Looking 5 months pregnant

[To Dee from Lenore]

I am almost 50 years old. I have always been a little bit overweight but have carried most of my weigh in my bottom and thighs, and I have always had a very flat stomach. For the last few years however, my stomach has been extending and currently I look to be about 5 or 6 months pregnant. I feel bloated up high in my stomach. I am still overweight but now my stomach is disportionate to the rest of my body. I have had regular annual pelvic exams which all are normal. I have had regular annual health exams and blodd tests that have also been normal. My periods are very heavy but arrive normally each month. For the last few years, I also have been suffering with bad acid reflux and constipation fairly regularly. I have scheduled a pelvic exam and pap smear for next month but do you think I should be concerned about the possibility of ovarian cancer? Thanks for any information you can provide.

[nyc lady]

if you are in the United States, an ER cannot deny treatment if you don't have insurance.  Go in saying you have really bad pains in your ovaries, or on your side, etc, they will do a CT Scan and see what is going on.  

Worry about your life, not insurance, there is medicare/medicaid, etc out there if necessary.  

[To Dee from Lenore]

Thank you very much for responding. It is reassuring. I think my biggest fear is that I don't have health insurance and if I need surgery whether I have something cancerous or not is that I will not be able to afford it. : /

I know that something is definitely not right because I just feel it instinctively but then I disregard my instinct when doctors tell me I am fine.

[ireneo]

I agree. Explain what's going on with your symptoms and express your concern. They may say if you don't have a family history of cancer, don't worry about it. But if there is something going on, it's better to find it early. I ignored my symptoms (like yours). By the time I went in, I had a cyst that was 7 cm big. By the time I got to surgery it was up to 10 cm. Good news is mine was not cancer. But I keep thinking what if....?  And all because I kept thinking of excuses for my own symptoms (my age, menopause, not enough fiber) Shame on me.

[nyc lady]

By saying you have had pelvic exams, do you mean internals and pap tests?  They cannot tell what is on your ovaries.

Could it be ovarian cysts, sure it could....remember most cysts are benign and ovarian cancer is a very disease....but, you need to see your Ob/Gyn and insist that they at least do a transvaginal sonogram to see what is going on with your ovaries, if anything.  

Good luck, let us know what happens.  Please make an appointment with an OB/Gyn.

Pam