Ovarian cancer surgery - What should I expect?

@minnymum78 Hello minnymum78, thank you for opening this discussion. I think many of us can understand how you're feeling, surgery can be very stressful, especially when you don't know what to expect. Let me tag some members who can share their experience and advice with you.

Hello everyone, I hope you're well!  Have you undergone surgery for ovarian cancer, be it a hysterectomy, ovariectomy or omentectomy? What was your experience like? How did you prepare for it? How was the recovery? Do you have any advice to share with minnymum78?
@Anxious‍ @Juneyvonne‍ @Nadezda‍ @pippaluk1‍ @HannahAitken‍ @Rainbow‍ @Jinder1961‍ @suep1974‍ @Kittwum1‍ @Skaaha‍ @Robinw‍ @Billyboy123‍ @tmworrier‍ @yvehowe‍ @Springfield13‍ @Gill-wayment‍ @Cathtay‍ @Sam-1818‍ 

Feel free to share here, we're all hear to help and support one another!

Take care,
Courtney

I was in surgery for seven hours then to critical care for two days. I lost my sense of taste things I once loved I hated. But that only lasted a few weeks. It’s nearly seven months ago I’m still very tired but I am 71 and overweight but hopefully this will go soon. Being in lockdown doesn’t help. I don’t think I’ll ever get back to what I was but time will tell. Had my first ct scan waiting for results. I think everyone is different and recovery times are different

Hi 

I wrote this to a friend who was about to go for her operation. I hope this helps you too? Any questions just ask x 

Hi
So, whilst I was in hospital I wrote a list of things that you’d need. I’d taken most of them in anyway but there was a few things I’d forgotten.
- A cosy blanket sprayed with your favourite perfume.
- A box of tissues
- Some loose change for parking or the nurses would go and get you a paper or sweets etc
- A large V shaped pillow so you can sit up and be comfy. The hospital usually only provide you with one
-Cotton nighties (I took shorts and a vest top! Nightmare if you’ve got a catheter and you will have for a couple of days) and a cotton dressing gown
-An extra long charging cable for your iPad/phone (essential)
-Your own green tea bags or whatever you fancy. Far nicer thank that overviewed stuff they serve
-Some nice fruit and healthy snacks. I took dried apricots and nuts which we all shared.
Obviously, this is what I found useful but I’m sure you’ll want these things too!
So, the operation! I know you’ve never had one which in a way is quite good, as due to covid everything has changed. You used to go in a small room where you were put to sleep but now you just walk into the theatre. They’re all in big masks with oxygen attached so, they look like something from Star Wars!
Remember, what I say may not be relevant to your situation but it’s my experience so, you can take what you want from it.
I was asked to breath into a mask ( thinking they’d inject the anaesthetic) the next thing I know I was awake! Honest!
However, I was told due to my bloods and transfusion he couldn’t give me an epidural (which would make you a lot comfier coming round) as it may make my spine bleed and didn’t want to risk it. He warned me I would be in pain and to be honest I was but after lots of drugs I felt ok. Movement is very limited but this doesn’t last long as they get you out of bed the next day.
I’m now pottering around at home and feel relatively comfortable.
But, you won’t be able to do much at all. I’m still cooking mainly because we’d have takeaways if not.
I hope that helps but the actual operation you’re just out of it. I just laid down and closed my eyes and concentrated on breathing and blocked out where I was! I woke up to this lovely nurse putting both her thumbs up to me saying how well it had gone! They removed the omentum, appendix, full hysterectomy and part of my bowel but I don’t have a stoma. My son keeps referring to his operation of when he had his appendix out being similar!! 😂 an appendix is the size of a chilli!
But I let him have the glory..
I’m now off from all the hospital thing for a couple of weeks and then go for chemotherapy. I’m also waiting for the lab results to come back. I’m guessing it’s to see if there was cancer in the bits they took?
Honestly don’t be frightened about it! It is a scary thing but if you go with a good attitude I’m sure it helps with the whole process. I was very emotional whilst in hospital as I was missing everyone and just felt quite down. Are you feeling a bit better? As you said you felt quite down too but you thought it was the medication?
Keep in touch and I hope some of this has helped?
Sam x

@Rainbow @Sam-1818 Thank you all so much, sorry I didn't respond to you sooner, I got a bit wrapped up in the operation stress. I wrote down everything you both said and it really helped me get through the whole ordeal. It went well and i'm on the road to recovery.

I hope you both are well! xx

Really pleased to hear it went well. I’ve finished my last round of chemotherapy and I’m awaiting a CT scan. Then, I guess it’s fingers crossed time as I’m not going to be on any maintenance drugs apparently. the thing is, we are all different and all react to things differently so, it’s best to take each day as it comes and enjoy living in the moment. I have good days and bad days, who doesn’t? 
I hope you continue to feel well and if you want to ask anything please do. I will try to help. 
x