Handy tips after a laparotomy cyst removal

Thank you for all the information. I will be having surgery soon and I did not know what to expect. Now I have a better idea. Thanks again for sharing. ?

Just wanted to say "thank you for the advice".

. X

Hello, thanks for posting this! Please can I ask why the surgeon chose to go for a laparotomy rather than a laparoscopy? I have a 10cm cyst so wondering what type of op they'll do.

Thanks in advance xx

Hi

I had an emergency laparotomy a few years ago for a melon sized cyst which twisted (oh my god the pain) sadly they had to remove the ovary as it had been without blood too long.  The incision was pubic bone to belly button, I had loads of staples, and I had an internal bleed so they had to go in again to sort that out. I was really bloated and sore, and it took about a week and a half before I could walk at anything other than a shuffle, but I healed OK in the end with no long terms problems.

A week ago I had another cyst removed on the other side, thankfully this time it was planned and they saved my ovary, and this time it was a bikini cut. I'm getting mobile a bit more quickly than I remember last time, but I'm getting the most awful pain which I think might be nerve pain right on my pubic bone. I've had nerve pain before from yet another cyst op (round ligament, and what the hell is wrong with me anyway?) and I'm told that I'm stuck with it for life. I'm worried that this new pain will turn out to be chronic as well, location means it will really mess with my sex life. Anyone else had nerve pain after their surgery?

Has anyone found anything that helps reduce/manage nerve pain?

Louise

I just had surgery for a 18 ml. Ovarion cyst left, with a complete histerectamy, they did a laparodomy on me. Almost 3 weeks post surgery now, still experience pain on the side left side where cyst was removed. Not many pain pills I can take, I find tramadol helped me. I take that with Aleve 2x a day or as needed. It does cause constipation, I eat foods high in fiber such as pitted prunes, pears, etc. And drink lots of water! It is a slow healing process, don't over do it, I did to much walking one day and my body let me know it! I'm due back to work at the end of Oct. I sure hope I'm ready by then.. sleeping is getting better, I'm starting to be able to finally sleep on my side. Still some bloating and discomfort, hoping for a speedy recovery, but don't yourself. I don't wish this on anyone.

Thank you for this Jenny, I’ve just had the surgery two weeks ago and it’s hard to find anyone’s specific account of this surgery. When did you feel back to normal if you don’t mind me asking? 

Hi there just want to say Thank you for sharing your past experience with us. It's really helpful. I am having a laparotomy this Thursday the 28th due to a 8.6cm cyst. Diagnosis says it's in the My midline. I am really scared and nervous.  I have a 11yr old. God willing everything goes well will like to have another baby once my body is ready and healed. But just wanted to thank you for all the info you provide after your surgery.  

I’m 9 days out of my surgery and wanted to share some of my experiences in case they help! I had a dermoid cyst removed from each ovary, one 10cm and one 5cm. We went for a laparotomy instead of key hole because my surgeon felt she would be able to see and save more ovarian tissue (I’m 36 and don’t have kids yet).

So, I have to say my experience has been pretty good!

Day one - woke up post surgery a bit woozy and nauseous from the morphine. Slept well. Not much pain thanks to the drugs.

Day two - got up and walked to bathroom. Quite a lot of pain and a bit of swelling, but nothing unexpected. Ate a lot. Checked out my scar which was about a 6cm horizontal line just above my bikini hair line. Looks pretty neat. Was glued together - no stitches. Stayed over in hospital again just to help with pain management.

Day 3 - Finally went to the bathroom - hurray! Much relief. Doctors encouraged me to get up and walk downstairs to the floor below us, just to check I could handle stairs. I could, slowly, so they were happy to discharge  me with a big bag of paracetamol, codine and ibuprofen.

Day 4 - took it easy but tried to walk around my flat a bit just to keep my legs from seizing up. Fine with stairs. Pain more like a general PMS, nothing too bad. Just slowing me down.

Day 5 - my mum was insistent that I should come stay with her, so managed a 2 hr train journey to Manchester with help from the train staff carrying my bags. Had quite a lot of painful cramping on the train, but it subsided once home.

Day 6 - relaxed day. Bored of bad television. Did some work emails. Spoke to friends on the phone. Caught a cold so coughing is v painful on my tummy, but seems ok as long as I hold it.

Day 7 - visit to doctors to check the wound. She’s happy. So am I actually, it’s a v skinny line and not too red. 

Day 8 - decided to be ambitious and go for a walk. Managed 1km around the park. Felt ok. Slow, but so happy to be outside!

Day 9 - spoke too soon. Poss overdid it yesterday! Stomach cramps v painful. Another day relaxing on sofa. May try a shorter walk tomorrow.

I hope this is useful. Honestly not been as bad as I thought it would be. My main worry was how bored I would be (I’m a v active person), so it’s helped to have calls with friends and to have some books to read and good movies lined up. It’s also really helped having family around to help, particularly over the first 3-4 days where I was pretty immobile and needed a hand getting things.

All the best for your recoveries!

Oh goodness, this is so helpful. I don't have mine scheduled, but I know it is in my future. Can you tell me a little more about your experience? How big was yours? How old are you? 

I am 24 and I have a giant 17cm complex cyst with nodules. The doctor is very concerned about the nodules and sent me to get a CA-125 blood test today. My cyst has also grown very quickly which makes them worried as well. The doctor suspects that it is low malignancy and that they will remove the Cyst and the ovary. Obviously I am scared out of my mind of the possibility of cancer and of the GIANT incision. Any help and positivity is so great appreciated. 

Thank you,

So I had my laparotomy before Christmas so coming on 4 weeks ago. They removed a 17 lb cyst leaving a 28cm vertical wound as well as removing the ovary, tube and appendix. I was very well nursed and home on day 4 after surgery, 50 staples removed on day 11. Wound has healed unevenly due to size but again being well nursed, antibiotics just in case. In terms of pain I used only paracetamol for 2 weeks at home mainly because that was recommended. Tbh I was much more comfortable than before the op but my pain threshold is quite good. Developed a bit of a cough due to the anaesthetic which was sore on the wound and think this could have been avoided if I’d focused on deep breaths on coming round like the nurses said! Any discomfort has mainly been muscle pain, the wound doesn’t hurt but the muscles in my back are doing all the work the abs normally do so get sore and tired. I’m taking short walks and pottering about the house. Top tip if having a vertical incision especially if it’s a big one,  giant pants as you don’t want waistlines rubbing on the wound and an abdominal support band as early as possible.

hi everyone! just had my laparotomy 2 weeks ago to be exact. My surgeon removed 5cm dermoid cyst in my left ovary and because of the situation they need to remove my left ovary and fallopian tube. They also removed a cyst in my right ovary but it was not that serious and they had a view of a possible endometriosis in my right ovary which is causing pain during my menstraution. Everything went well. The operation went like 1 and half hour only. I felt shaking after the surgery due to my anesthesia and I throw up. i stayed at the hospital for 3days and everything was smooth. I started to get rid of the gas on my tummu after 2 days. When I went home the worst nightmare was when I encounter rashes all over my body due to my medication though we had skin test before giving the medicines to me.. Doctor gave me antihestamine. After that I experienced being constipated and it was really tough. I took Laxative and it helped me. It really hurts compare to my incision. I feel better now. My wound is dry already. My apetite is back. Im doing a little bit of household chores except lifting. Oh by the way my cut was a "bikini cut" so that I can still wear bikinis😊 I was preparing to concieve thats why I found out about the cyst. All I need to undergo right now is the treatment for my endometriosis. Praying that everything will be fine.

For those who are going to have their surgery, goodluck girls! No need to be scared. In God grace everything will be fine 😊

I have just had a Laparotomy done to remove a ovarian cyst that was 22cm by 17.5cm when found by ct scan but was 40cm by 22cm when removed only 7 days later. It had 2.7 litres of fluid inside it. It was the size of a 32 week fetus. I also had to get the right overy and fallopian tube removed. The surgury was emergency due to the size of the mass and i have a incision like a c section cut above the pubic line horizontally. I am in a lot of pain but its only early days. Its 4 days post op. It was sent off forf testing and has come back borderline. Im 35yrs old. I have a 7yr old little girl. I think i should just get a full hysterectomy or its like a possible time bomb. Any advice from others what i should do or there experiences that may help inform my decision would be welcome. How is a hysterectomy done? Will i go into menopause? Heaps of questions if anyones can help thanks in advance.