Surgery or No Surgery?

[Crazyonthebus]

This past week, the week of Christmas, my family and I were vacationing in Florida when I started experiencing incredible pain, especially when walking. I checked myself into a hospital in Celebration Florida and after a CT scan was told that I had a large mass, that the doctor said was as large as my uterus.  They gave me pain medicine and checked me into the hospital for three days.  The prescribed course was for IV antibiotics and pain medicine. I saw two doctors..one who said I had a 50% chance of having cancer and the other who said that my belly just needed to "calm down". (I had no fever, no vomiting...just pain)  I was told to follow up with my OBGYN when i got back home.  I was given discharge papers that say I have a complex cystic mass 7.4 x 5 x 7.7 cm.  The one doctor I say ordered several cancer blood screens, and said in any case I would definately need surgery...but the other doctor seemed to think that this would all resolve itself. I"M SO confused!

Anybody have any suggestions on what I do next.  I have not yet gotten the results of the blood screens. I'm currently on Percocet and Phenegren for nauseau (only from the pain medicine)

[Sammy3720]

I would opt to get the surgery.

[Crazyonthebus]

OK, Tuesday Morning and Florida Hospital called.  All the blood screens came back normal, so I'm set to meet with doctor's at Duke University in Durham on Thursday to see what we are going to do about all this. Pain is still the same, bloating has increased...stomache is RUMBLING all the time. I'll let you guys know when I get more news.  Thanks for your encouragement.

[Helmar]

Sounds like my Doctor telling me for almost 9 months, when I continued to complain about the bloatedness, bowel changes etc... that I had irritable bowel, gastric stomach etc. etc. until it reached the point where I was throwing up my coffee... then a Ct scan was ordered, and I was told the bad news.
Don't mess around with any Doctor who won't listen to you... and won't do anything constructive to detect what the problem is. Go for a second... or maybe third opinion.. and make sure that you/they explore all possibilities. It's best to act quickly... and get some answers.
Best of luck.... and keep us informed....Helmar...

[utahmomma]

A complex cystic mass of that size is nothing to ignore and, I'm sorry, but that doctor who said your belly just needed to calm down is completely insane.  Wonder how he'd feel with something over 7cm across inside of him causing pain?

Surgery or no surgery is your decision but there are a few things to consider:
1) it's not going to get out of there on its own because is complex (solid and fluid) - fluid filled cysts can rupture and resolve but the solid tissue isn't going anywhere on its own
2) the only way to know if it is malignant or just what you are facing would be to have it taken out and biopsied.  

Please see your OB/GYN ASAP and bring all the lab work and results from the hospital - otherwise it can take a long time to get everything sent to your doctor.