Can anyone with ovarian cancer tell me their first signs?

[Tlh3]

I'm seeking information on the first signs of ovarian cancer by someone that has been diagnosed recently. Day before yesterday I was bitten by a spider and thought it was nothing. I noticed blood in my urine but I had a partial hysterectomy in 2003 so that didn't make sense to me (Uterus and one ovary was taken out). I thought that perhaps the spider bite was a brown recluse bite since those kinds of bites can affect the kidneys and cause blood in the urine.
Doc said it was not a brown recluse but the low back and side pain, left leg pain, and blood was something to look into. He has ordered a CT scan for Monday and a bunch of lab work. I wasn't too concerned until I started poking around on the internet to get info. My left leg pain has been a nuisence for about 3 months with a nagging discomfort that my bottom feels like it's going to fall out. Sometimes I have to lay down to for the pressure to ease up.  I have no bloating but about a week ago I was unable to have a bowel movement for a few days. Nothing a few cups of coffee didn't cure! I've been tired and cranky since November and have been waking up in the middle of the night to urinate twice a night. I'm running a low grade fever and sometimes feel nauseas. I'm probably more concerned than I should be but just want a little info from someone that has recently been diagnosed. I'm scheduled for a recheck in a week and was hoping to find someone that could coach me on what questions to ask my Doc when I go back and if a CA125 test revealed anything on a currently diagnosed patient. Thanks a bunch.  

[Tlh3]

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I hope your doing better since the surgery. I'm glad to hear they caught it early. I agree with you about being our own advocates. I had a dermoid cyst on my right ovary which was removed 4 years ago. I had to beg them to listen to me. When I almost hemorraged to death and ended up in E.R. they finally heard me. I had an E.R. D&C then two weeks later a partial hysterectomy. Thanks to the Doc at an urgent care clinic that saw me on Saturday, I have a CT scan scheduled for tomorrow along with lab work and referrals to two specialists. My left leg pain is annoying but trying to get an appointment with an Ob/Gyn is even more annoying. The last one I went to had a nervous break down and flew the coop. There's only one in the area that is taking new patients and she has a really bad track record. Thanks so much for your info and your prayers.
TLH

[TrudieC]

You mentioned that over 5 days you bloated quite a bit.  I cannot believe how big I have gotten over the last few days.  I'm thinking I need to get back into the doctor's tomorrow and insist on a transvag instead of waiting 2 weeks for the CT scan.  

[yrrek]

I was dx'd Dec. 07, 1c.  I started having symptoms early in November.  First symptom, painful sex followed by frequent urination with pelvic pain on my L side.  I drank  cranberry juice and hoped it would go away.  By early Dec. I would have increased pain in my pelvic area when changing positions, especially when sitting down and getting up.  I then started bloating, after 5 days of increased bloating and looking like mid trimester of a preg. I decided to go to the ER.  At first they thought my bladder wasn't draining, so they put an indwelling cath in me and told me to wear it for the weekend, but when nothing started draining, they decided to do an ultrasound.  The ultrasound revealed a mass on each ovary.  One the size of a football.  That was a Fri. night and they scheduled an appt. with a gyn the following Mon.  She said that they were most likely not cancerous but that they needed to come out. Surgery was done that Thurs. Dec. 20th.  Path report came back that they were malignant so Dr. did a TAH, both ovaries and tubes, appendix, fatty tissue and lymph nodes from my groin.  CA-125 was done at that time and was at 220.  Norm is 1-35.  All of the other tissues came back negative for cancer.  I was very fortunate to catch my OVCA early. I attribute it to the fact that my Gyn did not take a wait and see attitude.  And I sought medical help and did not wait for this to go away.  If a mass is felt on examination, I believe all women should be very assertive and aggressive and ask for a ustrasound with a trans vaginal ultrasound as well.  OVCA can only be definivetly diagonsed by biopsy, so thay means surgery.  Early diagnosis is paramount when it comes to curing this monster.  You are your best advocate.  Keep me informed.  And also, 85% of all ovarian cysts are non-cancerous.  Good Luck and God Bless, Kerry