Laparoscopy and so on...

[scaredaboutsurgery]

I've got an operation coming up next week, woken up now and am shitting myself. I am a single parent to a 20 month old (father is long gone and court order states no direct contact because he is that awful) and I have to have a 'laparoscopic excision of an ovarian cyst' with a possible but more than likely oophorectomy....

Has anyone had this surgery before? I am just wondering what to expect. Got my pre assessment early this week where they said they would answer questions but the op is the next day! And I need to plan stuff like making a will I case I die like childcare...

Has anyone had anything like this? And what is the recovery time like? I have covered two days and an evening for my child, but I am seriously panicking about being away from her, and the op itself. Sorry for the long and rambly post, I can't sleep due to worrying!!!

Annnd I should have posted this in health 🤦‍♀️

I had this very procedure earlier this year. I ended up having the cyst, ovary and tube removed. The op itself was absolutely fine - and I am a class A wuss and I was absolutely bricking it beforehand. The worst bit was waiting to go down to theatre - the surgery itself was no bother. The nurses were lovely and I felt very safe and looked after.

However... I think you might be being a bit optimistic about recovery. The GA really knocked it out of me, plus the incisions are swollen and sore for quite a few days. I was wobbly and on total bed rest for a good 3 days and then very weak and washed out for a good 2 weeks. All in all, I was off work for 3 weeks (although I do have a very active job - it would have been a bit sooner otherwise).

Good luck - it will all be fine (and the improvement to your health is definitely worth it!)

I had a lap with endo removal a couple of years ago. The operation was honestly fine! Went fairly smoothly and the nurses are amazing. My BP was low afterwards so I stayed in for one night. I was however very sore and bloated for a good few days afterwards, didn't get out of bed really for two days, and then developed a bit of an infection at the incision site. I think I ended up having nearly two week off work as I was on antibiotics. I think you may need a few more days full childcare and then a bit of help each day after that if possible. Good luck!!

Thanks guys. Got my mother lined up to sleep over with dd (think that's more scary than the op itself!) and she's booked into nursery for the rest of the week...

Just haven't been given much info and googling is clearly not the way forward!

I had this OP when my DD was your DD's age. It took me a few days to be back on my feet but not a full week. (although I did work home for two weeks because I didn't want to get jostled on the tube).

I looked after my DD just fine with a little help. Can you can have your Mum help for a few extra days? Maybe get some freezer meals and easy stuff in like cucumber / peas for veg so you've got easy meals for DD too.

Good luck OP! Hope it goes really well.

Oh one other tip is get some big trousers... I was super bloated after the operation (they blow air in your tummy to let the surgeons do what they need to do). I needed big trousers for several days and only had one pair that fit. Could have very much used old maternity pants or stretchy joggers!

I had the same operation done while I was pregnant it was also an emergency surgery because I had an internal bleed so I doubt they were too careful when they were pulling about my insides it was also over previous scar tissue and I had only had an operation in the same place 8 weeks beforehand.
The surgery went really well, no issues, woke up from the GA felt a bit groggy but was out of bed within the hour because they wanted to do a scan to check how the baby was after the operation and I was so desperate to find out it was ok I was walking right there straight away not giving them any excuses to delay things !
Stayed overnight in hospital pretty much slept the entire time.
It was certainly a bit tender for a few days and I did rest as much as I could but after that was pretty much back on my feet again just with a bit more caution no heavy lifting and cautiously bending for a day or 2.
I would say the worst part in terms of pain afterwards was the trapped wind from the gas they put in...gave me horrible pains up into my shoulders was given some peppermint tablets and perhaps buscopan I can't remember for sure but I've since heard that drinking peppermint tea helps with that