Hello shell1983 and a warm welcome to Cancer Chat, 

I just wanted to wish you the very best for Monday's operation. I hope that everything will go well. Many members of our forum have had ovarian cysts taken out before and I hope that they will be along shortly to share their experience with you. 

There is information on the NHS website on the hysterectomy which will give you useful information about what to expect as well as on treatment including surgery for ovarian cysts. Poor you you seem to be having quite a few procedures done at the same time which probably feels like a lot for a first operation. It is normal to be scared but you will be in the most capable hands and I am sure everything will go very well. 

I will now let our members who have had these types of surgery before come and say hello and share their experience to you. It helps to talk to others who have been there before and who have since fully recovered. 

Fingers crossed for you that it all goes well and that you recover quickly.

Best wishes, 

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

2023/04/15

About Shell1983:

Thank you Lucie (Cancer Chat Moderator) for accepting my registration.

Joanne2023

2023/04/15

Hello Shell1983:

I came into the cancer chat by coincidence through some research that I was doing about cancer and the title of your message "Large ovarian cyst: caught my eye right away and then I read the rest of it. I had a similar situation two years ago and I must tell you that this the very first time I have become a member of any chat and this was because I wanted to wish you well and to encourage and tell you not be frightened at all. 

By the way I thank Lucie, the Cancer Chat Moderator for accepting my registration.

So here's my story. They detected an ovarian "cyst" not tumor (this is something which is good in your case also, it's a cyst), during a CT scan for kidney stones four years prior to my operation. It was only 6.45 cm. Because it did not bother me, although it was recommended, I did not go to have checked further. 

To make the story a little shorter, 4 years later I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer stage A1, or something to the effect. It was at a very early state and concenrated on one area only. Because of this and it's also something that I insisted upon, I had a complete hysterectomy, and of course with the ovary the cyst had to be removed as well. It had grown to 20 cm by then and still not bothering me. Cysts are tumors usually become bothersome once they touch or push other organs and then one may have pain or other symptoms because of it.

Now coming to the operation....

I was frightened also because it was the first time in my life that I was going to be operated. However, it wasn't the operation itself that frightened but I had this fear about anesthesia. I didn't want to be put under complete anesthesia and was asking for local which was out of the question for this type of surgery. 

I remember they insisted on also giving me an epidural injection, in order to make sure once the anesthesia wears out, following the surgery, that I don't feel pain. They told me it would be very painful. I didn't want it. I kept telling that "as long as I wake up from the anesthesia I can deal with the pain".  I guess I was very determined.

The operation was successful. It was a caesarean section, because they had to remove the cyst intact. 

They brought me to my room around 9:00 in the evening and by 10:00 pm, only one hour later I was making phone calls. I didn't feel any severe pain, only some discomfort. The only type of pain medication I took was tylenol due to a headache, which I think is normal following the anesthesia. 

By 3:00 am I asked the nurse the remove the cathether and I was up from bed by 5:00 washing myself and it may sound silly but fixing my hair and putting make-up in the washroom lol.  I didn't want this inconvenience to bring me down. 

When the surgeon came to see me later in the morning he could not believe that I was up and about. I guess they told him about me and his words were that if he had not seen it with his own eyes he would not have believed it. 

I don't mean to make this sound all rosy, of course it was major surgery. But I guess I had the strength and convinced myself that I will come out of it. You will as well Shell and don't be frightened. It felt funny when walking, because of course things had been removed from inside me and I was careful and not make any abrupt movements. There were stitches both inside and out and I didn't want them to come apart. 

Just be careful with your movements for the first couple of months and after that you will feel as if nothing ever happened. 

I wish you the best of luck with your surgery tomorrow. Be brave and don't be frightened at all. Remember this is only tomorrow and by next week you will be looking back at all this.

Your new friend from cyber space,

Joanne 2023

You're very welcome Joanne2023. It's so nice of you to share your experience with Shell1983. 

Lucie

Hey thank you for sharing your story it's so reassuring for those going through similar.

i started feeling really full very quickly a few months ago, and had put weight on only on my tummy which was peculiar.

i started calorie deficit which normally helps me to lose a few pounds but the scale wouldn't drop. I noticed my tummy was hard and kind of ignored it and carried on with life. 
i have had 0 pain but just discomfort like when ur pregnant and can't get comfortable at night.

lo and behold it got bigger and bigger and I knew I had to go to the DRs who suspected IBS or coeliac and ran lots of bloods including CA125, and referred me for an ultra sound.

fast forward a couple of weeks and the sonographer was shocked to find a 30cm cyst which looks complex as it has fluid and solid parts to it. Reassuring that my CA125 is within normal range.

GP has sent me on the 2 week fast track and I got it just after 2 weeks due to the recent bank holidays, was slightly disappointed as I was expecting a CT or an MRI on being seen but it was just more of a conversation consultation.. Iv now been referred for a CT scan which will be discussed at MDT and followed by surgery 110%.

reading that u were up and about makes me feel so much better I'm a mum of 2 boys 5 and 12 and really hate the thought of putting them through this.

i am off on holiday next week and come back the same day to my CT scan - so trying my best to stay positive.

they won't know for sure about the dreaded C word until a few weeks post op after they've tested it so I'm just not even thinking that far down the line.

small steps ♥️
 

 Hi l hope operation goes well and you are feeling better soon. It's a worry before anything new The nurses will explain what is going to happen, do ask questions so that you do know what's next and what to expect. 
The surgeon and anaesthetist will see you before your operation, do ask anything you need to know. 
Fortunately they don't keep you in hospital for to long so you will be back home soon I hope you're well prepared for putting your feet up, post op and have good company to help you. Do let others help with shopping ect for the first couple of weeks, then avoid lifting anything to heavy until your healed. 

l had my overies removed recently due to left sided pain, during my operation they found I had multiple adhesions on my left side. The adhesions took hours to remove so l stayed in hospital for a few days. My recovery took a bit longer than I expected but I was soon able to get out and about, l waited until I was comfortable before driving or walking the dogs ect. 

Have a nice relaxing weekend take care 

susie