Two Weeks After My Oophorectomy

Want to know more about my experience with removing my ovaries and fallopian tubes? In this video, I tell you what to expect right after surgery as well as the first two weeks after.

I also share a little about my pathology report and my concerns going forward.
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*I am not a doctor and none of the information in this video is intended to be medical advice. Please consult your doctors for any information pertaining to your individual circumstances.

➡𝗠𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸: 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑭*𝒄𝒌 𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅? 𝑨 𝑺𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝑮𝒖𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑳𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝑨𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝑪𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓.

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[valeriegill]

It's funny I just found your video. I just had an oophorectomy 4 days ago. I'm 66, and had an ovary cyst that grew rapidly. So my Doc suggested the surgery, saying at my age I didn't need mine any more, so we removed both ovaries and tubes. Now, when I was 34 or 36 I had a partial hysterectomy, where they just took my Uterus, because of fibroid tumors. But my ovaries were good so we left them. As far as hot flashes, I'd been having them since before I was 30. And now, I'm not experiencing them at all. I know it's only been 4 days, and I'm still recovering, I'm hoping they are gone! I have 5 incisions, and am very sore. Being my age, I think it may take a little longer to recover. I am glad to say, that my cysts or tumor were all benign. They said it had grown almost the size of a baseball. All in all, I don't think I'll regret having the surgery. I wish you well, hope it all works out for you. My husband said your video had answered some questions he had. So I say Thank you for putting yourself out there.

[PaisleyJames]

I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I am trying to make the decision of having this surgery. I am thinking of refusing, but I'm doing tons of research. I am also sharing my journey on youtube. Thanks for sharing this video!

[mikimiki]

Hi Jen! I'm so glad you're doing well. I too am 46 now, dx with hormone positive breast cancer in 2020. My initial surgery was canceled due to the Covid pandemic. I had to find another hospital and team to treat me. I had a double mastectomy with reconstruction, followed by a revision procedure due to poor healing. My exchange surgery was delayed six months and I had my oophorectomy in between surgeries. Very difficult year with a long recovery. Like you, I do my own research and had a lifetime history of reproductive issues and found a slight benefit to removing my ovaries around the age of 45. I was previously on Tamoxifen, but was swiftly moved over to Fumara/Letrozole. Luckily the laproscopic surgery was nothing in comparison to the double mastectomy surgery in my case. I left the hospital same day and walked to the corner and back. I am in menopause which drops estrogen significantly, but the Letrozole compounds this and the joint pain is real. The dry hair, the aging is definitely there for me to see, even if others don't notice. Sex is almost impossible for me, but it may be a body image issue. I can't do anything without lube because the vaginal dryness is pretty bad and my fingers hurt just typing this right now. Fyi keep an eye on your cholesterol, especially LDL. Estrogen tends to keep it in check, but when estrogen is lowered, cholesterol can rise. Hopefully being on Tamoxifen will not affect your cholesterol. Lower estrogen levels might even be linked to menopausal women and cardio vascular events. I'm also not qualified to give medical advice, but I'm sharing my experiences for any readers going through this and filled with fear, desperation and anxiety, trying to figure out what to do by reading stories like ours. I'd like to mention two things, not to cause fear, but to encourage everyone to be brave, do your own research and go with your gut. I talked to four doctors (two were surgeons) after several mammograms and two MRIs came back clean. I was given a clean bill of health for my right breast. I was urged to remove just the one with DCIS w/micro invasion. After my own research, I was adamant about removing both and they went with my decision. Later pathology revealed that my right breast was riddled with precancerous lobular carcinoma, it was not picked up on the repeated mammograms or either MRI with and without contrast (scary). My sister's good friend was going through breast cancer treatment. Both her Mom and sister are registered nurses. They urged her to remove her ovaries, so she asked her oncologist and he advised against it. She just passed away a few weeks ago from metastatic ovarian cancer, she was just two weeks passed her 49th birthday, leaving behind her 10 year old daughter and 17 year old son. Its so sad. Definitely research. Our bodies are all different. The medical community tends to treat us as a whole, even though we keep hearing about customized treatments. Best of luck to you all that read this. From one sister in the fight to another. God bless 🙌

[canadianjaneoriginal]

Just had it done. Its been 12 days. They found 8cm cysts on both ovaries, endo, and many cysts on the left. I suffered from PCOS and endo since early 2000. I was given no pain killers for at home which was very hard for first 6 days. I needed morphine for first 3 days at least. Tylenol did absolutely nothing. You definitely feel like you have been cut into. My cervix was in excruciating pain and Dr definitely had to pry me open from there I guess too she will have to explain. I wanted to keep my uterus to prevent another surgery with bladder stapling. I wasn’t going to live with potential bladder prolapse issues.

I was in pain and nausea and I was shaking when I came to. They got it under control with anti nausea and morphine. The pain was coming from cervix. They had stuffed a huge mesh in there and pain was the most from there. Took 3 hrs after surgery to calm down. The surgeon left before seeing me on an emergency. And I will see her in 8 weeks. A little strange there I wanted details. When I try to eat, my stitches and innards hurt so eating about a cup of food at a time avoids it.
Constipation was bad. I did everything to avoid it and it took 6 days still, before first bm. Take fibre, prunes, before and during recovery if you eat nothing else. Start with yogurt and apple sauce and things will start moving. Once you are regular, eat fibre cereals and prunes. These are key to having smooth bm without struggle with your stitches.
Definitely not ready to go out yet. I can walk indoors, no straining. But stitches are fragile and are in pain and itching phase. Getting up and sitting or laying down were the hardest parts to at home recovery. After 7 days it gets better. Everything is sensitive and fragile. Loose clothes are key. I will use a post surgery strap after I can touch my incisions without pain in 4 weeks. I tried it and right now there is too much pain to use a support belt abdomen strap.
I started hot flashes too. Tinnitus has doubled in ringing. GERDS acted up from anaesthesia and tube in esophagus. I get nausea once in a while. The anaesthesia caused most issues.
I am using Wild Yam cream 2x a day to control hot flashes. This probably keeps hot flashes mild or away because I forgot to put it yesterday and sweated during the night. So it makes a huge difference. Estrogen has been my enemy. Its caused me hair loss, clots, pain, endo, and migraines. I look forward most being migraine free! Im worried for weight gain and aging but migraines prevented me from living. Now I can likely be more active so hoping that will be a perk.

ACIDITY causes cancer to grow. An acid environment. Microbiotic diet and keeping PH low prevents cancer from growing. I used these diets on my mother with leukaemia and myself for prevention. I slacked off last few years, and cysts grew back, endo grew back. The diets are key.

Have a good recovery. Sounds like you are doing great. Once the ovaries are gone, breast cancer should not be able to return is my understanding. However removing ovaries jacks up our risk for heart disease, osteoporosis and dementia if taken prior to age 55. I pray we both do not suffer these risk at all. I look forward to being migraine free and period free. My heavy periods caused anemia and required iron IV monthly.

[Ladysash]

I pray that all is benign. I just had mines removed and I was surprised about my pathology report because none of it showed in my April report. Anyway although I had new growths they were all benign and I pray yours will be as well

[kiwigreen]

I had to have an emergency oopherectomy done when i was 38 years old. I am now 56 and it put me into early menopause. I have had hot flashes everyday since. I have sleepless nights, moods swings and all of the symptoms that come with menopause. I chose not to go on HRT. Over the years, I have learned to listen to my body and i know the things that trigger my flashes. It has not been easy.

[AllForTheGirls]

Wow, this shows the power of a woman’s intuition! I’m also waiting for that time to come when things feel “normal” again. But I’m about to start my journey taking tamoxifen for the next 5 yrs 😬. Picked it up from the pharmacy today but am procrastinating & will take it tomorrow. Cancer sucks & is so unfair. So happy for you that you felt well enough to start working out again! That’s a big win!

[luckyone]

Sending lots of healing thoughts your way! You know we women can have so many growth in our female parts and most often times they are benign. I expect this to be in your case as well XOXO heads up Jenn

[Chulita-pc]

Thank you Jen once again for sharing your story. Wishing you good health and a healthy recovery.

[kerryarfsten]

Thank God 🙏 that you took care of this. Prayers

[abbys]

I am going to have the same surgery on Feb 25 thank you for the video. Blessings from western NY

[juliemeehan]

Oh sweetheart. I will definitely prey you have a great outcome..I am 66 and had my ovaries removed a week ago yesterday..due to cysts..everything else was removed 26 years ago due to fibroids….I have had no pain what so ever in my abdomen but have a back pain the last few days and as you said…very tired….I am hoping the back pain is just due to not moving enough..I have been doing some gentle excercise…best of luck to you …you look great ….stay positive..❤

[lorilassen]

Getting it done on Wednesday (5/24). Thank you for posting this.

[JFBCAdvocate]

Praying for good news! So glad you decided to do this.

[cbrcoder]

hello, my wife is due for same surgery in 2 weeks; hers was stage 1 ovarian cancer that got detected by sheer luck. It will be great if you can post updates since 2 years ago on this video, how your life has been etc.

[jenjam]

I'm glad I found your video. I just had this done and I feel soo tired. Sometimes I can't keep my eyes open.

[bethnewman]

It's probably all genetic! All we can do for now is be vigilant and pro-active. All the best!

[lauraguerrero]

Praying for you. I am having my surgery today.

[TheAimlesslyWanderingSoul]

I’m having my LBSO surgery on June 14, 2023…..I’ll be glad when it’s done.

[TinaBreon-egsw]

We're in you a lot of pain before hysterectomy with your ovaries. I have a sense of three centimeters and my uterus is laying on my bladder. I've had cramps like menstrual cramps for years and nobody could figure out why. Until I had a new doctor and went to an obgyn and that's when they found the mass on my ovary and my uterus flopped on my bladder.