Hi Ladies - I am new

firecracker1 said:

Well, I survived the biopsy!

Well, I survived the biopsy! Thanks for all the kind wishes. I wish I could say it didnt hurt but it was absolutely horrible! I think this was only because my cervix refused to dialate because I didnt really feel the sample itself when she took it.

 My doctor said she wasnt going to be able to do it after trying a few times, but then she got in and got the sample. I almost passed out but within about ten minutes I was fine and was able to drive home. They also took blood for a CA-125 yesterday. I should know today or tomorrow. My doctor said she fully expected my uterine biopsy to be normal but would feel negligent if she didnt do it to be sure. She is very concerned about my right ovary. I got a script for progesterone and a follow up ultrasound appointment for May 2. Unless my CA-125 comes back bad and then she said she would recommend we go ahead and schedule surgery to see...

CA-125

Also, CA-125 not really reliable for uterine cancer. Mine was normal. 

firecracker1 said:

Well, I survived the biopsy!

Well, I survived the biopsy! Thanks for all the kind wishes. I wish I could say it didnt hurt but it was absolutely horrible! I think this was only because my cervix refused to dialate because I didnt really feel the sample itself when she took it.

 My doctor said she wasnt going to be able to do it after trying a few times, but then she got in and got the sample. I almost passed out but within about ten minutes I was fine and was able to drive home. They also took blood for a CA-125 yesterday. I should know today or tomorrow. My doctor said she fully expected my uterine biopsy to be normal but would feel negligent if she didnt do it to be sure. She is very concerned about my right ovary. I got a script for progesterone and a follow up ultrasound appointment for May 2. Unless my CA-125 comes back bad and then she said she would recommend we go ahead and schedule surgery to see...

I'm sorry it hurt!!!  Mine

I'm sorry it hurt!!!  Mine was pretty painless but then, I had two live births and those kids just about dropped out - LOL!!  Even going in for my first examination after chemo, I had no pain at all and believe me, my oncologist looked at every inch of the inside of my vagina because I had been spotting.  He even apologized (and the guy hardly says a word) if he was hurting me.  I told him I could feel pressure but no pain. 

Hopefully, everything will be negative but if it's not, we're all here for you!!

Love,

Eldri

firecracker1 said:

Eldri,
you made me laugh

Eldri,

you made me laugh - my cervix didnt want to dialate when i had my son, even with the pitocin (sp?)

My CA-125 came back normal!! I know that does not mean anything 100% but it sure made me feel alot better (bc of my ovaries). Now just waiting on the biopsy to come back! Thank you all ladies for chatting with me. You all seem like an awesome group of women. I have definately educated myself reading over all of the uterine and ovary cancer boards. I dont think ever in my life that it occurred to me that my  normal PAP smear did not assure me of being cancer free in the lady parts!?? Just never crossed my mind. So i feel much better armed if i do have to fight a battle like this and will be educating my lady friends. There is so much put in our heads constantly about breast cancer and what to do and how to know and the signs and treatments. I never hear much about the things "below the belt" - WHY is this not talked about more!!!?? It makes me angry and sad. Especially when i read that most of these ladies heard the same things from their PCP - "you are just getting older", "you have to much stress"," its all in your head, your lab work was normal", etc etc .... or MAYBE !? its the giant cysts on my ovaries?!!?

This. THIS

is what makes me the maddest.  I read so many times about women who were told just that...  it's all in your head, it's menopause, etc. for months and in some cases years.  It took a friend of a friend 18 months before she was diagnosed with Stage IV uterine cancer.

It makes me crazy and makes me feel so fortunate that my ob/gyn was so proactive.  I shudder to think what might have happened had she not been.  

So, so far your news is good.  Hoping that it continues to be for you!

Chris

 

pinky104 said:

firecracker1

Glad your CA-125 came out fine.  I just want to let you know that I had a little bleeding when I was 51, three or four months after menopause.  I had a hysteroscopy, and a benign polyp and endometrial thickening were found.  Ten years later, I had bleeding again (only a small amount) and I was assured by my GYN (a different one from the first) that the polyp he found on my ultrasounds would be benign.  Instead, I had stage IVb UPSC which had spread to both my ovaries, the omentum, and the small intestine.  I was referred to a GYN/onc for surgery, then I had chemo.  I'm still here 6 years after my initial diagnosis, with no evidence of disease.  My initial CA-125 was 94.  Now, it runs in the 7's most of the time and the 6's on occasion.

If you develop any future symptoms, don't hesitate to get checked out again.  It saved my life.

Take the ibuprofen

I have had a total of 4 endo biopsies in my life.  Two were when I was young and had not had children.  They were also done by a general practice doc and not a gynecologist.  They were far from pleasant.  I was also 21ish at the time, it was a long, long, time ago.  I think they used a crow bar and tongs to get the tissue they needed. 

As a grown up and many years later (age 55ish) I had another one due to spotting and marginally increased stripe.  I was advised ahead of time to take ibuprofen.  I was scared to death given my earlier experiences.  I had also had 2 children some 30 years prior.  The biopsy was uncomfortable and not something I'd like to do every day, but it was very very tolerable.  I think the ibuprofen (800 mg) really helped.  I had to have another one at age 62.  While I did not look forward to it, and it was not recommended, I still took the 800 mg. ibuprofen and the biopsy went quite fine.  The gynecologist commented on how well I tolerated the procedure.  I'm sure it was the ibuprofen and I told her. 

Good luck on your biopsy. I think a whole lot of the pain issue has to do with the skill of the gynecologist and prior meds.  It is over quickly under any circumstances.

Suzanne