Earlier this year I began feeling extremely uncomfortable in my abdomen, but couldn't quite explain why or exactly what was going on. When I visited my family physician we discussed incorporating more fiber in my diet, as a good place to start. Then, in July, the discomfort turned to pain which included nausea and my fingers became tingly. This was alarming, so I asked Neal to take me to the Urgent Care center (it was a Saturday, of course). Four days later, and after a sonogram reading, it was discovered that a cyst had grown on my left ovary. My options:
1. Hope is bursts or goes away on it's own.
2. Take birth control to reduce it over a 3 mo time period.
3. Surgery
After a little research on ovarian cysts, it seemed very possible to allow it to just go away on it's own. You know me, I like to take the natural approach first any chance I get.
Well, it didn't go away quickly enough. I had pain again in August, but this time I was armed with medication from the last time! September and October were met with more mild pain and the hope that it was going away, but I decided to start the BC since there was still pain. I was beginning to really get tired of this.
Then one Friday night in the middle of November, about 4am, I had more pain than ever before. It was excruciating. Neal took me to the ER here in town - can we spell S-L-O-W!! The drive there was the worst and the walk from the house to the car was very difficult. Anyway, the CT scan showed that the cyst had become even larger now - about double the size from July!
So I proceeded to contact my CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife) at Baylor Hospital, who helped me deliver Colton, whom I haven't seen for a few years. Trouble was, she had moved to Arizona or New Mexico 2 years ago. Great! Now I have to find a new OB/GYN?? I started asking around for referrals, but nothing seemed to fit right. (thanks to all who referred your doctor) Then my mom suggested that I go with the same practice my CNM was at since they will already have my history and we know how good Baylor is. Perfect! I was 'assigned' to Dr. McCants, a new physician to the practice, and met for an initial consultation and sonogram.
Dr. McCants
I immediately became comfortable with her, other than the fact that I could tell she is close to my age. You just don't think about having someone in their 30's do surgery on you. That's young, right? I think so. I generally think of someone at least in their 40's, even 50's doing something like that, don't you? Nevertheless, I still felt very confident in her knowledge and experience. (I found out later that's she actually younger than me. Not by much, but still YOUNGER.)
No wonder I was so uncomfortable. This 'little' cyst was now the size of a softball! Surgery was now the ONLY option. And I was ready. Although, it did happen quite quickly. My appointment was Thursday and we decided to schedule for the next Monday, due to the Thanksgiving holiday coming up. I hoped that would be the most convenient for others to help me out, because I was told NO housecleaning, NO cooking, NO anything for a week or two. I knew Mom would be off of school (she's a school teacher) and our businesses would be slower that week than any other. Then, it hit me on the way home. I am going to have surgery. I am going to be cut and I won't know anything about it, until afterwards anyway. I realize that's exactly what we want - to have no recollection of it, but let me explain.
Even though this is somewhat of a routine surgery, I've never had surgery. We hear that word many times a month, but don't really give it much thought anymore because it's used so much, it's performed so much. Especially if you've not had surgery, you don't really think about it. It's funny how something doesn't seem like a big deal, just because it's done all the time, until it's you facing the knife (literally). I can't even begin describing the feelings I had on that drive home. I knew I would be okay, but this was alot to digest. I don't have anything to compare it with, not childbirth, not illness, not tragedy...nothing. It was such an interesting place to be, to want something so much and yet, want to get out of it at the same time. No, that's not even good enough. How do you explain the unease of voluntarily doing something you know is good for you, but seems so barbaric?
Okay, I'm done trying to explain. Whoo! That wore me out. It was actually amazing to hear how she was able to cut (with scissors) through 3 small 1/2-1 inch incisions. She said they nearly had me on my head - strapped down on a inclined table - so that all my organs would float to the upper abdominal cavity in order to give them room to operate on the ovaries. (That's right - ovar(ies). A cyst was found on the right one as well, but it was a different kind and she took care of it for me too.) And to think, had she not told me, I wouldn't have had a clue. It helps me to process the whole experience to know things like this.
She also reported that I had endometriosis everywhere, "like a bomb exploded", which is what has prevented me from becoming pregnant again all these years. I have a feeling that Colton was more of a miracle than we realized. She also said she didn't know how I have been functioning with so much endo. The endo is also the cause for all of my IBS problems, so I greatly look forward to the possibility of one day going to a nice restaurant, eating rich creamy food, and making it home without any repercussions!
If all of this detail has been a bit much for you and you don't like reproductive details, you may want to skip the next paragraph.
I was very satisfied knowing the cause of our inability to conceive and the fact that we didn't spend tons of money and time testing for something that would have ended up with the only option of having exploratory surgery to confirm the cause. Neal and I are much older now, and we don't have the time available to spend with Colton as much as we'd like, so I'm not sure we are still interested in pursuing another child, but you never know what the future holds. At least now, if we decide we would like to go that direction again, we'll know how to go about it. Oh, you dirty birdy! I don't mean that. My doctor would have to put me into a menopausal state for 3 months to kill all the endometriosis in order to allow my body to produce and accept an egg. Doesn't sound like fun to me. We'd have to REALLY want another kid.
After surgery everyone was great! I came home to a clean house because Courtney and Alicia had washed all of my dishes the weekend before when I went to the ER. Yes, all of my dishes were dirty! Melissa and Rachel washed and folded AND put away alot of our dirty clothes. Yes, we had alot of dirty clothes! Mom, she was the usual BEST EVER nurse and took care of me, cooked for me and the boys, cleaned my floors and washed more clothes. Alicia worked a couple of Saturdays so she could go in late on Monday and take Austin and Colton to school for me. Alicia and Melissa cooked a couple of meals for us. Sally came to pick the boys up from school and Gerald took me and Buddy to his vet appointment (since I couldn't drive or pick up Buddy). And Dad helped Neal with work and drove me home from the ER the Saturday prior to surgery. Nice driving, Dad!
I'm sure there are things I've either forgotten or simply didn't see someone do, but please know I appreciate each and every one of you who helped out. I don't know how people do it who don't have the family support we do. I am so thankful.
And so comfortable! It's amazing just how uncomfortable I now realize I was. I guess when something gradually becomes irritating you tend to get used to it and it becomes normal. But now normal is really normal! I thank God for technology, for my doctor, for my health, and for my family. Especially, for my husband - who gets to pay for it all. Hehe. No, seriously, I am very thankful that I have such a supportive and loving husband who is willing to do anything to make sure I am okay and COMFORTABLE as possible.
Happy to be Heather again!
Heather
No comments:
Post a Comment