Last Monday I was told I would need a TAH and removal of my left ovary. I admit it was a bit of a smack in the head. All the more dizzying because I am "moonlighting" in a hospital as a chaplain intern. Nothing like stepping into my 'clients' shoes.
Why?: age 50, 18month with just 1 or 2 episodes of spotting, 5mm+ cyst on left ovary sustained over 9 months, thickened uterine lining, then discharge and bleeding in the prior month, CA125 of 40 which is borderline.
Honestly, I thought menopause had been kind; two years of hot flashes and an appreciation for the power of gravity were the things I could see. A vague sense of bloat which seemed is as likely to be IBS as anything else.
Endometrial biopsy and saline hysteroscopy (both less awful as tests than I feared - though .25mg of Xanax made that a sure thing) showed everything was fine. With that last test, the suggested course of action changed to D&C and laproscopic removal of left ovary only. Though if the frozen section biopsies show anything off, out it all goes.
Confirmed this with a 2nd opinion from a gyn oncologist (in one of the swankiest doctor offices I have been in - upper West side NYC - wow). That doc suggested another blood test (OVA1) as a way to feel more confident about the results of the operating room biopsies that will be done (I was told they are only 80% accurate).
Of course, now I get to worry that the OVA1 will come back showing a problem, or worse still, not be conclusive. I "own" this decision to leave my bits in place .. or not. Though, honestly, I feel inadequate to this task of risk assessment. Hmmm.... increased likelihood of prolapse and osteoporosis...or the 1 in 70 chance of ovarian cancer by age 65. What were the other ones....? (Maybe we should start a thread of all the stats the doctors tell us.
I have an 18 year old in her last year of high school. I am very conscious of how I communicate about this to her. I want her to see me getting information (LOVE the second opinion video on this site), see what it means to piece this all together, and to acknowledge all the emotions that emerge. Though I may spare her the good cry that I know is brewing inside right now.
So I get blood test results 2/15. Surgery scheduled for 2/29. Just got the FMLA papers to fill out for work. I feel like that one phone call two weeks ago shoved me onto an express lane to the OR - less that it is fast and more that there are few exits.
I want to say thank you for all the information posted on this site; it has been really helpful. I have had a laproscopic removal of my gall bladder and a fix to an umbilical hernia but no other surgeries. I loathe the idea of abdominal surgery, but you guys made it clear that recovery is what happens.
If anyone has any suggested questions I should ask or things to consider, I would welcome them.
Good wishes and healing to all....