| McheleM | 08-09-2013 03:46 PM | Ranting because I know you'll undertand. Okay, forgive my rant, but I know I can come here and vent and y'all will understand.
I had my checkup and bloodwork and decided with my OB Gyn to do a total hysterectomy due to heavy cycles that are long in duration and frequent. In order to do the surgery, I needed my hemoglobin and hematocrit to be higher than they were, my ferritin was 4, my hemoglobin was 4.8, my hematocrit was 18, and I was classified severely anemic. They sent me t a hematologist who recommended iron infusions, but because my numbers were so low, suggested I go to the hospital and get a blood transfusion. In the course of all this blood work, they did a test called a CA-125, which measures the proteins of ovarian cancer, and my numbers came back high, so they wanted to do a repeat test. Apparently this is used as a screening tool and done best with serial tests instead of a one time thing. Because of the breast cancer and family history, I am at greater risk for ovarian cancer (plus all the IVF drugs we took for me to get pregnant, over a period of 5 years!) My grandma passed from ovarian cancer that was stage 4 before it was even found, and was so spread through her body, they couldn't find where one organ ended and the next began. I declined because I was already having the hysterectomy and they can just take everything I don't need and check the other stuff while they're in there. I did spend last Saturday night in the hospital receiving 3 units of blood, 2 bags of potassium, and when I left there, my hemoglobin was 8, my hematocrit was 29, and I was supposed to follow up with my OB Gyn, which I did, after having an iron infusion on Monday, which raised my numbers only slightly higher, but a great improvement from where they were. Now my Ob Gyn has decided that the CA-125 test is not always accurate and wants to do more tests. I am ranting and raving because she was all for scheduling surgery once my numbers came up, but now wants to run more tests??? I feel like she's jerking me around. I don't want or need any more tests, I don't care if the CA-125 test is right or wrong or if I have ovarian cancer or not, I was having the hysterectomy before all the CA-125 crap even came about and I still want one.
Oh and my insurance is maxed, so I only have $1500.00 left that they will pay for hospitalizations and surgeries. The rest is up to us. Now, if you walked into a Dr's office with elevated cancer test numbers and all of the symptoms of ovarian cancer but one, why wait?? Why run more tests when you already agreed that I need the surgery for the bleeding? Why can't we just schedule the surgery, take out the parts and you can test them to your hearts content, AFTER they are no longer in my body???
My pubic bone feels like its going to break and all my insides are going to fall out my girly parts. I am exhausted, I look 4 months pregnant, and I have the most excruciating pain in my lower back and hips.
Yes, I am frustrated. Yes, I am angry. Yes, I let things get the best of me yesterday and made comments to my husband and friends that I truly didn't mean, and they know that. And yes, I am p*ssed to the point where I am not taking it anymore. A doctor somewhere is going to do the surgery I need in order to make me healthy again, and if I have to visit every single Dr in the Dallas area, I will. Doctors should not take a "wait and see" attitude with their patients.
I'm done. Rants over. Thanks for listening. |