Hormonal imbalances Post surgery of a dermoid cyst

[LVL72]

Hi Everyone

3 weeks ago I had a football sized Dermoid cyst removed from my abdomen. I am so happy to have it out, and for the most part I am recovering well. I had a c section as opposed to a Laparscopic surgery as it was so big.

Here is my issue, emotionally I am a mess. I can't deal with any stress anymore and I am suffering from anxiety when I shouldn't be. I am exhausted, distracted and I am feeling so depressed. Which isn't me, in general I have a great life, A beautiful healthy 4 year old. I live in a nice house I have my own business.

Lately I can cry on a drop of a dime. I can't deal with any sort of stress. The other morning, I was up at 5 with my 4 year old. I did the shopping for my store and home by 8:30 dropped my daughter off to her jui jitsu class. Picked her up and did light house work. By 11am I was exhausted. My husband took my little girl out so I could rest.

Well my store called they had an emergency, they needed me to rush off to the store. I was so exhausted and frustrated that I guess I had an anxiety attack. To make a long story short I got in a car accident, My fault and a stupid one. This is not like me.

I am emotionally a mess, even if I get the all clear from my Dr next week there is no way I can go back to work feeling like I do. I need to be focused and in charge. I feel week and vulnerable. My husband doesn't understand, I should be feeling better, my scar is healing, I have a child to raise. I can't be sitting in my bed crying all day.I feel worse this week then I did the week I was sent home from the hospital.

Can having this surgery effect my hormones at all? Should I be talking to my DR. Is this abnormal post surgery? I know I am only 3 weeks post surgery, I know I should be taking it easy and I AM. I am not doing any heavy lifting reaching just light things. I will also mention that I DID get to keep my ovaries.

I appreciate your input.

Thanks

[LVL72]

Thanks Mghnew2you

You might be right. I also have a small child, a  disabled senior and a very stressed out husband over here. He is trying to run my business, running his own and starting our newest chapter from my store ( An Icecream parlour) He is far to stressed to help me at home. I will say he is not doing a great job of juggling the businesses he is stressed out and taking it out on my customers.

Like I said I am glad to know I am not alone, I was beginning to wonder if I am going crazy.. the car accident and the in-ability to relax was really stressing me out. Every thinks I should be ok and I have to admit by now I thought I would be too.

This forum.. even just typing out my feeling has helped me allot.

I hope you are feeling better soon as well.. what type of surgery did you have?

Take Care

Liz

[mghnew2you]

Hi Liz, I so appreciated your honesty...I've not had as big of a surgery as you, but I'm also over 3 weeks post - surg and am feeling some of the same as you.
I think part of it is the frustration of not feeling able to do what I want, and the fatigue over just the smallest things. I don't have the stresss of my own business to run, but I do have 3 young children...and I'm thankful my husband is helping as much as he can because they are stressing me out terribly! I'm snappy and grouchy, after initially feeling elated that the cyst and ovary were gone.
I do believe this is normal, and I really hope you are able to continue resting...remember, with your surgery, a 6 week recovery time minimum is recommended - you are only halfway there, girl! Take care and God's blessing be upon you.

[LVL72]

Wow Thanks for the quick responses! I am glad I am not alone. I don't think it has anything with narcotics though, I was on morphine, but only on the the night of my surgery. The next morning they expected me to get up and walk to the end of the hall and use the washroom.  I was taking Tylenol 3 then 2's but I have been on both before with no side effects. My surgery was on a Thursday and I was home Saturday morning. I could of stayed longer, but My room mate was so Loud ( Snoring) that I spent the night in the hall sitting in a rocking chair. I was dressed and ready to go home when the Dr came in the next morning.

Maybe I am just pushing my self to fast, I am under allot of pressure to go back to work. It is my restaurant after all and this is my only real busy season. But I can't I started visiting, last week and then they started calling non stop. I am not emotionally ready, and so damn tired all the time.

But I will talk to the Dr How I am feeling, I know I have had this cyst since my daughter was born. I never stopped feeling pregnant.  For a year and a half it has caused allot of grief  but they only found it in February. Since Christmas this year I have been extremely exhausted  all the time and I always figured it was Terry  ( that is what I called my Terratoma) Now that it has been gone for 3 weeks I sort of figured I would feel better.

Knowing I am not alone makes me feel Sooo much better. I feel guilty,, I started feeling physically better after the first week and then I feel like I have gone backwards.

having said that I hope my Dr doesn't give me the ok to go back to work right away to tell you truth, I am so tired all the time and I know I can not emotionally handle my job at all right now. I can't be having melt downs in front of my staff/ customers.

Again thanks so much and Admitted yes it does sound like we are going through the same things.

I hope I never have another Dermoid again!

Take care

Liz

[fungirl1011]

I am sorry that you are going through all of the emotional stuff that comes with surgery.  It is normal to feel this way after having a major surgery, and even though they didn't take your ovaries, your body still went through major trauma.  Yes, having a cyst removed can impact your emotions and hormones.  I think (in my own experience) that part of the sadness you feel is more of a helplessness/lonely feeling.  I think that when you are not able to do a lot for yourself you start to feel guilty that others have to do so much for you.  I also feel that it is really hard to explain how you are feeling to others unless they have been through the same thing.  Please give your body plenty of time to rest.  Is it possible for you to go get a pedicure or new hair cut.  Sometimes when we feel better about ourselves, our outlook on things can change.  When you see the doctor next week, make sure that you tell him everything that is going on.  He may recommend that you take an antidepressant.  If so, don't feel bad about yourself.  Take them.  They really do help.  I have been on them for several years and I am so gald now that I listened to my doctor.  I am able to handle stress better now.  Good luck to you.  I am anxious to hear what your doctor has to say.  Please know that we are here for you when you need us.  I'll say a prayer for you!!

[Admitted]

hi,
I am not three weeks post surgery, but I am having similar feelings.  I thought I should feel relieved, happy, grateful and I just feel flat, anxious and stressed.  Logically I know I have so much to be grateful for (especially after looking at the OC forum), emotionally I am not fully there.  I have been researching the effects of anethesia, which you may find helpful too.  I had a similar experience after lung surgery two years ago, but chalked it up to different issues.  This time I am thinking it is a combo of having had surgery (several women on this site have stressed that our bodies have been thru alot), the stress leading up to it and the anethesia/narcotics during surgery. I work with alot of opiate addicts and have seen them go through similar emotions so  I really limited the post surgical narcotics for this reason, but find it did not really make a difference.  Hang in there, the beautiful part is that we are not in this alone.  Take care,