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2 weeks post vertical laparotomy

Posted , 3 users are following.

Carlee.
Carlee.

Tomorrow I will be two weeks post op so thought it's about time I check in to see how everyone is a to leg you all know that my surgery went really well.

my cyst was aprox 35cm, weighing 10lbs! I had that and my right ovary removed via a vertical laparotomy.  Thankfully the surgeon was able to keep my incision below my belly button, although it is large at 7" which required 23 staples.

Over all I am happy how it went and how my recovery is going. 

1 like, 40 replies

40 Replies

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  • Carlee.
    Carlee.

    Posted

    Has anyone else had a vertical laparotomy? If so, how long before you belly started to resemble its pre op appearance? Due to the size of my cyst I looked heavily pregnant so I'm happy with how much smaller it looks but I have a large 'dent' where the scar is at the bottom and the scar itself looks like it's holding the two sides of my belly together! It's hard to describe really. The right hand side is still slightly more swollen also.
  • june77782
    june77782 Carlee.

    Posted

    Hi Carla 

    Glad all went well

    I'm six weeks post op today and my stomach still bit puffy, I too have that at bottom of scar don't think helped that they had to go through previous horizontal hysterectomy scar. Still get bit back ache but at least now can sleep on my sides , not on my stomach yet. Mind you had loads of adhesions so could be why been tender this long. 

    Xx june

    • Carlee.
      Carlee. june77782

      Posted

      I haven't even attempted lying on my stomach yet. I've only just mastered getting into a comfortable side position! Thankfully it doesn't hurt as much to reposition myself now so I can fidget a little to get comfy. 

      I'm hoping my stomach will be a little less puffy eventually, or even if both sides matched that would look better. Over all though I can't complain. 

  • janet0263
    janet0263 Carlee.

    Posted

    Hi Carla,

    I am 3 weeks post op today.   I had a total hysterectomy with everything removed due to a 10cm cyst which turned out to be a benign serous cystadenofibroma.  I had a vertical cut from my belly button down and my scar is healing really well. biggrin  Not really having much pain but the only problem I am having is when I need the toilet it comes on suddenly and I get all these pains and I have to rush to the toilet right away (bowels not bladder) so I can't really move out of the house which is a bit annoying but hopefully it will get better.  

    • Carlee.
      Carlee. janet0263

      Posted

      I'm definitely experiencing a change in bowl habits too. Although  not as bad as you by the sounds of it. I get gas pains, which then moves onto a low down feeling of needing to go. Thankfully I'm learning to read these feelings quite well so can normally tell about 5 minutes in advance that I need to go. Also it's normally in the morning so far.

      did you have a biopsy taken? How long did the results take? I've still not heard anything yet. 

  • janet0263
    janet0263 Carlee.

    Posted

    Yes they took a biopsy and sent cyst for testing and all was okay.  I got a letter last Friday from my consultant to say everything was fine and he was handing my care back to my GP again.  The test does take two weeks apparently so you should hear about 18 days or so after your op.  Xxx
    • Carlee.
      Carlee. janet0263

      Posted

      Thank you. I thought it would be sooner but I must have misunderstood. I also originally thought I still had both ovaries but thankfully I double checked lol. I should start paying more attention! It just felt like loads of info at once and all I wanted to know at the time was when I could go home.
  • june77782
    june77782 Carlee.

    Posted

    I had froZen section whilst under which was benign and then that good ovary and omentum

    Sent

    To histology which thankfully benign but

    I waited five and half weeks. My

    Post op appointment end

    Sept.

    X

    • Carlee.
      Carlee. june77782

      Posted

      That's a long time to have to wait! I hope I hear sooner as my CA125 was elevated so I won't rest easy until I find out. I know it can be raised due to the cyst so I'm trying not to worry but it would be good to have the all clear.
    • janet0263
      janet0263 Carlee.

      Posted

      Yes don't worry about the CA125 being elevated as there are other things that can cause this. When I was 28 and 5 weeks after my first baby was born, I had to have an emergency operation as they found out I had a 10cm cyst and my CA125 was higher that it should be and I convinced myself it must be cancer.  I had the cyst, ovary and tube out and they found that it had twisted and cut the blood supply off, think they call it torsion.  I had been in a hell of a lot of pain because of this in my last 2 weeks of pregnancy although they had no idea what was wrong then.  It was 3 weeks later when I went to the doctors that I mentioned that I was still uncomfortable with pain and she did an internal and found the cyst. She sent me for a scan at the hospital right away and then I came home and she told me to go back to see my consultant the same day.  He told me the cyst was large and they would leave it two weeks to see if it reduced.  Two weeks later it hadn't reduced so he had me in to operate the week after.   So glad that I've finally got rid if everything now (just had total hysterectomy after another weird cyst)
  • june77782
    june77782 Carlee.

    Posted

    Hi Carla 

    Perhaps because they did a froZen

    Section whilst I was under they did not

    Rush . All hospitals are different. Please try not to worry. You could try ringing your consultants secretary she may be

    Able to give you an idea of timings to out your mind at rest

    Xx

    • Carlee.
      Carlee. june77782

      Posted

      Good idea. I might wait until the end of the week and then try, that would be three weeks then.

      thank you x

  • Carlee.
    Carlee.

    Posted

    Quick question regarding the surgical stockings. How long did you wear them for? How long were you told to?

    i've been told 6 weeks. I'm sick of them already! 

    • june77782
      june77782 Carlee.

      Posted

      Hi Carla

      I was told two but wore

      Them longer as I have

      A possible stress fracture

      And haven't been able to do the

      Twenty minute walk everyday so wore them

      For about four

      Weeks . If you're fully active

      And

      Walking about two weeks would be

      Fine I reckon xx

  • janet0263
    janet0263 Carlee.

    Posted

    I just wore mine in hospital and that was it, wasn't told to wear them at home at allconfused
    • Carlee.
      Carlee. janet0263

      Posted

      I wonder why I was told 6 weeks?! I was sent home with two pairs but they're both now so stretched I have to fold the tops over lol. I might give up on them soon. 
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