Cyst surgery advice? Feeling scared

[Kayannie123]

Hey guys! Just looking for some advice, I’m having a cyst removed off my ovary next Wednesday and I’m so so scared of the surgery and being put under! Has any body got any recovery advice? I’m so such a baby when it comes to this! I gave birth in September and I think I’m more worried about this 😣

I had an ovarian cyst removed when I was 10 months post partum with my eldest (11 years ago now) I was scared as I’d never had an operation or a general before but honestly, it was fine. I can remember crying in the prep room and when they asked my why as they were getting me ready and I told them I was scared they were very reassuring and kind and told me they’d take care of me. It was literally like on tv, count back from 10, the next thing I know I’m waking up in recovery.

I had to have a laparotomy (full horizontal cut) rather than keyhole surgery, mine was a 10cm simple cyst.

Felt very out of it when I woke up from the anaesthetic, I remember my nose being very itchy and being told that would be the morphine.

Recovery was a bit tough, but painful and my scar opened up a little and got infected. I needed help getting in and out of the bath/shower and couldn’t drive, lift anything heavier than my baby for a while but I healed quite quickly. If you have keyhole, recovery will be even easier.

Just make sure you keep on top of painkillers and have someone to help you with the baby at home and you’ll be fine.

I had a cyst removed last year. It was sore afterwards for a couple of weeks - the best thing was just wearing very loose clothing and changing the dressing regularly. I was very tired so hopefully being able to rest for a couple of days is good although hard with a baby! I had it on the Friday and was able to go back to work (from home) on the Monday.

Something I wasn't expecting was the shoulder pain and stomach bloating. They never mentioned it at hospital. I think it was the gas rising upwards? It was agony to lay down! I had to sleep up on pillows for I think two nights

I had a ruptured ovarian cyst (and was really ill because of sepsis as a result) unbeknownst to me, just before we went into lockdown. I just remember having horrendous pain - worse than childbirth and kidney stones put together!
Had laparoscopy (2 incisions) under general anaesthetic and was looked after wonderfully by the nurses. As pp have said, woke up to awful pain in my shoulder from the gas moving upwards, remedied by lots of peppermint tea. Stitches healed quickly but wasn't allowed to drive or exercise for many weeks.

Thank you guys for the advice. Mine is quite big 12cm had it for 8 years now. They are confident they can do the keyhole. I have heard many people talk about shoulder pain. My mum had it too. I’m just so scared of been put to sleep 😣😣 I’ve just got it into my head I might not wake up, I know it might sound daft!

I had this done when in my twenties, the cyst was big, no keyhole for me, they had to do a vertical cut and they took both ovaries in the end & I had 8 stitches and had to stay in until they were taken out, they did 4 one day then 4 the next. The shoulder pain will most likely be wind from the anaesthetic, but they will get you up and walking as soon as possible so keep walking as it will help release it. not marathons just gentle pottering round the ward or house and garden when you get home. My op was many years ago & they used to advise no heavy lifting or strenuous exercise or swimming for a few weeks. things change though so not sure what they advise now, ask them what they recommend before you get discharged.

Hi op no experience of cysts but I understand the fear of anaesthetic. You will be fine, you will have a team in theatre all with a specific job to do to look after you and keep you safe and you will be monitored throughout 💐

My daughter had an 11cm cyst and fallopian tube removed at 14 and recovered well- I know it’s easy to say but try not to worry!

@madamegazelle1 thank you! Oh bless her what a thing to go through at that age! Yes they’ve told me I might loose my tube or my ovary! I just feel so scared 😟

Hers was an emergency operation after trying to get to the bottom of awful pain that came to a head. In some ways I think it’s harder for you as you have time to think about what’s happening. It’s so easy for me to say it will be ok but I am
sure it will- it’s natural to feel
apprehensive but I am sure you will
feel relieved when it’s done

UPDATE:
hey guys thought I would update you all I had my surgery yesterday. I did have abit of a cry when being weeled down for surgery. Being put to sleep wasn’t that bad! It was so quick! Then next i knew was waking back up! The hard but is the recovery and the gas that they use to inflate your stomach is agonising! I can only sleep on my back and can’t move move. I thought keyhole would be less painful 😣 good news they managed to remove the cyst and have managed to save everything and also did some repair work on my bowel which I had no idea anything was wrong with it! The pain in my shoulders is horrendous! 😣

That’s great you’re out the other side now and hopefully recovery will be quick

@Kayannie123- was your cyst an endometrioma? And if so was it endometriosis on your bowel?

I’m in for a cyst removal next week and the anaesthetic is my biggest fear. Im so scared that i wont wake up and I’ll leave my children without a mum.

@alittleworried83 hey! I had the operation on Wednesday. In terms of the anaesthetic that was my biggest fear too!! I was so scared I wasn’t going to wake up. The anaesthetic meets with you first before and I told him I was really scared and he really put my mind at ease! He was laughing and joking with me and said he will put abit of the anaesthetic into my hand first and wait a little bit first. This really helped, he put it into hand I literally just felt like I was drunk and he put abit more in and that was it, I literally just woke back up in recovery like nothing happened! Considering I was terrified, it really wasn’t that bad, it’s not a nice thing to have done but not like how I’d thought it would be! Tell your anaesthetic that you’re scared and if they can do it bit by bit it really does help! No my cyst was a simple fluid cyst but mine huge 14cm! And I have no endometriosis. If you’re having keyhole. The worst pain is the from the gas the use to inflate your stomach, it just hangs around in your system for awhile! You will be fine! I was scared I was going not see my baby again too but turns out I was worried about nothing ❤️

Thank you @Kayannie123- I feel silly because older more unhealthy people have anaesthetics all the time, but it’s such a real fear!
I wonder what happened to your bowel!