Thread: Unilateral Oophorectomy

I'm 20 years old and on January 5th, I had a laparotomy to remove a 17 x 11 x 11 cm ovarian cyst, my right ovary and right fallopian tube. I thought everything was okay. The fluid retention which seemed like it would be the major problem following surgery finally went away a few weeks (maybe a month) ago and I thought I was out of the woods and cleared for recovery. I didn't really notice a difference in moods. I was aware that there might be a period of hormonal adjustment as my remaining ovary prepared to take on the job of two, but there never really was. There were a few times when I felt angry or sad about the state I was in (the near-constant pain when doing any physical activity), but I don't remember anything too out of the norm. And then a few weeks ago, it started getting to me. I don't know if I'm just thinking of the ramifications of the surgery more... the possible outcomes... or what. I feel emotionally fragile and almost anything is liable to set off an amazingly spectacular crying jag. None of my friends have ever had to undergo surgery for this and I feel so alone and helpless and scared because I don't know what's going wrong with me or if something's wrong with me. Even having sex hurts. I talked to my nurse about it and she says I should come in for a pelvic exam... and I'll go. But I am tired of feeling like a human pincushion and pelvic exams have always been intensely painful for me. I just feel so... lost.