Venting Out: Upcoming Laparoscopic Surgery for ovarian cyst & possible Endometriosis

[roxy_grrl]

Hi everyone,

I just recently joined this site since I've been wanting to vent out! Today, I got a call from my GYNE and he told me that my Ca 125 results is really bad it came out to 104 instead of the normal less than 21. He mentioned that I might have endometriosis or ovarian cancer but it is less likely since Im only 29years old and am trying to get pregnant.

Before that I was diagnosed by my OB a few weeks ago with ovarian cyst on the left side a 3.somethinf and on the right 4.2 [i know how unlucky right to have 2]. I opted for the BC treatment she put me on Junel 1/20 so i have only been taking it for 2 weeks. She notified me about the posibility of laparoscopic surgery but that would be my last resort and I was supposed to go back and get an ultrasound done on october. But everything changed when I went to visit my GYNE this monday. I told him my lower right side abdomen is bothering me and that is were my 4.2 cyst is so I thought oh noooo! There might be a possibility of surgery and so he did told me that the october plan might be sooner but I didnt know that its Aug 13 sooner.  I just got back from a 2weeks vacay at work and now 4weeks recovery? I already sent an email to my boss and shes cool with it thank GOD!

Today and these past few weeks were one of the worst times of my life! I have never been diagnosed with anything and when I found out I have two ovarian cyst it broke my heart because I am trying to get pregnant since Ive been married for almost 3years and Ive been taking prenatal vitamins to ready my body then my OB puts me on BIrthcontrol as a treatment for my cyst then now I might have endometriosis or whats worst is ovarian cancer. I was really tripping about having endometriosis because I read so much info about it and Ive been wanting to get pregnant and am afraid that I might never have kids ever and that thought kills me. Now Im having more negative thoughts and worries since theres an ovarian cancer thing issue. The GYNE said he wont know till he sends out my tissue for pathology.

I just have to vent out! I tried telling my friends but they havent gotten back to me yet and keeping all these to myself is killing me. Its already bad enough I am worrying my husband I feel bad as it is. My parents are here with us for vacay and will be going back to the Philippines soon and Im tryin to keep it cool and act cool so not to worry them. But I am super worried I kept telling my husband everything will be okay but man its killing me inside. Im so darn scared all I am doing is praying.

The next problem I have is for the 2-4weeks recovery period I will be by myself at home since my husband is new at his job and needs to pay the bills. I wonder if i will be okay being by myself? I dont want my husband and people around me to worry than it is. Sorry this is waaaay long i just had to let this out haha.

[roxy_grrl]

Hi Kezmel its nice to hear your story too and it gives me more hope that not because I have a high level of ca 125 it means its cancer. I guess like you its just inside my head too haha I cant seem to brush it off and it doesnt help that I looked up the ovarian cancer symptoms and it seemed like its the same as endometriosis for the most part.

Wow you did a buncha test then mri and ct and stuff. I actually just did ultrasound and thats about it then the blood work for ca 125 and another blood work for my OB checking other stuff seems like related to me getting prego. Thank God yours wasnt cancerous too and I hope mine isnt either. I've been praying about it even more recently sometimes I forget how severe my situation is and sometimes I seem to forget about it.

I am still freaked out about the surgery part too since this is my first real surgery ever and I was hoping something like this would be me giving birth or something *SIGH* I am 29 I do hope my body copes real fast with everything. Thank you again.

[roxy_grrl]

Oh I see makes sense because my OB actually reffered my Gyne to me so maybe thats why. Im just glad that shes there tho to see how everything goes makes me more calmer. Yes, I will let you know.

Another question for you guys. After the surgery during the recovery period my Gyne mentioned that it might take 2-4weeks for me I know it depends on everyone. But my sis in law offered to be with me for a week since my husbands new at his work so I dont want him to take time off. Would a week okay for me to be with someone already then the rest of the 3weeks I know im still gonna be in pain but maybe a little better when in terms to moving?

[kezmel]

Hi. I was diagnosed with my cyst 2 years ago and told by my gp thst i needed referring immidiatley to gyne as it contained a solud element and they needed to rule out cancer. I had 2 mri scans and the ca125 which was well below limits. I have had scans and repeat bloods every 3 months since and although gyne were pretty sure it wasnt cancerous,it always niggled in the back of my mind especially as i was told it could be first off. My ca125 levels remained very stable and low over 2 years but i was also told they can be high for other reasons. As youve read from my post,ive now had it removed as it took up too much head space,every twinge i was wondering if it was turning nasty. Im lucky to have had results back saying it was benign but i pushed and asked every question going,even if it meant me ringing up when i got home because i didnt understand what they had told me!  Try not to worry and go with what your head tells you through it all x

[old_before_my_time]

I don't think two surgeons are typically present. Is the one your regular ob/gyn sent you to a gynecologic oncologist? Maybe your ob/gyn wants to be sure you get proper treatment?

Yes, I had already had kids. I was 49 at the time of my surgery.

Hope your surgery goes well. Let us know.

[roxy_grrl]

Thank you so much for replying. It made me feel much better I was just checking out the Ovarian cancer symptoms and was trying to compare what I have lol. It somewhat freaked me out because for the most part the endometriosis symptoms seemed somewhat similar.

Is it normal to have 2 doctors present during the surgery? Before I was finally diagnosed to do the surgery my OB already told me that if any laparoscopic surgery needed to be done theres going to be my Gyne that she reffered me too and herself (OB doctor) during the surgery. I am sorry to hear about your surgery where you still able to have kids aside from that fact?

So far, I am just having a lil throbing pain on my lower right abdomen were the 4.2 cyst probably is located but it also seems that I have feeling some pain/discomfort on my right hips area as well. Its not some killer pain tho but it doesnt seem normal. At first I thought I just slept wrong so my right side bothers me but now thinking about it I feel like its somewhat connected. I have my pre op appoinment for my Gyne next thursday then the following monday I have my pre op appointment for my OB.

Thank you again for replying back I really appreciate it.

[old_before_my_time]

I know it is scary when you hear the word "cancer." I have been there too. But the CA-125 blood test is not accurate at diagnosing ovarian cancer. An elevated result can be caused by other things including benign ovarian cysts. I know of women who had very high CA-125 results and did not have ovarian cancer.

Have you had another ultrasound to see how big these cysts are now? And more importantly, do you have a copy of the ultrasound report that describes these cysts? Are they complex? There are certain traits that make ovarian cysts suspicious for cancer; however, even most complex cysts are benign (non-cancerous).

If there is any suspicion of endometriosis, these cysts could be endometriomas. And seeing an endometriosis specialist would likely give you a better surgical outcome and chances for conception since they have the skills to remove endo implants throughout the pelvis. I have read that excision is the best method.

Unfortunately, many gynecologists do not even have good cystectomy (cyst removal) skills and too many women lose the ovary instead of the cyst being cut away from the ovary preserving as much ovarian tissue as possible. Ovary removal can hinder fertility and can even cause premature menopause.

I had a 9cm complex ovarian cyst. I was rushed into surgery and all my female organs (uterus, both ovaries, both tubes) were removed despite the frozen section (done while I was under anesthesia) being benign. My gynecologist should have removed just the cyst or just the one ovary and then sewed me back up when the pathology came back benign. Sadly, unnecessary organ removal is more common than most women realize. Our organs have life-long functions beyond reproduction so even though I was close to menopause, my health profile and quality of life have been permanently altered.

I wish you the best of luck in getting medical care that improves your health and fertility.