Liver and lungs are fine! Bones have changed - not too drastically though. Original dx was left pelvic area/lumbar region and spot on rib. I have 2 changes - right pelvic area and a spot about 4 inches down from nape of neck on spine. CT also detected 2 lumps of fatty tissue in my ‘ok’ boob - mammogram being arranged to look at that further.
I have Zometa every 4 weeks, Zoladex and Tamoxifen.
Bloods have shown that I am not post-menopausal yet - despite having 4 injections of Zoladex.
So, arrangements are being made for a Oophorectomy - then should be changing to Arimidex.
What are your experiences of a Oophorectomy?
How long did it take?
How long did you have to stay in hospital?
How long until you were doing normal things?
How long until you were back driving?
Am so pleased to hear that your liver and lungs are all clear. That is great news and you must be thrilled.
Sorry can’t help on your Oophorectomy, as I have absolutely no idea what one is - so please do enlighten me if you like. Yes i am ignorant I know, but feel that even with my dx, there is so much I really don’t know, have no idea most of the time what I should say or ask, but muddle through. Actually found out from my copies of referral letters what the size of my tumours were in my boobs last week, as never knew about size or grade, never told and never knew to ask.
Ooops rambling there. Hopefully there are others here that will post and help you with your questions.
I had a BSO (Bilateral Salpingo (includes tubes) Oophorectomy) last March.
I should have had keyhole surgery and one night in hospital, however, it was discovered (once I was under) that one of my ovaries was what they call a “chocolate ovary” i.e sticky mess so they opened me up like a can of sardines! Apparently I’d had endometriosis for years but without symptoms showing, blow me down. So in the end I had 4 nights in and a scar across my bikini line. I drove after about a week and my checkup was 15 days post op and I went in on my bike - the surgeon is a quiet bloke but he said even less that day!
Hi sixpen,
I haven’t had it myself but believe the oophrectomy is pretty quick operation usally done via laproscope sonot too much scarring and basically you are in & out of hospital pretty quickly.
Allie
I had an oophrectomy last Xmas to remove both my ovaries to reduce my oestrogen load and it was a piece of p***!
Keyhole surgery and out the same day despite a general. No pain and two tiny scars in my naval and my bikini line. I even went to a friend’s party the same night with a small dressing on my wound. Drove the next morning.
I am 42 and have now been pushed into the menopause. I have hot flushes, sweats and a dry vagina but this is a small price to pay if I can be around longer for my three kids. GO FOR IT.
I was told today that the onc wants me to have an oopherectomy so any info will be gratefully received.
Dont want to stay in hospital long so good to know that I will be in and out asap.
Question for Roasdubh:- you say you have have hot flushes, sweats and a dry vagina, did all this come on after the oopherectomy or did you have the symtoms before?
I did have menopausal symptons before the op due to zoladex and tamoxifen but they got much worse. I guess it’s a big chemical change for the body to suddenly lose its two ovaries and thus most of its oestrogen supply. Still there are worse things…
I found using Replense from Boots great for my dry vagina as it seemed counter intuitive to use oestrogen pessaries.
Dawn - you’re not ignorant! I think that I can claim the title for that!!! Hehe! I feel quite calm about the extras that I have acquired although the look on hubby’s face was a bit different - think that the reality of it all is starting to hit him! I had visions of the bone scan being so much worse than it actually was, so am quite relieved if anything. Hope that you have a great weekend in Scotland!!
Dahlia - 4 nights in hospital!!! Yeuch!!! That’s the bit that’s worrying me!! You made me smile that you went on your bike to the follow-up!
Rosdubh - ‘piece of p***’ - now thats the kind of talk I understand! Hehe! I have no problems with the scars - nor losing my ovaries!! - nor any of the symptoms BUT I dont want to be hospital very long, so the day case would suit me just fine!!
FayJay - not seen you on Chat for a while. Hope that you are ok-ish?? Sorry to hear that you need the op as well.
There was a recent thread about what time of day is best to take Tamoxifen. I take mine in the mornings and cant say that I notice any hot flushes/sweats through the day - they tend to start just after I’ve gone to bed - which suits me fine because they dont really disturb me.(First one is usually about 10 mins after going to bed and I have to kick the covers off - sometimes I wake during the night but not often)
Hi Anne - good news about your lungs and liver. I had both ovaries and fallopian tubes removed 3 and half year ago - had been on Zoladex for 6 months previously. For me was fine - day surgery and home the same night with 3 small keyhole incisions. Can’t see them in bikini - bit swollen for a few days and bit achey around the shoulders due to the gas they pump you up with but back to work withih 2 weeks and driving within 1 week. It then meant that I could go on Exemastane - like Arimadex but with less side effects - I was really lucky not one hot flush but did have bad headaches for a while. Only other side effect like Rosdubh is that Replens comes in very handy for sex!! - Really glad I had it done though and lovely not having periods! It also works as even though I had a reoccurance of DCIS last summer it was hormone negative which apparantly my onc says is because of all my anti hormone treatment - mind you it still tried to come back - hate it!
Take care
Sarah x x x
Hi Anne,
Great news about your liver and lungs, and you don’t seem too fazed with your bone changes. You must be relieved. Sounds like this oophorectomy business isn’t too bad, as long as you don’t have funny ovaries when they get in there. Chocolate indeed!
All the best hon,
Jacquie xx
I will be interested how you get on re: oophorectomy advice as I have had 3 x bisphosphonates, 3 x zoladex and am on leterozole as I am being treated as post menopausal. However I have still had periods and my oncologist seemed gobsmacked when I told him so when I go for my bisphos this Friday am having my oestrogen levels checked. I am beginning to wonder why I don’t just have my ovaries removed but don’t really know much about it all so it has been really interesting reading this thread.
I guess having zoladex every month during my chemo for primary bc seemed a positive thing as I was preserving my ovaries for babies but now with oestrogen receptive bone mets those hopes are gone forever so I don’t really see the point of ovaries anymore.
Hi - I had a bilateral oophorectomy in early dec and fallopian tubes removed by keyhole surgery. Was a doddle compared to mastectomy. Out of hospital next day - but could have been home that night except I felt a bit quesy from the anaesthetic (however you spell it). I was driving after a few days, maybe 4 or 5? But did feel as though I should take it easy for 2 weeks (though had Christmas and then a weekend break in Salzburg for New Year - 2 weeks post op - so I mustve felt ok - a lovely romantic break - !
Really recommend having ovaries out - better than zoladex (I had period after 3 injections) flushes lot more post oophorectomy - but good news I am officially in remission !
hi, i had the total hysterectomy with bilateral oopherectomy, so had to have the abdomen cut for that, am on arimidex now, but i do take adcal, clonidine and sleeping pills as well, i had zoladec for three months before my op in december last year, zoladex only puts your ovaries on hold anyway, but is supposed to be as good as chemo, so i am glad that i had it for that three months. i am not finding the arimidex too bad, except for the joint pain, but should be having a bone density scan soon so maybe they can give me something for that if the old bones are thining any, but arimidex did so well in its trails that i am happy to be on it
alisonxxx
