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Can 2 months wait make much difference???
Well I just got phone call from my GP, who was trying to get me in to see the GYN again at public hospital sooner than December (my next appointment). He was told I can't get in any sooner to specialist due to our **** public health system. He spoke to the GYN surgeon, who told him my CA-125 is elevated, and I am on ovarian cancer watch. He said that obviously the only way they will know for sure is having the surgery,and he said my case is very well known at the hospital. Apparently the only way I can get in any quicker is to present at the ER, when the pain is really bad which is basically every day, although I have just had two fairly mild days. He also said to make sure that I go through the day, so I can see my surgeon straight away. I also only realised that when I had my specialist appointment two weeks ago, that I never had a new CA-125 test, so have not had one since July, when I was in hospital with the pain. I know I should be getting second opinions etc, but I honestly financially can't afford to. He told me they have two surgeons organised to perform operation, as it is more complicated than usual, due to them having to remove 15cm x 21cm gortex mesh first, before even starting on the ovaries removal. He also advised me that although the ultrasounds are showing 6cm simple cysts, they won't know for sure until they operate. I am trying to put this off as long as I can so I can accumalate more annual leave and sick pay with my job to help with down time. I am absolutely freaking out with worry and questions, but really feel I am not mentally ready to cope with all this at the moment. I worry about how my 10yr old daughter will get to school, and she so wants me around for her next birthday on the 10th December, as last year I was away as I had just lost my beautiful brother-in-law to cancer, and needed to be with my sister. Am I being stupid waiting?? My plan is to put up with this for another fortnight if possible, then present to ER, which I know will have me in for surgery within of week. What are your thoughts...........
you are one amazing woman and yes, Divine Intervention, only way to go. I am learning the fine art of letting go, letting God and just listening to Him more and more.
Thanks so much!
Thanks so much!
Thanks MarieMichele, for all your advice. I think next time I see the Dr I'll have a big list of questions to ask him. I think my husband regrets what he said, as he has had major back surgery, and lives with his pain every day. He really is an awesome nurse, and has had to look after me through 3 surgeries, and done a fantastic job. I think its more he just got a promotion, and loves his job, as I do, but we both know, it NEVER is convenient to have an operation. Maybe I just went into my hernia surgery thinking it would be a breeze after only 12 months since hysterectomy, so it kind of caught me off guard. Had the attitude it wasn't going to be as hard, so hopefully I'll be more prepared this time. I really don't know what is happening with the mesh afterwards, but I can guarantee, I will be doing anything in my power not to have to have anymore surgery.
To wannasmile63:
Are they planning to permanently remove this mesh area? Is it even required anymore? That is, are you now healed enough from the hernia that the mesh is no longer needed? I don't know enough about hernia surgery to understand it.
It may be that this surgery (assuming the mesh will be gone) will be an easier recovery and a more "return to normal" conditions for you. I hope so. I hope your husband comes around, too, and realizes that illness never arrives at a convenient time. Absolutely never. What if he were the one that needed surgery?
Are they planning to permanently remove this mesh area? Is it even required anymore? That is, are you now healed enough from the hernia that the mesh is no longer needed? I don't know enough about hernia surgery to understand it.
It may be that this surgery (assuming the mesh will be gone) will be an easier recovery and a more "return to normal" conditions for you. I hope so. I hope your husband comes around, too, and realizes that illness never arrives at a convenient time. Absolutely never. What if he were the one that needed surgery?
Janepm: Don't confuse laparoscopic surgery with laparotomy. Sometimes these topics talk about both. Laparoscopic can take 2 weeks for a person to recover well enough to return to work, but still take it easy regarding heavy lifting (internal healing takes longer). It is laparotomy that takes longer to heal because of the larger incision.
If you think your 3.5 cm cyst is going to resolve on its own (and it very well could) then waiting is not unreasonable. I also understand being alone with little to no help. Other than my husband I have no one to depend upon at all. I dread anything happening to him because I don't know how strong I'd be if I were ever that alone. If I were truly helpless, I might ask my church for help (no guarantee I would get any, but I'd ask anyway), and pray like crazy for some divine assistance. There are some charitable organizations that exist that provide some kind of home help if it reached the point you need surgery and some kind of after care, assuming you could find such a charitable organization to help you.
I haven't read anything that sounds like your cyst poses an immediate need for surgery. Gyn/Onc doctors are the most cautious breed and pretty much want to remove anything growing on an ovary (maybe too cautious?) while the regular gyn doctors are more likely to think it is fine to wait awhile. The problem is nobody knows with any certainty about cysts, just very well educated guesses based on test results. So far your results have been on the favorable side of things. There's not much else to do but trust your instincts when deciding which way to go.
If it were me, I'd probably opt to wait and see what future ultrasounds say as well as my own body's signals. You know if something is wrong when you pay attention to those little signals, and there's nothing like knowing a cyst exists to make you watch every little detail about how you feel.
If you think your 3.5 cm cyst is going to resolve on its own (and it very well could) then waiting is not unreasonable. I also understand being alone with little to no help. Other than my husband I have no one to depend upon at all. I dread anything happening to him because I don't know how strong I'd be if I were ever that alone. If I were truly helpless, I might ask my church for help (no guarantee I would get any, but I'd ask anyway), and pray like crazy for some divine assistance. There are some charitable organizations that exist that provide some kind of home help if it reached the point you need surgery and some kind of after care, assuming you could find such a charitable organization to help you.
I haven't read anything that sounds like your cyst poses an immediate need for surgery. Gyn/Onc doctors are the most cautious breed and pretty much want to remove anything growing on an ovary (maybe too cautious?) while the regular gyn doctors are more likely to think it is fine to wait awhile. The problem is nobody knows with any certainty about cysts, just very well educated guesses based on test results. So far your results have been on the favorable side of things. There's not much else to do but trust your instincts when deciding which way to go.
If it were me, I'd probably opt to wait and see what future ultrasounds say as well as my own body's signals. You know if something is wrong when you pay attention to those little signals, and there's nothing like knowing a cyst exists to make you watch every little detail about how you feel.
I'm having a great time learning and reading about all of the information about all of this, i want to thank you personally for doing a super job "being there" for all of us, you ae very kind.
I am really wondering if I should even have surgery! The Oncologist/GYN wants to remove one ovary which has around a 3.5 cyst on it. I'm post menopausal now, but barely.
I was feeling a lot of pain in that area but no more. An ultrasound of my abdomen showed so organ damaged but I don't know what organs they looked at. I am to have another ultrasound next month to see if my cyst has shrunk or what my uterine lining looks like.
He thinks and so does my GYN that it is 90% sure my simple water filled cyst is benign but he can't be sure.
Honestly, it's a laproscopic and when I read that it could take up to 2 months to 4 months to feel good, here's my problem: my husband is brain injured and there are no kids, no one else who can take care of me, the household, the yard, etc. for that long. We have no income and no jobs, it would cost us a fortune to hire help out, even to help me out.
I realize this forum is not a medical forum but a group of like-minded friends. Is there any harm in waiting for a few months?
I am really wondering if I should even have surgery! The Oncologist/GYN wants to remove one ovary which has around a 3.5 cyst on it. I'm post menopausal now, but barely.
I was feeling a lot of pain in that area but no more. An ultrasound of my abdomen showed so organ damaged but I don't know what organs they looked at. I am to have another ultrasound next month to see if my cyst has shrunk or what my uterine lining looks like.
He thinks and so does my GYN that it is 90% sure my simple water filled cyst is benign but he can't be sure.
Honestly, it's a laproscopic and when I read that it could take up to 2 months to 4 months to feel good, here's my problem: my husband is brain injured and there are no kids, no one else who can take care of me, the household, the yard, etc. for that long. We have no income and no jobs, it would cost us a fortune to hire help out, even to help me out.
I realize this forum is not a medical forum but a group of like-minded friends. Is there any harm in waiting for a few months?
I'm not sure what the number is and am really trying not to focus on it to much. I guess I'm just scared, as my last surgery I had was the hernia repair when they inserted the mesh. It was the most painful operation I've ever had due to the anchoring of the mesh, and I can't believe that now it has to be all undone, before they even start the ovary removal. I don't think my company has the sick pool, but it sounds like an awesome idea. Like I've mentioned before, my job is very physical in a large furniture store, but I absolutely love it. I'm just going to take the next few weeks as they come, and what ever is meant to be will be. I am not a religious person, but believe all things happen for a reason, just takes a while some times to figure out what it is. When I told my husband the DR was trying to get me in earlier, he said it was a bit inconvenient!!!! can you believe that, I just about went off my head. It's nice to be able to come here and find out things, and talk to people who know what it feels like, and I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions over the next few months;)
Does your employer have a sick pool of hours? At my last employer, people could donate extra sick leave hours to a co-worker who needs extra time for a sick leave that is longer than the quantity of hours available to them. If not, perhaps the idea could be suggested to your employer? It is a voluntary system at some companies that has worked well for those that use it. Granted, not everyone participates, but usually you only need a few long term employees with more hours than they truly need to make a big difference for you. It could give you the extra hours you need so that you can get surgery at an earlier date.
If the cyst is benign, then waiting for surgery probably will not be a problem other than the pain and other symptoms it causes you to feel. If it is not benign, it needs to be removed sooner rather than later.
But it would seem to be RARE for simple cysts to be cancer. Benign cysts CAN cause CA-125 results to be elevated as well.
Did they give you the actual CA-125 results? Normal range is 0-35. What is your number, do you know?
If the cyst is benign, then waiting for surgery probably will not be a problem other than the pain and other symptoms it causes you to feel. If it is not benign, it needs to be removed sooner rather than later.
But it would seem to be RARE for simple cysts to be cancer. Benign cysts CAN cause CA-125 results to be elevated as well.
Did they give you the actual CA-125 results? Normal range is 0-35. What is your number, do you know?
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