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Surgery next week
Hi everyone,
Going in for my surgery next Tues 16th, though I am really lucky that it is going to be so soon.
Decided that I would ring the hospital first thing Mon morn, which I did, and they told me that I was still on the waiting list and it could be anything from 3-6 months wait. I was horrified as before I had been told that it would be 2 months at the most and 1 month has already gone. I then spoke to someone else and she said that there was a cancellation for next week if I wanted it, but it was with another dr. She said that this gyn was great and I have since had similar feedback from others. In the meantime I rang my gyn again and told him that the pain has been much worse in past couple of weeks, but he just said that there was nothing he could do and just hang in there! Easy for him to say, when you are in constant pain and trying to cope with family, work etc. I then asked him if he could arrange a CT, but he said that he didn't think CT was helpful with pelvic issues.
Anyway, I decided to go with op next week, and yesterday went to the hosp for pre admission. They told me that they discussed my case earlier in the day, and it was more complicated than first thought, and want me to have an MRI as they are really not sure if the problem is in the ovary, tube or if it is a peduculated fibroid. Said that this will help them to work out if it should be laparoscopy of hystererctomy. Could not get MRI till Mon pm so will find out late Mon which op they will do. Funny how they think an MRI will help diagnose, but my gyn won't do other tests.
Going in for my surgery next Tues 16th, though I am really lucky that it is going to be so soon.
Decided that I would ring the hospital first thing Mon morn, which I did, and they told me that I was still on the waiting list and it could be anything from 3-6 months wait. I was horrified as before I had been told that it would be 2 months at the most and 1 month has already gone. I then spoke to someone else and she said that there was a cancellation for next week if I wanted it, but it was with another dr. She said that this gyn was great and I have since had similar feedback from others. In the meantime I rang my gyn again and told him that the pain has been much worse in past couple of weeks, but he just said that there was nothing he could do and just hang in there! Easy for him to say, when you are in constant pain and trying to cope with family, work etc. I then asked him if he could arrange a CT, but he said that he didn't think CT was helpful with pelvic issues.
Anyway, I decided to go with op next week, and yesterday went to the hosp for pre admission. They told me that they discussed my case earlier in the day, and it was more complicated than first thought, and want me to have an MRI as they are really not sure if the problem is in the ovary, tube or if it is a peduculated fibroid. Said that this will help them to work out if it should be laparoscopy of hystererctomy. Could not get MRI till Mon pm so will find out late Mon which op they will do. Funny how they think an MRI will help diagnose, but my gyn won't do other tests.
Diamond,
Similar thing happened to me. Because I had a huge cyst, they didn't know whether they could do laparoscopy or laparotomy to get it out. It was one of those borderline cases. And also, my CA125 levels were elevated, so the doctor wanted to operate ASAP, just in case. I already had an ultrasound, but it only told half the story.
My gyn/onc already booked a date for the operation, he wanted to do it straight away, because he was also worried that the cyst might burst. But he said that he absolutely could not operate if he could not get my MRI in time for operation, because this was crucial for the operation, and if we could not get the scan in time, we would have to postpone the op. Luckily, he booked me for MRI very quickly (but had I not had the private cover here in London, I would probably have to wait ages. The difference is enormous between public and private here).
Now he is a brilliant gyn/onc, and the operation (laparoscopy, thank God!) went really well, they managed to take the cyst out without removing my ovary (this was one of the big worries that we had). I recovered really quickly after the operation, and now a month after it, I feel great, as if it never happenned.
So, it does look like the MRI scan is crucial for the operation. Actually, my gyn/onc told me that it is the map for the operation, it pinpoints exactly where the cyst is, how deep, far etc, and that they just can't do it without it.
Good luck, I think you should do it ASAP if you can, just to have it over and done with.
Similar thing happened to me. Because I had a huge cyst, they didn't know whether they could do laparoscopy or laparotomy to get it out. It was one of those borderline cases. And also, my CA125 levels were elevated, so the doctor wanted to operate ASAP, just in case. I already had an ultrasound, but it only told half the story.
My gyn/onc already booked a date for the operation, he wanted to do it straight away, because he was also worried that the cyst might burst. But he said that he absolutely could not operate if he could not get my MRI in time for operation, because this was crucial for the operation, and if we could not get the scan in time, we would have to postpone the op. Luckily, he booked me for MRI very quickly (but had I not had the private cover here in London, I would probably have to wait ages. The difference is enormous between public and private here).
Now he is a brilliant gyn/onc, and the operation (laparoscopy, thank God!) went really well, they managed to take the cyst out without removing my ovary (this was one of the big worries that we had). I recovered really quickly after the operation, and now a month after it, I feel great, as if it never happenned.
So, it does look like the MRI scan is crucial for the operation. Actually, my gyn/onc told me that it is the map for the operation, it pinpoints exactly where the cyst is, how deep, far etc, and that they just can't do it without it.
Good luck, I think you should do it ASAP if you can, just to have it over and done with.
My recommondation, is to do more test, and do the MRI per this doctor. Also ask for the copy of the result every time! US, bloodwork, MRI everything.. Doctors doesn't tell you everything! Sue
P.S.
Sorry, forgot to say. I had my MRI on Tuesday evening, and the operation on Thursday, so, like you, very short time in between.
I do hope that they can do laparoscopy, it really is an amazing operation and qiuck recovery. Fingers crossed, all the best!
It's me again. I wish this forum had "modify" button, rather then posting the whole new reply...
There will probably be varying opinions whether you should wait or not.
I don't know what tests you had or not, but the most certain and accurate test that you can have is biopsy, part of which is done during the operation, and the rest in the laboratory.
All other tests are pointers, but the only way to know is biopsy.
I had blood test, ultrasound and MRI, and still they only had 50% of the picture. My doctor never wanted to commit to any answers before the op, he gave me 4 possible diagnosis, but would not be categorical about any of them before the operation.
He basically said that without biopsy they cannot know for sure, so if they think that you need to have the operation, why delay it? The tests do not give 100 answer in case of cysts that don't dissapear by themselves.
But try not to worry, like I did. I was out of my mind with worry before the op, what with elevated CA125, the size of the cyst, the speed with which they organized the operation (10 days from my GP's appointment to the OP, including all ultrasounds, MRI's, pre-op appointments). Actually it was this urgency that worried me the most, because I thought, if it was not bad, why rush the op.
But my doctor was worried that the cyst migh burst (it was huge), and indeed, it did burst in the meantime, and even turned gangrenous and started choking the ovary. I saw the pictures of it taken during the operation, it looked gross, YIKES!!!!
So, my point is, do it quickly, it is the best way to know, and really, try not to worry, most of the cysts are benign. Best of luck!
There will probably be varying opinions whether you should wait or not.
I don't know what tests you had or not, but the most certain and accurate test that you can have is biopsy, part of which is done during the operation, and the rest in the laboratory.
All other tests are pointers, but the only way to know is biopsy.
I had blood test, ultrasound and MRI, and still they only had 50% of the picture. My doctor never wanted to commit to any answers before the op, he gave me 4 possible diagnosis, but would not be categorical about any of them before the operation.
He basically said that without biopsy they cannot know for sure, so if they think that you need to have the operation, why delay it? The tests do not give 100 answer in case of cysts that don't dissapear by themselves.
But try not to worry, like I did. I was out of my mind with worry before the op, what with elevated CA125, the size of the cyst, the speed with which they organized the operation (10 days from my GP's appointment to the OP, including all ultrasounds, MRI's, pre-op appointments). Actually it was this urgency that worried me the most, because I thought, if it was not bad, why rush the op.
But my doctor was worried that the cyst migh burst (it was huge), and indeed, it did burst in the meantime, and even turned gangrenous and started choking the ovary. I saw the pictures of it taken during the operation, it looked gross, YIKES!!!!
So, my point is, do it quickly, it is the best way to know, and really, try not to worry, most of the cysts are benign. Best of luck!
Thanks for your advice. Glad to hear you recovered ok. I am just hoping that they get the results from the MRI in time to still do surgery on Tues. Surgery is scheduled for Tues pm, so I suppose that should give them time. I'll be so glad to get this over, the pain has been unbearable lately. I don't really care which op, as I have grown up kids so don't really need ovary/uterus any more. I've had 3 c-sections too so I am not really too bothered about the surgery or recovery as I've coped before. Just want to feel normal again, hopefully!
I've just read your last post. It certainly sounds like it could have turned really nasty if they had have waited, so glad to hear that it all turned out so well. How are you now? Are you pain free?
I wonder if your cyst burst, like mine did, because I was in huge amounts of pain. Some days I could not get out of the bed, and the doctor said it was because the cyst burst, and the fluid had nowhere to go, causing the pain.
Fingers crossed that you will have your op on Tuesday. Everything will be fine. Best of luck!
Fingers crossed that you will have your op on Tuesday. Everything will be fine. Best of luck!
Hi Diamond,
looks like we are posting at the same time, hehe.
I now feel great, no pain at all, and the awful swolleness I had for ages (due to the cyst) is gone. I feel like the new person. Keep us posted as to what happenned!
looks like we are posting at the same time, hehe.
I now feel great, no pain at all, and the awful swolleness I had for ages (due to the cyst) is gone. I feel like the new person. Keep us posted as to what happenned!
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