Fatigue and Recovery questions

[krchelle]

Hi!  I have an 11cm cyst on my left ovary that I am having surgically removed.  My appointment to schedule the surgery is Tuesday.  In addition to the usual symptoms, I have been experiencing this extreme fatigue.  Like, the barely able to function kind of tired.  I have read that others have experienced this too and have seen fatigue listed as a symptom for ovarian cysts, but can not seem to find out why.  What causes this fatigue?  Is it hormonal?  Have any of you experienced this with cysts? Anything that you have done to help combat it?  I am a single,working mother and I need to be able to function!

Also, I have read a lot about recovery time for laparscopy, but curious about your experiences.  I am a preschool teacher and would like to only take a week off.  Does this seem reasonable?  I will have an assistant in the room and will not have to do any lifting or anything strenuous.  I just need to be able to lead the class and be there for meetings, paperwork, end of the year stuff, etc.  I can get help with all of the physical aspects of my job.

Thanks, Kristin

[krchelle]

I made it through surgery well!  The cyst was bigger than they had thought...14 cm!

I am doing okay. In a lot more pain than I could even imagine, but of course the incision is bigger since the cyst was.  They had to give me another pain killer on top of the morphine pump, but now that it's under conrol, I feel a little better.  I am also surprised that I am really unable to move much at all.  It's hard to even lift my head!

I have had jello and a popscicle, the cath should come out tomorrow and hopefully I will be able to get out of bed with help.  I am on oxygen because my heart rate is so low.  But they are not overly concerned, they feel it's due to the meds.  The cyst has been sent off to look for cancer, but the doctor realy felt it looked good.  I am minus one cyst, one ovary and one tube.

Thanks so much for your thoughts today!  I could totaly feel the good vibes coming my way.

[Cait38]

Thinking of you, Kristin!  Hope all goes well tomorrow.  You will be in my thoughts, and please be sure to take care of yourself (which means allowing other folks to take care of you).  Let me know how it goes.  Be well! - Cait

[krchelle]

Thank you so much for your response!  I am freaking a little now that I have had some time to process...but I am so busy trying to get everything done at home and work that I don't think it has entirely sunk in yet!  I will probably be a mess on Tuesday morning!!

You are certainly not alone in thinking that I will need more help than what I have planned for.  My friends seem to feel the same way!  I do have some good friends and an awesome boyfriend that are more than willing to help in any way.... I just have a hard time asking for and accepting it!  It just seems like so much to ask!  My parents will be going out of state the second weekend following my surgery.  Well, at least, they are hoping to.  They have already pushed it back a week because of my surgery.  If I end up needing more care, there are people I could stay with or that would at least take the girls.

I've stocked up on loose fitting yoga pants and the other items you mentioned, am spending the weekend cleaning and packing and will hopefully be all ready!

My doctor feels pretty strongly about doing the open surgery.  While the cancer risk is low, there is still a chance and he does not want to risk spilling the contents of the cyst into my body.

Again, thanks so much for the advice.  Your responses have helped so much! I'll post an update as soon as my brain is functioning again! :)  

[Cait38]

Oh, Kristin, your note sounds so brave and cheerful, but you must be freaking out inside! I'm sorry this is happening so quickly. Mine was quick too, and once you have kids, everything is more complicated to arrange, etc. I was overwhelmed with trying to get stuff done.

Kristin, I'm wary of giving you advice, because my laparotomy was 19 years ago! I had ovarian cancer at 19, and had open surgery with a 10 inch incision, so I don't know how much about my recovery is relevant to you: your incision might be much smaller, etc.

Here are just a few thoughts, please take and adapt to what works for you:

1) Girl, have you considered trying to find a "minimally invasive" surgeon? I don't known where you live, but if it is near an urban center, there may be a doc that could do a laparoscopy instead of a laparotomy? If there is not an urgent fear that your cyst is malignant, maybe it is worth the time to find out if someone can do this without opening you all up. It may be wayyy worth it in terms of recovery time. Often as women we are not given the attention our health issues deserve-- give yourself all the resources you can.

2) If you do get a laparotomy, you will definitely need child care coverage for more than one week. Believe me -- I was just starting to walk with help about 10 days after my laparotomy -- and I was 19 and full of energy.  Is staying with your parents an option? I needed help for about three weeks after my laparotomy, and again, I recovered quickly because I was so young. Could you have your kids at their dad's for a couple weeks while you stay at your parents? Then maybe have your kids come to your parents' house for the third week? (I say all this knowing I would NOT be able to recover from anything at my mom's house!! I'd go bonkers, ha ha).

3) go to a medical supply store (or ask friends) and find one of those seats that go over your toilet to raise the level up so you don't need to sit all the way down there. It will be wayyyy less painful for you. Also, here's a quick list of things that will help to have ready post-surgery:

- yoga/loose sweat pants with waistbands that can be rolled down and away from your incision
- Tucks pads (ahem)
-- stool softener (double ahem)
-- a couple of plastic water bottles or big cups that you like to drink out of - staying hydrated post-surgery is super important. Get ice, juice you like, sodas, straws, etc. Make it your J-O-B to drink a lot in that first week.
- food that you know you'll be able to eat even if your nauseated (think first-trimester foods!) For me, I knew that even if I was in pain I'd be able to eat toast made from good bread, fruit, crackers, yogurt and maybe a little cheese. And I drank a ton of ginger ale. Having those things in the house before I went in for surgery made it easier when I came out to get back in the swing of eating. Which is sooo important.

Finally, I'm so sorry you wont be able to finish out the school year. I know how hard that must be for you.  

Hope some of this was helpful. You'll be in my thoughts this week. Cait

[krchelle]

Cait, Looks like I will definitely be needing the extra help! My doctor has decided on a laparotomy instead of the laparoscopy.  I will be in the hospital for probably two nights.  I have child care arranged for that first week but I know I am going to need someone to take care of me now too.  And, also looks like I will not be able to return to work this school year.  The surgery is next Tuesday!  It's all happening so fast.  Advice for recovering form open surgery??

Thanks again!

Kristin

[Cait38]

Hey Kristin, PLEASE PLEASE get someone to stay with you for at least three nights.  I was absolutely not able to get out of bed by myself, too much in pain/weak to get tea, meds, food etc for myself.  You will need someone, and you will really appreciate having your kids with someone else (or having someone there to take care of them). It would be extremely difficult for you to take care of yourself the first four days. After that, you can manage if you are a tough cookie. :) Ask for help!!! This is the time to call on friends, etc. Best of luck.  - Cait

[krchelle]

Thank you so much for your response.  I really appreciate your thoughtfulness and I wish you a continued speedy recovery. My kiddos are 6 and 8, so they still need me but are pretty independent as far as getting dressed, getting things for themselves, etc.  I do have a great support system and they will be with their dad or my parents for the first night or two.  I am hoping two!  However, I was planning on recovering at home and will be alone.  I am wondering now if that will be possible.  Maybe I should see if someone can stay with me at least that first night.  

Thanks again!  Doctor appointment is tomorrow.  Hoping for good news that the surgery date is soon!  I can't wait to get this thing out of me! :)

Kristin

[Cait38]

Hi Kristin,

This is my first time commenting on this site, but I just had surgery a few days ago, and thought I would plunge in, as I am sure you are anxious for details. A couple things first:

1) I know that there is a discussion/thread on here called "Top 10 things I have learned from laparoscopic cyst/ovary removal." It was started in 2008, so I don't how active it still is, but I read through much of it before my surgery and it was incredibly helpful.  Check it out.

2) I can't address your exhaustion question as I have two small kids and always feel exhausted, so I'm not sure if I experienced it in relation to the cyst!

As for your question re recovery time: I've had both open stomach surgery (many years ago to remove one ovary) and then (last week) laparoscopic surgery to remove the remaining ovary and cyst.  

The laparoscopic surgery has been wayyyyyy easier to recover from.  It is still surgery - you will be in pain for the first few days, and you will absolutely need help in your house (especially if you are a single mom) for the first week.  But, I am 6 days out from surgery and today I got dressed, put on lipstick, left the house, went out to do an errand, came home and am resting and have a minimal amount of pain.  I am tired, though, and I think being exhausted from surgery is what will stick with me in this second week post-surgery.

I used to be a teacher, so I have an idea of how much energy it takes (you guys are amazing).  My strong advice would be to take two solid weeks off if you can.  (I know that can be really hard to get).  If I *had* to go to work today (6 days out from surgery) I *could* but I would probably cry from exhaustion and be very sore.

I'm also (at 38 y.o.) a big believer in taking care of yourself up front to make sure that a month or two post-surgery you are not still in pain, run down, etc. Especially as a mom.  I know that is easier said then done with kids, teaching, etc.

I'm not sure how old your child/children are, but my advice would be to make sure you have someone helping you the first week at least. I needed help getting in and out of bed the first four days, getting into the shower, reaching things, etc.  Also, my sis-in-law and husband took turns getting me stuff to save me from getting up and down all the time. That help has been immeasurable, so if you have family or friends who you can "let it all hang out" in front of, I would ask them to come stay or visit a lot so you can rest, rest, rest. Try to think of what small but tiring things you can offload to someone else; my sis--in-law is picking up my 3 year old from pre-school every day so I don't have to lug her in and out of the car.  That is a huge help.  Again, I realize you may have limited resources (my mom was a single mom, and I watched how hard it was when she was sick), but you deserve to be taken care of right now.

The last thing I will say is: one of the best things I think I did this week was to limit my heavy pain meds.  I took one vicodin the first night of surgery, then was able to manage my pain with Rx levels of motrin and tylenol.  For me, that helped heal me because I was not nauseated, or slowed down. I got my appetite back much quicker and was able to use the bathroom like a normal person much more quickly.  In the past, I've been on pain meds for several days (post-childbirth) and it's clear that for me, I've gotten on my feet quicker this time because I wasn't also wrestling the side affects of heavy pain meds. Of course: if you need them, take them! Just eat prunes and steel cut oatmeal! :)

Hope all this was helpful.  I was way more scared of this then it turned out to merit, so please try not to worry.  Good luck, I'll be sending good vibes your way.

[krchelle]

Oh, and, I think I may be having the ovary removed as well.  Not sure if that will add time to my recovery?  I know I will discuss this with the doctor on Tuesday, but if any of you have anything to add about that, that would be great!  Thanks!