Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 13 Location: United Kingdom
Extremely Frightened 18 Year Old. Posted: 08-07-05 14:33pm
I’ve seen doctors twice, but i’m still
really scared about a lump I can feel on
the left side just above the hairline.
It’s not extremely painful, but it does
ache a little, and is only apparent when
i’m standing up. And just in the last
two days i’ve developed pain down my
left leg and pelvis – on the same side
as the lump. The pain isn’t incredibly
bad – in fact none of the symptoms are
terrible, but I can’t help worrying.
The second doctor I saw said she could
tell that if felt different and more
prominent on the left side, even though
there was no visible difference, but she
didn’t seem to think it was a cyst or a
hernia. I think it was decided that I had
a bruise on the inside of a muscle caused
by tearing it, resulting in the changed
pressure. I was okay about this
afterwards.
But it probably wasn’t a good idea for
me to then start looking up websites on
the subject, because a site on ovarian
cancer, imaginis, suggested that I have
several of the symptoms associated with
the disease: the bloatedness and the vague
but persistent gas, and the back and leg
ache (which admittedly might be something
to do with being sat at a computer several
hours a day). The thing is I only noticed
these things after I read a website
describing the symptoms. So how do I know
i’m not just imagining it and it’s all
psychosomatic?
The second doctor was not unkind at all
– but I got the impression of not being
taken seriously and maybe she had a point.
To be my age and worrying about this
feels silly. My parents also seem to
think i’m being silly.
I know it sounds like i’m being
incredibly over sensitive (and worrying
too much) but I can’t help being
terrified since I know how frequently that
kind of cancer is missed or mistaken for
something less severe, and that symptoms
only appear in the advanced stages, which
is probably a bit too late. I’ve never
had a pelvic examination even though I
know i’m meant to start having them
annually this year (i think). What are
the odds of it being something bad like
ovarian cancer, in an eighteen year old,
or am I just being a worrywart?
I am strongly considering going back to
the doctor’s a third time and asking to
have something done. The first time I
went I didn’t notice the lump and was
complaining about pain related to what was
probably a strained muscle from karate.
The second time I was crying for the first
five minutes (embarrassing). I don’t
know if I could bear going in again, but
i’m so scared. I was awake at four a.M.
Last night in tears because of it.
I also rather oddly, find my worrying
annoying because i'm due to start an art
course soon and I know I should be
focusing my attention on that - not some
illness which I might not even have :cry:
|
heyyy
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Aug 2005 Posts: 2 Location: here
Fellow Scare D Cat Posted: 08-17-05 00:23am
You might want to go to the doctor with
your written list of questions, ask
everything that is bothering you. If you
want tests so you can stop worrying, ask
for those as well. I bug the heck
(nicely) out of my dr and her nurses,
hehheh. She says she is neurotic and
will usually send me for tests that I ask
for. I do a lot of research on the net
first before asking for those tests. It
is kinda scary going to the gyn (go to a
female) for the first time but she should
be understanding and try to put you at
ease. I figure that they are just doing
their job but I talk through the exam to
make myself feel better about it, heh.
Never let anyone make you feel bad for
wanting to take care of yourself.
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aunticol
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 3 Location: usa
Posted: 11-18-05 17:32pm
Please go to the doctors right away and
have yourself checked. My niece who just
turned 18 in september has ovarian cancer
that was diagnosed two days before her
birthday. They think she had it for at
least ayear before diagnosis. She went
for her first obgyn visit because she was
18 and only had abdomonial swelling and
very bad cramps that came and went with
her period. Don't wait to go, her case is
very rare,but it happens...Please go as
soon as possible. Good luck
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Scarab
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 13 Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 11-18-05 17:46pm
I recently had an ultrasound which
suggested one ovary was enlarged. They
seemed to think it was from an ovarian
cyst. How sure can they be about that,
though? Especially as I don't have the
other associated symptoms of polycystic
ovary syndrome, and that doesn't usually
hurt.
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aunticol
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 3 Location: usa
Posted: 11-18-05 18:03pm
They told my niece that too, but it turned
out they were wrong. She had an
internal, which the doctor said she
noticed it right away and knew right then
that it was oc, she then sent her for a
transvaginal ultrasound, a cat scan and
blood work for a ca-125 which was elevated
to 380-it should be 0-she is stage 3 and
has had a full hysterectomy, and optimal
debulking surgery on th 11th of last
month. She has had one round of chemo and
is due to have her second on the 25th..Ask
for the blood test ca-125 and don't take
no for an answer until you are satisfied
with the results. Good luck.
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Scarab
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 13 Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 11-19-05 06:49am
Thank you. And good luck to your niece.
I hope i'm not in the same situation.
