Pelvic Abdominal Symptoms...US CT results

[earthstar11]

I am 56, almost 3 years menopausal

For about the past 5 months I have had the following symptoms:
*abdominal bloating, abdominal distention, feeling of fullness and heaviness
*increase in size of abdomen (have not gained weight)
*unable to eat alot at one time, decreased appetite
*intermittent mild dull aching from left pelvic area into groin
*I palpate (feel) cysts in my lower abdominal cavity, near the sigmoid colon, and near the bladder
*increased constipation
*tenderness/pain when pressing in and around the umbilicus

In March I had a transvaginal US.....IMPRESSION:  small serosal nodule (1.1 cm X 1 cm X 0.8 cm) on uterus suggesting a small fibroid,   left ovarian cyst 1.2 cm    otherwise normal ultrasound of pelvis

CA 125 was normal @ 10

Last week had CT of abdomen  IMPRESSION:  no definite acute intraabdominal pathology.  No biliary or pancreatic ductal dilatation.  Possible tiny punctate stone in the gallbladder fundus.  Mildly prominent non-enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes and non-dilated left midabdominal small bowel loops.  This could represent a nonspecific enterocolitis.  No evidence of bowel obstruction  1 cm left adnexal cyst.

I am scheduled for laparoscopy in about 3 weeks....also at the same time as an A&P repair (I have cystocele and rectocele).....  So far, none of the docs seem to think that there's anything real serious like cancer....I am making myself crazy thinking that I'm making this worse than it really is....although my symptoms persist and I am postmenopausal.  

so here's my questions to all of you who have been through all of this....
Do you think there could be anything more serious that doesn't show up on the reports....  
Could any of my symptoms be explained by the findings like the small fibroid or the small ovarian cyst...
Any perspectives any of have would be greatly appreciated....
Thanks

[silver&gold]

Hi ,
cysts and fibroids can cause a multitude of symptoms, I have had both , yes some of the symptoms you describe could certainly be from the fibroid and cyst . Unfortunately though there is no 100% guarantee that all is benign until biopsies are taken and looked at in the path lab ,95% of cysts are benign and only 1 in a thousand fibroids are anything to worry about and many women develop them in their thirties so they are very common. Try not to worry (I know easier said than done) . I don,t know about the reports , but you could always get a second opinion to try and put your mind at ease .
I hope everything goes well for you , let us know how you get on and take care .

Best wishes Angie

[Laney8463]

Hi,
I agree with everything Angie has said above. I know the waiting is terribly hard and can make you crazy at times. Try and take a deep breath. Many of these symptoms you display can be caused by a multitude of things.
Take care and keep us posted
Laney

[lvfrogs]

I know you are worried, but it sounds like the doctors are doing all the right tests and you are having a laparoscopy in 3 weeks, which should give you answers.  Try to do other things to help take your mind off of it (easier said than done, I know!) and 3 weeks will be here before you know it.
Let us know!
Colleen

[Jan214]

Dear ES,  (my daughter would love that screenname.  She sifts space dust for NASA)

I have had cysts, uterine fibroids and now OvCa.  I have had 5 surgeries for cysts, 15 that popped, and now OvCa.  I can tell you that everytime a Dr said that I had nothing to worry about they were spot on.

Although it is true that you can't be 100% certain to what extent you have cancer and in some cases if you have cancer at all, without a biopsy, Drs do know most of the time when you have it even before surgery.  My onc knew I had cancer and sent me to have my chemo port surgery before I had my TAHBSO, so they do know or he wouldn't put his patients through that.  He has never had someone get a port that later turned out not to need it.  Also, if you have surgery and they tell you the biopsies won't be back for a couple of weeks than you most likely do not have cancer.  If they see a mess when they open you up, your cultures are back to the OR before you are stitched/stapled up.  That last sentence was just a general comment, not having anything to do with you as I do not think that you have anything to worry about.  

I am telling you all of this with the hope that it will ease your mind a little to know that someone has gone through what you are going through numerous times and it always turned out just the way the Drs said it would.

Good luck to you and I will watch your progress and pray that all goes well.
Jan

[earthstar11]

Thanks.....for all your comments.... its great having this and all the other forums at medhlep.....

[Sandymac]

Hi,  

Can't add much more to the above..I , too, am postmenopausal and in January it was determined through TVUS that I had 2 small fibroids, some fluid in Uterus (neither which should have been there at my age) and a small ovarian  cyst.. I was told I could "watch and wait:" and I said phooey to that !!! Take the thing out !! So,I had laparoscopic surgery to remove one ovary and it's accompanying little cyst. They also checked out the fibroids and fluid.They just left the fibroids, after being tested since they were small and weren't bothersome. Everything was benign. My only symptoms were pain in the left lower quadrant similar to that of ovarian pain or Diverticulitis, sometimes radiating to the back, and slight nausea,

Your CA-125 although not reliable in younger women, has a little more importance in women our age (I'm 69).. still not 100 % I'm told. But think yours is a good thing. Please try not to make yourself nuts like I did. Chances are everything will be fine.. I agree that most good Drs. have a "sense" of  what is o.k and what is not.. Try not to worry and it won't be long till it's done and over with.. In the meantime, keep us posted on any news and take care of yourself..

Sandy
    

[earthstar11]

Thanks for your comments.....it was so helpful...glad that everything is ok with you...I'm just putting my life on hold until the surgery on June 18..... the plan is to biopsy the cysts...they will leave the ovary if they can and to remove the fibroid leaving the uterus....and biopsy anything else interesting along the way....  of course I'm having an A&P repair at the same time....my bladder has prolapsed into the vagina....just minor inconvenience........I will keep you all posted....

[Sandymac]

Yes.... Let us know how everything goes with you.. Good luck with everything !! Have a nice Memorial Day...

Sandy