Oophorectomy via Laparotomy (Open Surgery) Experience?

[Mauhea]

Hello all,

I have recently been diagnosed with a large (17x12x10cm) dermoid cyst on my left ovary. Due to the size and nature of the cyst they would like to remove it in one piece, along with the affected ovary and tube, via open surgery. They're not sure at this point whether the incision will be midline or caesarean style.

I am currently waiting for my surgery date and wondered if anyone would be happy to share their experience if they have had similar surgery? It would be great to know what to expect during the immediate post-surgery recovery and any helpful tips for healing and managing the first few weeks. Thank you in advance!

Hi - I had this done but way back in 1990. At the time, ultrasounds were so poor they thought I had fibroids and only discovered it wasn't that at all when they went in! While I'm sure a lot has changed since then, I think it's probably that more is done via keyhole these days and so open surgery is less usual. Lifting above a very low amount will be out for about a month, no driving, not easy to stand up straight. Not sure what your situation is - particularly if you have young children, you will need help and you will get very, very tired at first. If that is not your situation, I went on to have 2 children afterwards so 1 ovary is definitely enough! Good luck OP. If you have any questions, do ask.

Thank you very much for this. Definitely seems like I'll become a big fan of naps for a while!

No little ones just yet but I've been hearing lots of reassuring stories of fellow single ovaried people having bushels of children! Fingers crossed righty will be up for pulling its weight when the time comes! :)

Hi not me but a friend of mine had both of her ovaries removed due to large cysts through keyhole a few months ago She went in at 7 in the morning and was out by early evening,! She was a bit drowsy and sore for a couple of days but made a really rapid recovery and was back to normal within a week, I couldn't believe what used to be major surgery was done so quickly and relatively painlessly,. I have to add her overall health had been so much better since she had the procedure.
Good luck

Oh wow, that's a fantastically speedy recovery! Needless to say I am a bit disappointed keyhole isn't an option but I understand the reasons for needing to go whole hog to shoehorn it out (plus a few weeks off work enjoying terrible daytime TV is a fair exchange!)

Now that you mention it I didn't really think about overall health after. I do have a pretty much constant feeling of pressure with the cyst and organs trying to share space. It will be so lovely having that gone and being able to bend all the way down again...

I had one of my ovaries (plus large cyst)removed via laparotomy 10 years ago. Physically, it was painful for the first couple of weeks in particular. Keep on top of pain meds & rest. After 6 weeks I was a lot more comfortable. Accept that your body needs time to repair itself and try not to rush your recovery.
I have had children, without any issues, since then.
Best of luck.

I've had a laparotomy (different reasons - emergency).

Took me about a month to recover to an ok level and 3 months to be normal.

The wound is quite long - a couple of centimetres below my breasts to my belly button.

Mine has generally healed very well apart from a small section that "burst" when I tried to do too much, too soon.

As a result I have a small keloid scar there. The rest has now faded to a very thin, barely noticeable pale line.

Immediately after surgery I was simply very groggy and hooked up to a morphine drip. I wasn't upset/anxious or in pain.

The challenges stated 2 days after when the morphine went, along with the catheter a week later and I had to start being mobile.

I just misunderstood how long it would take to heal and after leaving hospital I just resumed normal life - rupturing my wound in the process doing housework.

Tips: don't be a hero post surgery like I did. Rest. Recover. Hire a cleaner. Take up help from friends/family (if they offer to help then one thing that's great is cooking meals you can freeze and re-heat, taking out the rubbish or anything that involves using your stomach muscles). Take wound management seriously.

Thank you both very much for sharing. I'm sorry to hear that you had some bumps on the road to recovery, DeRigueurMortis.

Doing some batch cooking early (and taking up any offers of cooked dinners) is a fab idea I hadn't thought of! I'll have my partner to help me but I already feel sorry for him having to work all day then come home and cook. So having some nice meals that can just be nuked or chucked in the oven will be great.