What to expect?

[christyb4]

Hi all.  I'm a 36 yr old mother of two.  Two boys, a 14yr old and a 7yr old.  Long story short, I went in to have my Mirena IUD replaced after five years.  Had a yearly about 15 months ago and everything was fine.  When they replaced the Mirena it was VERY painful and the Dr. was worried about my Endometriosis and also said that my uterus was tilted.  She scheduled a transvaginal ultrasound to check the placement.  When I went back, she told me that I had a 7 x 4 complex mass on my right ovary.  She scheduled surgery for 4/30 and was said she was going to remove the mass, my right ovary and right fallobian tube.  I live in a very small town so I called my obgyn that delivered my son (in a much larger city).  He scheduled me with a gyno-oncologist and my appointment is in the morning.  All the first doctor told me was that the mass "was the kind that worried them".  Can anyone give me guidance on how all of this will go.  The new doctor is also going to try to keep my surgery for the 30th.

[Morrowville]

If you are really looking for a good laugh, try my favorite free ecard sight.
Not necessarily politically correct, and I don't actually SEND them to anyone, but try visiting www.someEcards.com.  You will laugh your A** off.

Let me know what you think, and good luck with your surgery!  I don't have any parts left, and almost 3 weeks post op, I feel really great!  The most soreness I have is in my back from the epidural.  (And I had a 20" incision from side to side!)

Have faith, be strong, make your doctors tell you EVERYTHING (they do have a way of talking "around" us, don't they?)  Most of the doctors who saw me were younger than me (I'm 46) and you know what?  I treated them that way!  I called them by their names, none of that Dr. Jones stuff... unless they earned my respect.  And it worked!

Oh, one of the really good things I learned from the Hyster Sisters site?  Have someone bring a box of chocolate to keep by your bedside FOR THE NURSES.  It will encourage regular nurses visits... when you hit that buzzer for help, it won't go unanswered for 45 minutes just when you have to pee, if there's chocolate around!  I wish I would have done it myself...1)  because the nurses work really hard and deserve it and 2)  It's really hard to hold your peed after your catheter comes out!

Blessings,
Donna

[christyb4]

No, they are doing a complete.  I heard back on my CT scan and I also have "cysts" on my liver and kidneys.  I'm not sure what to make of all of this.  :/

Thanks for the link, I need a good laugh!

[Morrowville]

Hi Christy, are you going to keep your ovaries, cervix?  I had a complete hyst on 04/08, and am doing great, but since then I've read a bit about it, and the general consensus seems to be to try and keep any organs you can.

Also, you may want to visit the website www.hystersisters.com, where you'll find lot's of good info about what your about to embark upon, and lot's of laughs!  They really have a great sense of humor!

Best wishes with your procedue, plesae be sure to keep us posted,

Regards,
Morrowville

[christyb4]

Because of the history with endometriosis the doctor (any myself) thinks that this is better for me.  I'm almost 37 and done having children.  Not really sure if there was any real reason except for preference maybe.  Thanks for the thoughts, I'm really ready to be done with it and hope that everything works out well.

[painterchic]

Just want to wish you luck with all you are going through. My doctor used the same phrase when he saw the other cyst "that one's the kind that worries me", but he seemed reassured by the CA-125. Thanks to the wonderful info and people on here, I now know only the biopsy can tell me not to worry. I am scheduled for mine May 1st. Just wondering though, why are you now having a total hysterectomy scheduled?

[christyb4]

Thanks everyone.  My appointment went fine.  They did a full CT as well.  I don't really any more than I did before.  The surgery is now set for May the 5th and they are going to go ahead with a complete hysterectomy.  I'm just hoping for the best and I'll let everyone know the outcome.  Thanks again.

[Morrowville]

Hi Christy, I am one week post op with a complete hysterectomy decided on because of a mass on my right ovary 8.5 x 6.5.  I am very heavy, so they had to do an open surgery.  After one week, I am having mostly good days (when I don't do anything stupid, like the dishes).  I am weaker than I originally thought I was (getting back to Supermom was more what I had in mind, but taking it easy is the best way to go.  We'll watch for the surgery date with you, and be supportive and encouraging.  Just reading through these posts will give you lots of things to question your doctor about... the type of surgery, the pre op drinking of this really CRAPPY stuff to empty your bowels (no pun intended)... the no eating the day before, the surgery itself, and the healing process.
Not to mention, the results!  One week post op and I am still waiting the damn biopsy results.  I tried to call the doctor all day today, no one called me back.  I had to have an epidural and general anesthesia.  My back hurts from the Epidural, and my front hurts because I have a 20" wound healing down there.  I wish you the best of luck and God's guidance on the doctor's hands performing the surgery.

If you want to chat, just let me know!

Morrowville (Donna)

[chrissiebee]

Hi Christy. thanks for posting on my link. I have 9yr old BG twins. This is coming at you the same way it came at me--completely without warning.Lets just hang in there together
Love & prayers,CB

[gma718]

I had 2 large masses on my ovary last year ...one was 10cm and one 12cm...my gyn advised me to see a gyn-onc also....just in case it was cancer..thank god it was benign and everything was from endometriosis...I went for 2 opinions and also had my ca-125 taken which was slightly elevated...I had the gyn-onc perform the surgery which was a full hysterectomy. God forbid (which is not common) it is  cancer they are much more knowledgeable in that field than the regular gyn.  Good Luck and keep us posted..Gia :)

[chelleburks]

I just joined today myself.  It is vitally important that you have an oncoloigist gyno do your surgery.  Have you had a ca125 blood test?  The odds are that is not cancer but it is great that you are going to speacialist.

[christyb4]

Thanks so much.  That really makes me feel some better.  :)

[yrrek]

Well, sorry that you have to be going through this,  I at 44 years of age, last Dec. was told after ultrasound that I had a cyst on each ovary.  That was on a Fri. and I had them removed the following Thurs. by a Gyn.  Ovarian Cancer can only be definitively diagnosed by biopsy which means surgery.  My Surgeon had closed me back up only to reopen me minutes later because cytology report came back positive for cancer.  She then did a total hysterectomy, took out lymph nodes, my appendix and fatty tissue for further testing all of which came back negative for cancer.  Surgery for you is good, sooner the better and odds are that you do not have cancer.  Hang in there and I think that you are wise to see a gyn-oncologist.  Let us know how it goes.  Good Luck to you.  

Kerry