Two Pounds and Surgery.

I had two appointments today. First:




So I guess that's good. Eight pounds total. :D

On the downside, though, I met with my specialist regarding the cyst. He has booked me in for a laparoscopic-cystectomy-possibly-laparotomic-cystectomy-with-possible-oopherectomy surgery in early September. My cyst is so big, it needs to come out. So if it doesn't get smaller by mid-August, I'm getting cut open.

A laparoscopic surgery is where they insert a camera and a wand thing through two tiny incisions in the abdomen wall and is incredibly non-invasive. However, depending on the type of cyst they find when they do the laparscopic surgery, it might be upgraded to a laparotomy, which is where they make an incision across the abdomen. Depending on what they find on the ovary during *that*, it might mean they remove my right ovary altogether.

When you're trying to have another child, dudes, ovaries are rather essential. So the chance that one might go hang out in a lab somewhere is slightly concerning. But I'm more concerned about a few things. One, at this point, since hormone levels are normal, they don't know what is causing this cyst and what is causing it to grow. Two, I'm experiencing a few additional things, such as a thickened endometrial lining that is seriously fucking up my ability to get pregnant. Three is this BIG BLOODY CYST that's hanging out, won't stop growing and won't bloody well resolve itself.

And while yes, I'm rather attached to my ovaries, and while yes, I'd rather they stick around for the next 50 years or so, my health is absolutely critical. Despite desiring another child, I desire health for my current child moreso, and so they can chop me open and make me better, no matter the possible risks.

But still, when I'm squeamish enough about needles that I refused as a rebellious teenager to get any body parts peirced and never seriously entertained the thought of a tattoo--irregardless of how much it would infuriate my parents--the idea of going under the knife, requiring anywhere between a few days to a week to heal (not to mention several staples and stitches) and losing a rather essential organ is so scary! So hopefully this diet, the lack of refined sugars and so many vegetables will help my body resolve this cyst before my ultrasound in August so that I can have my surgery canceled and continue on my happy little way.

Keep me in your thoughts.

It's Not PCOS!!!!

I don't know if I'm relieved or not. My hormone levels all came back absolutely perfect. Well, okay. But then my follow up ultrasound found that my cyst is BIGGER. It's a whopping four inches, 10 cms!!!! HOLY MOLY.

So anyway, just an update. I don't know where we sit right now. I have to go see my OB/GYN on the 2nd, and we'll go from there. Part of me wants to beg him to just take it out, get rid of it, and part of me is like, oh, let it be.

Weigh in today! You'll find out later what it was!!!

Diagnosed

I'm not sure if you all remember, but a while back, I posted about two large cysts found on my right ovary. As we had been trying to have a baby for a long time, this was a surprise but not a surprise. I knew something had to be up.

Well, I saw the specialist this past week, and I have a diagnosis! PCOS, or Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome is a disorder that affects between 5 and 10% of women of childbearing age. It can present in girls as young as 11 and women as old as 65. What is it, exactly? Well, it's a disorder that really is unknown as to cause, but the main culprit is believed to be a combination of insulin resistance and genetics.

I don't have some of the tell-tale symptoms, but I do have others. For example, while I am spotty, have difficulty losing weight and have rather long cycles (ranging between 35 and 42 days), I don't have excessive body hair (thank goodness) or male pattern baldness or dark patches on my skin.

I am, quite honestly, relieved with the diagnosis of PCOS. It is highly treatable, and once the hormonal imbalance is fixed with a combination of Metformin and diet and exercise (which will result in weight loss), symptoms should disappear. At least it's not something like endometriosis, which runs in my family and resulted in hysterectomies in my aunt and mother, and it's not ovarian cancer, thank goodness.

So on June 4th, I'll return to my doctor, review the results of the blood tests that were drawn last week and be prescribed Metformin and put on a diet plan. I generally eat pretty healthy, but I still have quite a bit of excess weight hanging around that just won't. Go. Away. I'm looking forward to the Metformin giving me a boost in that direction, maybe having some clear skin and most importantly, getting this thing under control as soon as possible.

In other news, my husband and I have both decided it's time to lead healthier lives. We have both given up all alcohol and started to eat even better than we were (no more eating out at fast food joints), and he is in the process of kicking his pot-a-day coffee habit and cutting out all other caffeine. He's been in a terrible mood for the last week or so, but I'm so proud of him for taking this step. I've already noticed that his mood is more even, that his breath smells considerably better, and he's not as gassy as he used to be. Having cut out caffeine over five years ago, I fully appreciate the difficulty of what he is doing.

Also in the healthier lifestyle choices, I have stopped staying up until 2:00 a.m. every night. I generally am asleep by 10:00 (although not tonight due to preparing caramel apples for a friend's birthday party tomorrow), awake by 7:30 and working until about 2:00. I've managed to nearly double my production in the last few weeks, and am bringing in double the income, therefore. I'm very proud of myself and feel like *such* an adult.

So overall, things here in Chez Plied are good. Things are looking hopeful. I shall keep you all updated on my progress. ONWARD!!

Into the Light

I've always found blogging rather cathartic, and so today I'm turning back to this medium to cleanse some heavy issues off my shoulders.

My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for 16 months now. Back in December, I got a positive pregnancy test, but two days later, the test was negative, and I started bleeding. So an early miscarraige.

I went into the doctor and he sent me for an ultrasound, just to be sure that everything was cleared out of there. Everything was fine in that department, but they found two 2cm cysts on my right ovary. We waited a month, and then I went back on Wednesday for another ultrasound to see if the cysts were going away or getting bigger or if there was anything new. Unfortunately, there was something new in the picture. The cysts had grown, and there was stuff in them; something more than fluid.

So now I'm off to see a specialist, probably in the next month. This could be anything from nothing at all to endometriosis, which runs in my family, to ovarian cancer. Turns out that my difficulty getting pregnant could be much more than just not getting pregnant. It could be something is wrong. With me. With my body.

I am completely, totally, seriously afraid. The doctor has put me on a do-not-make-a-baby order until we know what's going on, and I'm sad. I'm worried that it could be cancer, and that's a scary thought.

So. Now you know what's going on. I don't have to go through this alone, thankfully, and I have the full support and backing of my family. But if I'm not around, it's not just the rennovations (the floor is looking really nice). Keep me in your thoughts, my friends.

The Results Are In!!

My colposcopy results came back. They were.........

Totally normal!!!!!!!!!!!! *happy dance*

Not For Fun

I must say, the colposcopy is not as bad as it sounds. I was totally freaked out thinking that it would be this wretched thing, but it wasn't that bad. Certainly not nearly as painful as an unmedicated labor, but not fun, nonetheless.

We went in this morning for it, and it looks like they are definitely severe cell changes. Ick. They took two biopsy samples (which was yucky), and took a scraping WAY up there (which was worse), and then said that even though they think they got it all, I will probably be getting a LEEP biopsy. I'll get the results in about two weeks, so please continue to keep your fingers crossed that the margins are clear and I don't need any more stuff!!