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Top 10 things I have learned from laproscopic cyst/ovary removal
It's been almost 2 weeks since my laproscopic surgery, I have learned alot both from experiencing it and talking to ya'll here on the forum. Time to share, because just maybe somebody is about to go through the same thing and has questions or needs help. It would be great if everyone added their two cents and we will have a nice "what to expect when your expecting laproscopic surgery" list...lol
1. Don't be fooled, this is major surgery. You could be having body parts removed. Don't plan on doing much for at LEAST a week or two. If you are lucky like some, you'll be up and at 'em. But if you're not, then you won't be disappointed and frustrated.
2. Make or buy muffins. Especially bran. You will need them. Don't ask me why. Ok...why? Because your meds will constipate you and make your stomach hurt. AND you will be too tired to make food. You can buy stool softeners too, but they don't make for a tasty breakfast...
3. If you can, shop for or prepare food and stick it in the freezer. And be REALLY REALLY nice to your friends and neighbors before your surgery. They may offer to bring you food. Don't be silly, say yes. You will be glad you did!
4. The CO2 gas may bloat you up. It might not happen for a day or two and you will laugh and say "I am SO lucky!!" and then "POP" You are the now the Pilsbury doughgirl. Only not as cute. But it hurts...not just the shoulder, could be all over. WALK, WALK, WALK.. around the house, it will go away. Could take a week or more, but the worst is the first few days. Try beano, mylanta, etc. too. BEST cure: Massage. Takes away all the toxins, pushes out some gas. Can't get one?... be REALLY REALLY nice to your spouse, significant other, children, whoever.... they may take pity on poor ol' bloated you and help you out.
5. Get one of those beanybag things that you put in the microwave. Put it on where it hurts. Warm feels nice and you can't get in the tub for two weeks. Your body might hurt all over. They say they don't drop you off the stretcher while you are unconscious, but I personally don't believe it...
6. Enjoy your downtime. Remember all those busy days you wished you could lie around, play on the computer, read books, organize your photos, google your old boyfriend, write that novel? Well, do it. Or sleep. Or both.
7. Sleep. Sleep some more.
8. Driving sucks. Try and avoid it until your incisions/stomach muscles don't hurt. (and you're not on happypills anymore...) It's illegal in most states to drive lying down, I believe...
9. Drink lots of water. Flushes out all the stuff they pumped into you during surgery. Fluffs out the sleep wrinkles in your face..
10. Get on this forum when you can. You will find wonderful women with supportive notes, messages, laughs, and you can read others stories to know whether you are "normal" or not (in terms of your surgery - if you want deeper analysis, try the psych forum...)
That's MY top ten, I hope you all can add a few of your own! Thanks everyone for ALL your help, info, and especially the friendship and laughter.
Have a great day!
Joelle
1. Don't be fooled, this is major surgery. You could be having body parts removed. Don't plan on doing much for at LEAST a week or two. If you are lucky like some, you'll be up and at 'em. But if you're not, then you won't be disappointed and frustrated.
2. Make or buy muffins. Especially bran. You will need them. Don't ask me why. Ok...why? Because your meds will constipate you and make your stomach hurt. AND you will be too tired to make food. You can buy stool softeners too, but they don't make for a tasty breakfast...
3. If you can, shop for or prepare food and stick it in the freezer. And be REALLY REALLY nice to your friends and neighbors before your surgery. They may offer to bring you food. Don't be silly, say yes. You will be glad you did!
4. The CO2 gas may bloat you up. It might not happen for a day or two and you will laugh and say "I am SO lucky!!" and then "POP" You are the now the Pilsbury doughgirl. Only not as cute. But it hurts...not just the shoulder, could be all over. WALK, WALK, WALK.. around the house, it will go away. Could take a week or more, but the worst is the first few days. Try beano, mylanta, etc. too. BEST cure: Massage. Takes away all the toxins, pushes out some gas. Can't get one?... be REALLY REALLY nice to your spouse, significant other, children, whoever.... they may take pity on poor ol' bloated you and help you out.
5. Get one of those beanybag things that you put in the microwave. Put it on where it hurts. Warm feels nice and you can't get in the tub for two weeks. Your body might hurt all over. They say they don't drop you off the stretcher while you are unconscious, but I personally don't believe it...
6. Enjoy your downtime. Remember all those busy days you wished you could lie around, play on the computer, read books, organize your photos, google your old boyfriend, write that novel? Well, do it. Or sleep. Or both.
7. Sleep. Sleep some more.
8. Driving sucks. Try and avoid it until your incisions/stomach muscles don't hurt. (and you're not on happypills anymore...) It's illegal in most states to drive lying down, I believe...
9. Drink lots of water. Flushes out all the stuff they pumped into you during surgery. Fluffs out the sleep wrinkles in your face..
10. Get on this forum when you can. You will find wonderful women with supportive notes, messages, laughs, and you can read others stories to know whether you are "normal" or not (in terms of your surgery - if you want deeper analysis, try the psych forum...)
That's MY top ten, I hope you all can add a few of your own! Thanks everyone for ALL your help, info, and especially the friendship and laughter.
Have a great day!
Joelle
COMMUNITY LEADER
Welcome to the community. I am so sorry you are faced with this decision!
Since my unwarranted organ removal 9 years ago at age 49, I wish I had done things VERY differently and not allowed any organs to be removed (except MAYBE the one ovary). I have since been shocked and appalled by the gross overuse of female organ removal surgeries - hysterectomy and oophorectomy. Only about 2% are done for a cancer diagnosis and a very small percentage are done prophylactically for inherited risks (BRCA1+ and BRCA2+ being the most prevalent ones).
The ovaries of intact women produce hormones until at least age 80 for every aspect of health. During a woman's 70's, her testosterone level reaches that of a young woman and this testosterone can be converted into estrogen as the body needs. No hormone "replacement" can replicate what is lost when the ovaries are removed. Plus being part of the endocrine system, it puts added stress on the other endocrine glands (e.g., thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, hypothalamus) and you become a lifelong patient trying to fix the iatrogenic (doctor caused) damage and feel / look normal again. I am still chasing that elusive normalcy!
Do you know how long this cyst has been there? And how fast it has grown? I have read that until they get to be AT LEAST 7cm, they can be monitored via periodic ultrasounds. Someone here was all ready to go into surgery for an ovarian cyst and they were going to remove all her female sex organs. She insisted on another ultrasound right before surgery (about which her surgeon was not happy) and, lo and behold, the cyst was completely gone! She was very angry that she was almost needlessly de-sexed.
So do your research and advocate for your health since you are the one who has to live with the consequences. And be sure to protect yourself via the surgical consent form if you do end up having surgery. Unfortunately, gynecologic consent forms are usually pretty open-ended leaving it up to the surgeon what can be removed once you are put under.
I hope this helps!
Since my unwarranted organ removal 9 years ago at age 49, I wish I had done things VERY differently and not allowed any organs to be removed (except MAYBE the one ovary). I have since been shocked and appalled by the gross overuse of female organ removal surgeries - hysterectomy and oophorectomy. Only about 2% are done for a cancer diagnosis and a very small percentage are done prophylactically for inherited risks (BRCA1+ and BRCA2+ being the most prevalent ones).
The ovaries of intact women produce hormones until at least age 80 for every aspect of health. During a woman's 70's, her testosterone level reaches that of a young woman and this testosterone can be converted into estrogen as the body needs. No hormone "replacement" can replicate what is lost when the ovaries are removed. Plus being part of the endocrine system, it puts added stress on the other endocrine glands (e.g., thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, hypothalamus) and you become a lifelong patient trying to fix the iatrogenic (doctor caused) damage and feel / look normal again. I am still chasing that elusive normalcy!
Do you know how long this cyst has been there? And how fast it has grown? I have read that until they get to be AT LEAST 7cm, they can be monitored via periodic ultrasounds. Someone here was all ready to go into surgery for an ovarian cyst and they were going to remove all her female sex organs. She insisted on another ultrasound right before surgery (about which her surgeon was not happy) and, lo and behold, the cyst was completely gone! She was very angry that she was almost needlessly de-sexed.
So do your research and advocate for your health since you are the one who has to live with the consequences. And be sure to protect yourself via the surgical consent form if you do end up having surgery. Unfortunately, gynecologic consent forms are usually pretty open-ended leaving it up to the surgeon what can be removed once you are put under.
I hope this helps!
Aloha, I'm 65 and scheduled for laparoscopic surgery this Friday to remove a 5.3cc cyst on my right ovary. Non cancerous. She wants to remove both ovaries 'since she's there' and am concerned. Not liking the stories I've been reading and freaks me out w/ the recovery time and bloating. I'm in good shape and active but yikes! didn't think post surgery would be so painful. I'm debating if I should have the surgery. Has anyone had hormone issues since their surgery?
PS I've never had any kind of surgery before!
Oma to 3
PS I've never had any kind of surgery before!
Oma to 3
I had a laparoscopic cyctectomy last week. I just want to say I had no gas pain at all, I was very scared of that but nothing, so that means not eveybody has to have a gas pain after this type of surgery.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Welcome to the community. I am sorry you are going through this. I had surgery for an ovarian cyst but I was not overweight. At least you are young which is a plus. Hopefully, your surgeon plans to remove just the cyst (cystectomy) since removing an ovary can disrupt normal hormone production. The other ovary typically takes over for the one removed but not always.
I hope your surgery goes well. Please be sure to follow your doctor's instructions during recovery for proper healing. And then after that you can work on the weight loss. Let us know how your surgery goes.
I hope your surgery goes well. Please be sure to follow your doctor's instructions during recovery for proper healing. And then after that you can work on the weight loss. Let us know how your surgery goes.
Hi everyone, I'm new here. I'm scheduled to have an ovarian cyst removed from my left ovary tomorrow afternoon. I have LOVED reading all your stories and words of advice and overall am feeling a lot calmer about things now than I was last night before I read this thread. What I'm wondering is if anyone was like me and how their surgery went because I am really scared about it now, mainly due to my weight and the anaesthetic.
I am 21, am 5 foot 3 (160 cm) and weigh 124kg (not healthy, I know :/).
When I went for my consultation and pre-op exam they said that I really have to try to get my weight down because it will be healthier but despite my attempts since then (consult was in February) I haven't been able to shift the weight. I am still working hard because sometimes these things take more time for different people but what I"m wondering is if anyone was my size/height when they went for surgery and how it went.
Any general words of advice/comfort would also be incredibly welcome as you guys helped me so much last night and I would be an emotional wreck without your help already!
Hope everyone is having a great day and thanks again girls for all the calming words of comfort and thanks in advance for any advice specifically about my question.
Poppy xxxx
I am 21, am 5 foot 3 (160 cm) and weigh 124kg (not healthy, I know :/).
When I went for my consultation and pre-op exam they said that I really have to try to get my weight down because it will be healthier but despite my attempts since then (consult was in February) I haven't been able to shift the weight. I am still working hard because sometimes these things take more time for different people but what I"m wondering is if anyone was my size/height when they went for surgery and how it went.
Any general words of advice/comfort would also be incredibly welcome as you guys helped me so much last night and I would be an emotional wreck without your help already!
Hope everyone is having a great day and thanks again girls for all the calming words of comfort and thanks in advance for any advice specifically about my question.
Poppy xxxx
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