Surgeon: "So, what's going on?"
Me: "I am in a lot of pain and have a mass lower left"
Surgeon: "Uh Huh.." (reading my history on her computer)
Me: "blah blah, blah blah blah, yadda yadda." (what the doctor hears)
Surgeon: "Uh Huh..." (looks up) "So, if you have had a cyst since 2014, why is it suddenly hurting you now? I mean, I see that you have had several abdominal surgeries. I can go on in there and dig around if that's what you want me to do, but if I do that, there'll be more scar tissue. And you NEVER want to get rid of your ovaries early if you can help it. Bone loss."
Me: "WAIT. (crying) Are you telling me I have had a tumor in there for two years and no one told me?! I have to say, I'm blown away. I don't believe that. It can't be right." (still crying)
Surgeon: "That's what it says here. 'Mass unchanged since 2014.'"
Me: "No. Mass unchanged since last CT. That was 2 weeks before. not 2 years."
Surgeon: (a bit more courteous) "Let me have a look at something here. Oh, I see. The ER doctor messed up. I am sorry for being so matter-of-fact. But this is serious. let's do a pelvic exam."
Me: "It's okay." (clearly it's not. I get ready for the exam and the doctor comes back in. The exam is so painful that I cannot speak to answer her questions.)
Surgeon: "I think we need to get a better idea what's in there. Let's get you scheduled for an ultrasound [again] and do some bloodwork to look for tumor markers. Some of your symptoms are concerning me for ovarian cancer."
The test is scheduled for TWO WEEKS later. I am devastated, in terrible pain, and afraid. I can't even go to the lab on foot. Mom is pushing me in a wheelchair. (and running me into EVERYTHING) The next day the doctor's office calls to say that so far the blood tests are normal. They have a cancellation for ONE WEEK later, so to come in for that appointment. My pain isn't my only symptom. The rest are:
- Bloating/Abdominal heaviness
- Feeling full when eating/loss of apetite
- Constipation
- Pelvic/Hip pain
- Constant need to pee, but very little pee
- Nausea
- Low back pain
- Unintentional weight gain (20 pounds in 2 weeks)
- Unintentional weight loss (lost 10 pounds in the last three days)
Click here for information about Ovarian Cancer: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cancer/basics/symptoms/con-20028096
Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer:
Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer may include:
- Abdominal bloating or swelling
- Quickly feeling full when eating
- Weight loss
- Discomfort in the pelvis area
- Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation
- A frequent need to urinate
Stay tuned for the next chapter.
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