I'm Scared...

Ok, so my current doctor has not done a lap to completely diagnose me with Endometriosis. 2 previous doctors have done laps, one told me I had a fibroid (which I didn't and found out from another doctor and said there was no endo). The 2nd doctor I seen told me he had to remove "tissue" from my around my bowel and that was it and then 2 years later told me that my pain was caused from my right ovary being "stuck" and told me I wouldn't have so many problems if I lost weight and that the 50lbs I had recently lost was not good enough (his exact words).

So, I found a new doctor. She did a complete background family history on me and I had my mom with me who went through some of the most horrible female troubles, endo being the leading cause of it. My current doctor told me that with my symptoms and my family history endo was very likely and that she was not keen on doing surgery so soon. I was put on Lupron and even with the horrible emotional side effects my pain went away for almost 2 years. I also have PCOS so I do not have periods on my own....and when they are forced by medication it is a horrible experience for me, I miss work which puts me and my husband in a financial bind and I miss out on a lot because I am either afraid to go anywhere and having an accident or the pain is so debilitating that I can't go anywhere.

As a last resort I was put on Progesterone birth control pills to try to help me manage my pain and also to let me have a normal monthly period. I just started my 5th pack. With the first 2 packs I thought I was doing good. Towards the end of my third I started having really bad pain. It got to the point I went to the ER, I didn't know what was wrong with me and I was so scared cause I had never experienced anything like that. It was all on my left side. They did a CT Scan and they said it showed a 6cm cyst on my left ovary and that I should follow up with my GYN and gave me pain meds, had me off of work until I could get in to see her and sent me home. She had me go in for an ultra sound and when I had my appointment with her she said that the cyst was on my right side and that she couldn't figure out why it would cause pain on my left side. She said she wanted to wait 3 weeks and see if it shrinks. If it didn't then she was going to have to do surgery.

A week from Monday I go in for my follow up ultra sound. My pain is not getting any better, and a majority of it is on my left side. I personally do not think my pain is related to my cyst....I am terrified and here is why. She told me that surgery would be a lot higher risk for me because of my weight. I am severely overweight. I am freaked out that if I have to have surgery something is going to happen to me.

I talked to a girl at work who is a lot bigger than me who has had surgery for cervical cancer and also a c-section to have her baby. She told me that if they sent me to OSU like they suggested that its nothing to them and that people my size and bigger have cysts and ovaries removed, c-sections, and even hysterectomies and everything comes out fine.

Is there anyone here who is severely overweight and had a hysterectomy or even a cyst/ovary removed? I would love for someone to share their story with me, or even give me some advice.

[shelly0775]

I am not overweight but do have risk factors that would put me at high risk for surgery. I do have problems with aneasesthia(sp?). We don't know how or when or if I would react to it. All I know is that I coded once and that scared to me and my family. I also have other risk factors too. So finding someone that I could trust and they can ensure me that they would be on top of things was my first thing in mind. If you don't have trust feeling, you always have the right to find someone else. Are you seeing a gynecologist or reproductive endocrinologist? If you can see reproductive endocrinologist, they can help better. I have four surgeries already. My fourth one was recently,this past Wednesday. With my first three they removed endometrioma cyst and the third one they removed the cyst and part of my left ovary. They tried to save as much of the ovary as they can. With my fourth surgery they removed endo and adhesions. If you have anymore questions you can ask me.

[KalynS]

I am seeing a regular GYN right now. But I am assuming that if they send me to OSU I would see a different kind of doctor. I do trust my GYN, she is awesome, and she is honest. She is the first one in all the years that I have been dealing with my problems that has actually tried to help me and not just feed me pain pills and tell me there is nothing more she can do.

I honestly think I would make it through surgery fine. Besides my weight I am healthy, minus borderline high blood pressure. Its just her saying that put the fear in me and I can't help but question all the "what ifs" ya know? I know my cyst is large and there is a chance that if they remove that I could lose my ovary. And if my endo is worse than expected I guess I could lose everything? I am not against having a hysterectomy, but it does make me sad because I don't have any children. But after 7 years of no birth control and not even one pregnancy, I think my chances are really low anyway.

I guess I am just looking for a little bit of something positive if I do have to have surgery. I just want to feel better. I feel like my life is being wasted being in so much pain I can't function or being in such a fog from the pain meds.

[asta11]

hi there

i don't have the same problem as you do, but i have andometriosis 3....i had surgery on friday....40 no kids...i fully understand how you feel...........your life is not wasted....you are special....have a nice man....and things can happened when we do no expect....so do not give up.....laparoscopy is not so scary surgery......I ve had already 2. This forum is great, some people here supported me here with kinds words and positivity... believe me i ve had a very painful year and half................advice from me: find  A GREAT SURGEON....not all gynecologist are that great......so you dont have to have 2 surgeries instead of ONE......like me....