Pelvic swelling, lower left area, feel lump Want Hysterectomy

One of the reasons you didn't get replies to the previous post is that only Hostesses and the automated replies can be posted to the "Introduce Yourself" forum. But I see you're getting lots of replies here!

I had many of the same symptoms. As it turned out, mine was a large ovarian mass which was impinging on my intestine causing the intermittent diarrhea, etc. I also had flooding which was due to adenomyosis (where the endometrial lining grows into the muscle wall of the uterus).

Seeing a GI specialist isn't going to take care of the problem, IMHO, and many of them are all too unfamiliar with GYN issues. Even though it's been less than a year since you were last seen, you need to be re-evaluated, probably with an exam, ultrasound, and maybe bloodwork to evaluate for anemia and possible cancer markers. Only when you finally have some real answers can you then go on to make your plans.

We are not allowed to share doctor names here on the board, but there is a forum for your state where you can ask people to PM you with names. Another good way to do it is to find a good hospital and investigate who the GYN surgeons are on their staff. Not all GYN surgeons will approach this the same way, and this is one case where it truly pays to do your research and get more than one opinion. If there is any question of cancer issues, you need to find a GYN-oncologist, as the outcomes are significantly better if they do any sort of surgery -- even if cancer isn't found in the end. My mass was not cancer, as it turned out, but the extra three years of specialized surgical training that my doctor had really paid off for me. He was able to remove the (large) endometrioma without rupturing it, which would have created all sorts of long-term complications in my case.

Perhaps the gastroenterologist will have a GYN surgeon that he/she likes to work with. That would be a start! At least, in the NYC area, there are lots of good hospitals and good doctors to choose from.

I hope you get some answsers soon. The gastroenterologist may do a C-T scan, and that might go a long way to answering some of the questions you have about what's been going on.



Audrey

Hi Bonnie and welcome to Hystersisters

I agree with Audrey 100%. I'm hoping that you can get re-evaluated very soon and get all your problems/pains resolved.

Best of luck to you. and