questions about laparoscopic ovary removal

[reallybadday]

Following a 5 month wait for a gynacologist referral to discuss what to do about the cyst on my ovary, today I finally saw the consultant. She has told me that the best course of action is to remove my ovary/ovaries laparoscopically and all going well, I may be out the same day.
What I didn't ask was how long I should expect to take to recover. (I was a bit in shock as GP told me only yesterday that the cyst was nothing to worry about.)
Can anyone advise how long I might need? Will I be able to drive?
I only work part time but there is no one to cover for more than a few days at most without seriously impacting on my colleagues and the business.

Also we are due to go on holiday next week. I had already arranged travel insurance but have not yet completed the medical screening as I was waiting until I got the all clear appointment today. Given that I also take medication to counteract high blood pressure, will I struggle to get cover and is it likely to be very expensive?

[reallybadday]

Anyone?

I'm trying to deal with the practicalities so I don't go into panic about the op itself...

[IMurderedStampyLongnose]

Hi Op,I went for a laparoscopic removal of an ovarian cyst a few years ago.In the end my cyst wasn't even on my ovary,but my pouch of Douglas,so I kept my ovary.Anyway I still had he cyst removed laparoscopically and I was in a fair amount of pain from the gas that they pump into you for a day or two,and overall it took me about a week to recover.Good luck for your OP.

[reallybadday]

Thank you for the reply.
I needed an idea of recovery time before I go in to work tomorrow. Every website I googled contradicted the previous one - from 3 days to 6 weeks
Hope you are doing well now.

[orangeflutie]

I ended up being kept in hospital overnight as my blood pressure was too low afterwards and then about two to three weeks to fully recover.

[Littlefish]

I had a large cyst removed, along with the ovary and Fallopian tube. I was off work for 4 weeks. If I had had a desk based job I may have been ok to go back after 3 weeks, but I work with small children and needed to be well enough to to lift, get down and up off the floor etc.

[reallybadday]

Thanks, the consultant did say I might have to stay overnight if operated on in the afternoon.
I honestly didn't think this would need surgery as I've been living with it for months with only one episode of really bad pain. Turns out I should have gone to A&E that day instead of taking buscopan and going to work.

[IMurderedStampyLongnose]

I think the recovery time can really vary,and as I said I didn't end up needing to have an ovary removed.You might be better telling work you will be off longer than you think,at least that way you won't feel under pressure to get back before you're ready.

[reallybadday]

Littlefish, I would normally be at a desk but a colleague is pregnant so I have taken over some of the things she would normally do. Our poor boss is going to be even busier for a while by the sound of it.