Hello everyone, and I hope you are having a great Saturday. I have something to share about
chronic pain, notably my experience with my right ovary which has been bothering me continuously since I was 26.
When I was 26, I was found to have a very large ovarian cyst which was causing me all kinds of pain; I was prescribed a low-dose birth control pill and it caused the cyst to completely disappear. I believe it took about
3 months for this to take place, and it was in the year 1989.
This same OB/GYN decided to make me remain on "The Pill" for several years, until I decided that since I had all sorts of serious physical maladies including being continually exposed to second-hand cigarette smoke on a daily basis where I worked, I decided to have a tubal ligation. The doctor didn't want to do it, but he did and I am very grateful that I had it done, because if I had become pregnant the baby might well have been very ill with the very exact same things that I suffered from, plus some. Nothing to put a newborn infant through.
So now, I have presented yet again with a huge ovarian cyst, this time even bigger than the last one ( likely orange-sized or bigger). The thing ruptured about
5:00 AM one morning and I had bright red, then gray, then brownish-red, then gushed deep red blood with clots in it. The pain was pretty serious and I was having dizziness, nausea, lightheadedness and basically feeling pretty terrible, so I headed to the local ER. I was worked up over several hours (tests included full bloodwork, pelvic exam with labs, a clean-catch urine test and both an external and vaginal ultrasound). I was found to have a very large ovarian cyst ruptured, and the very tech that both saw me first and last and gave me an injection for inflammation (my cavity was filled with blood as well as my uterus), was incredulous as to how I knew it was a ruptured ovarian cyst. I simply told him that my right ovary had been bothering for many, many years and I would like to have the thing GONE. Thank God, no evidence of cancer whatsoever ( I had a CA 25.29 done before anything else happened to find out if there was cancer present in my body anywhere).
Since then, I have undergone a endometrial biopsy in the OB/GYN's office which was so painful (no painkiller used) I cannot described except to say it was way too serious a pain to endure without either an epidural, a strong pain shot or basic general anesthesia. The doctor had told me upon my asking for a pain-killing shot, that it would be completely unnecessary because by the time the shot kicked in, the biopsy would be over and done with. He lied to me.
He first cleaned out my uterus with an antiseptic wash, which felt a bit strange and a bit uncomfortable, and then he proceeded with the biopsy. He said the pain would resemble a really bad menstrual cramp that would last only a few seconds as well as the time the biopsy was done (at a few seconds). He lied again. The biopsy took over five minutes to perform, the pain was so incredibly bad that I screamed the entire time (the nurse fled the room in a panic), and the doctor became angry and called the nurse back in, saying that she needed to come back in because he had not finished with me yet and needed to do the breast exam.
It took thirty to forty-five minutes for me to stop screaming and crying, shaking uncontrollably, profuse sweating from head to toe, bleeding all over the place and being able to breathe normally again.
The doctor asked if I was upset or angry with him, and I lied and said I wasn't. I was livid but scared to let him know since I did not want any retaliation from him since I was basically naked except for a gown and sheet and feeling extremely vulnerable.
He told me that he was considering placing me on a low-dose birth control pill, and would let me know the results of the biopsy as soon as it came in. He examined my breasts and then told me I could get dressed. I did that very slowly and then left without talking to anyone save the receptionist, who scheduled me for a routine mammogram later this month. I was calm and collected but very tired and ragged. There is no telling how I looked when I came out of that office.
I am awaiting the results of the test, to come next week either Monday or Tuesday.
I cannot go on another round of low-dose birth control because I have a very high natural cholesterol number (idiopathic and genetic).
My only other option is to have the ovary removed by another GYN.
I am considering this among other things.
If I have to have a hysterectomy, I am not going to allow my current doctor to perform it; I am going to have a doctor chosen by my gastroenterologist who implanted my Medtronic ENTERRA device choose one to remove it. He has to turn the device off and then on again before and after the surgery.
Anyone have any comments?
Have a great day!
