TO BLUEROSE

Hey Monica
How nice of you to have remembered about my appointment to create this posting. You are very special, thank you so much.

Actually I did start to write about the appointment but then the phone rang and I forgot to finish the posting (chemo brain) and when I reread it it didn't sound right and I wasn't sure where to post the update so this is perfect, thanks again.

Well the appointment went kind of like I expected but with a twist - of course, nothing is straightforward with my health it seems. To my surprise, something my GP didn't mention to me was that not only was there a 'node' in my right ovary but there is some 'tissue' in my uterus as well - sigh, why not. So she said there were 2 choices, like my GP said by the radiologists suggestion, one was wait and see, ya right, and the other was take out the right ovary for biopsy so I chose the later on the spot. Because of the 'tissue' in the uterus the Gyno said that she would do a D & C as well when I was out and biopsy that too, then remove the right ovary and the tube that's attached. She said that they will probably biopsy other areas but not everything unless things looked strange. She said there will be no major extraction of anything else at that time like the omentum or other ovary etc. She also said, after I asked about her opinion of what she thinks this 'node' is and she said she would bet her house it was just a benign cyst - of course I don't know how valuable her house is to bet it. lol. If I trusted her that would have made me feel much better but sadly I don't.

I was prepared for this to be a surgery of some kind but wasn't sure if there was maybe something else she could offer that I hadn't heard about.

When I was in about 2 years ago having a dental surgery - asked to be knocked out for that too - the anaesthesiologist said he wouldn't do a general anaesthetic because with my pacemaker and heart issue it was too dangerous for me so he did conscious sedation which is alot easier but for this surgery of course they do general anaesthesia so that's a bit worrisome for me. Another complication for me in this surgery is that I don't like this Gyno. She is really condenscending and rambled off a list of what could go wrong during the surgery like perforated organs and such and she said it like she was rambling off a boring short grocery list. After that, and after scaring the pants off me, she then says the chances of that are 1%, couldn't she have said that first? Also she is rough when she does internals and after she did mine she just walked away, not offering me a tissue or anything and not helping me up at all (I have pretty bad arthritis). I don't know but I can't see myself going under the knife with her careless attitude holding it.

I left a message for my family doctor, on Saturday, to refer me to another Gyno but I know she is going to try and talk me out of it but I am standing firm on this one. I did some research on RateMds. com for Gynos in my area and came up with a few names. I am going to give her those names as possibilities for the new referral. All the tests have been done so copies can be sent to the new Gyno so she doesn't have to start from scratch. No matter what I am facing I want to know that my Gyno gives a rat's - - - and I have faith in her skills and that she has HEARD me. Know what I mean?

I really hate to start all over with another doctor and the wait that might bring, especially during summer holidays, sigh, but I am worried enough without having a doctor I don't trust.

So that's the update. Tuesday this week I have to go to my new rheumatologist for a recap of her findings, she has already confirmed fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis but when I was in her office last time I was so stunned by all her findings over the misfit rheumatologist I had before her who diagnosed me with 'stress' only and then find this one who was so thorough and packed full of diagnosis that I forgot the other issues she said I have. Most of them are due to the cancer treatments I had years ago.

Anywho, thanks again for the interest Monica, I really do appreciate it. Hope you are feeling well today. Blessings, Bluerose.

P.S. My back pains were worse yesterday and I had mentioned them to the Gyno and she said that it wasn't likely they were because of the node in my ovary but what about the tissue in my uterus causing it? Oh come on I got the pains not long after the node came about - coincidence? - I think not. Just wanted to mention that.

Cindy54 said:

Your Appointment
I am so glad you posted. There is a lot of information in your post. With all of this information, I would get another opinion. I think you could find a doctor who is a little more compassionate in how they present all this information to you. And maybe they will have a suggestion that is different from the other doctor. In order to make a good, informed decision, I think you need to be comfortable with your doctor.I am glad to hear that you are looking into that. Please let us know what you have decided to do. And BIG hugs to you, Cindy

I agree
Thank you so much for the validation in seeking a second opinion and another doctor I am more comfortable with. I was actually starting to second guess myself as to whether I should just stay on a roll with the Gyno I have now but everything in me is saying no so I will push on with a second opinion, your posting helped to validate me and thank you for that.

My family doctor is leaving for 3 weeks of holidays on Wednesday but she has my note on her desk about another referral and if I don't hear from her on Monday then I will call again til I get her so that she can send in the referral before she leaves. I have already waited long enough for this first doctor and that didn't turn out so I don't want to wait til the GP gets back from holidays yet. I have found a list of several Gynos that look good so I will call her office and suggest them to her and of course ask her to send the new Gyno all my recent CT scans and ultrasounds so I don't have to start all over again. I really hope my GP doesn't give me a hastle about this but as I said before I am going to stand firm on this. She should know by now that my instincts are good when it comes to things like this.

Thanks again for your validation Cindy, it came just at the right time. Hugs back, Bluerose.

Karen1418 said:

Second Opinion
Dear Bluerose,

I ended up starting chemo with an oncologist I was uncomfortable with. I had four treatments, then found a gyn/onc near our home and switched. I am so glad I did. I am very confident with him and his staff, and that is so important. All my records were transferred and I did not have to start over; he continued where the other had left off, making some changes. Go for that second opinion!

Wishing you good news,
Karen

If only ....
Hey Karen, If only I was at the gyno oncologist stage but I can't even get into another gynocologist til the end of October now and the fight to even get there has me exhausted. I have no idea how long this stupid node has been in my right ovary either as I was told that on the CT of that general area in May that it even existed but that on checking the CT before that which was months earlier, they MISSED IT. Oh thanks. So question now became how long has that thing been in there? However when they compared the two CT's the node had grown. Sigh. I started having period style backaches around the same time and then when I found out that there was now something in my uterus too that's when I decided for sure I needed a second opinion and got Oct 21st as an answer. So that's just when I see the gyno/surgeon so add to that the surgery booking and for sure it won't be until the first of next year. I can't wait that long.

So I called our Cancer Information Service here, I have been on the phone for 2 whole hours trying to get help on this, and she suggested the social worker at the Cancer Centre so I tried her and she is going to talk to her supervisor but I know what's going to come back - you need a referral from your GP, WHO IS ON HOLIDAYS FOR 3 FREAKIN WEEKS. It goes around and around.

On TV, in the newspaper and on radio you see 'get it checked EARLY, don't delay' but when you actually go to do that it's wait after wait after wait and by then it could be too late. It could still be just a stupid cyst but who is going to hang one's life on a 'could be'? especially since you have been through the cancer trip before? You would be crazy to leave it and just wait on all the lists.

I feel they are treating this as a zit issue, no more serious or potentially serious than that, it's just so frustrating and scarey.

I am still pushing but I have to say that I am getting really tired. I have a heart condition (damage from chemo) and it's been acting up recently under this stress. Living alone and having no advocate to help is a bit of a bummer but my ex wasn't much of a help anywho when I was going through it all so maybe I am better off in that department.

Anywho thanks for the words of encouragement and support. Thank God, literally, for this site. Blessings, Bluerose