My OB/GYN called yesterday. Looks like a laparoscopy is in my near future. She wants me to have an MRI first. The ovarian cyst is solid and hasn't gone away for over 6 mos.. She said it could be a tumor, but the fact that it hasn't grown or changed is a good sign. Let's hope it's benign!

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 09:14 am:

My sisters have both had one. I have not. Emily had a laparaoscopic appendectomy, so she is pretty close to one. They blow your belly up with carbon dioxide, so that they can see in there. It takes a while for your body to get rid of it, so that puts pressure on your diaphragm and gives you shoulder pain. My one sister was uncomfortable with the shoulder pain, but I don't think it lasts all that long. Emily was bothered by gas pains a little bit, but once she started passing gas, she was better.

By Jann on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 09:59 am:

I have had several. (even had a total hysterectomy laproscopically) It is day surgery usually under general anesthesia. The gas is definitely uncomfortable, but if you can get up and walk around after your surgery, that helps tremendously. Also GasX helps. They usally go in, in 3 places, each ovary and right below or at your belly button. Before you leave the hospital, they will want you to pee, take sips of water and sit up. You will feel sore and a little tender at that site for a couple of days. Usually it's getting over the anesthetic that is harder to 'get over' than the actual surgery. You might be restricted on driving, sometimes it's 3 days sometimes it's as much as 6 weeks, it will depend on what they find/do once inside...especially if you end up with any internal stitches.
Good luck.

By Marcia on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 10:09 am:

I've had a couple for fertility issues. For the first one I just had one incision right at the bottom of my belly button. For the second I had 2 - belly button and bikini line. I had them both done on a Thursday, and was back at work on Monday, but without lifting. The gas is the most uncomfortable part, and I didn't know about gas-x at the time. I'd be sure to buy some!!
Other than that, it's really not a big deal Hope all goes well!

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 11:13 am:

Thanks for the feedback, girls! I knew I could count on you. Hmm, looks like DH will have to take a day or two off work. I've had two c-sections so this shouldn't be as hard, especially considering I won't have a newborn to tend to. However, general anesthesia makes me SICK, sick and that typically is hardest for me during recovery. Nausea, dry heaves, gas, bloating, pain,... Oh joy, can't wait! LOL!

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 11:20 am:

Trina, you have experience based advice above. The advantage to laproscopy is minimal incision and scarring, much shorter recovery time. The important questions, as always, are: How many times a year do you do this procedure and how many have you done?; What are possible complications and how would you deal with them?

If there are complications, there is always the possibility of a full surgery with abdominal incision. Such complications are much less likely to arise if the surgeon has a lot of experience with the procedure.

By Karen~moderator on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 11:52 am:

I've had one and the worst thing about it was the pain in your neck/shoulders post-op. Ask your Dr. to *deflate* you as much as possible before closing. It's definitely an easier recovery than a C-section or a laparotomy (open abdominal surgery, of which I've had several also). It is *probably* a huge fibroid - I had emergency surgery in 1993 and it turned out to be a football sized fibroid tumor.

When are you going to schedule?

By Jann on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 02:27 pm:

Trina, ask them to put phinegrin (sorry, don't think that is spelled right) or some other anti nausea in your IV upon wakening.

By Karen~moderator on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 02:29 pm:

Phenergan - I have an Rx for that. LOL They normally give you that with Demoral after, and before they start, you usually get Versed.

By Karen~moderator on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 02:32 pm:

And the wonderful thing about Versed is you don't remember anything from that point on until you wake up!

By Jann on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 04:07 pm:

That's the right spelling!!! LOL

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 04:21 pm:

Karen,
My GYN scheduled me for an MRI this Friday and seemed to want to do the laparoscopy shortly thereafter. I asked if it could possibly wait until after the kids start school (9/1) because that would make things SO much easier concerning childcare, etc.. She said, "Of course!" and her nurse called me later with an MRI appt. for 9/2. I get the feeling she doesn't want to wait too long and I'm perfectly OK with that, just that we have so many other things going on right now. Argh.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 04:38 pm:

Emily's surgery was on Friday afternoon. By Sunday, she was very perky again! It seemed like it had been a long time, since she was that perky, after being sick for a few days, before the surgery.

By Karen~moderator on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 05:29 pm:

The best thing is NOT to wait. My GYN wanted me to have an u/s for almost a year before I finally did, and by then it was too late to wait, I started hemorrhaging, and ended up having emergency surgery. DO IT SOON!

I'm having another MRI this Saturday AM along with more Xrays of my hips and back, between you and I, we are doing our part to support the medical sector! LOL

By Jann on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 06:28 pm:

Can you have the MRI now, but schedule the lap for when the kids go back to school?

By Eve on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 06:37 pm:

If you need anything, let us know, Trina. We are always around. My last surgery was wonderful and I wish I could remember what he used. He wrote it down. I'll see if I still have it. I felt like I had a nice rest. Plus, they gave me Zofran and that always works for me. ((HUG))

By Jelygu on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 07:57 pm:

I don't have any experience, just want wish you luck. I hope it is benign, and you have a speedy recovery. Keep us updated!

By Colette on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 08:02 pm:

Good luck Trina! I had laproscopic surgery when I had my gall bladder out. I will be thinking of you.

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 08:53 pm:

Jann, I could have the MRI this week but would have to arrange childcare. Since the kids are starting school so soon I see no harm in waiting until next week when childcare will be a non issue. KWIM? DH will definitely have to take time off work for my lap. I imagine that will be scheduled asap after the MRI.

Eve, thanks! We *might* need your help the day of my lap, depending on what time it's scheduled. We may not be able to make it home from Hartford before the kids get home from school. I'll keep you posted as soon as I learn more.

Thank you everyone for your well wishes and support. It means a lot.

By Bea on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 09:38 pm:

I'm so sorry to hear that you are going through this right now. I understand how hard it must be to wait for answers. I'll be praying that you'll receive only good news. Hang in there.

By Angellew on Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - 09:35 am:

{{{Trina}}} Good luck.

But, after c-sections, this will be a breeze for you!!! I had it done last year for my gall bladder and, compared to the c-section, it was nothing!!! You'll do great!

By Bobbie~moderatr on Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - 11:04 pm:

I had a laparoscopy done when I was 16. I have the scar in the bottom of my belly button and the scar about an inch into my hair line bellow that. You will do just fine. I had a C 7 years ago and I know for a fact that it was WAY worse.