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Running Scared
Tomorrow I'm going to take the Ova 1 test and am hoping for benign results. Surgery to remove my suspicious, complex, multiloculated 5.5 cm cyst has been scheduled for June 29. Except for the ultrasound, all of my tests have been encouraging thus far.
Has anyone else here had this type of cyst which turned out to be benign? I'm age 50, but not menopausal as of yet. I've had few symptoms of perimenopause. I'm in the hinterland of not fitting nicely into established categories by the medical community.
My greatest fear is awakening from surgery and learning that I had both ovaries removed and a hysterectomy. This is the most fear inducing diagnosis that I've ever received to date. My bravado has been sapped and I'm not coping well. Reading the stories posted here has been very helpful and encouraging.
Has anyone else here had this type of cyst which turned out to be benign? I'm age 50, but not menopausal as of yet. I've had few symptoms of perimenopause. I'm in the hinterland of not fitting nicely into established categories by the medical community.
My greatest fear is awakening from surgery and learning that I had both ovaries removed and a hysterectomy. This is the most fear inducing diagnosis that I've ever received to date. My bravado has been sapped and I'm not coping well. Reading the stories posted here has been very helpful and encouraging.
Returned to work after Labor Day as planned. Physically I'm fine and problems with my hand cleared up. I'm glad to be getting back to normal after the surgery and cancer scare. It was a pretty tumultuous summer. My OB/Gyn wants me to come in sometime in December. Considering that I had a suspicious multiloculated cyst, I consider myself very fortunate to have been cancer free.
Thanks for posting and letting me know how your surgery went. I'm glad that you were starting to feel better by the end of the month. Two women that I know who had hysterectomies didn't use HRT and are doing fine, now years later. I guess that it depends on the person. It's a shame that the cyst partially ruptured, and you have to be concerned about possible recurrence.
I did a short road trip and have been getting out and about going to concerts and a couple of festivals.
I was given the green light to exercise/swim this past week, within reason. My hand has improved steadily and I'm hoping to return to work after Labor Day.
I did a short road trip and have been getting out and about going to concerts and a couple of festivals.
I was given the green light to exercise/swim this past week, within reason. My hand has improved steadily and I'm hoping to return to work after Labor Day.
So it has been 10days now since my surgery! Surgery was on Thursday and I was home on Saturday. Able to rest much better at home! Feeling much better and really not using much of the pain meds. Just slow moving. Surgery went fine but turns out the cyst had partially ruptured and the frozen section came back borderline. Doctor needed to do the full hysterectomy and took both ovaries. Not too worried about that but do need to research the whole hormone replacement thing now. Also worried about the idea of recurrence with some other organ because of the rupture. All those borderline cells now in my system. Have my follow up on Wed. So hope to get more info from the doctor. Thank you again Joanie for all of your advice. It helped to have someone tell me what to have on hand for after the surgery. Your brain kind of goes on shut down when dealing with all the stress! How are you doing with your recovery? Hope much better!
Tomorrow I'm going for another physical therapy appointment for the hand and seeing my Ob/gyn for a followup. Fortunately they are both located in the same area of the hospital. I had the same hand therapist a few years ago for a work related injury, so I'm in good hands. The hand is improving. The surgical site is continuing to heal and I'm starting to get back out and about more. It's a little sore which is to be expected. I haven't used any pain medication this past week. Friday night I took a walk to a summer festival near my home. It was nice just to get out and walk around for a while. Starting today we're having a major heat wave, so I'll be limiting my outdoor activity.
Best wishes to you on your upcoming surgery this week. I hope that all goes well for you and that you're on the road to recovery soon. Listening to music helped me relax prior to the big day.
Best wishes to you on your upcoming surgery this week. I hope that all goes well for you and that you're on the road to recovery soon. Listening to music helped me relax prior to the big day.
Thank you so much for the after care thoughts. Don't know if I would have thought to get any of that before hand! I will be doing some shopping tomorrow so I don't need to worry about it last minute! I have also thought more about the full hysterectomy and think I want to keep just my right ovary if I can. No real need for it but think it might be better to have the natural hormones if I can. This is all based on the cyst being benign. If it is anything other than that the doctor said it would be a full hysterectomy. It's also nice to hear you say that it is most likely benign because of the size. I have just been worried sick lately of that and just want to be done with surgery so I can get the results! So with every thing running crazy in my mind right now...your words of advice are more helpful than you know. Hope all is going well with your recovery! How is your arm doing? As if you didn't have enough to deal with! Take care!
Good luck on your surgery coming up on July 21. From the size of your cyst, you're less likely to have one that is cancerous from everything that I've read. 22cm is about 8.5 inches, heavily suggesting a water filled cyst.
Make certain to ask your doctor for a prescription for pain medication, I used hydrocodone until the catheter was removed. Get it filled before your surgery so you have it at home. Also ask about any other prescriptions/over the counter meds that you'll need: antibiotics, stool softener, milk of magnesia; triple antibiotic ointment and dial antibacterial soap for incision care.
I had effective pain control which made things much easier. Morphine the first 24 hours post op and hydrocodone until the catheter was removed. I decreased the dose after the fifth day or so to once a day for the hydrocodone. This was my first day without pain meds and I'm doing fine now.
Good luck to you. Hopefully your surgery will go well and you'll be well on the road to recovery by the beginning of August.
Make certain to ask your doctor for a prescription for pain medication, I used hydrocodone until the catheter was removed. Get it filled before your surgery so you have it at home. Also ask about any other prescriptions/over the counter meds that you'll need: antibiotics, stool softener, milk of magnesia; triple antibiotic ointment and dial antibacterial soap for incision care.
I had effective pain control which made things much easier. Morphine the first 24 hours post op and hydrocodone until the catheter was removed. I decreased the dose after the fifth day or so to once a day for the hydrocodone. This was my first day without pain meds and I'm doing fine now.
Good luck to you. Hopefully your surgery will go well and you'll be well on the road to recovery by the beginning of August.
Today I had the catheter removed and am feeling much better. Bladder is working perfectly so another hurdle is behind me. I had a D&C during the procedure as well. It was a pain to deal with the kotex and catheter at the same time. As luck would have it, my period just started yesterday. Oh well. Will start therapy for the hand this next week now that I can drive again. The hand has gotten a little better.
Prior to your hysterectomy, read about the importance of the ovaries to women past menopause. The ovaries continue to secrete slight amounts of hormones (androgens) that are important for bone health up to age 80. This cannot be duplicated by HRT. In fact everything that I've read about HRT is controversial. DO NOT let them remove a healthy ovary if at all possible. Mayo did an extensive study on the importance of ovaries in post menopausal women. One ovary will compensate for the loss of another. Natural hormones are still superior to synthetics.
I walked out on two practitioners who suggested that since I was 50, I didn't need the ovaries anymore. In fact, I asked why both ovaries were removed if one was still healthy. Keep in mind that both breasts are not removed if one is cancerous, nor are both kidneys removed if one is cancerous, The answers that I received were unsatisfactory: it's standard treatment; I've been doing this for 30 years; we've always done it this way. I was looking for a scientific rationale as to why it is standard treatment, but never received a satisfactory answer.
Keep in mind that our situations may be very different. Prior to my surgery I was not in any physical distress or pain. The only reason my problem was discovered was due to abnormal bleeding (period) which lasted about 30 days, was light, and not painful.
Prior to your hysterectomy, read about the importance of the ovaries to women past menopause. The ovaries continue to secrete slight amounts of hormones (androgens) that are important for bone health up to age 80. This cannot be duplicated by HRT. In fact everything that I've read about HRT is controversial. DO NOT let them remove a healthy ovary if at all possible. Mayo did an extensive study on the importance of ovaries in post menopausal women. One ovary will compensate for the loss of another. Natural hormones are still superior to synthetics.
I walked out on two practitioners who suggested that since I was 50, I didn't need the ovaries anymore. In fact, I asked why both ovaries were removed if one was still healthy. Keep in mind that both breasts are not removed if one is cancerous, nor are both kidneys removed if one is cancerous, The answers that I received were unsatisfactory: it's standard treatment; I've been doing this for 30 years; we've always done it this way. I was looking for a scientific rationale as to why it is standard treatment, but never received a satisfactory answer.
Keep in mind that our situations may be very different. Prior to my surgery I was not in any physical distress or pain. The only reason my problem was discovered was due to abnormal bleeding (period) which lasted about 30 days, was light, and not painful.
Wow...sound like you have been through the ringer! But thank God that the out come was benign! Sorry you had to deal with coming out of surgery needing to deal with yet new problems! How are you doing now? My surgery had been scheduled for July 21st. The incision could go up past the belly button because of the size (now 22cm). Have decided to go with a full hysterectomy in the hopes of no future worries! Still worried sick about it being cancer and just can not wait to get to the recovery stage! Hope to hear that things are going better for you now!
Here's how it went for my surgery. Ended up having an ovary out and a full laparotmy due to adhesions. Cysts were not cancerous, which was excellent. However the omentum was stuck to my bladder, so now I'll need a foley bag for a week until the bladder heals from the stiches. A nerve in my left arm was pinched during surgery, creating a condition called Saturday Night Palsy. My left hand was effected and I noticed this as soon as I came around. Suffice it to say I was pretty upset, especially being drugged with anesthetic and morphine. This has made taking care of myself difficult-I'm typing with one hand now. It's going to need therapy. Thankfully, I'm right hand dominant. Fortunately my orthopaedic doctor is on staff at the hospital, and I'm being treated. Hopefully this will be short lived and will remit. The gyn-oncologist and ob-gyn did an excellent job on the incision and stitching. Keeping my fingers crossed that the bladder will be okay after the bag is removed next week.
I ended up staying 3 days in the hospital for the procedure total. Next step bag removal and physical therapy for the hand........having an EMG two days after the abdominal surgery was pretty rough.
I ended up staying 3 days in the hospital for the procedure total. Next step bag removal and physical therapy for the hand........having an EMG two days after the abdominal surgery was pretty rough.
The results of my Ova1 test were within normal range. At this juncture, everything is pointing to a benign mass, but the real test will be next Wednesday. It looks like I'll only be in the hospital overnight, assuming all goes well with the laprascopy. Today I completed all the pre-admission tests, so now it's a matter of waiting until the surgery happens.
I am in Southern CA. Many great Dr's but wanted to see one in particular. Hope to hear if I can get in sooner. I know the test is not as accurate for pre-menopausal women but it is still very scary have an elevated result. It literally has made me sick to my stomach. I also know the only real way of knowing is having the surgery and then biopsy. I just cannot be rational at this point because fear has taken over. also not looking forward to three days in the hospital!
Had I wanted to go to the University of Chicago Medical Center, I'd be waiting until August for an appointment. Fortunately there are many fine hospitals in the Chicago metropolitan area. I obtained a second and third opinion from two exceptionally qualified Gyn-Oc's. I didn't doubt my OB-Gyn's diagnosis, but wanted to explore various treatment options.
The results of the Ova 1 test should be back by this weekend. The ultimate answer whether the cyst is benign or malignant will be known in just over a week. It's my understanding that the screening tests are less accurate on women who are not post menopausal.
Right now I just feel resigned to my fate and cried out. It is a shame that you have to wait until July to see the Gyn-Oc. If you don't mind my asking, what city/state/country do you reside in?
The results of the Ova 1 test should be back by this weekend. The ultimate answer whether the cyst is benign or malignant will be known in just over a week. It's my understanding that the screening tests are less accurate on women who are not post menopausal.
Right now I just feel resigned to my fate and cried out. It is a shame that you have to wait until July to see the Gyn-Oc. If you don't mind my asking, what city/state/country do you reside in?
Hi Joanie,
Any word on your ova1 test yet? My ultrasound shows a 20cm cyst on or near my left ovary. My ova1 level came back elevated at 7.5 but they say it does not mean anything until they get in there and test the cyst. How lucky are you that you got your surgery date. I need to wait to get into the gyn/onc until July. Not looking forward to that wait! Just do not want to be crying that long! Good luck and keep us updated!
Any word on your ova1 test yet? My ultrasound shows a 20cm cyst on or near my left ovary. My ova1 level came back elevated at 7.5 but they say it does not mean anything until they get in there and test the cyst. How lucky are you that you got your surgery date. I need to wait to get into the gyn/onc until July. Not looking forward to that wait! Just do not want to be crying that long! Good luck and keep us updated!
The ovary is engulfed with the cyst and is going to be removed as well. I had an ectopic pregnancy years ago, so there is no tube on that side. In fact part of this ovary was removed during that surgery.
Since I'm near menopause, fertility isn't of any concern to me. Newer studies suggest that women who have at least one ovary tend to live longer. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is a benign tumor and that I will keep my remaining ovary.
Thanks for your response, I'll let you know how it goes.
Since I'm near menopause, fertility isn't of any concern to me. Newer studies suggest that women who have at least one ovary tend to live longer. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is a benign tumor and that I will keep my remaining ovary.
Thanks for your response, I'll let you know how it goes.
Hi I had a 20cm complex cyst removed which at first they thought was a blood filled with echoes kinda cyst on the 27th of may, thankfully it turned out to be benign but because of it's basketball size it had significantly damaged my left ovary & Fallopian tube so they had to be removed, there is a good chance that ur ovary & fallopian tubes will be ok as ur cyst isn't as large, before u go into the theatre for ur surgery they will come and discuss things with u and at that point they will tell u if there may be a need to remove a tube or ovary or not.
The best thing now is to get that cyst out before it cause damage
I hope all goes well for u
Take care
K
The best thing now is to get that cyst out before it cause damage
I hope all goes well for u
Take care
K
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