Having an Oophorectomy...?!

[PurpleLostPrincess]

I'm having an Oophorectomy at some point, finally had the go ahead last week - waiting for the date to come in the post. I've rung the consultants secretary to see if I can get a general idea of when it will be i.e. next month or next year, just so we can plan around it.

I had a TAH 18 months ago and the recovery was extensive due to problems (I'll see if I can find my old threads and do a link). This op will be done abdominally again as keyhole isn't an option because of my hysterectomy scar.

Just thought I'd see what other people's recovery was like in terms of hormones. I'm 34 and will be launched into clinical menopause - anything's better than the pain I've been living with though!

At least I have an idea of the recovery from having the TAH. I want our bedroom decorated beforehand - we stripped the wallpaper before the TAH and it still hasn't been done! Also I promised DD2 we'd do her room by her 13th birthday which is end of August. So will be busy bees over the next few months. I just wish I had some energy to get on top of things! DH suffers with MH issues so hoping he will have a good phase! Friends and family have offered to help which is a relief!

Tell me your experiences please

Thank you captain - so, it'll be 2 incisions then, rather than 1? The lady just kept telling me 'the scar' will be very big, but I've never been one for bikinis and never will be, so it doesn't bother me!

Yes, I'm looking forward to not needing any heavy painkillers and being able to lead a reasonably 'normal' life (whatever that is!).

Interesting you should say that, my Mum has oesteoperosis....

Have got my baggy knickers at the ready! I guess I'm going a bit over the top, but last time I had so many problems I'm trying to be ahead of them, just in case!

I see where the confusion lies - they're not doing keyhole captain, they have told me over and over that they have to go in abdominally as I have lots of scar tissue from the TAH. When I had it done the first time, I was rushed back to theatre that night as they had nicked an artery and I was bleeding internally. So they went in twice and I ended up with staples rather than the original stitches, and more scarring than usual. Great fun!

I just thought of a question to ask when I have my pre-op tomorrow - will I bleed afterwards? I remember I bled a little after the TAH, but I obviously haven't got a cervix now, so surely I won't? . If anybody here knows, it would be nice to hear from you. If not, I'll find out tomorrow...

Ah, sorry purple that I didn't get back in time. The ovaries are obviously bilateral so it depends if both are being removed, which depends on the reason. I am surprised that they are talking about the 'scar' unless they plan to use the TAH scar and that is too low . If you consider bilateral hernias for example (similar positioning to ovaries) you have 2 incisions if they are done as open surgery.

Just realised I have been remembering hernia ops Bilateral ooph is a biggish scar and they will possibly do it midline and vertical depending on what the reason is. Like I said it has been a long time since I was in theatres and I specialised in bowel surgery, not gyne! I only did laparoscopic oophs.

That must have been a fascinating job captain, I've often wished I'd gone into the medical field and still think about training to become a midwife one day!

Yes, they are taking both ovaries out as I've had recurring cysts on both of them, so far they've not been bigger than a tennis ball thank goodness!! I was rushed in last December as an emergency and they were going to operate then, but because I seem to be a 'complicated' case , and it was the weekend, they wanted to wait until my consultant was present. They did more scans and an MRI and established that particular one (on my right ovary), was haemoragghic (sp?). My consultant was confident it would shrink in time and said if I could live with the pain, I could go home and come back for a scan in 6 weeks. At that point I was just desperate to get home, I sometimes wish I'd insisted on having something done there and then, but hindsight is such a valuable thing afterwards!

Anyway, the pain continued, obviously it was worse when I was ovulating, I kept a diary. I had various scans and the most recent was in May/June time, where they found another 5x5 cyst but on my left ovary this time - funnily enough the pain had been coming from there. They told me it could be endometrial rather than haemoragghic which could add up because they found scarring of endometriosis when my uterus was taken out. At this point, they agreed to remove the ovaries altogether. The reason for the TAH was because I'd had CIN 2 cells 13 years ago and had laser treatment to sort them out at the time. I then had regular clear smears after that, until 2009 when I had CIN3 cells. My consultant recommended a hysterectomy due to the fact I'd had my family and lots of problems with DD2 and the pg etc.

So, here we are! Lots of my friends/family think they should have taken the ovaries when I had the TAH, but they were apparently healthy, so I can see why they chose to leave them in.

I'm apprehensive about clinical menopause, but anything is better than the pain I've been living with this past 9months/year. My mum had her menopause aged 38 and I'm 34 now. As apprehensive as I am, I'm also comforted that it will be 'controlled' rather than wondering what's going on.

I've waffled away now, sorry . Thank you for taking the time to respond - I'm writing my hospital bag list at the moment. I took way too much in with me last time, so keeping it simple! I've been in agony since yesterday, but at least I know it won't be for long...

Hi Purple, yes it was a very interesting job but gave it up due to its unpredictable finishing times! We are crying out for midwives, so I really hope you do persue it .
I think due to your history it will probably be a midline incision so that they can examine you internally as well as remove the cysts. Hemorragic (bleeds lots) which will mean they need to use more diathermy to cauterise the blood vessels in it. Some cysts (like on the left) will probably be fluid filled, where as it sounds like the right has its own blood supply.
Glad your waiting won't be for long and look forward to hearing how you go on afterwards. If it is a midline incision it may take longer to become fully fit, but now a days they don't cut the muscles, they tear them, which means that they heal better. Good luck xx

Forgot to say that you shouldn't bleed PV but the wound will bleed a little and you might have (probably) a drain for a day or two if its a big incision.

Had my pre-op today! It was the same nurse as last time so it was quite relaxed. She remembered loads about me which is amazing since the TAH was almost 2 years ago and she must see hundreds, if not thousands of ladies!

Have confirmed they will go in through my TAH scar and that the recovery is the same as the TAH was. Also saw my consultant who confirmed that the bleeding from last time is unlikely to happen again, he reckons 1% chance, phew! He stressed very much that there is a chance this won't take away the pain as it could turn out to be non-gynaecological, but because of the scans and the pain he is happy to go ahead. I think he was just making sure I'm prepared for it really.

So, I'm in at 7.30 next Tuesday morning and all being well, I should be home on the Friday. Then the fun begins at home!! DH did really well last time, but struggled. I'm hoping he steps up to the plate again. Also, DC's are older now (13 and 17), so there's no reason they can't muck in and help with the kitchen/house etc. We've made a start on decorating our room, so we've got this week to finish it. I love doing it myself as my Dad was a professional decorator, but due to the pain these last few days I may have to let DH get on with it, we'll see.....

Good luck purple xx Hope it all goes well and that you get your decor sorted in time

Oh captain, the drains, oh the drains!!! I can honestly say that was the most painful thing I have ever experienced in my life and I've given birth 3 times!! I had 2 last time and I swore at the nurse when she took the first one out, bless her (I apologised after of course!). That's one thing I'm not looking forward to!!!

Wow, sorry, crossed posts! Thanks captain

Some people aren't very good at it .....they should always be soaked in saline first so they don't stick so much! If I remember correctly trying to turn them before pulling and using a soaked swab helped

Counting down the days now! We've got through the worst part of the bedroom - all the prep took ages as the walls were awful, so I've put lining paper up and it's sooooooo much better! Just need to finish the glossing the do the main colour painting, then 1 last feature wall to wallpaper.

I've made up a rota as the kids are older this time and much more able to help out. DH struggled last time, although he did great bless him. It's only fair that they help out - they make enough mess!!

Once the bedroom is finished, I just need to epilate my legs and remove all pubic hair , then it's just waiting... I'm hoping the spinal works this time as it didn't last time...

Good luck purple and I hope the spinal works well for you x

Thanks captain

I thought about keeping a journal, then DS(17) said I should 'blog' as that's apparently the way to do it these days So, I've set up a tumblr account, purely for my own amusement - I'll link to it when I've got some content in it and have a clue of how to do it!

Well, I'm home and fixed !!!

It turned out my right ovary was stuck to the pelvic wall, then my bowel was stuck to that, then the ureta (?) was stuck to that. So many adhesions it took over 3 hours to unstick me! The consultant told me I will be more bruised and swollen than when I had the hysterectomy .

Recovery has gone well - I had so many things go wrong last time that it's been almost strange, but very very good! The nurses remembered me from the last few visits over the years; they really are fabulous, full respect to them! I told the head nurse about my fear of the drains coming out (had 2 as a precaution from last time), so she promised to do it properly and got the gas and air out! It still hurt of course, but it really helped.

So, I got home yesterday. So far absolutely no signs of any menopause symptoms. DH and the DC's aren't letting me lift a finger! I think the bruising is coming out now and I can't explain how sore I am, but still so glad I had it done...

I obviously spoke too soon! Felt a bit sick yesterday and ended up being violently sick overnight - extremely painful in my tummy And also started having hot flushes - joy!

Ended up at the out of hours doctors service and got anti-sickness tablets. So far they are working and I stopped bing sick and have kept some soup down as well as a much-needed cup of tea.

Back to recovering, although in much more pain now...

I think I'm back on track now. Still in pain of course, but I think it's 'healing pain' iykwim. Feeling very bruised and have a clump of stitches under the skin at one end of my wound that's poking me. Hopefully they will dissolve soon so will just have to put up with them for now.

DH and DS have gone food shopping and took DD2 with them so I'm in the house alone. I've been naughty and made myself a cup of tea, won't be doing that again soon!

DD2 seems to have responded quite badly this time - poor thing can't give me enough 'presents' to make me feel better. She's been rather naughty for the others. I guess at 4 years old, she can't put her feelings into words, so it's coming out in other ways. I think some quality time with her will help...

The hot flushes seem to be coming more, although it's hard to tell while the weather is warm...

I had an oophrectomy on the 1st august, and I feel 100% now. Ovary was stuck down to bowel etc. Had to go into hosp day before op and take bowel prep and have IV - the bowel prep was awful. Unbelievably horrid. Didnt have hot flushes too much, wsa very hormonally emotional though - very up and down with moodswings.....was lucky not to get the sickness though, athough am not a very 'sicky' person....migraines are my thing!

I had to have a nap in the day for about a couple of weeks, then tried not to as couldnt sleep at night. Rest as much as you can. Eat well too, lots of fruit and veg and water to help your healing.

Thank you Vanilla, so pleased you're feeling so good and it went well in the end. Sorry to hear you had to go through the bowel prep, apparently my consultant doesn't like them so I've not had to go through it either time! Must have been awful!

Do you mind if I ask if they put you on HRT?

Hi Purple, no they didn't put me on HRT, have been on it before alongside some other meds I was on. Don't know if it was the other meds or the HRT but I did get very depressed whilst on them.... hd my follow up a couple of weeks ago and doc did check to see if I had hot flushes or anything,he was satisified it was part of the healing and nothing to be concerned about.

Hoping to resurrect this thread as I will probably be having an oophorectomy in the next few months. Purple how are you now?

I've had Prostap and Livial 2.5mg for really bad mood swings, but have no physical symptoms.

Does anyone know much about ovary removal when there's no physical problems? Is it a sledgehammer to crack a nut?

I'm 44 btw.

Hiya, sorry I didn't see this sooner!

I'm doing well thanks. I've been having a few problems with my scar, but because of my 'hangover' I guess that's to be expected!

The hot flushes stepped up loads and got utterly unbearable, I was told to wait until I saw my consultant for follow up before anything could be prescribed. Saw my consultant who was happy with my recovery, but told me I should be taking things slower as always; he also sent a note to my GP asking him to prescribe me with estradiol/HRT. I started on that and ever since then I've had hardly any hot flushes. However, I turned into a complete mess and a monster and had a bit of a meltdown - went straight back to the GP and he increased my ad's in an attempt to level things out. So far it seems to have worked, but I'm sad that my ad's have increased when I was hoping to come off them this year. Oh well, it could be worse!

The past couple of weeks I've had some pain, very similar to my old pain, but I'm trying to ignore it...

Oh, and when I went on the HRT, my fanjo was unbelievably itchy and dry. My GP offered me some cream, but said if it didn't improve I should see a lady doctor to have a look. Thankfully the cream worked - I've been told to be wary of this because my nanny died of cancer of the vulva and my Mum has lichens sclerosis which is apparently linked and is hereditory.

The main issue for me has been tiredness, but to be fair I have no idea if that's due to the ad's increasing, the HRT, or just that I'm still recovering (surely not after over 4 months!?). Most evenings I fall asleep on the sofa while DH is cooking dinner and still manage to be in bed way before 11/12pm. I generally wake around 3 or 4am but not for long. Just to explain, I used to be up till after midnight most nights - not sure when I last saw midnight lol! for example, today I had a lie in until 11am, got up and had a cup of tea, then fell asleep on the sofa for half an hour. Then later in the afternoon I dosed off again. The rest of the week I'm running around after the kids, my parents, DH etc, and I'd done all the housework yesterday, so I just wanted to sit and watch TV... Even now I'm struggling to keep my eyes open lol!

Having said all of that, I was having very restless nights before the HRT and the consultant said it would help - I'd rather have it this way around!

Anyway, I've waffled away haven't I, sorry!

So, why are they taking your ovaries YourCallIsImportant? Are they going in by keyhole?

Hope to hear from you soon...

Hi, may I join in (and bump this up a bit!).

I am considering oophrectomy too. I am 34. I have recurring cysts, dermoids, this one is number four and I will be seeing the gynae in a couple of weeks to discuss my options.

They keep coming back, I have surgery every year and am told that is it they shouldnt come back and three months later the symptoms are back, I end up having a scan and oh look, another one. I cant keep having this constant pain and the other symptoms and the annual operations!

However - I am scared of being forced into an early menopause by having my ovaries removed. Not at all bothered by the operation (I have had enough to not be scared by those anymore!), but what happens after.

Will I be on HRT forever? What are the risks? What does it feel like? Honestly truly feel like? I am not good on the pill and therefore being put on hormones scares me, is it similar? i.e. will I put weight on and become psychotic / suicidal?

And please someone tell me, does it affect your sex life? Drive and physically?

Purple - I am glad you feel better after your op, Do you honestly feel better with or without the HRT? How long do you stay on it for?

YourCall - As purple asked, why are they taking your ovaries away? Is it all mood related?