Ovarian cysts, fibroids, endometresosis, etc.

[lisa6013]

I have had complications from my lap rny (gastric bypass) done in April of 2003, which has required many ER trips, hospital stays, and three surgeries....  after my last surgery done in February, and still in pain, my surgeon told me that my pain was not surgical (although he did not order a CT scan), and sent me to a pain clinic for a nerve block of all things.  When I went to the pain clinic a month ago, the doctor told me that since my pain was not confined to one specific nerve, they couldn't do a nerve block.  She gave me a script for Lortab, told me to see a G.I. doctor, and sent me on my way.  Well, about two weeks ago I went to the G.I. doctor, who also didn't know what my pain could be from (my pain radiates from under my right ribcage, no I no longer have my gall bladder... and down to my navel).  So this past Sunday night the pain was so intense that I went to the ER.  They ended up admitting me.  My bariatric surgeon's office on call doctor okay the admission.  Finally, after finally seeing my doc Monday night and many IV courses of Dilaudid, he ordered two CT scans.  One with contrast, and one without.  The next morning he came to see me with the results.... IT IS NOT G.I. related at all!!  After all of this time with pain (one year now).  Apparently, I have bad endometriosis, extreme thickening of my uterin wall, huge fibroids, and very large ovarian cysts covering most of my ovaries!!  I feel like an idiot for not even thinking that it could be 'female' related, but my pain was not low enough I thought.  I have been a bad girl, and haven't been to a GYN in 18 months.  So, I have a referral to a GYN for Thursday, and I will probably need a hysterectomy.  I am 47, and the shop is closed, so it's okay!!  lol  There is a LOT of cancer that runs on my mom's side (her sister died of ovarian cancer when she was 47), so every moment with all of this inside me is freaking me out...  I guess I just want to remind all of you ladies out there to PLEASE DO NOT put off seeing your GYN for your regular visits!!  I learned the hard way...   I have this awful feeling that there is cancer lurking inside me... part of it's my fault for not having my GYN check ups when I should have, and I also blame the medical community for not ordering the proper tests sooner.... what do you all think??

Please keep me in your prayers.  I am trying to be optimistic for our nine year old son who needs me..  :)

[joe199]

My family doctor who I have had for 13 years physically examined me twice down there when I went to see him with the same type of pain you describe and the first thing he told me was the pain is not related to a gynecological problem. After he only ordered an abdominal ultrasound instead of including a pelvic one they found gallstones, fortunately for me the doctor who performed my ultrasound went against my family doctor's prescription and checked below and saw the cysts and sent him back the results, you should of seen my doctor's expression. Had the other doctor not looked further god only knows what would of happened. I still have my gallbladder because that was not the cause of my pain and a few months later I had a lapartomy on June 15th for two endemetriomas around 7 cm and extensive endemetriosis removed with adhesions. My blood tests results were not very good CA 125 tumor marker was 74 but it ended up being due to endemetriosis. I would stay positive if I were you, the endemetriosis in your body can cause havoc trust me, my pain was under my rib cage as well, you may have adhesions.

Good luck and stay positive

[MarieMichele]

It is very easy to be misled by the symptoms into thinking other medical issues are the cause.  I waited three years to see a gyn and my cyst problem was discovered at that time.  Who knew?   Looking back, any health problem I had in my life that caused alarm was directly connected to the fact I am a female and it was one of the female parts causing the problem.  It's no fun, sometimes, being a girl.

Prior to my diagnosis, I was in a strong case of denial that my declining quality of life had a solvable, curable cause or that it could have anything to do with the girly parts.  I wrote it off to my age (I was 48 at the time of surgery).  And after letting myself get intensely worked up and frightened about my chances, everything turned out to be benign.

Think positive that this discovery is the first step to a cure for your troubles.  If it is in fact a hysterectomy, keep in mind there's more than one type (partial, total or radical.....and hopefully partial is enough), and you'll want to know what choices you have. Once that is all behind you, there's a great chance you will feel a whole lot better than you've felt in a long time.  

You will also be in my thoughts and prayers.  Please stay in touch with us here a let us know how you are progressing.

[TrudieC]

You cannot blame yourself.  18 months is not a long time without a gyn visit.  Most women only go every 2 years.  And even then, cancer is in no way your fault and the odds are still good that this is not cancer.  So many women going through cysts or ovarian cancer have had issues in getting the right tests and a quick diagnosis done.  The pain mimics so many other areas and there are still too many doctors that refuse to believe that cysts can cause pain.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.  Please let us know how your appointment goes.

Hugs, Trudie