Am I Crazy?

[swedelife]

Hello! I am having a bit of a problem lately. Well for the past two years really.
About two years ago I had a horrible bout with Toxic Shock Syndrome, which damaged my kidneys and nearly put me in a coma. Now, I didn't expect to feel better right after that, because it puts a huge damper on your immune system. Well last May, I found out that I had two grapefruit sized cysts, one on my ovary and one was tubal. They rushed me in and removed them via surgery, after being sent home with vicodin from another emergancy room.  

For the past 4 months I have not had a period and my stomach has been bloated growing. I know for a fact that I am not pregnant, and my doctor gave me three pregnancy tests on different occasions. Plus, it hurt to have sex anyway, so my boyfriend and I haven't been sexually active. I am constantly tired, I have gained so much weight in my stomach area it's insane. I have always been a solid girl, with "birthing hips" and a butt that has been passed down from most of the women in my family.  But my stomach makes me look preggers.  I have too pee all the time, and when I have to go...it's pretty urgant. I am constipated and that could possibly be a reason for the bloating.

I went to my doctor a month or so ago and they pressed on my stomach and told me that they think it's a GI thing and did a whole lot of blood tests for my thyroid and such. Everything came back fine and they put me on a 5 day's worth of Provera, but it didn't have any effect on my period but it did make me moody, my vision went all nuts and I had to pee EVEN more.

Then when I began to gain even more weight, and I kept getting pangs of pain in my pevlic area. I went to the surgon at the woman's clinic that took out my cysts, and he did a very quick pelvic exam and felt for more cysts. He couldn't find anything and he put off having a ultrasound.  He gave me 20 more days worth of Provera and that gave me spotting for the past two weeks. I have been getting the cramps, but not the actual period.  Now I went and had my blood sugar and cholesteral checked at the local heart center and it says I have ok blood sugar but moderate cholesterol and high triglycerides.  I  go into the doctor on Friday to talk about the results.

My grandmother passed away from ovarian cancer at age 49 and both sides of my family have a long history with cervical and breast cancer. My great grandmother may have passed from ovarian cancer, but she was from "the old country" and they didn't know what it was at the time.  

My grandmother was told she had IBS for a year before they found out she had ovarian cancer and this is basically what they are telling me now. I asked my doctor about ovc, and she said that I didn't have enough of the symptoms to justify a blood test, but I don't know if I shoudl keep pushing for one on Friday?  She tells me to try and relax, but when I'm spending a hour and a half in the bathroom "trying to relax", it doesn't do much good. I'm worried and I just want to know for sure. I'm tired of hearing that it's in my head when I know something doesn't feel right.

Am I just paranoid and should I just let it go? I feel pretty crazy right now =/

[ChrisP2236]

I agree with Lori.  I hope your doctor's "good feeling" is right.  It doesn't always work that way and a TVU is a good start to finding out what's wrong.  Keep pusing - you're almost there!  Chris P

[cirella]

Hi, well, one one hand, I'm glad someone listened and that you feel listened to.  But...having a good feeling but not being sure isn't an answer.  Did he actually say "since you don't have insurance?"  I hope not!  You have symptoms and no answers and the next step is a vaginal ultrasound.  It's been going on long enough that you shouldn't have to wait for the pain to continue...which it obviously is.  Yes, please call him back this week and ask for the ultrasound.  As it is, it'll probably take a couple of weeks to get you in.  You're inching closer, just keep going.

All the best!
Lori

[swedelife]

I went in today and they didn't do an ultrasound, but he has a good feeling that I may have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. But he isn't sure. Since I don't have insurance, he told me that if pain continues, then I should call him and he'll get an ultrasound. He is a nice guy and listened to all my concerns. My stomach is getting larger and I am in a bit of pain, so I think I'm going to be calling in the next week or so. I'm just glad someone in the medical field listened.

[swedelife]

I went in today and they didn't do an ultrasound, but he has a good feeling that I may have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. But he isn't sure. Since I don't have insurance, he told me that if pain continues, then I should call him and he'll get an ultrasound. He is a nice guy and listened to all my concerns. My stomach is getting larger and I am in a bit of pain, so I think I'm going to be calling in the next week or so. I'm just glad someone in the medical field listened.

[ChrisP2236]

Your are much better off with a new doctor.  Any doctor who laughs at someone's real concerns needs some time off - as well as a referral to a couple of ovca discussion boards to educate her.  You know your own body and you know something's wrong, so you are right to keep going until you get an answer.  Many women on this site and other ovca sites will tell you they got the brush-off too, and, sadly, sometimes it was too late when they got the final diagnosis.  Keep pushing until YOU are satisfied with the answer you get. My doctor could not feel any cysts during my pelvic, but they sure were there when I had the TUV a week later.  I hope you connect well with your new doctor - let us know how it goes.  Chris P  

[ireneo]

That's condescending to laugh like that about your concerns. I'm sorry. Perhaps your new doctor will take a fresh look at it all and be able to help you. Stay in touch.

[swedelife]

Well I went in on Friday. She actually laughed at me...saying that I was being silly. Wow, I am glad that I'm switching doctors, because this certainly isn't working.

I told her how my symptoms are getting worse and my stomach is getting more bloated. I STILL haven't gotten my period and she said I must not have taken all my Provera (which I did. I'm anal about taking meds on time...). But whatever.  I don't have to worry about her anymore. Stressing about it will only make me feel worse...

[ChrisP2236]

Let us know how things go for you.  Hoping you get an answer soon.  Chris P

[swedelife]

Chris: I am glad that you pushed and took your fate into your own hands! I like that phrase "Be your own advocate." It should be on a t-shirt, don't you think?

cirella:I just got an appointment tomorrow with my doctor  and I am going for a consultation with another doctor on Monday. I mean if it isn't ovc, I would still like to know what it is! Feeling preggers with out the ultimate outcome sucks!

Helmar: I will ask the doc. about a CT scan, the symptoms just keep getting worse the longer I wait =/  My grandmother is from sweden, but the rest of my family is Israeli and Argentinian. I loved Norway when I was there a couple years back!

Thank you all for the kind words!

-Jenn

[Helmar]

Hello...Like your Grandmother...I was also told for over 9 months that I had IBS but was finally told it was Stage 4 OvCa.. They eventually found my problem by Ct scan, so perhaps that should be done for you. This disease is hard to detect, and there is every chance that you could have something else, but it's best to get onto it a.s.a.p. to allay your fears. Having a history of gyno cancers in your family, makes ir even more important that you follow through with this.
Is your family originally from Sweden? I was there sometime ago. My hubby is Norwegian. :-)
I hope you will let us know how you are, and what the Doctors come up with.
Hugs....Helen....

[cirella]

Get the vaginal ultrasound.  Yes, your doctor will make you think you are quite crazy with their "you're too young, you don't have the symptoms, I don't think you need to worry" cr@p.  You have a history of OC in your family and there is no check list of solid symptoms to go from.  That's why they say OC whispers.  If you ask each woman on this forum what their symptoms were they would each be different and you would be very afraid because of that.  If your current doctor won't do it, then get a second opinion and keep going until someone will listen to you.  You know your body better than anyone else.

All the best!
Lori

[ChrisP2236]

Request the transvaginal ultrasound asap.  If they put you off, get a second opinion.  I was also told I had IBS for 18 months.  The symptoms did not go away and I finally demanded the TVU, which showed multiple cysts on the left ovary.  My CA 125 came back at 6.  I had the ovary removed and it was malignant.  Hopefully, that will not be the case with you, but you know your body and with a family history of ovca it is best to push until you get a definite answer.  Best wishes to you and be your own advocate.  Chris P  

[swedelife]

Thank you! I think I need encouragement to be forceful when it comes to most things. I just went in to pay my bill at my dr's (I don't have insurance...unfortunately that makes things super expensive!) and I asked her some quick questions while she had the time, and she just told me about the fact that I had an enlarged ovary the last time she did a pelvic exam. I never knew about that, even though that was a long time ago...before my cysts were removed, does that mean anything? Phooey. I really think I need to find a new doctor.

[ireneo]

Heck no, don't let it go. Poking around on top of your tummy isn't a guarantee that there's nothing wrong. For the past year I had similar symptoms - sluggish bowels, trouble emptying my bladder, bloating. I kept making excuses for it all - getting older and needing more fiber in my diet, just old lady bladder, bloating from my heart issues. Went in for my pap and she didn't feel much but sent me for the wacky wand (transvaginal ultrasound). Yep, there was a sizeable cyst on my left ovary. Last Thursday I had it removed. Turned out to be 10 cm. I can laugh now that it's over. I'm amazed at how easily I go potty and my pants feel more comfortable already.

I don't know if you can demand a TVUS but you can nag them. Or go to another doctor. Just don't ignore it. You feel crummy for a reason.