Due To Medical Issues.....

We missed Adventure #2 this month.

And this is why...

The following post is very personal. But I hope that there are women out there who will benefit from reading it.

Anyone heard of an ovarian cyst? A hemorrhaging ovarian cyst? A ruptured ovarian cyst? Multiple ovarian cysts that cause no harm?
I've only known of one person to have an ovarian cyst. A very good friend of mine. And even years and years after she had hers, I remembered that she had it. It was an easy procedure, she said. They lasered it. A month ago, I only knew one person who dealt with an ovarian cyst. Now, it seems I keep hearing "oh that's so very common". And women I know are now telling me "oh I had an ovarian cyst rupture", "I always get ovarian cyst", "I've had that too, very painful."

If you're like me, and don't know very much about this issue at all, my story is for you. I wish I had known more.

A month ago, I experienced what I thought was a really bad UTI (also known as a bladder infection). Luckily, my fabulous doctor (we will call her Dr. D) is very thorough and knew it was something more. I ended having an ultra sound. Let me tell you, it is weird getting an ultra sound when you're not pregnant. And also kind of sad, because, you're not pregnant! Anyway, Dr. D suspected there was something going on with my ovaries and she was right. I had a very large cyst in my right ovary. I *could* have started hormone treatment right away to help get rid of it (AKA birth control pills) OR had it surgically removed (laser, what?). But, the pain had went away after a few days, so she thought it would eventually dissolve and go away, as most cysts do.

Oh my. If only I could go back in time......

Fast forward a month later.

Monday. I woke up to get ready for work and ...couldn't. I can't even begin to explain how much pain I was in. It was last month's pain times ten. On a scale of 1-10, it was a 9 (and I only say a 9 because I have not been in labor or had natural child birth). I was pacing, crying, sitting, crying, rocking, crying. Dr. D called me in immediately. I went in my PJs, a few tissues in hand for all my tears. She wanted an emergency ultra sound. BUT without me being pregnant, she was afraid they would ignore the request. So, she sent me over to an OBGYN who would have more authority, and good specialized insight. There I sat, around pregnant moms and a few kids, crying because a) I was in terrible pain b) I was not pregnant like them. HAHA! Dr. OBGYN decided my cyst was not very big (hmmmmmm), did not order an ultra sound, put me on hormones- er, I should say, birth control, and a prescription for really strong pain medication. She decided that the location of the cyst is what was causing so much discomfort- perhaps it's pressing against the ovarian wall or fallopian tube. I went home and waited for Jan-Michael to come home so that he could go get my prescriptions. I threw up twice. Instructed to call the doctor if I threw up, so I talk to Dr. D. She is very surprised that a) I haven't had my ultra sound yet and b) that it was never ordered by the OBGYN. She puts in a request for an emergency ultra sound at the hospital. Jan-Michael drives me to the hospital. The ultra sound technician tells us "Compared to your last ultra sound, your large cyst was 2 inches. It is now 1 inch. It is hemorrhaging. That is why you are in so much pain. Oh, and you have two new cysts, but they are on your left." Yay me. By the time we leave and get my prescriptions, it is already 9pm.

Tuesday. I take my new pain medication. It works instantly. And then 30 minutes later, I throw it up. Not going to do any good if it's in the toilet. Dr. D is happy the cyst did not rupture, but confirms that it is indeed hemorrhaging. She orders an emergency CT scan because she is afraid that my appendix or something else in that general area could be infected. Back to the hospital we go. Has anyone had a CT scan before? Did you have to drink the nasty contrast water? Sigh. After throwing up for two days, the last thing I really wanted to do was to be forced to drink the most disgusting thing ever. Three big cups of nasty, ink flavored, clear water. After you drink it, you have to wait an hour and a half for the contrast ink to reach the areas they are scanning. Two hours later, they send us home- no appendicitis, no infection.

Wednesday. 1am. Constant vomiting, every half hour. Have you seen those movies where the really drunk/hung over person is basically laying on the floor by the toilet? That was me. Only I didn't have any alcohol to throw up. Finally by 4am, we leave for the ER. My body is exhausted. Every muscle hurts. I'm still in pain because I can't keep any medication down. And, that nasty tasting contrast ink was tasted again, if you know what I mean. By the time we get to the ER, I'm just throwing up foam because there is absolutely nothing left. Foam. I am hooked up to an IV with fluids, anti-nausea and pain meds. They did a blood test and were able to see allll my other tests because I went to the same hospital (I know, very smart even at 4am haha!). We get home around 7:30am with more drugs- a new pain medication and anti-nausea. Total, I am now taking 5 pills.

Thursday. New pain medicine, no good. Ever taken Tramadol? I swear I could not move any of my muscles. Switched back to the first pain medication, Tylenol 3 (with Codine), but I cut them in half. That seemed to help- although it didn't take care of 100% of the pain, at least I wasn't throwing up.

Friday. My first day back at work. Well, half day. Another trip to see Dr. D., but she wasn't in, so I saw her partner. I think half of the appointment was spent trying to explain everything that had happend so far before I could tell her why I was now there. A different pain- reactions to drugs? Maybe... New cold? Yes. Now I'm taking 5 pills AND decongestants.

Monday. Confirmed, possible reaction to Tylenol 3. Stop taking!

By Tuesday, I am off of alllll drugs, except the hormone pills, also known as birth control.

Today, I am feeling goooood and praying that I never have to relive all that again.

Sorry if this all got pretty boring. I've told it so many times now, I just want to get to the point. IF I would have known a month ago, that all this could have happened, I would have just started on the birth control ASAP. This is why I'm writing about all this. So that if you ever find yourself wondering if you should wait it out or just take care of it now, take care of it BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

For those strong ladies, like Jody (please read her blog, it's amazing!), natural child birth is do-able. For people like me, I would dream about it, but sorta knew in the back of my mind that I probably couldn't handle it. Well, I must say that after going through all this I either a) know what real pain is and think I will stick to getting an epidural or b) Know I can live through pretty bad pain, so maybe I can do it! All I know is that I suffered and didn't get anything out of it. It's not like I endured this so that I could have this beautiful baby in return. And I definitely didn't get any of those great endorphins, adrenaline or oxytocin.... ? Food for thought! But seriously, to all you Mom's out there- YOU'RE AMAZING!!!!!!!!!

And for my doctors/chiropractors who say I have a high pain tolerance... hmm, can we check that?!

Good luck ladies.