Is Full Recovery from Ovarian Cyst Removal Surgery Possible ?
The doctors may advise the surgical removal of a cyst depending on its size, type and location. Usually cancerous or suspected to be cancerous cysts larger than two inches in diameter are removed through surgery. They can be solid or filled with debris or irregularly shaped. It the ovarian cyst causes pain, is ruptured or has caused your ovary to twist it has to be removed surgically. With age the chances of an ovarian cyst becoming cancerous increases. In the case of older patients, surgery is indispensable to remove the cyst.
There are a few risks involved in the surgical procedure for removing the cyst. Risks involve excessive use of alcohol, medications etc. If patient is pregnant, the complications are higher. Previous abdominal surgery and endometriosis increase the risk of complication. The doctor has to consider all the risk factors before the surgery.
You have to discuss with the doctor the surgical procedure and the action taken in critical situations. After the surgery, the tissue that is removed from the ovary will be send to the laboratory to check if it is cancerous. If it is cancerous, then you have to get one or both of your ovaries removed. This option also should be discussed with the doctor as it has serious implications on your fertility and health.
Your recovery will be determined by the type of surgery you undergo. Mostly the cyst can be removed using a laparoscope, which is a thin lighted tube. A very tiny incision is made in the lower abdomen near your belly button. The laparoscope is inserted through this and the abdomen is filled with carbon dioxide gas to make visualization of your internal organs easier. Two more incisions are made in the abdomen, once the cyst is located. These are used to insert instruments by the surgeon. Once the cyst is removed and in some cases the ovary, the incisions are closed using clamps or stitches.
In some cases, a classic open abdomen operation is needed for removing the cyst. Here the incision is made in the abdomen and the abdominal muscles are separated to allow the surgeons access the internal organs. Blood vessels that provide blood to the ovaries will be clamped and tied. Then the cyst is surgically removed. The incision is closed once the cyst or the ovary is removed.
Laparoscopy is less traumatic and your recovery will take place at a fast pace. You may experience pain for three or four days after the operation. But the traditional abdominal surgery will be painful for seven to ten days.
Post-operative care is compulsory after the surgical procedure. There are certain things that you should not do and certain things you must do after the surgery. In order to prevent blood clots you have to move and elevate your legs while in bed. After seven days you can stop taking pain medication according to the recommendation of your doctor. Pain is usually manageable after this period. After laparoscopy strenuous activity should be avoided for two weeks. In the case of open surgical procedure it has to be avoided for six weeks. Abstaining from sexual activity, refraining from using tampons and douching have not to be done until the doctor allows them. In normal cases these practices can be resumed two weeks after the surgery. Bathing can be continued taking special care while washing the incision area. Also remember to use mild soaps during the healing process. As and when you feel normal you can restart daily activities at a slow pace. In any case surgery affects your body and you should give sufficient time for the body to recover.