posted January 04, 2006 07:32 PM         

I've been feeling some pressure in my pelvis. It has been going on for about a month. I decided to get into the doctor before the year was up (deductibles and all).

The doc could feel whatever the pressure was, and scheduled me for an ultrasound.

The ultrasound revealed that there is a ball of fluid anterior (in front of) my right ovary. The ball of fluid is seemingly unattached to anything, and contains vascular tissue (veins and arteries).

I have a CT scheduled tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully they'll get a better look at this oddity and figure out what the heck it is. My Dr. did say that he intends on consulting an OB and a surgeon once he has the results of the CT.

Sounds like I'm having surgery, Doncha think?

Anyhow... Just thought someone might have experienced something similar to this... this... alien ball of fluid growing in my pelvis. ICK!

posted January 04, 2006 08:25 PM         

Don't panic. Wait till the ultra-sound to find out more.

Do you want to have surgery? If it's benign, is surgery necessary? Would you consider alternatives to surgery?

You know I'm not a big fan of the medical profession.

Please keep us posted.

posted January 08, 2006 11:28 AM         

I haven't been around much in the past couple months. I've been busy with the holiday hubbub. My business is really taking off lately too... a lot to do with the holiday hubbub too. I've had a couple Christmas parties to help out with. One client had a huge party/fund raiser (250 guests) for the local women's shelter. Another of her friends had a pretty good sized shin-dig that she needed help with too.

I decided to put an ad up on Craigslist, and have gotten several clients in the past few weeks from keeping the ad running. Free advertising is AWESOME!

Back to the weird growth...

I REALLY don't want to have surgery. I don't have the time to spare for down-time.

I wish this were a cyst that would bleed out with my next period... but I've had a period since this thing has begun to develop, and it's still growing.

I go back to the doctor on Tuesday to find out the results of the CT scan. Hopefully he will have some kind of good news for me.

I'm also interested in seeing if the size of the mass has changed since the ultrasound. At the time of the ultrasound my ovary measured 2.9x1.9x3.0cm. The mass measured 7.5x7.7x6.0cm. Doc says that isn't very big, but it sounds pretty big to me... for a growth that shouldn't be there in the first place... but what do I know?

Thanks again for your responses. I'll know more Tuesday. Untill then, please send some white light my way.

posted January 09, 2006 10:47 AM         

There is yet no easy, non-invasive tool for diagnosing ovarian cancer. Today, periodic thorough pelvic exams are important to help detect changes in the size or shape of the ovaries and uterus for women at average risk.

For women at higher risk for ovarian cancer, transvaginal ultrasound may be useful. This type of ultrasound uses a small instrument inserted into the vagina that creates sound waves to create images of the ovaries.

A blood test that checks for abnormal levels of a certain protein, CA123, may help in diagnosis and detection for women at high risk. Research is ongoing into improved imaging technology and specific patterns of proteins in the blood that may result in the development of more sensitive screening tests in the future.
http://www.preventcancer.org/healthyliving/cancerinfo/ovarian.cfm

posted January 09, 2006 01:27 PM         

Yeah... I had the transvaginal probing done... That was great fun.

Transvaginally was the best way they could see the mass... and also, my endometrium was poorly seen. Not sure if that means the mass was obstructing their view, or something much worse.

We'll see tomorrow.

I haven't been sleeping well lately. I wake up every couple of hours, finding it hard to get back to sleep.

I've taken to drinking those damn energy drinks... but that has to stop. They're giving me terrible head aches.

posted January 09, 2006 01:41 PM         

quote:

---

I would have liked to have shoved that TVU wand up that old cow that did my last one!

---

posted January 13, 2006 10:43 AM         

I'm going this morning for a meeting with the Chief of Sergery... I think he's going to do that Laproscopic (sp?) procedure to get YET ANOTHER better look at this thing.

I also came up with an abnormal pap and have to have the cells frozen off next month.

I'm pretty scared now. I'm afraid there may be a connection between my abnormal pap and this growth.

Doc gave me some Xanax to help me make it through without crying too much. It's helping, but I have to cut it into quarters so I am able to function.

You'll know more when I do...

posted January 13, 2006 02:01 PM         

Still may or may not be a malignant tumor.

If no cancer cells are present, it will be a piece of cake. If there are cancer cells, I may lose an ovary.

The surgeon seems to feel pretty strongly that the mass is benign, being that my blood work is all normal and I'm not presenting any symptoms other than just "feeling it's there".

posted January 13, 2006 07:32 PM         

The surgeon I met with today assured me that there is no connection between my abnormal pap and the mass in my pelvis.

Apparently the abnormal pap indicates the possibility of cervical cancer arising if not taken care of... So, one thing has nothing to do with the other.

posted January 14, 2006 10:11 AM         

btw, abnormal pap smears are pretty common.

posted January 17, 2006 07:39 PM         

I have to admit... I'm pretty friggin' scared. 0.5mg of Xanax twice daily gets me through these days.

I decided I was feeling fine the other day and didn't need any, and found that my mind was still reeling come 3AM.

I'm having trouble focusing too. I can't read... which really bites! I'm about 100 pages to the finish of an excellent Clive Barker book. I can't read more than a few sentences before I realize I was looking at each word, but not processing any of it.

My mind is always elsewhere. Not necessarily on all of this girly stuff... just elsewhere.

posted January 21, 2006 03:35 PM         

I'm glad you know what it is you're dealing with to a certain degree. Of course I wish you all the best for next Tuesday. Thinking of you Sheaa

How are you feeling by the way? Other than the obvious, has this had an adverse affect on your health.. in the way of noticing anything different, skin texture, eating habits etc? Also how do the kids feel about it?

posted January 21, 2006 04:24 PM         

No... I'm perfectly healthy. Nothing wrong with me except that I feel this slight pressure in my pelvis.

My doc looked at me like I was insane when I told him I could feel it in there. Apparently women grow cysts the size of grapefruits without feeling them.

I've had a full physical work up... ultrasound, CT scan... everything looks good and is in working order. My lungs are even in good shape... and I smoke half a pack a day!

None of the laproscopic stuff has been done. It will be on Tuesday. Given that he doesn't find anything that looks like cancer, the procedure will be entirely laproscopic. If he does see anything that even closely resembles cancer cells, he's going to go in the old fashioned way.

No one really knows what it is that is growing in my pelvis. They just know it isn't attached to anything, it contains fluid, it's approximately 10 cm in diameter, and it has veins and arteries independent of mine.

Just a little freaky.

They don't seem to think there will be any cancer when they get in there. So... that's good.

I've decided to lay off the Xanax (except for at night). I like it way too much... I could totally get used to living on that stuff and be perfectly happy! Best I only take it if absolutely necessary.

The kids don't really know much about what's going on. I've been keeping it pretty low key. The procedure is going to be out-patient... so they really don't need to know much. I won't have an over night stay in the hospital.

They know there's something strange growing in my pelvis, and that I'll be going to the doctor to have it taken out. We've been careful to use very matter of fact, nonchalant attitude when talking with them about it.

Can't have them getting scared. That's no good.