Large Ovarian Cyst Operation... Terrified!

Hi there,

 I m scheduled to see an oncologist because my gynecologist said mine was 15 cm...I go next week and pretty nervous. It's been making me pee more and it hurts when I do certain things. I'm not sure if it's getting bigger either.. Good luck love

I had a mass on my ovary that was discovered on a cat scan and an ultrasound in the ER on June 1st of this year. I am 49 years old so fertility was not an issue for me. The issue was that the surgeon wanted me to have a colonoscopy, an EKG, a mammogram, a pap smear, and blood work done because he wanted to know what he was dealing with. It took over a week to get an appointment with the surgeon and 3 more weeks to get tests done with results back. In that time my "football" sized mass grew to be a "watermelon" size mass. If they had done the surgery right away, I most likely wouldn't have the large incision that I do. It is from the sternum down to my pubic area. I had a total hysterectomy and appendix removed. It turned out to be a borderline mucinous tumor which is a tumor with low malignant potential. I have a very low tolerance for pain so I had no problem taking the morphine. I did not become addicted to it. It just helped the pain. I am twice your age and had some complications after surgery (UTI and then became severely anemic and needed blood transfusion) I talked to several people with the same incision that I had and they didn't seem to experience the pain that I had. I am over 3 months post o.o and have a very physical job. I still feel sore in my abdomen after an 8 hour work day. I returned to work 8 weeks after surgery. Mucinous tumors can get very large and the percentage of these are low. As long as your cyst is not this kind and doesn't grow any larger, you should still be able to have children. Mine didn't give me any warning either until I had pain on my right side which is what took me to the ER in the 1st place. I hope your surgery is a success. The fact that you are in your 20's should help with your recovery time. Please post after you have had surgery!

Hi Kellie,

I have an ovarian cyst around 30 cm as well.  I am older than you, and I have already had my children, but I was informed that they can not drain this type of cyst (that I have).  So, I will be having a full midline incision from above the belly button vertically down to the bikini line.  I am scheduled for surgery 11/01.  I know exactly what they do as well.  This is a major, major, major thing for me, as most all of my internal organs have been displaced by the cyst.  I do not have a functional or simple cyst, as it is a multi-loculated cystadenoma or cystadenoma carinima.  They aren't sure whether it is potentially cancerious or not, which is why it can't be drained  - so that no fluid could get into the pertineoal cavity (This is what I was told anyways).  Most everyone that I have spoken to it take 3-4 weeks recovery, even with keyhole surgery.....longer 4-6 weeks for bikini type incisions, and 4-8 wks for laparotomy.  It really does depend on exacly what procedure is being done, if there are any adhesions or scar tissue that needs to be removed, etc., etc.  Since no two cysts are alike, there is much variation.

im 25 and 12 week ago i got diognosed with a 12x16x8cm ovarin solid mass. i was put under and mdt team as there is debris,septations and small amount of fluid. ive been told by my surgeon i will be having a vertical cut as suppost to a c section. i am devastad. im worryiglike mad around recovery does it guer? they have told me they will put a catherter in whilst im asleep as they dont want me getting in and out of bed and also have a spinal block in so i dont feel any pain. im very i dependant and scared that the nurses are going to have to wasg me ect. ive had my pre op 4 weekago. they said anytime between 4 and 8 weeks i will be having it done im so scared help xxxxxx