Maybe it isn't all ovary related!

After tweeking my HRT (Vivelle Dot) slightly I needed some blood work to check my levels. My Gyn also ordered blood work for my thyroid mentioning that some of my symptoms may be thyroid related. I hadn't heard anything about my thyroid, but I went with it. After some short research I realized that many of my symptoms that I was attributing to having too little HRT may really be thryoid linked:

• Weight gain
• Dry skin
• Swollen face, hands, legs, ankles, or feet
• Feeling cold
• Aches and pains in muscles or joints
• Constipation
• Aggressive mood swings
• Fatigue

My initial tests came back as abnormal so I went to see an endocrinologist and she ordered more tests. They all came back abnormal. So combined with the symptoms I was pinning on HRT and my blood work she started me on a thyroid medication. Hopefully this will help!

I was at a place where I figured HRT just wouldn't work for me, I had become so dosile that I had been dealt this hand that I couldn't figure out how to fix. Here's to hoping my next post will be positive. Hope that they thyroid meds are working.

6 months post op

I am six months post op and feeling great. Everything has healed nicely. I have five small scars scattered across my abdomen that have caused me no problems, ever. I honestly don't even remember that I had the surgery sometimes. I have swapped my HRT from Estradiol to Vivelle patch which seems to be causing less side effects for me. The only symptoms I ever really experianced were mood swings, hot flashes and migraines. The HRT takes care of most of that. It is rare that I get hot flashes now. The headaches are better and I have noticed that I simply tend to have less patience with things and people. Oddly, I cry a little more now than I used to.

I wouldn't change my decision at all. I have no regrets. I also have no periods :)

HI HO HI HO

It's back to work I go. Begrudgingly Dr. G sent me back to work for partial shifts this week. Monday I was 2 weeks 4 days post op. I am feeling great. I do realize that I am not completely healed internally, so I am taking it easy. Only working 4 hour days this week then back to full 8 hour days next week. I can't believe how easy the recovery is going. At my two week followup, Dr. G started me on HRT estrogen daily. It has helped significantly with the hot flashes and moodiness. Mike is grateful for that! During surgery they found out that I had a third adrenal gland attached to my fallopian tube on the left. That was interesting! They removed it along with everything else, cervix included. There isn't much more to report as of now. I am very happy with my surgery choice.

6 days post op

I am now 6 days post op and healing well. I went shopping yetsterday. I was exhausted and sore last night. Everything is moving along smoothly though. I haven't taken any painkillers today so far and drove for the first time today also. My inscions are bruised and itchy today. Last night I was able to sleep comfortably on my side again which is helping in the sleeping through the night situation. I still can't bend over very well. I am having hot flashes and am kind of an emotional wreck. My post op appt is July 5th, so I will be sure to update after that. I am still getting waves of nausea, lightheadedness and cramping. Like bad period cramping that makes you want to double over, but you can't, cause that hurts just as badly!

HOME!!

Surgery was thurs morning at 8 am. The worst part by far was the fact that they could not get an IV started (which has never been an issue for me) and after 6 sticks, yes, 6 sticks they finally got it started. I was all fiesty at that point. We had to be there at 500 am. I hadn't eaten, I had bowel prep the day before. The anesthesiologist came in and figured out how mouthy I have become before the drugs and said,,,yep we need to sedate you!!!! Everyone was wonderful though. All of my nurses were great. Recovery went well, and I was brought back to the surgical post op to spend the night. Pain was minimal and controlled with Lortab and an antinausea medication as well. I was up and walking through the night. I was discharged at about 10 am Friday. At moms now resting. I can't bend over, but I'm not in much pain, so I can't really complain about anything.

Preop and Prep

Preop went really well yesterday. They took 5 viles of blood, a urine sample and all my medical/surgical history. I have to wear a red arm band until I am discharged from the hospital, it has my blood type/cross unit number on it. So it is a fancy new accessory. Prep today isn't that bad. I really liked Jello and Gatorade....probably after today, not so much though! I have to be at the hospital (an hour and half away) at 5 am tomorrow. Surgery is set for 730!

CA125

CA-125 is a protien that is a so-called tumor marker or biomarker, which is a substance that is found in greater concentration in tumor cells than in other cells in the body. In particular, CA-125 is present in greater concentration in ovarian cancer cells than in other cells. Normal values can be argued, however most labs show values of less than 35 as normal. (My baseline was 9 and has been around this level ever since.)


My CA-125 level was 12 in October 2010. With everything going on right now, I was nervous to have my CA-125 drawn last week. But I did. I was called today with the results...May 2011 my level is 10. This is reassuring at least with everything that is going on with my ovaries right now!