Symptoms

[Laura_17]

Hi! I just found this site last night. Thank you all for sharing!

I went to see the gyne last week because of the following symptoms:
upper abdominal bloating
2 missed periods, but cramping and pressure for the prior 30 days
frequent urge to urinate and frequent soft BMs
feeling full quickly or lack of appetite


I really hadn't been concerned about the missed periods. No it had never happened before, and I am only 41, but I knew I could not be pregnant (tubal + no sex), and my mom thought she had started perimenopause early. Plus, I've been having more frequent (22 days) lighter periods for several years now. Early in the summer I had started to experience the lack of appetite or feeling full quickly, but I still wasn't concerned. I was slowly losing weight (about 1 lb every 2 wks), but that had been a long term goal, and maybe I had finally been getting enough exercising and eating the right amounts to make that happen. Then around 9/1, I noticed that my upper abdomen, just below my rib cage, was uncomfortably bloated. I put on 3 lbs overnight, and a felt like I needed to urinate all the time. I also had more frequent and softer BMs.

I searched the internet for missed periods and abdominal bloating and found a lot of ovarian cancer sites. So naturally, I'm concerned. I've now seen the gyne. She did a pelvic exam, and put me on 10 days of progesterone to bring on a period, and scheduled a sonohysterogram. It sounds as if she is primarily looking for fibroids. I mentioned my concerned about ovarian cancer, but I'm not sure how seriously she is taking it. The information I found indicated that ovarian cancer is usually screened for through CA-125 (may have those #s wrong) blood tests and transvaginal ultrasounds. I know the blood test isn't a sure thing. But I'm concerned with how well she will be able to see my ovaries during the sono or how much she may have been able to feel during the exam. I am somewhat overweight (BMI = 30).

I've now been through 4 days of the 10 days of progesterone. My sono isn't for another 10 days. I think the abdominal bloating may have subsided now after 2 weeks or else the additional lower body discomfort brought on by the progesterone is masking it.

I guess my questions are - do my symptoms sound like any of yours? Did anyone else have abdominal bloating that went away? Was anyone else diagnosed using a sonohysterogram rather than TV or traditional ultrasound? Is another 10 days too long to wait? Do ovarian cysts have the same symptoms as ovarian cancer?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Laura_17

[jane65]

Hi Laura,
Your symptoms sound very much like mine were, but I was post menopause when I was diagnosed with OVCA in 2007.

So many of us women were misdiagnosed and the cancer wasn't found in its early stage. My internist told me for six months that my symptoms, bloating, feeling full after a little food, weight loss, frequent urinating, and belly discomfort were side affects of a med. I was taking for arthritis.

Please make sure you have a transvaaginal ultrasound, and a CA125 blood test. If there are no tumors or cysts on your ovaries you can rule that out.

Good luck and let us know how you're doing.
Jane

[MissKK]

I had no real symptoms when I was diagnosed. Just a little cramp now and then and some spotting once in a while. Went for a check up, all was normal. They sent me for an Ultrasound just to make sure and I had a very large tumor on large intestine and others. I was stage 3C. HAve had 3 surgeries and am in remission for the second time.So don't let this scare you to badly. THings will be OK

[Angie_Lou]

I understand your concern as I am staged 3C with ovarian cancer, but please don't let all that you've read take your imagination to a height of extreme fear.  It can get overwhelming and stressful.

First, I want you to know that you've taken the correct step in seeing a gyn regarding overall "female" health.  If someone had told me that regular gyn check-ups may have caught my cancer earlier, I would have made that appt yearly.  So, when your sono results come back with something less life-threatening (and I this is what I hope for you), keep your yearly appt with a gyn.

In answer to some of your questions:

I had a regular period up to the time I was diagnosed.  So, one or two missed menstral cycles is not an indication of cancer.

The bloating I experienced got worse, not better.  So, if your bloating was temporary, it may have been caused by another health issue.  I believe the bloating ovarian cancer creates is actually the ascites (fluid) that develops.  And, ascites does NOT go away unless tapped from the body.

I don't know if what I've said will ease your mind a little, but I do hope the best for you.

Angie