Thursday, March 27, 2008

Just a quick update on the health front. I called the gyn several times this week to find out the results of the ultra sound and got no response. Yesterday, they told me that the doctor hadn't looked at the results yet but she would and would get back to me. Today I left another message and then called the radiology place and asked them to fax the results to my primary care physician (pcp). I really like my pcp. He is straightforward and doesn't play around. And I just happened to have a regular blood pressure appt with him today. He told me that the results show that I have endometrial cysts and ovarian cysts. Unfortunately, he's not comfortable with making any real recommendations. The gyn folks called me to tell me that another doctor took a look and saw the cysts but my doctor would have to decide what to do to follow up. So, now I have to wait until Monday when she is back in the office. The nurse told me she would put my results on top of the pile. I'm not holding my breath. I'm kind of surprised because they have always been right on top of things.

I did talk to my pcp about having my gall bladder taken out. I found out I had gall stones over a year ago while having an ultrasound of my kidneys. They haven't bothered me so I left them alone. While Kate and I were cooking on Saturday, I was experiencing pain that took my breath away. It has been coming back on and off since then. The doctor told me I have 2 options and he'd let me choose which one to try. I can make an appt with a surgeon and have the gall bladder taken out while I am not in excruciating pain and rolling on the floor screaming for pain killers. OR I could wait until I am on the floor in the emergency room rolling around in excrutiating pain and screaming for pain killers and have to wait days for a surgical appointment. He recommended the first one. I have to agree. And then he asked me who was my surgeon. I laughed. I haven't had a body part removed since I had an appendectomy in 1972. He gave me a surgeon's name and I will call tomorrow to make an appointment. As I am sitting here in extreme discomfort right now (but not rolling and screaming), I hope I don't have to wait too long. It's fairly easy surgery and probably won't require a night in the hospital. And the pain will go away.

And I wonder if they can just look in on those ovaries and check things out. I mean, while they're already in there and all. How hard can that be?

12 comments:

Sheepish Annie said...

This all sounds rather stressful! But you are handling things marvelously. I think that getting those gallstones taken care of now before all the rolling and screaming sounds like a capital idea!

I'll be thinking good thoughts for you.

Rose Red said...

How frustrating for you - hope the cyst problem is not serious - their lack of responsiveness is pretty bad.

Anonymous said...

Yes, the gallstones must go! I hope the other issues are resolved quickly. Thinking of you. x

Bezzie said...

Yeah I would think it wouldn't be too hard for them to poke a few inches down and check out the ovaries right??

My guess is if the cysts were anything really horrible, you would have heard from you gyn by now.

amy said...

A couple months after I was married, I was brought into the emergency dept writhing in pain and had my appendix out the next day. Even though the ER doc and I both felt it was my appendix, the diagnosis was not definite (something about where the pain was... I'm so thin, it hurt everywhere). The surgeon decided to scope my ovaries while he was there just to make sure everything was fine. Not that I asked him to. Then my periods began to get extremely painful, and I wonder if it was all related. In my case, leave well enough alone, you know? But in your case, yes, I'm proof that it's absolutely possible to poke around in the ovaries while there for something else.

roxie said...

Bless your dear heart (and gall bladder and ovaries!) Sounds as if you are getting ready for surgery. They make three little inch-long incisions and you are up and walking the next day. Thank GOD for modern medicine!!

teabird said...

Oh, heavens - how awful! There's no question about the gallbladder: get that thing OUT.

As for the ovaries, if there's any question, they probably should come out, too. It can be done laparascopically, too, so you'd have two 3-inch incisions and peace of mind.

(My philosophy is, if there's a question, get it out. I guess that's why I'm on first-name basis with surgeons...)

I really hope you get some relief soon soon soon.

Dianne said...

Sounds like you've had a very stressful week. I agree with Bezzie that if things were bad they would have contacted you pronto. I hope so, at least. And then the gall bladder on top of that? Oh, man. I hope you get an appointment with the surgeon very soon!

Georgie said...

If you have the option, then action *before* screaming pain can only be a good thing. Fingers crossed those cysts are not too serious and treatable. Its so frustrating that something so very important to you is just another piece of paper across someone's desk! Fingers crossed and all good thoughts being thunk.

Amy Lane said...

Oh geez...isn't it just a left at the lower intestine and then a quick right at the uterus? Wait, reverse that... seriously, I do hope you feel better--and I really hope that cysts re all the benign, easy to remove/treatw/hormones type. (prayers and good thoughts from Cali, sweetheart. Lots and lots of both!)

colleen said...

So sorry to hear you're going through this. Do we share a gyn? I had the same issue. I had an ultrasound done and they took forever to get back to me and were quite rude about it- I knew they found something - and i was ruling out ovarian cancer since its in my family- and they were sooo rude the woman even said - whats the matter honey are you pregnant? I was like -no, just wondering if I have cancer thanks.

Unbelievable.

Mine was just a tiny cyst and its something that they said would dissolve. I wish you the same. On the gallbladder front, my mom had the same situation and got hers out and life is so much better. Best of luck with everything!

FairyGodKnitter said...

Yes, a good surgeon will look around while he's in there and see if anything looks funny. But while you are waiting, ask your Dr. to do a CA-125 blood test just to make sure. Even if the Dr. won't order it, they'll look more carefully at the ultra sound.

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