Laparotomy recovery time / removal of ovary/endemetriosis

[Turnip]

Hi there, can anyone provide some guidance on recovery from a laparotomy?  Was suppose to have been having a laparoscopy to remove my left ovary and large cyst within this along with treatment for endemetriosis, woke up to have had a laparotomy and the latter all done plus part of the fallopian tube with it. It is now three weeks since the op and I can at least move around more, no longer doing an impression of a ladybird on its back trying to get up... The main scar is still sore on the inside and by later in the day I get pain down the left side, still have the shelf overhanging which hoping with time and eventually some exercise will go, still quite bloated but this comes and goes seems to get worse later in the day. Hormones have been all over the place as well.  I have had a first period since the op and the pain was still horrendous but assume this is everything settling down again. Would be grateful for anyone's similar experience to give some idea of what to expect and how soon will feel normal again if ever? Didn't really get much from hospital and main follow up isn't until July?? Any help is welcomed.

[Tali5418]

I was supposed to have laprascopy, removal of a demroid cyst on the 3rd, but woke  up and had a bikini line incision after they decided they would have to open me up unfortunately. I am recovering fairly well, not to much pain after I got out of the hospital and showered, and kept my incision site dry (put a towel on it and leave it there ALL day), i'm doing really great healing wise...and even the incision in my belly button is okay (kind of gross looking though). I can walk, have been letting my gas out FINALLY and don't take pain medicine so much... but my problem is my SHOULDER.

This is the worst pain i am experiencing, when i go to lay down on my side (which i can finally tolerate) my shoulder  begins throbbing, and aching like someone is  pulling every muscle in my back and tightening it I told the doctors while I was in the hospital but they said it was normal due to the gas they had used before deciding they would have to cut me open - I'm using a heating pad to soothe it, but it's just really annoying that I can not lay any other way SOLELY because of my shoulder pain.

I'm so tender on my right shoulder and back area. I was wondering if I'm the only person experiencing this pain. It's unbearable, it actually almost brings me to tears everytime, and the pain meds do not work in this are at all. I just want to know when it will stop...or how I can stop it from happening, or atleast that someone else is having this happen too :(
Thanks guys, and hope everyone heals up well & doesn't have to deal with this again.

[Hootie5]

I am so grateful to find this site.  I am a teacher and this is my second week out.  I thought I would be back in 5 days.  NO WAY!  I may take off more time after reading here. As for me, I had my left ovary removed (carcinoid tumor ... still need to do tests on that and I am a bit scared my doctor said it is rare) and a fibroid on my fallopian tube, which they removed.  I have had absolutely NO issues with constipation, which I was extremely worried about.  I took Myralax every night in a large glass of hot tea.  My gastroenterologist had me on it before the surgery and told me that although it is a laxative, it didn't have the kind of ingredients that you have to worry about.  I've skipped a dose here and there with no problems and have gone to the bathroom EVERYDAY : )   This is a big deal issue as you know.  This is my question. Does anyone have a really itchy stomach?  It's my whole stomach not just the incisions.  It is driving me crazy!  I see the doctor in two days ... I am trying to hold on until then.  Good luck to everyone.

[jaxains11]

Hi all.
I am new here. I an 33 years old and in the past 6 years I have had laproscopic surgery for cyst removals from ovaries. I have also had a few D and C's. I have bad endometriosis , too. Since December 2011 I have had a serious pain in left side (around the area of ovary). I finally got an appointment for an ultrasound last week and they found a 'small grapefruit' sized cyst AROUND my right ovary! Yes, all the pain was on left side and cyst is on right! (strange, I thought) Anyway, I am having a surgery next week to remove cyst AND right ovary as well as another D andC! I am a little nervous about the ovary removal. I know you can function perfectly fine with one....still, it scares me a bit. I already have 2 children and have no plans for another. Does anyone have feedback on recovery time? Anything else I can expect? Thanks for listening.

[nan802]

I had a laparotomy for a softball sized cyst on my left ovary in october. it is now january and im feeling a tugging feeling on my right ovary. it has lasted all day today but i am not sure if its ovulation or something i should be concerned about. im basically 10 weeks post op and have been told that tugging is normal but i didnt get operated on my right ovary so i am confused as to why im feeling this weird pain on that ovary and not the operated one.

[lore2011]

Did your doctor gave you medical paper work excusing you from work? It has been 3 weeks since my surgery and I have a doctor appt. tomorrow for an evaluation. My ob-gyn then will decide if I'm able to go back to work or if I need to stay home longer. It is very important that you follow your doctor's orders because if something happens to you during a time that a doctor told you to stay home for recovery and you were at work instead you are going to lose any type of insurance that you have (work-medical...) The law is not going to back you up so tell your boss that he/she needs to find other venues and your health comes first. He/she cannot legally fire you while you are in a medical leave. Good luck and please take care.

[ginnq]

i just had an ovary removed i also have endometriosis and alot of scar tissue from two c-sections. i was told to take 2 weeks off work and i definetly need it. i also have 2 children and a husband who are taking good care of me but my boss wants me back a wk. early b/c i am a manager of a restaurant. i had someone who was going to help but she hurt her knee and cant and the owner wont come in and help. i guess he thinks b/c i am a manager i should heal faster than everyone else. i am very aggravated and stressed not only from this but my husbands identity was stolen and we got audited by the irs all of this in less than a week.