[Star Lovell]

Hi Everyone,

I am a 45 yr old female that found out after a CT Scan 2 months ago (CT Scan was due to broken ribs - making sure I wasn't having internal bleeding) and they spotted a "complex cyst" on my right ovary. My physician scheduled me for a sonogram (viginal) to get a better look at it. It took me that long to get to that appt. due to recovering from broken ribs. Anywho.. the sonogram showed seperations in it and so she referred me to a OBGYN that is in the same hospital. When I went for my "evaluation appt." the GYN did a full pap and feel around to see if the cyst would move or something like that. She then talked to me "in Dr. Language" that due to the size and looks of the cyst, she would suggest me have it taking out. She said from the looks of the photos, it does not appear that she will be able to save my ovary. Now.. when I was 15, I had my left ovary taking out so it's my last one. She ordered a bunch of blood tests that same day, which I took. I'm not sure of everything she tested for but I do know she said she did a CV 125 (I think that was the name of it) and it came out "normal" and all the rest of my blood tests came out normal as well. I found this out yesterday when she called me with the results of the blood tests. She scheduled me for a endometrial biopsy (not sure of sp?) for next Thursday. She said it's uncomfy and due to my lack of pain tolerance, she is mailing me a percocet and a valium for this procedure. Due to ignorance, I was like.. "OK".. However, I did ask her, "If you're telling me I have to have a OPEN surgery and you're taking out my LAST overy/cyst and I'm assuming fallopian tube .. why can't you do that test when I'm put under? She said, "You live in America, you have the right to deny the test but I wouldn't be a good doctor if I didn't try to be able to as much prepared for your sugery beforehand". That made sence to me yesterday! Now today... I looked up that test and OMG.. it sounds horrible! I never had a child nor do I, giving my age at this time, expected to have one.. but people are saying how much it hurts.

I guess my questions are...

Does it make any sense to anyone to have this test done even though... she is going to give me a open surgery (within a month due to back up) anyway? If I'm all the way open, why wouldn't they just do it at the same time?

Is a 7cm complex cyst on an ovary THAT big where I have to have a open surgery and she is already adiment about why she couldn't do the small incisions?

I fear she might be surgery hungry or something. I would have felt better if she said, "I will start with a lap. and if I deam it can't be done then we will have to tear you apart"...

Why couldn't she just take the dang cyst out and not my ovary??!!! I know a radiologist/cancer doc/her seen my picture results.. but why wouldn't a surgeon try not to take your last ovary?

She said she doesn't need to take out the rest of my "stuff" unless she gets in there and finds out she needs to.. What's the point of having it all in there without an ovary?

I don't want to go through surgical menopause. I'm scared to death of it and to have to take 6 weeks off work? REALLY.. who .. I mean WHO can afford that??!!! Well maybe some but I can't.

She keeps saying, "we don't like what we see and it's too big".. but all my blood tests are coming back in the norm and I dunno... I'm figuring 7cm is not that big! like what... 3 inches or something.

Anyway.. I guess after all this "worring".. I'm mostly scared that she (gyn/surgeon) is jumping to a conclusion that may be a bit aggressive without really knowing the facts.. OR Worse... she knows more then what she's telling me?

Any insight of anything would be much appreciated.

My endometrial biopsy is scheduled for next Thursday (Nov. 1, 2012).

Thank you for your time,

Marie

[ItsASecret]

Does it make any sense to anyone to have this test done even though... she is going to give me a open surgery (within a month due to back up) anyway? If I'm all the way open, why wouldn't they just do it at the same time?

A biopsy is used as the precautionary measure in medicine. Why? Because sometimes a simple blood test will not tell you if you have something more serious. Having a biopsy done on the area in question can help answer unknown questions. In your case a biopsy will say if there are more cysts or if it is more serious such as cancerous cells. There is no way to tell unless a lab tech looks at the sample of tissue under the microscope. Most biopsies come back normal with no abnormal cells found, however the other outcome of a biopsy is the presence of cancerous cells. If that is the case then a whole new methodology of testing or surgery will be conducted. In addition if cancerous cells are detected there is the issue of whether or not such cells have metastasized or not. Biopsies are simply a general procedure done ahead of time incase there is something else at play.

Is a 7cm complex cyst on an ovary THAT big where I have to have a open surgery and she is already adiment about why she couldn't do the small incisions?

Yes it is big. Generally an ovarian cyst that has reached 3 inches will be advised to be removed. When removing a large mass such as a cyst of that size and an ovary there does need to be a larger incision in order to get things out. You do have the right as the patient to refuse any treatment at all however if it is something more serious and it is left there to possibly grow larger the complications from that can increase dramatically.

I fear she might be surgery hungry or something. I would have felt better if she said, "I will start with a lap. and if I deam it can't be done then we will have to tear you apart"...

Doctors will give their professional opinion on matters like this. You have to trust that your doctor, who is already very good at their job, knows what they are doing.

Why couldn't she just take the dang cyst out and not my ovary??!!! I know a radiologist/cancer doc/her seen my picture results.. but why wouldn't a surgeon try not to take your last ovary?

It really depends on the cyst. If it is just sitting on the ovary then sometimes the ovary can be left, however if the cyst is more complex and the removal of the cyst means damage to the ovary itself then the ovary can be removed as well. It really depends on the circumstance presented. As well as what the results of a biopsy have said (if you have had the cyst biopsied yet).

Anyway.. I guess after all this "worring".. I'm mostly scared that she (gyn/surgeon) is jumping to a conclusion that may be a bit aggressive without really knowing the facts.. OR Worse... she knows more then what she's telling me?

A doctor will not jump to conclusions, usually patients do because they are nervous. Doctors base their professional opinion on their medical training, test results from the lab, and scans. If in their professional opinion a surgery is needed then it is founded by medical reasoning. You have to trust your doctor.

Keep your head up, you will do fine .

[Star Lovell]

Hi ItsASecret,

First and foremost, thank you so much for taking your time and replying.

I just wanted to let you know that I now understand (phoned my doc today) most of everything outside of the edometrial biospsy since it has nothing to do with my ovaries. However, better safe then sorry for anything. I will be having it done.

She also let me know that not only did she give her opionion that two other doctors gave theirs (specialists) so I am feeling better about the whole thing... as much as I can anyway.

I had to tell work today and I was shocked at how supportive they are to me going to be gone for 6 weeks. I haven't had 6 weeks off for nothing (not that recovery is a vacation by any means) but.. geez.. since I was probably in middle school on summer vacation!

I will be coming back and posting my experience on the endometrial biopsy and also info. now and then on the surgery, etc.. for others to view in the future.

Thank you soooo much.

Smiles from Alaska!