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Kehole ending up open recovery

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Beccy53756
Beccy53756

Hi, I came in for keyhole on Monday to remove a recurrent ovarian cyst. I initially had my 22cm cyst removed via laparotomy on May 8th, everything went fine, then 8 weeks post recovery it came to light that I had another 8cm cyst on the same side, they guessed not all of it had been taken away. 

So I had my keyhole operation on Monday and when they opened me up my bowel was stuck to everything including back, my ovary and fallopian tube. So he had to open me up. The tube and ovary were very "diseased" - the surgeon thinks from infection left over from last time. So they were both removed and the tear in my bowel repaired. 

I feel like Frankenstein as I have holes all over my stomach and the gas is trapped all over my body. Has anyone had experience of keyhole leading to open surgery? How long was recovery and what is to be expected? I'm in so much pain and have been on 100mg of tramadol 3 times a day before surgery but they are giving me only paracetamol and just gave me 50mg of tramadol purely because I complained paracetamol wasnt doing the trick. 

Would love to hear from anyone else in this situation....appreciate it is a bit of an unusual one! :-/

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • kellygee
    kellygee Beccy53756

    Posted

    Hello Beccy

    I had keyhole and open at the same time, it definitely stinks!! I was only given 7 days worth of pain releif, no advice and never had a follow up so I had to get all of my information online. I was off work for 6 weeks then started a phased return as I was still really tired after a few hours of being 'active'. You have had major surgery so you must listen to your body and do not over do things. I was not lifting anything heavier than the kettle for about 5-6 weeks, then I starting doing light lifting but it was about 10-12 weeks before I was cutting the grass and that kind of thing. Pain wise, I took Paramol 4 times per day, which is Paracetamol and Dihydrocodeine Tartrate and you can buy it over the counter and Ibuprofen 3 times per day and asprin too. I also used Homeopathy for the brusing and gas, not sure if it works but it was given to me so I took it, will try anything when im in pain!!

    I am still experiencing pain now and have been back to my GP and he is sending me for another ultra sound scan. I had my surgery 30th May. The keywhole scars are fine, no problem but the open horizontal scar is still numb and feels wired, I really dont like touching it. I also still have a bruise and sensitivity to an area just below my belly button. I have no idea what that it after this long!

    I hope you get some answers you are looking for, it does help to just talk to people in a similar position. 

    Take care. 

    • Beccy53756
      Beccy53756 kellygee

      Posted

      You are lucky to have had 7 days of pain relief! The first time I had this surgery I was given 3.5 days of painkillers, this time I wasn't given anything!!!! Fortunately I have some tramadol that the doctor prescribed for the cyst pain.

      how big was your cyst? What was the reason for them going open? 

      You had your surgery only a couple of weeks after my first one and my big scar (bikini line) had only just started getting feeling back just before I went in.... It is now totally numb again so I doubt I will get any feeling back now.

      I will ill definitely be taking that advice this time!

      Did you manage to keep your ovaries? I hope you are getting on ok now and your pain is nothing near what I had xx

    • Tazchurch
      Tazchurch Beccy53756

      Posted

      Is this is The UK? I have my op on Monday, have a low threashold to pain and this has scared the wits out of me. Only thing I have is Ibuprofen.
    • Beccy53756
      Beccy53756 Tazchurch

      Posted

      Yes I am in the UK but the only reason my surgery turned in to open is because I had open surgery very shortly before and it left me with adhesions, so try not to worry too much. I don't think it is common for straightforward keyhole! What kind of cyst do you have? Is it big? Hope you are ok! 
    • Tazchurch
      Tazchurch Beccy53756

      Posted

      Mean no painkiller bit. Removal of both ovaries and both fallopian tubes. Dermoid cyst in each, not large, one is 7.5cm while other is 4.2cm so can't see it going open, only a 1 in 1000 chance as far as I know.
    • Beccy53756
      Beccy53756 Tazchurch

      Posted

      Oh haha! Well you will be ok with strong over the counter ones. You honestly don't need that many painkillers even for open surgery. After a few days it is just sore but totally manageable, I was pretty shocked. I have to say the gas was the worst bit from keyhole, just keep moving around as it gets trapped all over your body and you get very achy in places. I had terrible arm ache! Didn't get any pain from the holes xx
    • Tazchurch
      Tazchurch Beccy53756

      Posted

      What sort, I know nothing about painkillers bar the fact paracetamol doesn't work for me?

       

    • Beccy53756
      Beccy53756 Tazchurch

      Posted

      Maybe you could try sopladine or something like that? Have they said whether they will plan to give you any or not?
    • Tazchurch
      Tazchurch Beccy53756

      Posted

      Nothing has been said at all and if solpadine has Asprin in it I cannot take it because of Asthma.
    • Tazchurch
      Tazchurch

      Posted

      Add to that if it is one that has to be dissolved I cannot take it either
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