Very concerned - ascites?

[kehen]

Hello all.  Let me start by saying I know no one can diagnose me, and that I know I need to wait for testing/results, but in the meantime I have a few questions that I can't seem to find answers for in all my searching, so I apologize for what are probably (to you all) redundant/hysterical questions ;)  I have an U/S scheduled for tomorrow.  I am 99.5% sure that I have ascites - when I try to research it, I get a lot about liver/heart disease, and ovarian cancer.  Are there other causes for it?  I know that I don't have liver/heart disease, so that only leaves one option as far as I can see, especially combined w/my other symptoms.  I look like I am 3-4 months pregnant (I'm a pretty slim person so it's quite obvious.)  Low back/abdominal/ovary/hip pain and tenderness - shooting pains in left ovary region and left "love handle" area, along with a sunburn sensation on the skin in that area; gassy, pressure, increased pain w/standing, all seems to get worse as each day goes on. I guess I'm what you'd call perimenopausal (early - started at 38) & get about 3-4 "periods" per year, mostly just old blood, brown, etc.  I have no digestive, bowel, or urinary symptoms (other than a bit of pressure and occasional minor urgency) that I hear others talk about. Sometimes a bit of upward pressure in the diaphragm area, particularly if I'm sitting, as I'm so puffed up.  Ascites seems like a key to me since I can find no mention of it that is not related to cancer (absent liver issues.)  I KNOW that something is wrong; I just don't know what.  Would benign ovarian cysts cause ascites?  Thanks for listening - I'm pretty stressed out.

[kehen]

My CA-125 is 7.  I know the test is not all that reliable, so I don't know how much of a good sign that is, but I'll take it! :)

[kehen]

Yeah, I can understand that in the absence of a complex septated cyst, ascites, pain -- but when all those things are present, for her to say something like "you need a colonoscopy - it could be your bowel or something causing your pain" -- well, I just thought she was nuts & felt like I had stumbled into the Twilight Zone of Gynecology ;)  And after reading so many stories online of ovca being misdiagnosed as things like IBS & diverticulitis, it made me a bit angry.  Thank you for humoring me - makes me feel not so alone.

[HVAC]

If they can't find anything gyn then GI is where they go next.

Alex

[kehen]

Yes, you're right, I did just have an ultrasound.  I guess I just have myself worked up and 8+ more weeks in pain, looking pregnant, & feeling rotten sounds like forever. Feeling a tad sorry for myself perhaps ;)  A CT scan has not been recommended as of yet.  I just got frustrated with her rambling on about GI when I don't have GI symptoms & felt like she wasn't focusing on the matter at hand. I think that after seeing how the u/s tech placed everything that is really on my LEFT side on my RIGHT side on the report, I don't have great faith in the medical community at the moment.  I know that I need to just rest with my heating pad and try to relax!

[HVAC]

If the ca 125 is less than 40 I would not worry. The ultrasound seems like a good move.  Nothing will really change in 8 weeks. Didn't you just have one. My ultrasound showed all my cancer. Have you had a CT scan? I was sick for years before they would do an ultrasound. They sent me to a GI guy. He was arrogant. I had fullblown cancer and he said I do not need to do teats you have IBS. I had a blocked bowel.

Alex

[kehen]

Just a quick update.  My gyno sent me for a CA-125 (drawn today) & scheduled a follow-up ultrasound in 8 weeks. She kind of annoyed me because she asked about bowel changes, etc. & when I told her that I was going slightly more frequently, though no diarrhea/constipation, she started rambling on about GI issues and how I should have a colonoscopy, going so far as to give me a referral paper for the GI. I think she's out in left field worrying about GI when I have no GI symptoms, so I'm not sure where that all came from.  I understand that CA-125 has its issues & is not really conclusive, although elevation can be cause for more concern - is that correct?  So if my CA-125 is elevated, I wonder if that will change anything or if we'll still wait until Mar 3 for the next ultrasound. Still hurting and confused, but at least I'm pursuing it, I suppose....