The ongoing cyst drama and some words I didn't want to hear

Now it's Friday early afternoon. No kidney stones. What they did 'discover' FINALLY on the ultrasound was a cyst or mass-like thing on or near my left ovary. The first description of it that we were given this day was that it was 8 cm x 2 cm x 3 cm. Interesting. Anything over 5-6 cm is considered 'large' and should be removed (Remember, I was already told I had a cyst on/near my left ovary that was 6 x 7 cm. Again, I had already told everyone this). We did see something kind of shaped like this on the ultrasound screen in the morning, but again the ultrasound tech couldn't really describe what she was seeing as it was happening. Basically it looked like an oblong, flattened oval. Let's see if I can find something online that resembles it...

Not my ultrasound, but a cystic ovary. Imagine it more flattened and oblong, plus a little baby to the left squirming around :)

 Now the drama. The doctors all were confused because when compared to my earlier ultrasound, this seemed to be a different shape altogether. Was this a different cyst? Same cyst? Why the pain? Back to the cold ultrasound dungeon room I went that afternoon to get another look. Remember, if the nice ultrasound lady could have just done this earlier we would have been spared this second trip. She saw the cyst but needed further orders to examine closely. Ugh.

This second ultrasound was done mainly to check blood flow to the ovary and to again get an idea of shape and size. The nice lady was a little more open and willing to describe what she was seeing this time, so that was helpful. This was quite uncomfortable as she was pushing the ultrasound wand directly over the area I was experiencing pain. I think this was when the doctor had ordered a trans vaginal ultrasound to get a better picture but there was no way that was going to work, so we had to make do with the regular ultrasound.

We saw something like the following picture. Again, what they were looking for was blood flow to and from the ovary which signifies if there is some twisting going on in the artery and vein supplying it. If there is twisting, that can indicate necrosis, or tissue death, to the ovary and it can be very painful.

Again, not my ultrasound but a doppler done showing blood flow

.

More drama. The radiologist and doctors determined it looked like my ovary had good blood flow, indicating there was no twisting going on of the 'things' connecting it to the uterus and whatever else. This was drama because we were back to square one: they had no idea what was wrong with me. Yes, I had a large cyst near or on my left ovary but people got these occasionally and dealt with them. Rather, if I wasn't pregnant it was something that would typically be removed but because I was pregnant they didn't want to do that because of the risk of surgery to the baby. My cyst also appeared to be 'mass-like,' meaning it wasn't your average fluid-filled sac that can be easily drained if needed.

Here comes the first mention of the C-word. And the O-word. Cancer and oncology. My OB felt it was best to get a gynecologic oncologist involved to check out my scans and determine if there were a need to get her further involved. Scary stuff. I think at this point the doctors had no idea what to do and felt it was best to get more people involved. Around this point was where my doctor told me I "had everyone's attention and have lots of people working on my case." A good thing but also scary. I think my brain was saying, "it's about damn time."

I was still in severe pain that felt like an organ was being twisted and wrung out like a washcloth. Kind of like menstrual cramps but not in the right spot. I was on norco every four hours but begging for it after 2-3 and occasionally they would give me the dilaudid if a nicer doctor saw me in one of my 'pain spells' as it would come and go in waves. I couldn't get comfortable in any position really; if I was at the tip top of a pain spell I had to be on all fours, kind of rocking back and forth. It felt like this took all the pressure off whatever was going on.

Friday afternoon/evening was also when my troops rallied. Rich and Caitlin came to sit with me which cheered me up and took my mind off of things. I think at this point Adam was given a break to check on the doggy and take her to a very nice coworkers house for an extended stay; Maggie loves visiting Magda and gets spoiled so this was a relief and I'm so very thankful to her and her family for their care of our dog, even if she comes home fatter. 

My parents also arrived that evening from Wisconsin. My mom said she wanted to hop in the car and come down ASAP when this all started, but she knew I was in good hands with Adam and held off as long as she could, or until my Dad was out of a meeting and could come too. It brings tears to my eyes right now thinking about my parents, Rich, Caitlin and especially Adam going through all of this because I know how helpless they felt and how worried they were. There is nothing like family and I'm so very grateful to them for being there.

Friday kind of ended on a frustrating note; we had no answers and were left with a couple options. Leave this mass alone (it was now being called a mass instead of just a cyst as it appeared to have substance to it) and continue to treat with narcotics until some miraculous answer fell down from the heavens about what to do, or get further involved with other doctors and possibly consider exploratory surgery. Adam and I were at a point where we knew this could not be left alone... but what did that leave us with?