My Ordeal - When Things Fall Apart

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

02 Feb 2007 07:29 PM

So I wrote about getting your annual physical a couple of days ago and how I'd scheduled mine and headed in to see the doctor. I arrived at the doctor's office yesterday morning, filled out my paper work and sat in a chair, reading a book while I waited for them to call me in. Over an hour and a half later, I was leaving the doctor's office on the way to the hospital for a sonogram. There was something wrong and the doctor wanted a better look at my insides.

Needless to Say, I Was Worried

The sonogram was fairly invasive and very uncomfortable. The next 20 hours that I had to wait to find out the results were more so. This morning, the doctor called me to inform me that the sonogram showed a mass on my right ovary and a mass in my right fallopian tube. There was also a cluster found on my left ovary.

My physician recommended that I go to see a gynecologist immediately and they also wanted to have an MRI done, to get a better look at the masses. They'd done a pap the day before, but we won't have any results from that until Monday. They also had me come back in this morning to take a pregnancy test to make sure that the mass was not an ectopic pregnancy --- it's not.

The C Word

They are not using the C word at this point, but it's a very real possibility and when I asked about whether or not she thought I would need surgery, she felt more than 50% sure that it was likely. Monday afternoon, I have an appointment with the gynecologist and to follow it up with the MRI, most likely. They've given me a mild pain medication because after the probes yesterday, what had been a mild ache before is now extremely sore and painful. They've given me some mild pain medication to help make me more comfortable, but my doctor wants me to use the pain to monitor the condition through the weekend - you know, in case anything really bad happens.

Medical History

My grandmother was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 1970. She underwent a hysterectomy and bouts of radiation and chemotherapy treatments. She was pronounced cancer free and in remission in 1973. I have no memory of this time, I was born in 1972. Tonight, I had to call and tell my mother what was going on - I've spent my whole day playing out the scenarios in my head.

There's every chance that nothing is wrong, but from the reactions of my doctor, she doesn't believe so. It's going to be a long weekend, I'm very grateful for my mother, my mother-in-law and my husband - they're all more than a little shocked and I know they are afraid - but they're all being pretty wonderful. Today is the day I usually write my fitness funnies or I focus on my new February goals and articles - but today, I don't find a lot to be laughing about or very much that is funny - except for a few moments - when my husband was teasing me about the armadillo groom's cake I'd wanted to make for him at our wedding.

Yes, I admit it - that was pretty funny. Did you know today was Groundhog's Day? Did you know Pete didn't see his shadow? That means an early spring; I could use an early spring right about now.

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Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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Linda Hansen (1796) 02 Feb 2007 07:49 PM

Heather, you are in my prayers. I have had a hysterectomy and had no problems getting through it. I know its going to be a long weekend. Keep busy, say your prayers and know we are all including you in ours. Linda (artcraft)

JeanLynn81 (24580) 02 Feb 2007 08:00 PM

I read blogs and RARELY comment. But this one I had to. Sorry you are going through this right now, and really hope everything turns out for the best. You are in my prayers as well.

Catherine Ipcizade (5617) 02 Feb 2007 09:34 PM

Heather, you are in my prayers.

Heather Long (16954) 03 Feb 2007 05:16 PM

Thank you everyone, I appreciate all the great thoughts, hugs and prayers. I spent the day with my kiddo, we went to the library and then we went on a stroll through an outdoor mall we have here and wandered in and out of shops -- it was actually very relaxing and it helped.