Girl Talk

Last week, I went to my Ob/Gyn and got some not-so-great news. I have a type of recurrent ovarian cyst that I've dealt with in the past, and it seems to be causing me problems yet again. I had a cyst removed in 1996 when Hector and I were trying to start our family. And I had cysts removed during all 3 of my c-sections. When I was pregnant with Isaac, my doctor told me that he more than likely would need to remove the ovary too along with the cyst when Isaac's c-section was performed. But at that point in my reproductive life, I just simply was not ready to have that done. So I begged him to try to save the ovary, which he did. After Isaac was born though, my doctor warned me to be aware of the typical symptoms I had experienced in the past when a cyst was forming and growing, because a cyst would eventually start to form again.

So here I am, 3 1/2 years later, completely shocked that another cyst has formed. I don't know why I'm shocked, but it took me by complete surprise when a sonogram last week revealed it's presence. Maybe I was shocked because I've not had any of the typical symptoms like I had in the past. Regardless, my doctor told me that this time the cyst has formed on my right ovary. They've always formed on the left ovary in the past. She thinks this might be due to the fact that my left ovary is "shutting down" due to all the scar tissue that's formed from having multiple cysts removed 4 times in the past. So the cysts are now starting to form on my right, "healthy" ovary. Not good...

When I got the phone call from the doctor's office, I was told that my doctor wanted me to have the surgery done immediately to remove the cyst, but I asked for more time. I'm not sure why I asked for more time. But my doctor asked me to get some blood work done this coming Friday to make sure that the cyst is not poisoning my system. If my blood work comes back normal, I can go ahead and wait 6 more weeks. But if the blood work comes back abnormal, she will recommend I get the surgery to remove the cyst (and possibly one or both of my ovaries) within a few days after that.

But, as I am an eternal optimist, I am assuming that the blood work will be normal. So I have gone ahead and scheduled my next sonogram for Monday, November 8, at 8:30 a.m., at which point I will need to tell the doctor what I want to happen; surgery to remove just the cyst and have the doctor try to save my ovaries, or surgery to just go ahead and remove the cyst along with my ovaries. If I decide to have just the cyst removed, there is the possibility that once the doctor gets in there, she might need to take one or both of my ovaries anyway. Of course, having the surgery to just remove the cyst even if I get to keep both of my ovaries will mean that I will be looking at having yet another surgery within the next few years, because a new cyst will almost inevitably, eventually form.

Needless to say, all this talk about ovaries and reproductive craziness has stirred up some questions and emotions within me that I simply don't want to deal with right now. I don't do well under pressure or under time restrictions, especially when it involves making potentially permanent, life-altering decisions. But as I've learned in the past, nothing is REALLY up to me. My life is in God's hands, and He has taught me in the past (especially when it comes to all this reproductive stuff) that He is definitely in control (even though from time to time, I like to try to fool myself by thinking that I am the one in control).

So, for now I would humbly request your prayers for good lab blood work results (I would assume that I will get those results some time early next week). And for guidance and clarity of thought as I try to make an informed, rational (unemotional) decision about the future of my ovaries (which may wind up not being my ultimate decision at all). But here again, I'm going to try my hardest to at least act like I have some control in this matter... :-)

Thank you, my dearest family members and friends.