Preparing for appointment

[asdf125]

Tomorrow the hospital is finally breaking the month and a half of keeping me in the dark about my cyst. Im preparing a list of questions I so desperately need answered, just in case they point a needle at me and my brain shuts down.

Im 23 years, have had the cyst for a year, but was not diagnosed until august. I have not been told anything about my case and am worried sick, obviously.

Here is what I got so far:
Get the results of my blood tests
Get the written reports from the US and CT scans
Ask about my kidneys, got scanned during US
Find out how many cysts I have, size, left/right ovary, simple/complex
Surgery, laparopscopy (unlikely) vs laparotomy (bikini vs midline), how it would affect me long term.
Recovery, what to expect, common complications (you ladies appear not to be told enough about this)
Drugs for my needlephobia
How to prevent future cysts, diet, p pills (oddly I got my cyst while on the p pill)

Did I miss something?

[asdf125]

Fertility isnt my main concern. Hormones and whatever all they play a part in is.
Children.. well yeah I do want one or two I guess. Preferably if the stork comes out of retirement, or once I stop thinking of a pregnancy as a parasite and start thinking it is something wonderful!! I must admit I would rather be pregnant right now than have a cyst though.

Of course Im also hoping my needle phobia made me shake so much the CT scan made it look like mucus, it might just be fluid.. Wishful thinking, I know. Noone mentioned blurry results though..

[Debtrap]

Maybe your case is a little more complicated than I thought...I just find through experience with this and other surgeries each doctor always has a different technique or way of doing things...I  don't know if you have plans of having kids in the future but u still can conceive with one ovary and tube....anyways I do wish you the best of luck iand a speedy recovery...keep us posted :) debbie

[asdf125]

My surgeon is the lead something over the whole area as far as I have found out. They are doing this surgery locally though, not in a much larger hospital an hour further away. Apparently Im not complicated enough, or at least my cyst isnt, I probably am! I dont even know what kind of surgeons and options I would have up there.
She seemed to think it was much more realistic to save parts if it was a demoid. She is worrying about the mucus causing something called Pseudomyxoma Peritonei, although I have yet to find out exactly what the difference is between an appendix cancer causing that and leaking mucus from an ovarian cyst. Both gives you mucus in the abdominal cavity, although I bet a ruptured appendix leak more than a more or less controlled draining of an ovarian cyst. I have absolutely no idea if the types of mucus are the same either, or if cancerous vs benign makes the whole difference.
Surely, once the cyst is drained completely, it shouldnt be able to leak any more when seperating it from the ovary..? At least that is my theory.

Of course I could tie her hands and only allow a cystectomy, but Im not sure it would be wise/she would agree to do the surgery.

Unfortunately Ill not see the surgeon until the day of the surgery, but I guess I could make phone calls.. Ive got 5 work days to call I guess.

[Debtrap]

I don't know if it's too late in the game, i would exolore my surgery options and get a second opinion... but after talking to my surgeon, he said exactly what u said alot of doctors cut corners or do not have the skill to do a less invasive surgery.,,,even if laparscopy is out of the question you might have someone else who is more willing to spare your reproductive parts..you are way too young...honestly There is no harm in going for a second or third opinion...good luck :) debbie

[asdf125]

I will be pre assesed for the anesthetics on the morning of surgery. They dont have time to fit be in for a seperate appointment. Ill be chatting people and signing stuff before the surgery anyway so I guess they will have time for that as well.

I really need a shower soon, cold sweats hasnt stopped since I got that letter. Should be some fun days leading up to surgery! :-S

[asdf125]

Ladies, Im wondering if my surgeon wants to cut corners or wants to remove more than she needs to to avoid spilling the mucus. I want to keep as much as possible obviously.

I just got a letter about having surgery the 7/11 (pre assesment date is 10/11 LOL! will have to change that!)
It says I will be having the following procedure:
Laparotomy and unilateral salpingoopherectomy

To anyone not knowing:
Laparotomy is open surgery (bikini cut as I refuse midline)
Unilateral means it only affects one/one side
Salping is the fallopian tube
Oophorectomy is removal of ovary

So they want to remove one ovary and tube..

Does all letters say that and then they later try to save bits and pieces or would I agree to "too much" if I agreed to that? I wont be signing anything for a while, so I reckon I have time to rescearch a bit.

Same time I guess I cant tie ther hands and say only to do unilateral oopherectomy in case the tube is buggered? They told me it is highly unlikely for a cyst this size to be on the tube, so I was hoping I could keep it.
According to some site, my type of cyst (mucinous cystadenoma) is "often attatched to an ovary by a stalk rather than grow within the ovary itself ". I know there is exceptions, but shouldnt that mean that it might be possible to save the ovary? (ovarian cystectomy surgery)

Im guessing I can only tell them "if A do this, if B do that" as noone will really know until they chop me in half..

Am I panicking over nothing? My surgeon is really really pushing to do things I dont want (midline incision, take the whole ovary) because of the mucus. I really hope it isnt lazyness..

Any thoughts? What did your letters say?