pregnancy after abdominal surgery
Posted , 4 users are following.
I had surgery 6 weeks ago to remove 2 large tumours that were found in my pelvis back in September, one that was 13cm from my right ovary and a smaller one on the outside of my uterus along with several chocolate cysts that were on my other ovary - all were removed successfully and thankfully, the ovaries didn't need to be removed as well.
The tumours were detected because my husband and I had been trying for baby number 3 and months were passing by and still no pregnancy along with some other worrying symptoms, so I went to my GP.
Anyway, to cut a long story short - We had the results just before Christmas and thankfully the results were great and the biopsies taken from the two tumours and the surrounding areas were all benign! We had a follow up appointment with my gynecologist to discuss the results and of course one of the main questions was pregnancy! He explained that I should now not experience any problems with conceiving and that the two tumours were endometriomas caused by endometriosis.
I have to return to hospital in February for an ultra sound which is purely just to check if any new cysts are beginning to form, if so then I'll be put on some temporary medication. If none are detected then all is fine and no further treatment will be needed unless the same problems begin again later in the future.
We asked when he would feel it would be safe to begin trying again and he said (and I quote) 'as soon as you want to'.... he said I should wait 6 weeks for the scar to heal (my scar runs from my belly button down to just above my pubic bone) and I then asked if I should wait until the ultrasound in February and he said, no, it's no issue if you're pregnant already.
I explained that during my past pregnancies my tummy gets very big and my concern is the scar tissue and the external scar won't stand the stretching, he basically laughed it off and said it's fine! He said that pregnancy is the best medicine for endometriosis because your ovaries technically go to sleep during the pregnancy so no new cysts will form. He told me my ovaries are the cleanest they've been in years and it's probably the best time to concieve.
So.... I'm just wondering if anyone has been through something similar. I'm so ready to begin trying again, I'm extremely lucky to have two gorgeous boys but we are desperate to bring another baby into our family but I'm so worried, although my gynecologist seemed to think it was fine, I'm anxious that my scar won't stand the stretching.... I have dreaded thoughts it will open.... I'm driving myself mad worrying about it.
I'd love to hear from someone that perhaps got pregnant post surgery and if at all it affected their pregnancies?
Thanks in advance! πππ
1 like, 14 replies
jassy45458 f04109
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i think.if the gynae says your safe go for it... good luck xx
f04109 jassy45458
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Yeh sure. I was having terrible pain, on the right side on my lower abdomen which was always at its worst when I was ovulating and after my period had finished my I was also bleeding in between periods, terrible lower back pain again on the right side ... I was also constipated and my periods were very heavy and painful for the first 3 days or so plus I was urinating all the time. Turns out they were all symptoms of the large endometriomas and the chocolate cysts I had. Since surgery they've all disappeared!! It was an awful time though as they are the same symptoms for ovarian cancer, so it was really tough for 13 weeks until the results came back xx
Michellestar87 f04109
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jassy45458 f04109
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f04109 jassy45458
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I didn't have any loss of appetite at all, I was eating well too but I did have a swollen tummy, very bloated particularly when my period was due and during.
Don't worry yourself, just get yourself to the docs and sort it. I put mine on hold for a while as I kept brushing it off. Thank goodness I went when I did.
Can I ask how old you are ? I'm 31 by the way. π
f04109 Michellestar87
Posted
No the first ultra sound wasn't able to identify what the two larger masses were. They detected the several chocolate cysts on my ovary but they just couldn't say what the two large ones were. I had internal scans too and they took images which then a team of consultants looked over and they then decided to send me for a CT first... again they couldn't determine what they were and the CT also showed the largest mass was covering my entire left ovary and my bowel so I was then sent for an MRI - again, they still couldn't give me concrete answers as to what they were until they opened me up which is then, after the surgery once the results of the biopsies were back that they told me they were endometriomas. So it was a horrid few months because we knew there could be a chance that the tumours were malignant.
I was assigned to a macmillan nurse too, along with also before the MRI results were in, I had to see a stoma nurse as because the CT revealed the tumour was covering my bowel, they were unsure if it was attached which may possibly results in my bowel having to be interfered with to remove the mass. It was awful. .... thankfully the MRI showed differently which was such a huge relief.
If I'm honest, my self and all my family were convinced I had ovarian cancer. My CA125 levels were in the hundreds, I had pretty much all the symptoms bar the loss of appetite and the whole process just kept getting worse until finally surgery! We were so shocked when the results came back and we were told all were benign! Feeling very lucky.
Good luck to you, what's the next step now for you? Have you been assigned to a gynaecologist? For me... everything went so fast so I hope the same happens for you!
Michellestar87 f04109
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f04109 Michellestar87
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I'm surprised you haven't been sent for a ca125 blood test, purely because it can rule out things so early on.... I was sent the following morning after my first doc appointment. So maybe that's a good sign for you, that things aren't moving so urgently? Perhaps you have nothing to worry about....
The waiting around is horrible. It's the worst thing. I'll
Make sure you ring up your gynae clinic to chase up the next scan and/or appointments... make sure you let them know how eager you are for answers and how worried you are, how much it's affecting you... it's such a stressful time. Best advice I can give it try and keep yourself as busy as possible and make sure you have lots of people around you for support when ever you need it. As it was all happening with me around Christmas, once I was signed off work in preparation for the op, I kept busy for shopping and getting everything ready for Xmas incase after the op I wasn't well enough to do anything. Luckily I did as the first 2/3 weeks were tough.
There is no harm in contacting your GP and having an appointment with him/her to discuss what's been happening and how you're feeling, they may be able to shed some light on things for you and also you could ask for the ca125 test?
Good luck and fingers crossed for you that you don't have to wait too long before you get some answers and help x
Michellestar87 f04109
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f04109 Michellestar87
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No my ovaries were not enlarged as all my cysts and the endometriomas were all outside of my uterus and ovaries....I was told before surgery that I'd need my left ovary removed as one of the masses was attached to it but they managed to save it thankfully.
Not sure what an enlarged ovary means but obviously... your cysts are inside your ovaries am I right? I'm not too clued up on this sorry but speaking from experience, I wouldn't be happy with the lack of urgency and I would push for more information? I understand the reasons for the ca125 test as yes endo can give false results but.... I still feel you need more help and support? So sorry for you that things aren't moving forward much for you.... I can only advise that you lay it on thick and push and push for more help or a second opinion? π
Sorry I can't help much. Let me know the latest x
Michellestar87 f04109
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f04109 Michellestar87
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I haven't heard the term heterogenous textureΒ before but I can only assume that things aren't moving so rapidly for you because it's something that can be easily sorted or isn't a worry for the GP'S, gynaecologist? I'm not sure hun.... but I would definitely take it as a good sign to put your mind at rest beacause there is nothing worse than constant worrying π
With me, I think from the start, docs and my gynae including my self pretty much thought it was cancer... I'd completely convinced myself and although the fact that everything happened so fast was a good thing. ... it made me worry even more that they were rushing my onto every next step so fast.
The pros know what they are doing hun, they're the best people to help you and they will..... fibroids are very common from what I've read and heard, though they can cause lots of issues the little buggers, they can be sorted and I'm sure the gynae would be pushing for things to happen a lot sooner if he/she was worried.
Try not to worry yourself. ... try not to Google and try to keep yourself busy and remain positive. I know it's hard but the waiting around is the worst and that's when your mind starts to wander...... scan next week - one step closer to sorting everything out for yourself! Xxxx
Lxh2 f04109
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f04109 Lxh2
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Thanks for the advice. Been googling non stop and I'm getting such a mix of info x