Todays another day

In march I was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Grade 1 stage 1a. Had a di-vinci total hysto with no followup care require other than to see my normal gyno every 6 months for first year. My first 6 month check appeared to have been well and good (no pap smear or anything, she just took a look inside to make sure I was healed from surgery) and declared me NED (not sure how you declare that with only having a 2 min visual look but she is the pro and not me)

 

Fast forward to now, my normal gyno was concerned with (pardon me if i'm being too descriptive) rectal bleeding that I've been having at least 1-2 times a month. So today I go for my colonoscopy (and btw that Golyte stuff they make you drink, is death in a bottle I swear) but I'm nervous. I know my cancer was caught early, and was the lowest grade you can get. But cancer of the colon runs on my dad's side, his brother had it, he recently had 2 that showed cancer in 1 polyup and 1 pre-cancerous. (small and removed at time of his colonoscopy) and that makes me for a very nervous individual today.

 

I know I should not be, and I'm sure today will go by well, and probably get told that it's just hemroids, but I can't stop being nervous. My brain keeps doing the what ifs (my mother and sister are both cancer free) apparently I am the only one to be following my grandmother and great-grandmother. But I have so many things that put me into such a bigger bracket. (overweight, PCOS, never had children, prev. cancer history) All this just comes to the front of my mind and I just feel a little overwhelmed. I guess I'm just looking for a little encouragement. I try not to post often, because I know so many ladies here have suffered so much more than I ever thought possible, and to be honest I feel like with how miner my cancer was, I don't deserve to complain. So for that, I appologize ahead of time.

 

I hope for nothing but the best for everyone here, and cry softly when the journey ends for some. I guess I'm just letting my nerves get the best of me, so my appologies again.

«1

Comments

  • Nellasing
    Nellasing Member Posts: 528 Member
    Tichondria NO apologies necessary!!!

    I'm so sorry you are feeling nervous- that is perfectly normal and understandable!  What you've been through is NOT minor and cancer is cancer- it changes you for the rest of your life!  Please post however and whenever you need to and keep coming for love and support of your sisters here- for me this is a great source of comfort and hope because you can see for yourself that no matter what happens there are answers, there is strength and there is someone walking the same journey or who has walked just ahead so you can follow.


    I'm glad your Dr. is on top of this and that you are getting tested.  I have never had one, but you will find you do what you have to and it's good- you are honoring your body and your intuition when you listen and act accordingly.  I hope you get the all clear and they figure out what's been going on to cause the bleeding.

    We'll be thinking of you for sure!  (((HUGS)))

  • Kvdyson
    Kvdyson Member Posts: 789
    My belief is that no cancer

    My belief is that no cancer is minor and that we are all in this together. Please know that your opinion is valid even if your experiece is different. It's a good thing that your gyno is vigilant about your symptoms. None of us can take good health for granted. I agree that this will likely turn out to be something other than cancer and then we can all celebrate with you together! Hang in there and try to stay busy while you wait for your results.

  • MAbound
    MAbound Member Posts: 1,168 Member
    GYN Oncologist?

    Glad to hear from you! I can remember seeing your picture in earlier threads, but you are a quiet one. Remember, this is a "no apology" zone! We're all here for each other whether it's for information, support, or whatever. 

    You say that you're normal gyn dr. does your check-ups? Did he/she do your surgery? Even if your cancer was caught early it seems odd to me that you wouldn't have your check ups done by your gyn oncologist.

    You'll probably have the results from your colonoscopy before you read this, so hopefully that won't show anything worse than hemorrhoids for you. If that goes well, I think I would suggest a follow-up visit with your gyn oncologist to get your uncertainties and any lingering questions cleared up regarding any remaining risk for recurrance so that you can feel more confident about your care going forward. Mine told me he'll being doing my check-ups for the rest of my life, so that's why I'm a bit surprised to read that your normal gyn is the one doing yours. 

    Given your family's cancer history, has anyone ever suggested you see a geneticist? My gyn-onc. sent me to one and it turned out that I'm positive for Lynch Syndrome which is indicitive of higher risk for a number of cancers, but especially colorectal and endometrial cancers. Having that identified justifies more frequent screening to insurance companies and could help better protect you from finding a new cancer at a later stage. Here's a website you can check out for more information: genefacts.org Click on the link for condition specific fact sheets.

     

  • EZLiving66
    EZLiving66 Member Posts: 1,482 Member
    I don't blame you for being

    I don't blame you for being nervous.  If I so much as sneeze, I figure the cancer is back.  I think it's just going to be like that the rest of my life no matter what my health actually is.  Better to get it checked out - if it's nothing, you'll have peace of mind and if it is something, they will have caught it early.

    Please don't feel like you have to apologize - I personally LOVE to hear from people who haven't had a recurrence and are doing great.  It gives me hope.

    Let us know what they find - we all care!

    Love,

    Eldri

  • janaes
    janaes Member Posts: 799 Member
    Hi, I hope your colonascapy

    Hi, I hope your colonascapy shows you dont have cancer.  I am glad you are getting it checked out though. 

  • Soup52
    Soup52 Member Posts: 908 Member
    Please post whenever you want

    Please post whenever you want. No problem is too small. I hope the colonoscopy turns out well. Cancer is cancer, so we all understand your feelings and worry. Keep us posted. Prayers!

    m

  • Editgrl
    Editgrl Member Posts: 903 Member
    Nope! No cancer is minor.

    No such thing.  As others have said, no apologies needed here.  As far as your checkups, I alternate between my gyn/onc and my regular ob/gyn every 3 months.  I do agree that you may want to ask your doctor about being tested for Lynch syndrome.  My parents had cancer on both sides of the family tree, and my doctor ordered the test for Lynch syndrome.  I tested negative, which was some relief.

  • Tichondria
    Tichondria Member Posts: 39
    MAbound said:

    GYN Oncologist?

    Glad to hear from you! I can remember seeing your picture in earlier threads, but you are a quiet one. Remember, this is a "no apology" zone! We're all here for each other whether it's for information, support, or whatever. 

    You say that you're normal gyn dr. does your check-ups? Did he/she do your surgery? Even if your cancer was caught early it seems odd to me that you wouldn't have your check ups done by your gyn oncologist.

    You'll probably have the results from your colonoscopy before you read this, so hopefully that won't show anything worse than hemorrhoids for you. If that goes well, I think I would suggest a follow-up visit with your gyn oncologist to get your uncertainties and any lingering questions cleared up regarding any remaining risk for recurrance so that you can feel more confident about your care going forward. Mine told me he'll being doing my check-ups for the rest of my life, so that's why I'm a bit surprised to read that your normal gyn is the one doing yours. 

    Given your family's cancer history, has anyone ever suggested you see a geneticist? My gyn-onc. sent me to one and it turned out that I'm positive for Lynch Syndrome which is indicitive of higher risk for a number of cancers, but especially colorectal and endometrial cancers. Having that identified justifies more frequent screening to insurance companies and could help better protect you from finding a new cancer at a later stage. Here's a website you can check out for more information: genefacts.org Click on the link for condition specific fact sheets.

     

    MAbound, nope. My Gyn/Onc

    MAbound, nope. My Gyn/Onc told me that she didn't have the time to keep me with her as I was so low on the cancer scale and told me to see my normal Gyno from here on out.

  • Tichondria
    Tichondria Member Posts: 39
    Editgrl said:

    Nope! No cancer is minor.

    No such thing.  As others have said, no apologies needed here.  As far as your checkups, I alternate between my gyn/onc and my regular ob/gyn every 3 months.  I do agree that you may want to ask your doctor about being tested for Lynch syndrome.  My parents had cancer on both sides of the family tree, and my doctor ordered the test for Lynch syndrome.  I tested negative, which was some relief.

    I have tried to ask my gyno

    I have tried to ask my gyno/onc 3 times to be tested and never get a reply so I just stopped asking. Even when face to face with her, she would just keep talking so I don't think she even heard me sadly.

  • Tichondria
    Tichondria Member Posts: 39
    So here is the TLDR of my day

    So here is the TLDR of my day of the 14th.  Arrived 20 min ahead of time. They get me in 20 min after 11 (my appointment time) Takes them 1 1/2 hours to get an IV in me. I'm told multiple times that I woun't remember it and or feel it. I get into the room, nurse gives me the drugs... says it takes a couple mins to take effect. So I wait, and I wait. Suddenly out of no where the doctor shoves the device up inside (i'm still wide awake) It didn't hurt at first then suddenly the pain started (probably due to the air they have to blow in) I'm almost crying, telling them how much it hurts. Doctor doesn't reply... nurse just says we are almost done. (Doctor continues to talk about his bad day with the nurses and where he wants to vacation next) 5 min later we are done and I'm wheeled out.

     

    Needless to say, I was so angry.. and violated that I couldn't even talk. I simply asked the only nurse who just looked at me like "I'm so sorry" to get the IV out of me and leave so I could get dressed. I then walked out, refusing the wheel chair. Which they all looked at me like... uh oh... and then went to my car to have my husband take me home. literally 15 min, 10 for procedure and 5 to get dressed and out of there.

     

    Oh, and apparently I'm clean as a whistle, everything looks great. Didn't even see hemroids, yet mentioned it was probably hemroids that was making me bleed 1-2 times a month. (how that even makes sense is beyond me.. I must have hemroids that took after houdini because they just magically dissapear)

    And I'm sorry for how angry this sounds. I just... it left me UN-trusting of doctors even more today. I think I'll just forgo any more testing, because all a doctor sees when they look at me is my weight anyway. Which ya.. I was told he gave me all the sedation he felt ok with due to my (Weight, PTSD, and past sexual abuse) I don't know what world he comes from that less means a better experience but then again I'm not the doctor.

  • Dsr
    Dsr Member Posts: 19
    I am so sorry for your

    I am so sorry for your experience compounding your already nervous state.  I have had to have multiple colonoscopies due to an aggresive polyp found years ago and I am telling you that is NOT THE WAY THAT PROCEDURE SHOULD GO. I'm sure it's not high on your priority list, but I would be filing a complaint with the state about this doctor so he can't do this to anyone else. (It also sounds like you may need a new on) Glad your colonoscopy was clear.  Keeping fingers crossed that you continue to have good reports from your doctors.  

  • ConnieSW
    ConnieSW Member Posts: 1,676 Member
    I am so angry for you.

    i agree you should file a complaint.  No one else should go through what you did.  Grrrr!  I am so upset for you that words fail me.  The only ones that I can come up with at the moment would get me thrown off the site!

  • EZLiving66
    EZLiving66 Member Posts: 1,482 Member

    So here is the TLDR of my day

    So here is the TLDR of my day of the 14th.  Arrived 20 min ahead of time. They get me in 20 min after 11 (my appointment time) Takes them 1 1/2 hours to get an IV in me. I'm told multiple times that I woun't remember it and or feel it. I get into the room, nurse gives me the drugs... says it takes a couple mins to take effect. So I wait, and I wait. Suddenly out of no where the doctor shoves the device up inside (i'm still wide awake) It didn't hurt at first then suddenly the pain started (probably due to the air they have to blow in) I'm almost crying, telling them how much it hurts. Doctor doesn't reply... nurse just says we are almost done. (Doctor continues to talk about his bad day with the nurses and where he wants to vacation next) 5 min later we are done and I'm wheeled out.

     

    Needless to say, I was so angry.. and violated that I couldn't even talk. I simply asked the only nurse who just looked at me like "I'm so sorry" to get the IV out of me and leave so I could get dressed. I then walked out, refusing the wheel chair. Which they all looked at me like... uh oh... and then went to my car to have my husband take me home. literally 15 min, 10 for procedure and 5 to get dressed and out of there.

     

    Oh, and apparently I'm clean as a whistle, everything looks great. Didn't even see hemroids, yet mentioned it was probably hemroids that was making me bleed 1-2 times a month. (how that even makes sense is beyond me.. I must have hemroids that took after houdini because they just magically dissapear)

    And I'm sorry for how angry this sounds. I just... it left me UN-trusting of doctors even more today. I think I'll just forgo any more testing, because all a doctor sees when they look at me is my weight anyway. Which ya.. I was told he gave me all the sedation he felt ok with due to my (Weight, PTSD, and past sexual abuse) I don't know what world he comes from that less means a better experience but then again I'm not the doctor.

    I am so sorry, but yes, I

    I am so sorry, but yes, I totally understand how terribly we're sometimes treated by the medical community.  When I had my port out, I told my doctor the site was not frozen and he cut into it anyway.  I screamed and he acted angry.  He left and a nurse came in and tried to use something different to freeze it.  He came back again and cut and I could still feel it - he said it was just "pressure" and there was nothing he could do about it.  Damn him - I could FEEL him cutting into me.  

    We are treated like a piece of meat, but we are at their mercy!

    I'm so sorry this happened to you!!

    Love,

    Eldri

  • Editgrl
    Editgrl Member Posts: 903 Member
    edited December 2016 #15
    File a complaint!

    No doctor should get away unscathed treating patients like this.  If we don't complain about the treatment we receive, doctors like this will continue to behave this way.  I am so, so sorry this was your experience.  I'd be furious, too!  I'm with Connie...  bad words are coming out of my mouth!

  • Nellasing
    Nellasing Member Posts: 528 Member
    NO EXCUSE!!!!

    There is NO EXCUSE for that kind of treatment!  I don't understand where the compassion and kindness has gone.... their oath is 1st do no harm!!!  So many people don't go to the Dr because they have been harmed either physically or emotionally by them.  If they are so jaded then perhaps it is time for them to get into a new profession.

    I am hopping up and down mad for you and with you and the others and I do believe that it merrits a phone call or visit with someone who can investigate and fix the problem.  

    I wouldn't let this stop you from finding out what is going on if you continue to bleed- especially with your history.  I would perhaps ask for a woman Dr. in the future and make sure they know you've had trauma in your past??? 

    Sending you healing (((HUGS))) and prayers for peace that passes understanding as this upset isn't good for you.

  • Kvdyson
    Kvdyson Member Posts: 789
    Agreed and if you don't want

    Agreed and if you don't want to file a formal complaint, there are plenty of places online to review doctors. Be honest with your experience because you may be saving someone who is not as strong as you from going through the same thing. I am so very sorry that you had to endure that jerk but please don't stop trying to determine what is causing the bleeding. That jerk is not worth you giving up on good health.

  • Tichondria
    Tichondria Member Posts: 39
    Thank you everyone for your

    Thank you everyone for your kind words. I have decided I will follow up with a complaint to the state board. I didn't even know we could do something like that. If I could have gotten up off that bed while they were doing all of this I would of. But with that horrible thing up there I didn't want to risk injuring myself. But honestly thank you ladies for the kind words. I really needed to hear them, so much so that it made me cry and feel so much better. So thank you!

  • ARIELKY
    ARIELKY Member Posts: 5

    I have tried to ask my gyno

    I have tried to ask my gyno/onc 3 times to be tested and never get a reply so I just stopped asking. Even when face to face with her, she would just keep talking so I don't think she even heard me sadly.

    Change gynecologist?

    Have you considered changing your gynecologist? I would want someone more concerned about my health and welfare. I just asked for a different chemo nurse because she walked out on me an hour before I was done with chemo. I could hear the staff discussing her absence... she didn't tell anyone that she was leaving, so nobody knew when she'd return. I heard someone saying, "She has two patients still getting chemo." I felt abandoned and alone, but went back to sleep, and someone else took care of me at the end. I heard another chemo nurse talking to the woman next to me in a loving, caring voice, and I wanted that for myself.

     

  • ARIELKY
    ARIELKY Member Posts: 5
    edited December 2016 #20

    So here is the TLDR of my day

    So here is the TLDR of my day of the 14th.  Arrived 20 min ahead of time. They get me in 20 min after 11 (my appointment time) Takes them 1 1/2 hours to get an IV in me. I'm told multiple times that I woun't remember it and or feel it. I get into the room, nurse gives me the drugs... says it takes a couple mins to take effect. So I wait, and I wait. Suddenly out of no where the doctor shoves the device up inside (i'm still wide awake) It didn't hurt at first then suddenly the pain started (probably due to the air they have to blow in) I'm almost crying, telling them how much it hurts. Doctor doesn't reply... nurse just says we are almost done. (Doctor continues to talk about his bad day with the nurses and where he wants to vacation next) 5 min later we are done and I'm wheeled out.

     

    Needless to say, I was so angry.. and violated that I couldn't even talk. I simply asked the only nurse who just looked at me like "I'm so sorry" to get the IV out of me and leave so I could get dressed. I then walked out, refusing the wheel chair. Which they all looked at me like... uh oh... and then went to my car to have my husband take me home. literally 15 min, 10 for procedure and 5 to get dressed and out of there.

     

    Oh, and apparently I'm clean as a whistle, everything looks great. Didn't even see hemroids, yet mentioned it was probably hemroids that was making me bleed 1-2 times a month. (how that even makes sense is beyond me.. I must have hemroids that took after houdini because they just magically dissapear)

    And I'm sorry for how angry this sounds. I just... it left me UN-trusting of doctors even more today. I think I'll just forgo any more testing, because all a doctor sees when they look at me is my weight anyway. Which ya.. I was told he gave me all the sedation he felt ok with due to my (Weight, PTSD, and past sexual abuse) I don't know what world he comes from that less means a better experience but then again I'm not the doctor.

    Great News!

    That's great news that you don't have cancer, but what an ordeal. That doctor deserves to suffer similarly. I would like to suggest another possibility for the hemorrhoids, please excuse my lack of delicacy. I sometimes have huge shits that cause me to stretch and bleed... and it usually just heals itself quickly. Even when I have had hemorrhoids, it's always been temporary, a little itching and discomfort, but they are usually gone within a week.

     

  • Lou Ann M
    Lou Ann M Member Posts: 996 Member

    No one should be that way.  At the very least you need to report this.  It may save someone else from having to undergo the some negligence. I hope after all of that at least you,get a good report. 

    i don't think there is any minor cancer except to someone who is not dealing with it.  Also, this is the place to come with anything, so don't be afraid or apologetic for anything you need to ask or say. We have discussed some real "interesting" subjects. I lost my modesty when I was given my ticket for this rollercoaster ride and I think,everyone,else probably did, too.

    Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann