Tests

[SandyNelson]

I recently went to my GI doctor thinking I had a reoccurence of diverticulitis.  2 years ago I had a colon resection for too frequent episodes of diverticulitis.  My Dr. sent me through the normal routine, CT scan, blood work, etc and put me on antibiotics.  The results of the CT scan showed a lobulated heterogeneous mass in my pelvis with a hypodense pattern noted throughout my liver.  Needless to say I have always worried that my GI symptoms could be related to ovarian cancer but nothing until now has come up showing indications of such.  I am scheduled for a colonscopy and a pevlic ultrasound.  My CBC was normal...not diverticulitis.  I went to my GP for a pevlic and she told me she felt "fullness" on the left ovary site.  My blood work shows no infection but the pain on my left side continues and I feel like I am coming down with the flu about 5 hours of the day and feel completely normal in between.  Any similiar experiences out there...advice on how to take control of my health care....etc?  Thanks God for sites like these.

[SandyNelson]

I went for my pelvic u/s sound today.  I was able to get squeezed in from a cancellation.  I watched and asked questions with a keen eye.  Of course, the techs don't comment much but I had her show me the different organs she was measuring.  The only comparitive analysis I could do were the two ovaries.  The right over was the size of a walnut on the screen.  The left ovary was the size of a small peach.  I won't get the test results for 24-48 hours.  I went straight to my GP office and asked the naivist youngest girl behind the counter for a copy of my blood tests because I wanted to have them for my GYN consult since I hadn't heard from the GP office of the results.  She returned from the back with an envelope and gave it to me.  I read the results in the car and everything is normal.  CA-125 is 0.6.  including liver panel and hep panel.  Does the CA-125 have low to normal numbers in the beginning stages?  My next test is a colonoscopy scheduled for Thursday to rule out colon cancer.  Should I strike out ovarian cancer?  What are your thougths?

[dian07]

Congrats on your daughter's upcomming wedding....I know things get crazy before hand but it is such fun.  I can't say whether waiting a month will make a difference....I don't know if I would want to wait, however.  I was referred to a gyn/onc after the transvaginal ultrasound....no questions at all...so, I went from a gyn's office in a women's clinic in Sioux City to a gyn/onc in Omaha and had surgery within 36 hours of the ultrasound.  I am glad I did as I was staged at IC.....I hope it is posssible for you to wait until after your daughter's big day....you just have to see how things play themselves out.....good luck and please do keep us posted.
Peace.
dian

[SandyNelson]

My colonoscopy is scheduled for this Thursday and pevlic ultrasound is Friday.  I couldn't get into a medical center GYN until January and pulled a few favors to get seen Nov. 14th.  I live in Houston and one my friends is a senior administrator at MD Anderson hospital and I used to work as a flight paramedic at Hermann Hospital.  Both are good hospitals but of course, you can't get in MD Anderson without a diagnosis.  Its the crazy waiting for tests to get to the diagnosis or the surgery that is driving my husband and I nuts.  I've prepared myself for the inevitable surgery but I hate to start with my local hospital to diagnosis this before I move onto the medical center.  I am trying to start and continue in the medical center so I don't have to start over with a new team if I get diagnosed in the suburbs.  My daughter is getting married Dec. 7th and I trying to keep all this under wraps until then.  Is there any advice out there are delaying surgery until after the 7th?  I keep thinking that what ever is going on has been there for a while based on what I read but will 1 month make a difference?

[dian07]

Wow, kid...you are in a scary place.....you sound so calm.  When will you have your ultrasound and colonoscopy?  Can't someone put you on a fast track for your sanity sake?  I wish I could do something to get things moving for you.....make sure you are going to be seen by a gyn/oncologist for all the obvious reasons.....I would imagine surgery is in your future and that is who you want at your side.  I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, stage IC.....very lucky, I know...I was bloated, pressure on my rectum and pain with intercourse, and back ache (which I still have).  After surgery and all my chemo a spot ws discovered on my liver....after all sorts of scans and ultrasounds it was determined to be a fatty mass in the liver.....where are you anyway?  I hope things get moving and you get some answers really soon.  It is stupid to ever say "try not to worry too much", but ....I certainly hope you get good news but you will handle whatever comes your way.  I think "the not knowing is the hardest part"....once you know what is going on you can choose a course of action if necessary.  Pleasse do stay in touch....take care .
Peace.
dian