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Dermoid Ovarian Cyst

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1963Dawn
1963Dawn

Hello.

I have just been diagnosed with a 10cm dermoid cyst. I had never heard of this before and after doing a little research - am scared stiff! I am awaiting a consultation appointment to discuss surgery but have been advised it is likelyl to be removed by open surgery due to the size - and may involve removing my right ovary too. I am 51 so not concerned with fertility - just recovery! I have also been advised surgery is likely to be in around 3 months but this does seem a long time to me. After suffering years of pain in my right side/groin and just returning home from 6 days in hospital with what appeared to be torsion - I am quite scared. What is an average recovery time for this type of op? In these difficult times (I work for my local authority) I worry about having a long time from work.

I've never had an operation and I am really scared silly. Any advice would be most welcome please.

Thank you

Dawn

1 like, 99 replies

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  • 1963Dawn
    1963Dawn

    Posted

    Thank you so much. I was also admitted with suspected appendicitis and understand this is quite a common way of discovering the cysts. I am in the UK - are you? I don't have any option over surgeon I believe - and if I did how on earth would I be in a position to choose?

    You have made me feel better and thank you. I guess I am panicking where I need to calm and accept!

    • Dobby1978
      Dobby1978 1963Dawn

      Posted

      Hi Hun, only just seen this! Have u had ur surgery? I'm 36 now but was 34 wen I went to the docs with wot I thought was a small hernia. I had been suffering with chest infections for months, having coughing fits through the nite. I felt a small lump on the rite side of my lower stomach, bikini line! Within 48hrs I was scanned & informed it had a dermis cyst, mine was also my ghost twin, basically, I should've been a twin. I'm 6ft & size 10 & no one could see a lump unless I laid down. It had grown around my rite ovary for 34yrs....we called it Bob! 2 weeks later I was in surgery & Bob along with my rite ovary were removed. My cyst weighed 5 1/2 kilos....yes, that's rite about 11lbs. Wen discected they found a borderline tumor, the size of a golf ball! Pretty mental really! But I'm healthier than I've ever been & thanks to my healthy left ovary, I am also a new mum, so, it may all seem scary rite now but ur life can only improve after it's gone!
    • 1963Dawn
      1963Dawn Dobby1978

      Posted

      Hello.  How lovely to hear from you.  Wow what a story!  The human body is just so complicated there is no wonder things go wrong!  The thought of this "thing with eyes" growing inside me is too freaky.  Recently I have felt so very bloated and don't want to eat anything.  When I do eat - I often feel quite sick for a while afterwards.  I am a couple of stone overweight and although I am not eating a fraction of what I used to - my weight is not moving and my clothes are feeling tighter.  My periods also stopped a couple of months ago but as I am 51 this may be natural - or connected I'm not sure.

      TODAY I received a phone call to book me in for surgery next Wednesday so it's great to hear from you today.  I'm going for my pre-op tomorrow and have been writing out questions.  Main one is when can I come home?  It's my son's 21st birthday a couple of days after surgery and although I don't have any intentions to party of course, I would like to be at home surrounded by takeaway cartons safe in the knowledge I don't have to clean up after them!  I cannot imagine being in pain or not mobile.  I've just never been that person.

      Mine also has a name - Dermot and I cannot wait to have him evicted.

      I am also hoping that during recovery, the bloatedness will leave me and I will be able to feel normal again.  Knowing surgery has been imminent for the last couple of months has been awful.  Cannot plan anything or even put to the back of my mind.

      Everyone on here is so brave in sharing their experiences and it is a real comfort.

      I have thought a lot about when it's gone and I can get back to living my like but until today I haven't particularly thought about the actual procedure - much too scary.  I'm trying not to think of it now either - just afterwards.  At least I get a couple of months off work over the summer!

      I understand you are not able to lift things - how long is that for?  I am a part-time photographer and my camera weighs about 4 kilos.  When will I be able to shoot again?

      Thanks again and so glad you're fully recovered - with a child too - how lovely!

      Take care,

      Dawn x

  • mel42
    mel42

    Posted

    Glad I could help. Yes, I'm also in the UK, in SW London. We are fortunate in that we did have an option, in that we have private insurance & I had previously had treatment under this same surgeon, who had been very highly recommended.

    However, it's not totally option-free in the NHS, as, for example, this same surgeon also does NHS work. Obviously it's no quite so easy to choose someone, but what you can do, if your surgery is being planned ahead of time, is to ask for the LEAD CLINICIAN (that's the magic phrase!) in your NHS Trust - that will be the most skilled one available. You might not get him / her - but it does no harm to ask. Good luck!

    • lucy58724
      lucy58724 mel42

      Posted

      Hi Mel42.

      I Know this is an old thread so chances are this won't be seen but thought I'd try anyway.

      I am 13 weeks pregnant and two weeks ago was diagnosed with a 10cm dermoid cyst.

      I am fortunate enough to have health insurance and was wondering if you could recommend a surgeon? I have been referred to the FMU clinic at my local hospital but the appointment is not for another 3 weeks and I'm reluctant to wait this long.

      Thanks in advance

      Lucy xxxx

    • bethany40781
      bethany40781 lucy58724

      Posted

      Hi Lucy 

      I am 13 weeks pregnant and have just been told that I have dermoid cyst it’s 12x13x9cm. 

      I have an appointment with the consultant on Friday, but I just wondered what happened with you and how you got on? 

      Thanks xx

  • laura33411
    laura33411

    Posted

    Hi smile i too had a cyst that was quite large that required open surgery. They also removed my left ovary as the damage was too bad to repair. Its really scary and as much as people tell you not to worry its difficult not to. They also told me that mime would take 3 months to heal but i was back at work after 2. If i can offer you any advice its that you need to be up and about as soon as you can. Not doing too much but the day after my surgery i was walking to the loo and around the ward. Its so important not to do any heavy lifting or strenuous stuff around the house like hoovering etc. In hind sight i wonder why i worried so much haha and im sure you will too. Just remember to take it easy at home after and im sure everything will go just fine smile x
  • mel42
    mel42

    Posted

    Good advice about moving around. I think recovery has a great deal to do with age! I was 36, and it took me 8 weeks to get back to normal. My 16 year old daughter had her surgery ten days ago, and she is asking if she can go back to school tomorrow!
  • Kazreeeen
    Kazreeeen

    Posted

    Hi mine was a right whopper at 23cm and was solid, I was crapping it too as at 46 i've never had anything wrong, had no pain prior and had never had an operation before. I was only in for 2 nights and then was at home, it wasn't what I would call painful at anytime more uncomfortable and I have a scar which goes about 2cm above my belly button to just about as low as you can go. I was laid up for about a week and then was bumbling about quite nicely after that and returned to work after 4 weeks, the thought of the op was far worse than the reality. You'll be fine

  • 1963Dawn
    1963Dawn

    Posted

    Hello everyone

    I just wanted to share my own personal journey with you.

    At very short notice I was given a date for my operation - last Wednesday 21st May.  7 days ago.  I didn't have a great deal of time to panic but I also knew I was desperate to have the op so I went along.

    When I woke from anasthetic I felt absolutely dreadful for 30 hours.  It wasn't pain - it was the drugs.  I felt so sick and dizzy.  I was attached to leg cuffs, catheter and IV so didn't move for around 26 hours.  These were finally removed and as soon as I tried to stand I was really sick.  That's the bad news.

    After emptying my stomach and coming off the drugs (I only had paracetomol and ibrupofen thereafter) I began to move around and feel so much better.  I returned home 2 days after surgery and although sore, feeling better every day.

    It's now exactly one week since my op.  I feel fantastic!

    I am walking very comfortably - today I extended to 2 x half hour walks with no problem at all.  I am sleeping and can even sleep on my side.  I am still taking paracetomol but only twice a day.  

    I potter around most of the day - slower than usual but I am doing everything I have been told to.  No more and no less and I feel amazeballs!

    In just a week I cannot believe how I have recovered.  Don't be too worried - the first few days are awful but even though it initially hurts so much to stand tall and walk, the more you do the less it hurts.

    Good luck everyone and thanks for your support.

    Dawn

  • Gemz20200
    Gemz20200 1963Dawn

    Posted

    Hi, 1 week ago I was diagnosed with a dermoid cyst 7cm on my left ovary, was found by chance when having an ultra sound due to irregular periods, had no symptoms, they also found my right ovary is polycystic and I have a 9 mm endometrial polyp.

    was told 6-8 wks for surgery but jus received a surgery slot to have it removed in 12wks - 10th September which I'm a bit shocked about considering the gynae urged me to get this done as it's at risk of twisting due to the size compared to my ovary?!

    Booked in also for another ultra sound in July to check if the polyp is still there, if it is they will remove that at the same time as the cyst.

    im a bit worried as my gynae said if the cyst gets to 10cm I can't have key hole surgery, any idea how fast they grow?

    Is there anything I shouldn't do whilst waiting fir surgery?

     

    • dreamshelll
      dreamshelll Gemz20200

      Posted

      I would recommend searching possibly for a  more experienced surgeon as I just had a 10cm dermoid cyst that was found on my left ovary and it removed lapriscopically (keyhole).  Here I am 3 weeks later and at almost 100% recovery! 

      My surgeon was knowledgeable and extremely confident.  

      I hope your surgery goes well <3 >

    • emily61046
      emily61046 dreamshelll

      Posted

      Hello there, I have been diagnosed with a 10cm dermoid cyst on my left ovary, if you are still around since i know this was posted a while ago, who was your surgen?
    • deborah93992
      deborah93992 emily61046

      Posted

      Hi Emily, my surgeon was Miss Patil @ Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Bucks. Are you in the same area? I had my surgery just over a week ago and all went well, however, make sure that you do take all the advice given and don't do anything but rest. Stupidly, I began to feel fine around the house (although tired quickly) so then pushed it too much and now realise that everything I was advised was correct and that I would not bounce back quickly. It is frustrating when you are an independent person to accept that you cannot do much! I hope this helps.
    • emily61046
      emily61046 deborah93992

      Posted

      Hiya Deborah. I am in the Midlands but would be willing to travel anywhere in the UK if they can give me laproscopic surgery and keep my ovary. I am in my early 20s and yet to have children so I am looking for a surgeon that will keep my ovary. I have since asked my gp to refer me to a hospital in oxford that has consultants that specialise in minimal acsess surgery. Did you get the consultant you requested or where you given one. And how long did you wait overall for referral and surgery. Thank you so much for the reply, rant over : )
    • deborah93992
      deborah93992 emily61046

      Posted

      Hi Emily, firstly, I waited around 6 months from discovery to surgery. I did not get to choose my surgeon. This op at any age is daunting, but at 50 yrs old they wanted to remove both my ovaries (as I have done my child bearing)  even though the right was a healthy organ! I told them no way so only removed the left. However, at your young age, stick to your guns. I have read posts on here of women who have managed to keep their ovary intact but they seem to have gone private and that is not always an option. The only advise I could give is for you to do your research, online is a great tool and I hope you find a surgeon who can save your ovary. I wish you the best of luck and if you need a rant feel free. Sorry I could not be of more help. 
    • deborah93992
      deborah93992 emily61046

      Posted

      Please read post above Mel42...her ovary was saved maybe you could contact her for more info.
    • emily61046
      emily61046 deborah93992

      Posted

      Hiya deborah, okay I was expecting to wait around 4 months because according to the NHS website there is a maximum wait of 2 weeks from referral to consultation and 18 weeks from consultation to treatment/surgery. Why did it take 6 months for you? Although if I can have laproscopic and they can keep the ovary 4/6 months is not time at all compared to the rest of my life. Thank you so much for your help your experience and advice is brilliant and you are very much giving me hope...
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