone is poking two fingers hard right under my ribs and that I am breathing on top of the fingers. Breaths are painful, but more of a strange, queezy discomfort than pain. Sounds weird but this is EXACTLY how it feels. It is unbearable and feels just..wrong. I called the nurse and she said it could be something serious like a blood clot. After going online it looks like it could be an adhesion, clot, or gallstones. I have no idea. I have an appointment tomorrow and am trying to hold off and wait. However, if it is serious, am I being stupid not to go to the E.R.? Has anyone been through this? I can't afford to go to the E.R. to hear them say "Just exercise more (or less) it's normal." But I don't want to have a stroke or heart attack either. Ugh. Any comforting advice or similar situations?
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Avatar universal
Hey all-

  I am so glad I found this site. I have been dealing with poly cystic ovarian syndrome for 8 years now. My husband and I are unable to conceive at this juncture in our lives. We are both 30 years old and terrified we will never have children of our own.
For the last 4 years I have been struggling with a large cystic structure attached to my right fallopian tube. Each time it swells with fluid I have to go into same day surgery and have it drained. I have had it done 3 times so far and each time the doctor drains between 1.5 -3 liters of fluid. The first time I lost 20 lbs.
Well I went into the doctor today, and after my exam she told me she wants to do laproscopic surgery to remove the cystic structure and my right fallopian tube and possibly my right ovary. She gave me the two week recovery speech, and suggested I have my thyroid out at the same time ( I also have hypoparathyroidism). When I went to the ENT they said it would be a 6 to 8 week recovery. She said "No Way, it shouldn't take 6-8 weeks to recover from that!"
I can not afford to be out of work for 6-8 weeks, let alone 2-4 weeks! I am freaking out right now. Should I follow through with this or deal with the pain, and discomfort? I am so afraid that I am going to end up with a heart attack because my calcium levels are non existant with the thyroid problem. I should have it out.
STRESS... I am also freaking out because I just want to be normal... Have a baby normally.
STRESS... I cant afford not to work, I will loose everything.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am one month Post Op.  I had a mass and my left Ovary removed.  I was given that 2 wk mark and told my job that.  Obviously....THAT did not work out.  I have now been given an 11/10 return to work.....

My concern is that yesterday I baked muffins from scratch and by the time I went to bed my body felt like I had been hit by a truck.  I had severe pain in what felt like my kidneys, my incision still hurts and pressure/pain in my lower pelvic region.  I wonder if I can really return to work on 11/10 which will only be 2 days shy of 6 wks.

BTW...this site helped immensley because I really had no clue what actually hapened to me and was concerned and frustrated at the amount of pain I was in after 2 wks.
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Avatar universal
Ive had laparoscopic surgery 4x for bilateral dermoids and am about to have the 5th surgery for a new very large dermoid on my left.
There is only 1 benefit of laparotomy (open surgery) vs. laparoscopy and that is that there is an increased likelihood they get "all of it out". I read in a gynecological oncology journal on the web that there is about a 10% recurrence with dermoids within 2 years for laparoscopy but 1% or so for non-laparoscopy.
However laparoscopy is "day surgery" and requires only a few days out (or should) while a laparotomy is a week in the hospital and 4+ weeks before you can return to work or operate minimally. Plus you can't move because your stomach muscles are cut open. So if you have any choice AND you have faith that your doctor can do good laparoscopic surgery you should always opt for that b/c it's far less invasive, with speedier recover and far less chance of the complications that open surgery can have.

Howver you need to ensure your surgeon is skilled in laparoscopic surgery to be effective. A good benchmark is supposed to be someone who does at least one and if not several laparoscopic surgeries a week. I am now, after my 4th recurrence, with a really top-notch gynecological oncologist who specialises in minimally invasive surgery and it is a big weight off my mind to know that this is literally all he does-- no babies, nothing else but gynecological surgery, 3 days a week in the OR. That's what you want to find.

That said, Ovarian cancer is nothing to mess with, so if your MD is not skilled laparoscopically, better to be opened up than have any type of cancer grow and spread. But for regular cysts, dermoids and other benign growths... laparoscopy is totally the way to go. My last surgery included several growths in my left ovary including an 11cm dermoid and the surgeon was still able to remove it laparoscopically even at that size.
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Avatar universal
I have a left ovarian cyst that is 7 cm. Should I opt for a bikini cut or laproscopic removal? I had my uterus removed three years ago and a dermoid from my right ovary. At the present time, I have both ovaries.
Carolina Girl
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Avatar universal
I had surgery to remove a cyst off of my ovary 3 days ago.  Once they got in there they realized they couIdn't remove the cyst without removing the ovary, so they removed both.  They also found another cyst on my other ovary which they removed while in there but left that ovary.  My question is when will this swelling in my stomach go down and I keep feeling movement in my stomach when I turn from side to side.  (Like a ball rolling around)  Its driving me nuts and I was wondering when I would start feeling normal again.  I mean, I guess I thought since Laproscopic wasn't as bad a the real deal that it wouldnt affect me this bad.  I think its hurts just as bad on the inside maybe not the out.  
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Avatar universal
I had a 7 centimeter endrometriosis cyst removed last Monday.  It turns out because it was attached to my ovary it makes it stage 4. I am a healthy 35 year old and still want children.  They tell me I have two options, hormone therapy or stimulate my ovaries and try to get pregnate ASAP. They say people with endometriosis have a hard time getting pregnate on their own.  Is that true?  What should I expect with stimulating with hormones?    
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Avatar universal
I had laproscopic and a tubal ligation surgery done 5 days ago. Doctors had to remove a large portion of my right fallopian tube and a portion of my left fallopian tube due to a cist the size of a toonie. My question is that I'm bleeding quite heavy with large clots for the last two days.....Is this normal after the kind of surgery I had???

                                                "welderchick"
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had laproscopic and a tubal ligation surgery done 5 days ago. Doctors had to remove a large portion of my right fallopian tube and a portion of my left fallopian tube due to a cist the size of a toonie. My question is that I'm bleeding quite heavy with large clots for the last two days.....Is this normal after the kind of surgery I had???

                                                "welderchick"
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi I am new.  I am sorry for all of us but glad that I found you.  I am a very young 64 yr old.  I had laproscopical removal of my right ovary and they tried to remove the left because I asked the Dr. to take it out.  I didn't want to think about having to do this again and at my age who cared about the other ovary.  He couldn't get the left one because 27 yrs ago I had my a tubal ligation laproscopically.  That caused me to have adhesions or scar tissue.    So when he went in he had to go three times then he decided to make the incision in the belly longer or else he had to do the bikini.  He had to go through the adhesions.  Got the right ovary only one stich.  The left ovary a bigger 3 stich incision and he didn't take it.  He said it was good but it was close to the intestines and some adhesions so he left it alone.  I had my surgery on Feb. 7th, 2006.  He said I would be fine and ready to go in 2 weeks.  When I had the tubal ligation I had absolutely no trouble back to work in 1 week never took a pain pill.  It was great.  This time it has been hell.  I had so much pain when I woke up in the lower pelvic area from one ovary to another.  I has now been 9 1/2 weeks.  I feel much better but not good.  I still get a pain in the abdomen it feel like a contraction.  I get pain in the lower pelvis where I had the pain after surgery when I walk up a flight of stair.  So I have stayed away from steps.  I have a friend that is a dermatologist her husband is a surgeon in Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC.  She says that he says.  It is better to get the bikini becaus then they so in do what they have to do and get out.  He killed my by going through 3 times.  When through my muscles.  He can't understand why it is taking me so long to feel good but he promises that I will.  My friend the dermatologist suggested that I go for water phyical therapy and I have just started to do that.  Wish me luch because during all of this I must and am scheduled for surgery on May 9th for fusion of 2 discs C4-5 and C56 in my neck and I have to wear a special collar 24/7 for 6 to 8 weeks.  I hope my belly feels better by then?????????  Wish me luck.  Anybody out there know what the longest recuperation for ovarian removal is????  God Bless Us All
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Avatar universal
I had laproscopic surgery on April 3rd to remove a 3cm cyst and both ovaries. the doctor also removed scar tissue from previous surgeries .  I had such pain on the left side in December, I couldn't even move for 10 minutes.  The throbbing continued until I had surgery.  )I had my uterus out when I was 30, I'm 53 now. fibroid tumor) I also had a vaginal prolapse 3 years ago, and has surgery.  It's over a week and I can't believe how sore I am and I'm still having pain in on both sides.  I am a teacher and am supposed to go back to work on April 24th.  I have not gotten the biopsy results yet and I am a nervous wreck. Maybe today.  I also have a pacemaker since I have neurocardiogenic syncope.  I had too much pain medicine the day after surgery BP went 60/40 and my heart rate went to 42. I am so glad I was in the NY hospital where my cardiologist is.  I am not lifting anything - my husband does everything- still very uncomfortable= when will I feel better.
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