what is recovery time for ovarian cyst op ?

[poppy2133]

I have a large ovarian cyst ( approx 20 cm x 10 cm ) which is due to be removed soon. Anyone ave any ideas how long off work I'll need ?

I had one removed (not as large) and I was off work for 4 weeks (no driving or lifting etc.).

Are they going in keyhole ? that will make a difference. 4- 5 weeks is the standard recovery time with no driving and being very careful about lifting and so on. If they make an incision more along the lines of a c section it will be a longer recovery time.

My recovery time was much longer but was emergency and more like a full c-section rather then key-hole. I was off college 3 months. it depends on how they intend to remove it. if it is keyhole then the recovery time is likely to be more like having an appendix done. if they cut you across the tummy from one side to the other (very unlikely in this case) it will obviously take longer.

could you not ring the hospital department and ask how long they think it might be before you can return to work. Most hospitals will let you know -even if they have to ring you back. Because if you go back too early you can end up with complications they need to fix. and if they say 6 months before heavy lifting dont go moving a wardrobe after 6 weeks.

I had an ovarian cyst removed plus Fallopian tube by keyhole this year, it took me two weeks to recover and afterwards I felt wonderful.

When I had mine removed I had to take 4 months off college. According to the gynaecologist I saw, even something as simple as reaching up to a high shelf (within 3-4 months of surgery)can damage your stitches, if you have open surgery.

Tbh, it depends on exactly where the cyst is sited (big ones can drag the ovary out of place) and also what sort of cyst it is, whether fluid or with solid parts.

It depends if they're going to do laparoscapy which is keyhole surgery or a laparotomy which is a larger cut, it should say what they intend to do on your consent form.

The keyhole op is considered minor surgery whereas the larger cut is considered a major op with a longer recovery time. Though all surgery feels major when you've been through it!
I think they advise 2 weeks for keyhole and 6 weeks for the other.

I had a pretty big 10cm x 15cm cyst removed with keyhole surgery in mid June this year. It took me 2 - 3 weeks to get more or less back to normal. Tired easily and quite dizzy for days.

I'm self employed and do a sedentary job and took 3 weeks off. You still need to avoid heavy lifting for even longer because even though the outside is healed the inside is still healing.