New here, please help

kassyrn
kassyrn Member Posts: 7
in Ovarian Cancer #1

I know worrying about something before there is something to worry about is silly but here I am anyway.  I am a registered nurse (women's health) so I'm familiar with this area.  I am not familiar with ovarian cancer until I began having some worriesome symptoms.  Could anyone please let me know if I'm right to be worried or just overreacting.  Here it goes:

About a year ago I bagan having intermittent left lower pelvic pain that would get better if I sat down for awile.  Around this time I also started having low back pain which I just blame on my job.  in the last 6 months the back pain has become very very bad.  I had a hysterectomy 4 years ago (still have ovaries) so I can't say anything about menstrual changes.

A month ago I started having daily, severe epigastric pain (indigestion).  Not heartburn, more of a painful burning cramping in my upper stomach.  I have to take pepcid almost daily for this.  Around his time I also began losing my appetite and when I do eat I fill up quickly.  In fact it is 3:30 in the afternoon and I still haven't eaten today.  I have made something but here it sits untouched because I'm just not hungry.  When I do eat it's lik the food just sits in my upper stomach. 

Two weeks ago the lower left pelvic pain has become more constant and is no longer relieved by sitting.  I tend to thnk its from adhesions or cysts but I have the other things going on that makes me think maybe it's not. 

A few days ago I noticed my stomach not only feels bloated but it looks bloated as well.  I measured my stomach and it was 40 cm around, yesterday it was 42 cm and today it is 43.  Despite this gain in my stomach area I have begun to rapidly lose weight.  I mean RAPIDLY!  7 pounds lost this week.  I realize I'm not eating as much as usual but that still seems pretty excessive. 

So there it is.  If anyone could tell me their symptoms and let me know what you think about mine it would be greatly appreciated.

Comments

  • scatsm
    scatsm Member Posts: 296 Member
    #2
    Kassyrn,

    Your symptoms could be so many things among them ovarian cancer. I would get them checked out ASAP. All the symptons you describe are ones I experienced prior to diagnosis but there are so many things that could cause them that it's important to follow through with your primary care physician first. Tell him/her your concerns about ovca and ask for a transvaginal ultrasound and a ca125 blood test. If these tests are positive, please consult a gynecological oncologist who is best qualified to assess and treat ov ca. If the tests are inconclusive then you can go through the many "rule out" tests to determine what's going on. In my situation, I went through months of testing for various GI ailments and ovarian cancer was the last thing to be tested...

    Hopefully you will not be joining us in our ovarian cancer journey....it is a rare disease still and all. Keep your spirits up and try not to go too fast...the wise women here can guide you if needed. Sending hopeful prayers your way!

    Susan

  • Alexandra
    Alexandra Member Posts: 1,308
    #3
    Welcome to CSN Kassyrn

    I am not implying that you have ovarian cancer. Your symptoms could be attributed to a number of benign conditions. 

    But If I were you, I would ask GP or GYN for a pelvic / abdominal CT scan and CA125 blood test, just to be on the safe side.

    Prior to being diagnosed I had abdominal pain, GI issues and bloating. I had neither weight loss, heartburn, reduced appetite, back pain nor change in menstrual rythm.

    Good luck to you!

  • kimberly sue 63
    kimberly sue 63 Member Posts: 421 Member
    #4
    Kassyrn, You are a nurse (me

    Kassyrn, You are a nurse (me too). What would you tell your patient? You have worrisome signs as you all ready know. Get an appointment and get a pelvic exam now. Your doctor will, probably also do a pap smear, CA125 or OVA 1 blood test. He will probably check a blood count and electrolytes along with liver and kidney function blood tests too.

    Let us know, you are not alone on this board. We are all here for you. Kim

     

  • Susan P
    Susan P Member Posts: 103
    #5
    kimberly sue 63 said:

    Kassyrn, You are a nurse (me

    Kassyrn, You are a nurse (me too). What would you tell your patient? You have worrisome signs as you all ready know. Get an appointment and get a pelvic exam now. Your doctor will, probably also do a pap smear, CA125 or OVA 1 blood test. He will probably check a blood count and electrolytes along with liver and kidney function blood tests too.

    Let us know, you are not alone on this board. We are all here for you. Kim

     

    new here please help

    Hi Kassyrn

     

    as a nurse ( science/ fact inclined - Like me- I suspect you want facts about medical issues.

     

    I was dx a year ago  hysterectomy years ago - so no periods( gyne/onc said that was a plus ~ no pelvic or back pain. couldn't eat without vomitting - thus, lost weight quickly- needed to.  the large bloating was my biggest issue ~ the increased pressure caused urination urges to increase in frequency sonnogram vaguely showed something with myleft ovary ... finally contrast CT scan showed the cancer ~ myGP kind of struggled with a dx.  He then sent me to an awesome- take-charge gyne.  after she said she was sorry to tell us I haad ovarian cancer -- she said sahe would have me in hosp for paracenthithesis by the end of the week & in cancer center in two weeks -- she did both  .  My firs tdrain yielded 8 liters (qts). the pathology on the ascites fluid was the cancer proof

     

    I was soo frustrated wanting a dx = from what I knew it was OvCa -- so lets quit peeing around - diagnose it - so I can quit wasting time & start chemo  to fight it

     

    not knowing wouldn't make it go away when knowing would help get as early a start in tx as I could.My starting CA 125 was ,4,000  35 = normal at the end of my chemo tx Apr 2 it was 17.

     

     my advice is you have something strabge going on - do what you would tell a patient -- get toa doc & get a dx

    Chemo is tough but doable -- I never liked my hair anyway -- at the moment I am in remission & on a chemo holiday & having a PET scan May 31 for definative proof of no active cancer

    get to the doc & let us know if it is positive - come back often & let us who have been on this journey be here to hear you vent if need be & encourage you as yiou deal with the newness of this journey

    Susan P from Alberta Canada &TX & WY

     

     

     

     

     

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