Just venting... Personal, OT, female-ish stuff.
I have had, without question, the worst year of my life. A sick hubby, an unemployed hubby, all the lovely issues that THOSE two issues bring... it's been more than I care to handle.
On top of it all, I've had this pain in the vicinity of my left ovary for the past couple of months. I had an ultrasound a couple of weeks ago - then this morning, a voicemail from my OB. The ultrasound showed that I have a "large, complex mass" in my left ovary, 9.8 x 4.7 x 8.8 cms. He said he would call me back this morning. I've been very nearly worthless today, stressing over the whole idea.
So, he called me back in the early afternoon. He does NOT think it is cancerous, but it is not fluid-filled, either. It is a solid, dense mass, and he said there is another one, much smaller, on the right ovary. And he wants them gone.
He offered to do it this Saturday, but I said - frankly, I NEED this weekend away, and I NEED the next weekend away. I WOULD cancel if he felt it was urgent, but he didn't think that was necessary. And if he did it on the 1st, I would not be able to make my Iowa trip on the 6th. (Going with some fine peeps to see Big & Rich at the Mississippi Valley Fair). So, he asked me if we could schedule surgery for August 18th. I said yes. He said he would write me off for 6 weeks, but I don't have that much PTO available. So he said as long as I'm not lifting anything, just working my desk job, I could go back in 3 or 4 if I wanted to. I was thinking this "thing" - this "large complex mass" - is about the size of a tangerine. Well, according to Dr. J (who I really do love...), it's closer to the size of a grapefruit. (Shows you how well I know my metric measurements).
I also tucked my tail, apologized for being shallow, and asked him if there was any chance he could make some of the extra skin go away? He laughed, and said I'd be surprised by how many people ask for that when they have to have a secondary procedure like this. He doesn't even submit for it on the insurance paperwork, because insurance companies are a "pain in the ass" - he just does it because it actually makes things easier for HIM to get the extra skin out of his way first. Given my weight loss and how MUCH extra skin I have, he won't even go to insurance for approval, he'll just DO IT!!!
Obviously, I have other questions for him (and PLEASE feel free to run any that come to YOUR mind past me, because I'm pretty well brain dead right now). I will have a pre-op the week before, be in one night for the surgery.
I'm just absolutely, completely numb. I'm very GLAD that he doesn't believe this is cancerous, or serious enough to get me in ASAP. And I'm speechless that he'll take away the extra skin. But mostly - numb.
On top of it all, I've had this pain in the vicinity of my left ovary for the past couple of months. I had an ultrasound a couple of weeks ago - then this morning, a voicemail from my OB. The ultrasound showed that I have a "large, complex mass" in my left ovary, 9.8 x 4.7 x 8.8 cms. He said he would call me back this morning. I've been very nearly worthless today, stressing over the whole idea.
So, he called me back in the early afternoon. He does NOT think it is cancerous, but it is not fluid-filled, either. It is a solid, dense mass, and he said there is another one, much smaller, on the right ovary. And he wants them gone.
He offered to do it this Saturday, but I said - frankly, I NEED this weekend away, and I NEED the next weekend away. I WOULD cancel if he felt it was urgent, but he didn't think that was necessary. And if he did it on the 1st, I would not be able to make my Iowa trip on the 6th. (Going with some fine peeps to see Big & Rich at the Mississippi Valley Fair). So, he asked me if we could schedule surgery for August 18th. I said yes. He said he would write me off for 6 weeks, but I don't have that much PTO available. So he said as long as I'm not lifting anything, just working my desk job, I could go back in 3 or 4 if I wanted to. I was thinking this "thing" - this "large complex mass" - is about the size of a tangerine. Well, according to Dr. J (who I really do love...), it's closer to the size of a grapefruit. (Shows you how well I know my metric measurements).
I also tucked my tail, apologized for being shallow, and asked him if there was any chance he could make some of the extra skin go away? He laughed, and said I'd be surprised by how many people ask for that when they have to have a secondary procedure like this. He doesn't even submit for it on the insurance paperwork, because insurance companies are a "pain in the ass" - he just does it because it actually makes things easier for HIM to get the extra skin out of his way first. Given my weight loss and how MUCH extra skin I have, he won't even go to insurance for approval, he'll just DO IT!!!
Obviously, I have other questions for him (and PLEASE feel free to run any that come to YOUR mind past me, because I'm pretty well brain dead right now). I will have a pre-op the week before, be in one night for the surgery.
I'm just absolutely, completely numb. I'm very GLAD that he doesn't believe this is cancerous, or serious enough to get me in ASAP. And I'm speechless that he'll take away the extra skin. But mostly - numb.
Imperfect does not = unsuccessful
Darla-
I'm sorry you are going through all of this stress. It is definitely not a good time. I'm glad to hear that you went to your Dr. with the pain- so many women just ignore it.
A couple things you may want to ask:
1. Is he going to take your uterus too?
2. What about Hormone Replacement Therapy?
3. Who will be completing the pathology reports, and when will you get them?
4. Should you have a mammogram before surgery (if you haven't had one in the last year)?
5. Will he run a CA-125 bood test pre-op? (that is a tumor marker)
On a happy note, how cool to get some of the extra skin removed without the insurance hassles. That could definitely be your silver lining in this. Make sure you gt the paperwork for FMLA and have it all in prior to your surgery- it protects both you and your employer.
I'll be sending you many, many positive vibes before you go in!!
Feel free to PM me with any other questions- I am a 6 year Ovarian cancer survivor (but parying HARD that your tumor is benign), and have learned a lot!!
Reenie
I'm sorry you are going through all of this stress. It is definitely not a good time. I'm glad to hear that you went to your Dr. with the pain- so many women just ignore it.
A couple things you may want to ask:
1. Is he going to take your uterus too?
2. What about Hormone Replacement Therapy?
3. Who will be completing the pathology reports, and when will you get them?
4. Should you have a mammogram before surgery (if you haven't had one in the last year)?
5. Will he run a CA-125 bood test pre-op? (that is a tumor marker)
On a happy note, how cool to get some of the extra skin removed without the insurance hassles. That could definitely be your silver lining in this. Make sure you gt the paperwork for FMLA and have it all in prior to your surgery- it protects both you and your employer.
I'll be sending you many, many positive vibes before you go in!!
Feel free to PM me with any other questions- I am a 6 year Ovarian cancer survivor (but parying HARD that your tumor is benign), and have learned a lot!!
Reenie
Reenie,
Thanks for your feedback. I had a hystericalectomy 7.5 years ago, so it's just the ovaries.
The HRT is one of my questions, as is my gall bladder, and a hernia I gave myself tubing a year and a half ago. As long as I'll be open, I'd just as soon take care of any possibility of having to be opened up again in the future!
Mammo & all - up to date.
Don't know about 3 & 5, but I'll ask, thanks for the heads up.
I know the skin is the silver lining, but right now I really don't care as much about that. I just want the masses to be nothing but ugly little pains in my gut.
Thanks for your feedback. I had a hystericalectomy 7.5 years ago, so it's just the ovaries.
The HRT is one of my questions, as is my gall bladder, and a hernia I gave myself tubing a year and a half ago. As long as I'll be open, I'd just as soon take care of any possibility of having to be opened up again in the future!
Mammo & all - up to date.
Don't know about 3 & 5, but I'll ask, thanks for the heads up.
I know the skin is the silver lining, but right now I really don't care as much about that. I just want the masses to be nothing but ugly little pains in my gut.
Imperfect does not = unsuccessful
Darla-
I too hope your mass is just a pain in your side. The good news is that most of the time that is what these masses are!! I like the idea you have of taking care of as many things as possible while you are open- noone likes being cut open over and over again.
Like many others have said please let us give you love and support as you go through this experience. The time between now and surgery will be the hardest (with all of the what-if's flying through your brain). Keep talking!
About HRT, my doc's view was that the majority of women should be on it until they hit the age of "natural" menopause, about 50. I asked to go off when I had my WLS- but was encouraged to stay on because of the chance of osteoporosis (which tends to be higher with our calcium absorption problems). I encourage you to do your own research.
My thoughts and prayers are with you- and my e-mail box is open for any questions or fears you may have.
Reenie
I too hope your mass is just a pain in your side. The good news is that most of the time that is what these masses are!! I like the idea you have of taking care of as many things as possible while you are open- noone likes being cut open over and over again.
Like many others have said please let us give you love and support as you go through this experience. The time between now and surgery will be the hardest (with all of the what-if's flying through your brain). Keep talking!
About HRT, my doc's view was that the majority of women should be on it until they hit the age of "natural" menopause, about 50. I asked to go off when I had my WLS- but was encouraged to stay on because of the chance of osteoporosis (which tends to be higher with our calcium absorption problems). I encourage you to do your own research.
My thoughts and prayers are with you- and my e-mail box is open for any questions or fears you may have.
Reenie
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