Question for Helmar-Bowel changes, rectal pressure?

[mermaid26]

I'm have a trans/vag US next Tues. to evaluate bilateral pelvic masses above my ovaries pressing against my bladder.  My Urologist did a pelvic US in her office and wants to rule out scar tissue.  I've been waiting 6 weeks for this test.  I experience almost constant pressure on my rectum.  The Gastro told me he had a hard time with the scope and all the doctors I've seen tell me it's probably just adhesions.  I'm officially frustated and scared because I know something is wrong and next month will mark a year since my visit to the Gyn for symptoms.  I also have a lot of left sided pain - arm numbness mostly.  I can hardly carry a purse or anything with my left arm.  My GP told me "it's just a pinched nerve." Well that's been almost a year too.  I thought I read Helmar where you had some cancer involvement with the bowel.  I know I'll get some answers next week but I'm curious about the major symptoms you experienced and location of your cancer.  I've lost 25 pounds since Oct. and it seems like my entire digestive process is painful.  I have a history of a ruptured dermoid with peritonitis eight years ago.  Thanks for any support or advice ladies.

[Helmar]

Hi Stephanie... When you see your new Gyno on Jan 11th. ask about an internal examination. I know it's not a fun thing to have done, but I have a check every 3 months now, and that's included. It's just a routine thing for the Gynos, so don't worry about it. Just think it's better to make sure everything is clear, than worry more about it. Good luck with your further checks, and please let us know how it goes for you.
You are in my thoughts and prayers for good news.
Best wishes...*hugs*...Helmar

[Ms_Makita]

Ty for your replies Helmer and mermaid26,I also had colonscopy and been to few gi specialist,just been told its ibs and rectal prolapse ,had alot of test that are coming back good which should be relief but it isnt since still having bad pain and bloating.I go to new gyno Jan 11th and will ask about blood test to dectect ovarian cancer,I really have an instinct it isnt all IBS,few times a week I spot dark blood,black,looks like tar,no idea what it is.I did have laparscopy in Aug to check for endo but none was found,but so many women I talk to about ovarian cancer said it took months,some almost a year before they found out it was cancer and had so many other test that missed it at first,it mimics so many other disorders I can see why its often overlooked!
    I wish everyone a Happy New Year filled with happiness and better health! God Bless! *Hugs*
                  Stephanie

[Helmar]

Hello...Even though you are only 28 y.o.,having ovarian cancer in your family is a worry, so I would advise you to take all steps to make sure that all is well. Maybe a good Gynocologist is a start. I know it's not the best scenario, but an internal examination by a Gyno. can tell a lot, if there is anything unusual going on. As I've mentioned, I went back and forth to my GP for almost 9 months, complaining of similar sypmtoms to what you are now experiencing... bloatedness, bowel changes,flatulence, weight loss.... and I was continually told that I had irritable bowel, gastro...anything but what I did have.They finally found my problem by Gyno examination and Ct scan. My ovca was well advanced by then. About 3 months before I was dx.my GP sent me to a Gastroenterologist who performed a colonoscopy/gasoscopy and both came back negative, as the cancer had not got into these areas, but was working on the outside, so didn't show on the tests. It was when I got to the stage that I would have a cup of coffee, and throw it up again, that I insisted something more be done to find out why this was happening... and that's when I had the scan/Gyno exam, and told the bad news.
I don't have any cancer in my family at all... I am 'first cab on the rank' to have cancer... and I couldn't have got a worst one, but I don't let it get to me. Nothing is going to change, so there's no point in worrying about something that we can't change. I just urge you to act quickly... get some answers, and if you can't get satisfaction from one Doctor, then go to another, and another, until you get one who will take notice. I think sometimes a lady Doctor could be more understanding, as a lot of men Doctors are not even aware of Ovarian cancer. It's not as common as breast cancer, so I think their knowledge is very limited in some cases. I think this was evident from the run around that I got from my GP (male)...
I'm hoping that you don't have ovca, and there is every possibility that you don't, but do see about it soon, just to give yourself peace of mind.
Best of luck... and please let us know how it goes for you.
*hugs*...Helmar.

[Helmar]

Thankyou for your kind thoughts. I do hope that you will soon get some answers on why you are feeling so unwell. I hope you will stay in touch, and let us know how things are going for you. Wishing you all the best for a good outcome...Helmar..

[Ms_Makita]

Hi,I'm also experiencing same symptoms for last 10 months, chronic constant pelvic, rectal pressure and pain (have 5cm cyst on right ovary for 3 months)heartburn,nausea,upper and lower back, stomach pain, trapped gas,altered painful bm's,bloating,80lb weight loss and hair loss,had appendix out 2 months ago,but now dr is blowing off all this pain to IBS!! had colonoscopy in April when symptoms started showed mild inflammation but gi dr didnt seem concerned,said ibs,had laparscopy in aug to check for endo,none find.I'am 28 yrs old,no kids,but history of ovarian cancer in family.Helmar, what was all your symptoms? would colonscopy in april detect cancer even if it was in early stages? I had ibs for years but never this much trouble or pain along with other symptoms.I'm at my wits end trying to get dr to take me serious (he is new dr,old dr blew me off in aug and it was my appendix,almost ruptured!)so I changed dr's,this one is as bad as old dr! his answer is pain med's and antibotics,how long helmar did you have your symptoms for and what procedures were done? ty
                       Steph

[mermaid26]

Thank you so much for your kind response.  You are certainly in my prayers for total healing.  I feel very blessed to have you and the others here as a source of comfort in this journey.  My early symptoms were that I would get extremely bloated, pants didn't fit, went up a size even though I was watching what I ate.  Now I've lost weight quite easily but I am eating very healthy and low fat.  I have recently been diagnosed with complex bilateral cysts in my kidneys.  I'm also experiencing lot of left pain in kidney/pancreas area.  I am rather complex per my Urologist.  I feel like everything is breaking down.  Anyways, thanks again for sharing with me.

[Helmar]

Hi Mermaid 26... yes, the cancer wrapped itself around the rectum, and although I had a colonscopy, that came back negative because the cancer hadn't penetrated the bowel, but was doing it's nasty work on the outside. The Doctors sent me for a CT scan and that showed it up then, but of course my cancer was well advanced by that time...(I'd been complaing about the symptons for almost 9 months)....so when I had the debalking operation, I needed a colostomy. The most noted symptons I had were bowel changes.. sometimes constipation, sometimes diarrhea..... lots of flatulence... and bloatedness, causing a full, pregnant like abdomen, which I'd never had before. Still, the Doctors passed it off as irritable bowel, gastro etc. Your Doctor could be right, that it is a pinched nerve, but after my experience, I would insist on further tests...scans etc.. to ensure that what your Doctor is saying is right..... or not. My Surgeon said he would do a reversal for colostomy if I went for at least 12 months cancer free... but unfortunately that didn't happen, so he strongly urged me to leave well enough alone. I'm glad that I did, as a friend who was in a similar situation to mine, did have the reversal operation, and sadly she is no longer with us.The cancer just 'took off' and was unrelenting. A colostomy is not the best outcome, but it's better than being in the pine box. I'm concerned about your weight loss though, as I did lose quite a bit of weight prior to dx too, but if you are not eating.... or you are worrying a lot about this, then that could account for your weight loss too.
Please let us know how your tests come out.. and leave no stone unturned to get to the reason why this is happening to you. Don't mess around.... if you need to get a second or even third opinion to get peace of mind, then do it.
Wishing you all the best for a good outcome....*hugs*..Helmar..