Pain waking up from a laparoscopy! Terrified, worried, and nervous!

Hey! 

I am having A laparotomy in April on a 11cm cyst with fluid and soild parts which I'm also worried about pain when I wake up.

How long did you stay in hosptail for? 

How is the recovery from it? 

X 

I wasn’t in 4 day’s. They will get you up and walk you around.  A bit awkward getting round at first. Tasks like getting a wash will leave you out of breath. But just build it up gradually. Go on walks. The pain genuinely isn’t that bad. It’s well controlled and if you’re uncomfortable just speak to the doctor/nurse. 

Sorry you were in 4 days? It's just you out wasn't. 

Why is it arkaward at first moving around? What pain meds were you given? I'm seeing surgon Tuesday so going to ask him then about pain meds x

It was a bank holiday so I was in Tuesday out Friday. Initially the morphine drip then they take you off and it’s normal painkillers like codeine. They may have put stuff through intravenously as well I’m not sure. They also gave a gentle laxative as well. 

It’s just awkward because you aren’t quite able to straighten up, I was a bit hunched over because you want to protect your stomach. But it’s wasnt painful x

Thank you Sue for your reply! I’m glad that you weren’t in pain when you woke up and had a good recovery. I must have surgical anxiety and I hope the nurses and anesthesiologist can address my concerns. Were you sore similar to doing 500 crunches? 

Okay thank you! I'm just so worried! 

What did they remove for you? They taking the cyst and my ovary I'm only 23 x 

I can relate with the anxiety right now as im awaiting open op x 

When is your op? I’m 27 and I never had painful periods or anything like that. And all of a sudden they find such a big cyst (12x12x9cm) which they suspect is a blood filled cyst. I’m really hoping they can drain it then excise it through keyhole cuts. What type of cyst do you have and how big is it if you don’t mind me asking. 

My op is the 2nd or 3rd week of April but will find out a date on Tuesday when see consultant. 

I never had any painful periods. I only found out I had a cyst back at start of January because the cyst twisted and caused so much pain which I ended up in a&e with and then they found it. 

At first by ultra sound they thought it was a simple cyst so just fluid filled, I then had a CT scan which showed it to be fluid filled and has a soild part to it- I then had a MRI scan as they took my case to the cancer team as they were unsure of the soild part of the cyst. My MRI scan wasn't clear so that's why I'm having open op as no one including cancer team can say what it is ether way- it's only safe for them to do keyhole on me if they are 100% sure it's not cancerous. So they are removing the cyst and my right ovary. 

So been really worrying as I still don't know what it is apart from a cyst. But will know more after op and once it's been tested. 

My cyst is 11cms big. 

Are they going to try and do keyhole first?? X

They said they will go in keyhole first but there’s always a possibility of open surgery depending on what they find and I might have to remove my right ovary and tube. That would be the worst case. The gyn onc saw my case and rejected it saying it’s mostly not malignant but it really depends on what they see once they are inside. I only had an ultrasound which said it’s a complex cystic mass (which I have no idea what that means) suspected of being an endometrioma. 

If they didn’t rush you in it’s probably nothing too urgent. Good luck with your op! I’m so stressed about mine. 

Never tried 500 crunches lol.

It’s not sharp pain it’s definitely bearable. I’ve had worse cramps before now.

Oh that’s great to hear! I’m so worried waking up in sharp pain. Dull aches I can deal with. Is that how you felt when you woke up? 

Thank you - I wish they would do keyhole with mine but sadly they won't even think about it now as they can't say for certain if it's cancerous or not. Really hope it's not cancer! 

What is the rough amount of time staying in hosptail after the op?? 

When are you having yours? 

X

If all goes well (as in keyhole), then it should be a day surgery and I get to go home the same day. As for time, I have no idea how long it’ll be. And it’s april 13. 

Oh right . I think if it's open surgary that your in for a few days I think? I'll ask my consultant Tuesday as I'm defo having open 

If you’re doing open, they will definitely keep you over night for a few days in the hospital 

I had open surgery and was in for 2 nights And wish it had been 3. I was in a lot of pain and getting up out of bed and back in was difficult! 

Hey joyce i had a complex cysts that was on my right ovary and they went away. The one on my left side is the one that they are going to remove with my ovary and tube.

I am having my ovary and part of my tube taking out do u thing they will keep me in the hospital

Yup defo having open sadly. I better get my head around staying in hosptail as I'm not so good at that. X

Ok thanks.

I better get my head around staying in hosptail then as not good at that. 

In your case what did they remove? I'm having cyst and ovary removed by open surgary x 

Is yours keyhole or open? 

Holly, 

Good luck! Surgery really can pack a punch! Make sure you talk to your healthcare team about the concerns you have. I’m doing that too because I’m really scared! 

I don’t even remember the pain. Just remember being exhausted and wanting to sleep. 

Thank you. 

I have made a list of questions I'm going to ask on Tuesday when I see consultant. 

Have you been told how long you will be in ?? 

I hate staying in hosptail so not really sure how I'm going to cope with that. 

The thing is, in Canada, I would hope that my surgeon has some decency to tell me exactly what surgery I’ll be having or the time or details in general. She just dismissed me the first time and I needed to make an appointment with her to get some questions answered. I wished I could have someone more professional who can put my mind at ease. I’m only going through with this with her is because she is the fastest route to get my cyst out. 

Keyhole

I had both ovaries, both tubes and 2 cysts removed - both were on my right side. 

Do your self a favour and buy one of those body pillows at Walmart. It saved me when I got home! I needed to have my feet elevated to take pressure off the incision area.