Kara Wesson
Aquamarine Member (10+ Posts)
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Posts: 14
Location: Peterborough, England |
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Hello
If you have read my other posts then you will know that on August 28th I was diagnosed with a 5cm Ovarian Cyst, don't know what sort or whether it is in my ovary or on it, whether it is fluid filled or solid in fact my Gynae wasn't really interested. I have been in constant pain and discomfort since July 13th. Anyway I have a laparoscopy booked for December 8th, it seems like a lifetime away, I am trying to keep smiling but it gets harder each day, I am also worried because the gynae has said because I had complications before with this kind of surgery it could be worse this time. I am worried, can anyone tell me anymore about this, and also I have high blood pressure and am worried they wont do the surgery because of it. |
Mon Sep 28, 2009 2:34 am |
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Princess125
Pink Quartz Member (0-10 Posts)
Joined: 19 Nov 2009
Posts: 3
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With all the pain u are in now u will be so happy after surgey is over with my parents were more nervous then i was about surgey frist time i had one of my cyst removed it was a relife the more surgeys u have thought its more complated when u get out and takes longer to heal more and more surgeys u have but alot of that is becuas the scar tisuse lets hope this will be ur last surgey and u will get relife
Ashley |
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Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:08 pm |
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estria
Amber Member (250+ Posts)
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
Posts: 274
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Hello Kara,
I did not notice your post before so I am replying kind of close to your surgery date. I hope you are doing OK. How old are you ? What kind of complications did you have the last time you had this kind of surgery ?
A laparoscopy is one of the least invasive surgeries that you can have so I imagine that the complications had to do with either infection or with the anaesthesia. The risks of anaesthesia complications can be greatly reduced with modern day techniques. I am not sure when you had the last surgery but over the past ten years they have made leaps and bounds in this field. As for infection, there are steps that you can take in order to minimize this risk. If you keep the incision area as clean as possible after the surgery, you should not have much problem. You don't have to scrub the area or anything, just dab it lightly with an alcohol pad (not too much or you will irritate the area and cause inflammation). You can buy these at the pharmacy. Talk to the hospital staff about doing this and make sure they are in agreement but I found that this was the easiest way to keep the area clean after surgery.
Recovery from a lap is usually very short, anywhere from a few days to a week. However, your true recovery will take a little longer so take it easy for the weeks following the surgery. The trick is to get up and move around as much as you can handle. This will make recovery faster. You also get to go home the same day as the surgery which is nice. Be very careful about taking pain killers as these will silence your bowels and your bowels will already be silenced by the anaesthesia. As a matter of fact, you may want to take a stool softener after surgery to help to keep things soft and easy to pass. I found that I was dehydrated after my surgery and I drank a lot. This is also very healthy for your bowels as they need fluids to get going again. In addition to the stool softener, take a fibre supplement like Metamucil, this helps a lot too. Eat light after the surgery and take your time getting back to normal on the eating front. Personally I opted for a strong anti inflammatory after surgery, rather than a pain killer and this worked wonders for me.
Be sure to mention the blood pressure to the anaesthesiologist (although as I recall, they took my blood pressure prior to the surgery) and any concerns that you may have such as perhaps nausea after surgery. They will take good care of you and they have seen it all so they can handle anything.
If you have any questions, come back and ask. I know how scary an upcoming surgery can be but if you can handle your emotions and not get too stressed out, it will make for a much smoother surgery psychologically speaking.
Take care of yourself.
Estria |
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Fri Nov 27, 2009 7:45 am |
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Kara Wesson
Aquamarine Member (10+ Posts)
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Posts: 14
Location: Peterborough, England |
Hello Estria
Thank you for replying. I have now had my pre op and the op is on December 8th. Will be so pleased to have my life back. Trying to stay positive. I did get an infection from my last Laproscomy for my Sterillisation, but it was through no fault of mine, I did keep the areas clean, not sure how it happened, a bit worried but still keeping positive. My Gynae is an awful man, wasn't willing to discuss anything really, worried me sick by telling me that because of the complications before, and I presume he meant the infection! not sure as he seemed that he just wanted to rush me out. Anyhow that aside, justing counting the days when I will be free of pain:) |
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Fri Nov 27, 2009 3:48 pm |
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estria
Amber Member (250+ Posts)
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
Posts: 274
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Hi Kara,
If the past complications are bothering you and you are not sure if he was talking about the infection or something else then ask him. Don't let him push you aside. All doctors have pressing schedules and I usually behave as if I could care less .. it is not my problem if they do not allocate enough time for each patient and I want to have my concerns addressed.
Don't let this bother you too much. I wonder if he was trying to dissuade you from having the surgery by saying this. Have you done a more recent ultrasound to see if the cyst was still there ? This might be advisable as you don't want him to get in there and find that the cyst has been reabsorbed by the ovary. At any rate, the laparoscopy in this case would be for the purpose of finding out what is causing your pain (ie. exploratory surgery).
Did you have a laparotomy or a laparoscopy for your previous surgery ? And when was it ? As I mentioned, techniques and equipment have come a VERY long way in a very short amount of time. I have a feeling that your previous negative experience is colouring your mental health now. I am sure that you will come through with flying colours. I also had a very pessimistic outlook going into my surgery (to remove my left ovary and tube due to a cyst) and I couldn't believe how much better things went in the end.
Keep your eye on the prize .. getting your life back. In time for Christmas too. Won't that be nice. Take care of yourself and hang in there .. I am sure you will be just fine.
Estria |
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Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:01 pm |
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Kara Wesson
Aquamarine Member (10+ Posts)
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Posts: 14
Location: Peterborough, England |
| No Operation Today |
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I am so upset and dissappointed I had to rant somewhere. My operation was due for today, but when I rang this morning it's been cancelled,, no beds! They are going to ring me in the next couple of days but it could be up to 28 days for a new op date! This year has been awful don't know whether I can take much more. |
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Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:44 am |
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estria
Amber Member (250+ Posts)
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
Posts: 274
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Hi,
So sorry to hear about this setback but I don't quite understand. Are you not scheduled for a LAPAROSCOPY ? This is day surgery and you don't need a bed since you won't be checked in overnight. Do they realize this ?
Here in Canada we have the same issue with the medical system. Perhaps you can speak to your gyne and see if he or she can put you on an emergency call list or something. Sometimes surgeons cheat like this and use the time they are on call to do their clinical patients .. especially if the procedure is important and had to be pushed back.
If your procedure will take a few more weeks to take place, you may want to schedule another ultrasound in the meantime to ensure that the cyst is not gone. For all you know your pain may be due to something other than the cyst. Hopefully the cyst is the culprit and when taken out it will solve the issue for good.
Try not to increase your blood pressure by worrying about this too much. Do something to treat yourself and make yourself feel better. Do a bit of shopping and treat yourself to lunch or go out and buy yourself some bath toiletries and soak in the tub with some nice smelling bubbles, a good book and a glass of wine. Anything to get your mind off of things a little.
I hope you get another date very soon. Don't let the "it could take up to 28 days" statement get to you. They may call you back and say it is now happening tomorrow. Hang in there and take care of yourself.
Estria |
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Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:59 am |
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Kara Wesson
Aquamarine Member (10+ Posts)
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Posts: 14
Location: Peterborough, England |
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Yes I was scheduled LAPAROSCOPY. I know this is a day surgery and i am sure they know this, as they are the professionals, but I was told to prepare an overnight bag, just in case I had to stay in.
As for my gynae he was the one that told me it would be eight weeks before my op and now here I am 16 weeks later and still here in pain! Thinking this morning that I would be back to my old self by tonight well almost ( within the week )
I don't know what happens in Canada but here in England it's not up to me if I get another ultrasound, I personally think it would be a great idea. The pain may be due to something other than the cyst but I am not the gynae and I would have hoped that I would be pain free by now and after having the LAPAROSCOPY they would have been able to investigate further.
As for going out shopping for taking my mind off things, chance would be a fine thing, I have had to have my wages cut by half because I can't do a full day and then my work underpaid me accidently! by half again, so yes I would love to treat myself but can't afford it. I am going back into work tomorrow to take my mind off it for few hours. I am trying to stay positive but this year has been really hard family wise my Grandma passed away a couple of days ago, I have had this pain for what seems like ages and I can't do all the things I did before, now I just feel numb.
But still fingers crossed for tomorrow:) |
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Tue Dec 08, 2009 4:40 pm |
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estria
Amber Member (250+ Posts)
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
Posts: 274
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Hello,
I am so sorry to hear about all of this. It sounds like you really do need to pamper yourself even if just a little bit. Even a cup of hot chocolate in a warm bath with some soothing music and scented candles will do you some good. As tough as it may seem right now, try to be good to yourself as much as possible.
In Canada we don't have the choice ourselves to do an ultrasound. We have to have a doctor's ordonnance. However, once we have that, here in the province of Québec, we can have our ultrasound done in a private clinic if we wish. Otherwise, the public system is available but takes a lot longer. I personally used to prefer to forgo something else in my life in order to pay for a private ultrasound and peace of mind (a private ultrasound here costs only around $80.00 CDN). The doctor usually has no problem giving the prescription for the ultrasound, especially if they know that it will reduce stress and anxiety.
The overnight bag they told you to pack is just in case you have nausea and cannot return home. If they give you a good anti-nausea med, you should have no problem. You are right though, they are professionals and know what they are doing.
Good luck for a speedy booking and all the best.
Estria |
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Tue Dec 08, 2009 5:38 pm |
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Kara Wesson
Aquamarine Member (10+ Posts)
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Posts: 14
Location: Peterborough, England |
The NHS is a joke! On Monday nearly a week after my op was going to take place I finally heard from the booking co ordinator. I had a new date of December 22nd confirmed by letter, not ideal but I just want this thing out, all excited. Then today when I got home from work my husband tells me I have had a phone call and my op probably isn't going ... See Moreto take place because the gynae had seen that the time slot allocated wasn't enough because he thinks my op might take longer than just a day surgery. And that is the only date free till after he gets back off holiday! They are trying to slot me in with another consultant but she said they are very busy too, I have to wait a couple of days! I feel angry and distraught, surely they should have discussed this before sending my letter out and letting me down so badly again. Has anyone had this happen? |
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Wed Dec 16, 2009 6:10 pm |
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estria
Amber Member (250+ Posts)
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
Posts: 274
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Kara,
This is all sounding very strange. I am not sure about your specific health situation but I know that my laparoscopy to remove my left ovary and tube due to a 9 cm cyst took only about an hour and I was home by 1 pm (my surgery was at 8 am).
Have you ever considered seeing another gynecologist ? You have been having problems since July and you still don't have a solution because of constant putting off by your doctor (not to mention trying to scare you etc..). The way things are going, another gynecologist may solve your problem sooner than this person.
I would be a bit suspicious at this point.
I hope you get a date very soon.
Take care.
Estria |
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Wed Dec 16, 2009 7:09 pm |
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Kara Wesson
Aquamarine Member (10+ Posts)
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Posts: 14
Location: Peterborough, England |
Thank You Estria
I have had a terrible night, aswell as the pain I now feel sick and headachey and not alot of sleep. Got an appointment Friday with my normal doctor,, going to see if he can help.
Thank you for your support. |
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Thu Dec 17, 2009 2:15 am |
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ovarianshcmovarian
Pink Quartz Member (0-10 Posts)
Joined: 02 Jan 2010
Posts: 3
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That is rotten treatment! I am enraged along with you. You are in my thoughts, for what it's worth!
quote:
Originally posted by Kara Wesson
Thank You Estria
I have had a terrible night, aswell as the pain I now feel sick and headachey and not alot of sleep. Got an appointment Friday with my normal doctor,, going to see if he can help.
Thank you for your support.
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Sat Jan 02, 2010 8:03 pm |
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Kara Wesson
Aquamarine Member (10+ Posts)
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Posts: 14
Location: Peterborough, England |
Thank you for your support. I am at my wits end now!
Gone over my breach date
The letter which I received from the hospital offering me the 22nd of December then was retracted the day after, somehow dissappeared from their records, I still have it though.
They still haven't contacted me, so I rang the booking coordinator only to be told they haven't found a date for me yet she is trying to get me in by the end of this month. I am definately going to put in a complaint. Here in England there is a NHS Constitution which pledges to get patients in within 18 weeks of being refered by their doctor. I was referred back in July!
Thanks for listeningx |
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Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:17 am |
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estria
Amber Member (250+ Posts)
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
Posts: 274
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Hello Kara,
Hang in there. If there is a way to get your doctor on board with this, perhaps he can get them to fit you in. He has more power than you do so I don't know if phoning his office may help get you in faster.
Here is Canada we have the exact same problem so I sympathize greatly. On the one hand we have health care that we don't have to pay for (although strictly speaking we DO pay for it with our taxes), but on the other hand this health care is seldom timely and ALWAYS frustrating from an administrative standpoint.
For my ultrasound scans and even blood tests I have actually preferred to fork out my own cash and get it done privately because I frankly cannot wait the number of months that it takes to schedule an appointment. Unfortunately for surgery though, we do not have a choice and we have to go through the public system which is underfunded and overtaxed with patients. A huge percentage of people here do not even have a family doctor because there are not enough of them to supply the service to the entire population. Then our politicians go preaching about how our system is so much better than the United States' private system. I frankly don't think so because the result is the same: large numbers of people cannot get health care ! (in our case it's because there are not enough doctors and in the US' case it is because people cannot afford it ... either way ...).
Try not to let this crap get to you though, as difficult as it is. Just keep calling and bug them until they get off their keysters and schedule a date for you. Call them weekly if you have to so they don't forget about you. Be firm and persistent. This is the only way I have found that works with this type of system. Persistence is key and only the squeeky wheel gets the grease. It is a horrible thing to have to go through ... as if your medical condition is not giving you enough stress already !!!
Hang on, you will get your date.
Kindest Regards,
Estria |
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Thu Jan 07, 2010 7:32 am |
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Kara Wesson
Aquamarine Member (10+ Posts)
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Posts: 14
Location: Peterborough, England |
| Finally Out |
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Finally after 6 months of pain and 2 cancelled operations due to lack of beds I had my cyst removed laproscopically on Tuesday. It was a 6cm dermoid cyst, So Pleased to have the hairy toothy thing out:) Thank you guys for supporting me through the last few months. Going to take it easy for the next couple of weeks and relax. |
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Thu Jan 21, 2010 3:42 am |
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estria
Amber Member (250+ Posts)
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
Posts: 274
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Hello Kara,
Wow ! It is great to hear that the procedure went well and that you are recovering nicely. You will be tender for a while so take it easy BUT do try to move around if you can because this will speed up recovery and get your bowels moving again.
Also, drink water because I found that surgery really dehydrates you. I still remember drinkng some twenty or so glasses of water the day of my surgery and still needing to drink the day after that. For some reason my mouth felt ever so dry .. I still remember those wimpy tiny cups they had after surgery for you to drink from. I had to keep getting more to drink. Drinking is also good for the bowels in order to prevent constipation so it does not hurt to drink. Be careful about your fibre intake and get that fibre in. A metamucil tablet everyday does not hurt (it is not a drug but just psillium fibre).
Best Wishes for a speedy recovery !
Estria |
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Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:22 am |
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