Aa
Decision Time
Background:
Dec 2007 - Diagnosed with having a simple cyst measuring 3.5CM on left ovary.
Took prescribed meds and birth control pills for about 45 days.
Jan 2008 - Pelvic Ultrasound revealed negligible or no cysts.
Nov 2009 - Pelvic ultrasound showed simply cyst measuring 7.5CM on left ovary.
As a precaution took blood test(CA-125), result was 5(range 0-34)
Started taking FemCo birth control pill with higher dosage and follow-up appointment after 3 months.
Feb 2009 - Well, today I had Transvaginal ultrasound and it did show that the cyst was still 7.5CM.
The good news is its not growing but the bad news is its not shrinking either.
Doctor recommended surgery and also gave me several things to think about.
1. If the cyst turns out to be cancerous(they will determine this right at surgery - a pathologist will
be on-stand) then they told me they may have to remove my left ovary and right ovary and even the uterus but
given that I may want to have a child later-on they may only remove the left ovary but I would have to consult
with a specialist later on.
2. A laprascopy would be performed with two small incisions but am told that if complications arise(they can't
retrieve the cyst or profuse bleeding) then they may have to open me up.
How do you decide ahead of time that its ok to remove ovaries or not or be prepared for a small incision
or a large one ? I think its a very personal decision to make and am struggling with it.
Am not sure how soon I would have to have the surgery done and the prospect of losing my ovary is scary, let
alone having the surgery which is kinda terrifying me now.
Also, am not sure how long it would take for me before I can go back to work.
The surgery probably would be performed at University Community Hospital in Tampa. anyone know how good the hospital is?
Appreciate any insights or encouraging words ;)
Dec 2007 - Diagnosed with having a simple cyst measuring 3.5CM on left ovary.
Took prescribed meds and birth control pills for about 45 days.
Jan 2008 - Pelvic Ultrasound revealed negligible or no cysts.
Nov 2009 - Pelvic ultrasound showed simply cyst measuring 7.5CM on left ovary.
As a precaution took blood test(CA-125), result was 5(range 0-34)
Started taking FemCo birth control pill with higher dosage and follow-up appointment after 3 months.
Feb 2009 - Well, today I had Transvaginal ultrasound and it did show that the cyst was still 7.5CM.
The good news is its not growing but the bad news is its not shrinking either.
Doctor recommended surgery and also gave me several things to think about.
1. If the cyst turns out to be cancerous(they will determine this right at surgery - a pathologist will
be on-stand) then they told me they may have to remove my left ovary and right ovary and even the uterus but
given that I may want to have a child later-on they may only remove the left ovary but I would have to consult
with a specialist later on.
2. A laprascopy would be performed with two small incisions but am told that if complications arise(they can't
retrieve the cyst or profuse bleeding) then they may have to open me up.
How do you decide ahead of time that its ok to remove ovaries or not or be prepared for a small incision
or a large one ? I think its a very personal decision to make and am struggling with it.
Am not sure how soon I would have to have the surgery done and the prospect of losing my ovary is scary, let
alone having the surgery which is kinda terrifying me now.
Also, am not sure how long it would take for me before I can go back to work.
The surgery probably would be performed at University Community Hospital in Tampa. anyone know how good the hospital is?
Appreciate any insights or encouraging words ;)
I had my Pre-Op appointment and basically the doctor(Obgyn) described several scenarios and asked me to choose what am comfirtable with and then asked me to sign the consent forms.
Here are the scenarious:
1. If they find any pre-cancerous cells in the cyst - recommendation is to remove left ovary and to take a little tissue from the right ovary and test that as well.
2. If right ovary also has pre-cancerous cells then - recommendation is to remove it as well.
3. If the cyst turns out to be cancerous then - recommendation is to remove all and more depending on the extent of its exposure..
Doc said most likely(99%) the cyst could be benign but she wants us to complete the consent form so decision is made ahead of time and not during the surgery.
I have told them if the cells are cancerious then to remove both the ovaries but if its pre-cancerous then to remove only left ovary and preserve the right ovary as I may want kids 2-3 yrs down the road.
My surgery is in the next couple days, I'll come back and post my post-op experience.
Wish me less pain ;)
Here are the scenarious:
1. If they find any pre-cancerous cells in the cyst - recommendation is to remove left ovary and to take a little tissue from the right ovary and test that as well.
2. If right ovary also has pre-cancerous cells then - recommendation is to remove it as well.
3. If the cyst turns out to be cancerous then - recommendation is to remove all and more depending on the extent of its exposure..
Doc said most likely(99%) the cyst could be benign but she wants us to complete the consent form so decision is made ahead of time and not during the surgery.
I have told them if the cells are cancerious then to remove both the ovaries but if its pre-cancerous then to remove only left ovary and preserve the right ovary as I may want kids 2-3 yrs down the road.
My surgery is in the next couple days, I'll come back and post my post-op experience.
Wish me less pain ;)
I had something like a 3 hour office visit with my surgeon (gyn/onc) pre-surgery to thoroughly discuss all the details. His office was inside the medical building attached to the hospital where he does the surgery. From his office he made an appointment for my pre-surgery tests (blood, chest x-ray, heart EKG) and I walked from his office straight to the hospital pre-testing area on the same day. Not everyone gets this kind of fast tracking.
Long story short, usually it is the hospital that does the pre-testing, not the surgeon's office.
Cysts can return, yes, sorry to say. As long as you have ovaries, the chances remain. BC pills could suppress this from occurring. These are things to discuss with the doctor since much depends on your own health situation what is the best thing to do.
You also should ask about your personal costs. I am sure it varies by area so nobody here could give a decent answer.
My laparotomy cost close to $14,000 when you add in everything, and my out of pocket expenses were close to $5,000 of that. The bulk of the expense came from my 4 day hospital stay. Laparoscopic surgeries can mean same day discharge and that subtracts greatly from the overall cost.
My surgery story is in my profile. It has helped many. I am the biggest coward I know when it comes to doctors, hospitals and surgeries. And now I am an advocate for getting these cysts removed!
Long story short, usually it is the hospital that does the pre-testing, not the surgeon's office.
Cysts can return, yes, sorry to say. As long as you have ovaries, the chances remain. BC pills could suppress this from occurring. These are things to discuss with the doctor since much depends on your own health situation what is the best thing to do.
You also should ask about your personal costs. I am sure it varies by area so nobody here could give a decent answer.
My laparotomy cost close to $14,000 when you add in everything, and my out of pocket expenses were close to $5,000 of that. The bulk of the expense came from my 4 day hospital stay. Laparoscopic surgeries can mean same day discharge and that subtracts greatly from the overall cost.
My surgery story is in my profile. It has helped many. I am the biggest coward I know when it comes to doctors, hospitals and surgeries. And now I am an advocate for getting these cysts removed!
Thanks Marie and fungirl..
The next available date for surgery is in March and if I decide to have surgery then, I'll be meeting the doc the week before for pre-op.
Would they be drawing my blood and do some other tests or is this just a 1 on 1? Can someone please share their pre-op experiences.
I have fear of surgery and always have avoided it since I was a kid.
If I decide to go for surgery, what are my chances of cyst re-occuring again?
Should I continue taking BC pills after surgery?
Also, there is an issue of financials..my insurance covers only 80% of the costs and I maybe looking at spending $1000-$1500 out of pocket.
How much would be a typical out-of-pocket expense for laprascopy? I understand with lapratomy costs will be higher due to hospital stay.
The next available date for surgery is in March and if I decide to have surgery then, I'll be meeting the doc the week before for pre-op.
Would they be drawing my blood and do some other tests or is this just a 1 on 1? Can someone please share their pre-op experiences.
I have fear of surgery and always have avoided it since I was a kid.
If I decide to go for surgery, what are my chances of cyst re-occuring again?
Should I continue taking BC pills after surgery?
Also, there is an issue of financials..my insurance covers only 80% of the costs and I maybe looking at spending $1000-$1500 out of pocket.
How much would be a typical out-of-pocket expense for laprascopy? I understand with lapratomy costs will be higher due to hospital stay.
Your doctor is probably saying that the ovary may have to be removed, because sometimes when they get in there, the cyst may be wrapped around the ovary making it almost impossible to just remove the cyst (in my experiences anyway). Keep in mind that 99% of the time, ovarian cysts are NOT cancerous. If they have to open you up, you can count on about 3-5 days in the hospital, and about a 6-8 week recovery period. If they can do it laparoscopically, you will have 3 small incisions. Your recovery time will be anywhere from a week to a month depending on how well you are healing. My sister in law had surgery last Friday to remove an ovary and cyst and she was ready to go back to work on Tuesday. It is different for everyone. When do you see your doctor again? I also wanted to say that if they do have to take one ovary and nothing else, you can still have a baby with only one ovary. I will be praying for you. Please keep us posted.
You got it right when you say it is a personal decision, and even the doctors have trouble deciding which is the best route to take, often leaving it to a patient to decide. Unless they are really concerned about cancer. If they are, then laparotomy (open surgery) is the safest route because a questionable cyst MUST be removed intact with no cell spillage whatsoever. Many doctors will say they can pull it off (no spillage) through laparoscopy, but I've read about too many "oops" moments to trust that.
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