questions re: removal of ovary

[lrn]

Hi, I had an orange size Dermoid Cyst on my left ovary that was discovered by accident.  I had very few symptoms.  I subsequently had my left ovary removed as my Dr. said she could not find my ovary at all.  Now I am plagued with concerns re: having had this operation so I wanted to get any responses from those of you who have gone through this.
First of all, I am not yet in menopause, I was 39 when removed and am now 41.  Does it mean that I am destined for an early menopause?

Secondly, I am now worried about the study that claims that removal of one ovary will eventually cause an increase in dementia?  I was told at surgery to expect absolutely no ill effects from the surgery but there seems to be a lot of conflicting info on this.

Third, is it very likely that another dermoid will come up on my remaining ovary?  I was again told by my Dr. that that was unlikely, but I am still worried.  

Finally, why was the dermoid never noticed before?  I had 2 children prior to diagnosis, and one of my kids was very young when the dermoid was discovered.  Why would they have not seen it before on ultrasounds when I was preganant?  I wonder about this because had it been discovered earlier my ovary could have possibly been saved.

Please let me know any info that you have.
thanks again.

[Jlove68]

I am 42 I had my left ovary removed last month on the 9/27. I had a grapefruit size mass that grew in just a few months. I had a small one formed on the right ovary the oncologist drained it. The grapefruit size one had started interferring with my kidney function some how choking my output out, had alot of adhesions she removed and repositioned me. I am recovering but going through alot of emotional thoughts, some depression. I hope this passes soon. Good luck to anyone going through this.

[lrn]

hi,  I did also have a laparotomy because the Dr. said that if there was any chance to save my ovary, that would be the surgery to have.  I felt depressed for awhile I think it was less hormonal and more psychological, it was a shock to have to have a body part removed especially a female body part.  Recovery was really hard for me as I had 2 small kids and my really little one, I could not even pick him up for 6 weeks, so that in and of itself was really depressing.  It took awhile for me to feel better and I still have issues with it.  I had my first post operative ultrasound about 6 months after the surgery and then I went for my first pelvic exam in November.  I assume that if the Dr. felt anything unusual at that time she would have brought it up, however, like I said I went through 2 pregnancies and noone noticed this.  However, I remember quite a few years ago, I was told I had a cyst on that same ovary that was quite large, 2 1/2 cm.  At the time, my Dr. just put me on birth control for a few months.  Now I am wondering if it really was the dermoid and maybe had not progressed enough yet for them to make a connection.  Whatever happened, I need to somehow make peace with it and just hope that the same thing does not pop up on the other ovary.  My dr. did tell me that usually they show up around the same time if they are on both ovaries.  Did your Dr. say anything like that?  I think I just recently became concerned because it seems like there is a lot of conflicting information out there re: this type of surgery.  If you just had your surgery in January, you must still be recovering.  I did not feel totally recovered for about 6 months at least in terms of exercising normally etc..Now, I feel fine it has been a year and a few months and I feel totally back to normal.  One word of advice, If you do become pregnant, have your dr. keep a really close eye on your ovary, I think that the pregnancy and post pregnancy hormones may have caused the rapid growth that must have happened with mine.

[furrycat]

I feel the same as you - I've always been healthy so it was a real shock to find out I had this horrible thing growing (mine was also the size of an orange) and that I needed major surgery!  Prior to this op I'd never been in hospital for anything!

I'm doing fine post-surgery, thanks for asking :) I had open surgery (laparotomy) did you? I felt quite well physically after the op, although I did get tired really easily.  It was more the emotional rollercoaster that shocked me, but I think it was to do with the anaesthesia and the morphine etc - I cried/felt depressed every day for a good 4 weeks post surgery!  I went back to work 6 weeks after the op and it knocked me back a bit really, I found it exhausting even though I have an office job, just commuting etc took it out of me!  After the end of the second week I felt much more like my old self and now I feel much better still.

I haven't had my remaining ovary scanned since my op and my gynae doesn't seem to think it is necessary, although she said that if I get any slight twinges to get it scanned.  I am a bit concerned though because I didn't get any symptoms until it was too late to save my ovary!

[lrn]

Hi, thanks so much for your response.  My Dr. said the same things to me but it seems like there is a bit of conflicting info on this stuff.  When they did my surgery they said my other ovary was fine.  I have had one ultrasound that came back ok and I plan to have another one.  I want to keep good track of any changes.  I don't know about you, but all of this was upsetting to me as I have always been healthy otherwise.  The idea that this was growing inside so large and I had no idea was a little strange.

How are you doing post surgery?  It took me awhile to feel my energy level was back but I had no disruption in my period or any other symptoms.  I actually feel fine, I just worry about the other stuff..

Thanks again, I am going to try and put these fears to rest.

[furrycat]

I had really severe bouts of pain on my lower right side, which radiated from my belly button area downwards, that was only slightly eased when taking codiene, normal painkillers did nothing.  I also had a high fever and vomiting.  This came and went for about 3 months before they finally scanned me (ultrasound and then MRI).  But my cyst was twisting my ovary on it's blood supply (called torsion), which is why I was in such severe pain.  My ovary actually died due to this torsion and had gone necrotic, which was why they had to remove it as well as the cyst.

Have you been to see a doctor about your symptoms?

[loz84]

Hi, I was just wondering what your symptoms were? im having some really bad sharp pains on the right had side of my stomach, the pain can also travel down my right leg to the top of my knee, the pain can be so bad at times that I can hardly move, I some times get the pain on the left side as well, but more so on the right. Thanks

[furrycat]

Hi, I had my right ovary and a dermoid cyst removed in January.  I'm 31 with no kids yet.  My gynaecologist said that I will go into menopause the same time as I would have done before the ovary was removed, it will not bring forward the menopause.  She also said that I am more likely to get a dermoid in my remaining ovary but that there is no need to scan it routinely as the likelyhood is still quite low, and also when they did my op she looked at my remaining ovary and said it was totally normal with no sign of any cysts.  

Presumably they checked out your other ovary when they did your surgery?

Re the dementia, I believe that the study has not been widely accepted as being reliable.

Re being noticed before, well I think that dermoids although usually slow growing, can suddenly grow quite quickly, so perhaps yours grew a lot since you had your child?