Blood Tests

I saw my dr. on Thursday for a follow up. We went over the results of my mammogram and she did a breast exam. Mammo showed in July an area of density but no lumps so she thinks all is okay and will recheck again next year. We also discussed the results of the biopsy and ct. Biopsy shows hyperplasia but she didn't specify what type. My regular doctor is on maternity leave until January so I saw the nurse practicioner. There is also an onco with the practice who recommended blood tests to check my hormone levels. If the blood tests are normal, they will do a d&c. If the blood tests are not normal for hormone levels, she recommended progesterone and still possibly do the d&c. Nurse asked me about my symptoms. We went over pain I have and discharge. Also discussed the fact that I had a low malignancy potential tumor on my right ovary removed in 2000 and they removed the right ovary. Then in 2001 benign cyst on left ovary and had left ovary removed. She brought up having a hysterecomy and having all this over especially since I have no ovaries and she said the only thing I might have to worry about is a prolapse of the bladder. I told her I had discussed with the dr but the dr wanted to run all the tests and then we would discuss from there. Bottom line I told her, I'm frustrated, concerned about bleeding out of the blue after almost four years and tired of the pain. I'm also having lower back pain which I had before both my surgeries but it is only in the mornings when I first wake up and if I take a warm bath it goes away. I do have some fibroids and a considerable amount of free fluid. She asked if they had checked my colon. One of the few things they haven't done. She said sometimes in heavier women the fatty tissues can be the cause of the bleeding and hyperplasia. I have been working out and trying to eat better since March and have lost some weight but seem to be at a stalling point right now.

Switching jobs in the midst of all this hasn't helped my stress level and switching health insurance twice in the last few months is not helping either. Luckily I don't have to switch doctors but will have to pay more for going out of network and using POS.

Nurse told me they would get the blood test results back and call me. I hate this hurry up and wait bit. You'd think I'd be used to it by now but just frustrating. Nurse also told me she would talk to dr(there are two dr's and onco in the practice) and she would get the ball rolling on the hysterectomy.

I thought by finally making the decision and trying to go forward with the hysto I would feel better. But I'm feeling really down about the whole thing. Nurse did tell me that doing a hysto if cancer is suspected is different than doing a regular hysto. She also said when prior surgeries were done there could be an ovarian remnant they missed. I guess I'm just confused and not sure if I am making the right decision about a hysto. I've seen a dr for a 2nd opinion and they did my surgery in 2001 but I don't have a lot of confidence in the veterans hospital where I had the surgery done. I am thinking of seeking a third opinion but so far out of all the dr's I've seen, this one seems to be the most thorough so not sure what to do.