Post #1 - The Times They Are A-Changin’
Let me start and acknowledge that 2020 has been a challenge for everyone. As this is my first post, I’m going to warn you that it’s going to be a long one.
Back in February 2020, I spoke with my gynecologist about my menstrual cycle (hang in there with me, men!) as I had noticed some differences and I wanted to make her aware of changes in my body. I adore my doctor as she is super attentive and really listens to me. She ordered a pelvic ultrasound, without any alarm, as she wanted to check things out so, we could rule out any possible major issues. Living in NY in the early part of March was scary and made any trips to the doctor super risky. We would only have gone if there was a super urgent matter. I called my doctor, and she told me to push it off out of precaution as I had no pain or symptoms that would have made the ultrasound an urgent matter. After stalling twice, I went back on June 15th for the ultrasound.
I remember so vividly, the Sunday before (the 14th) like a video in my mind. My boyfriend, Rich, and I went for a walk near us. I remember him taking a few steps in front of me, and looking at him with the clearest blue skies behind him, and thinking to myself, “This may be the last day that I’m not worried about the next thing.”
I woke up the morning of the 15th and started the “water process”. A woman has to drink 32oz of water, stop one hour before the appointment, and then hold the contents in her bladder until halfway through the ultrasound. To say I was cranky is an understatement. The technician was amazing and understood why I wasn’t super talkative. As we were wrapping up, she mentioned that it was standard to take images of my kidneys “while they were already there”. I thought nothing of it.
My doctor was calling me by the time I walked in the door. She said that they were some minor concerns regarding my kidneys, as they did not empty completely. I would need a renal ultrasound. I was also made aware of a small “thing” that was near my left ovary. My doctor ordered up an MRI for that “thing” as well.
I went for my renal ultrasound on June 30th. While I was with that technician, he said my kidneys were perfectly fine, and that what happened, actually happens quite frequently. At this point I was ecstatic as I thought I was out of the woods. He then let out an audible “Hhhmmmffff”. A sound you don’t want to hear when someone is looking at your insides. I told him he would need to elaborate. As he pressed the roller against my skin, he kept asking me if it hurt. Emphatically, I kept saying “No!” He then proceeded to ask me how long I had been living with gallstones. What?!? I had never been diagnosed! I had been told I was always stressed; or, that I was a perfectionist; or, that I was too high strung. But, I was only 41. He said I needed to call my doctor as soon as I got home as it was going to have to come out. As someone who never had surgery, I was spinning.
I came home and my general practice doctor scheduled a virtual visit with me for 15 minutes later. Apparently, this was happening, and quickly. She recommended an amazing surgeon and I called for an appointment that day. Meanwhile, I was gearing up for my first MRI. Lots of firsts for me this year. I went on July 6th and had a great experience. My technician and radiologist let me pick the music (Bob Dylan, of course!) and I was in-and-out in about an hour. I was meeting with both my gynecologist and my surgeon the next day.
My gynecologist informed me that I had a small grapefruit / softball sized mass sitting in my pelvis. She was not too concerned as it did not have the traditional properties of a “cancerous tumor”. But, she did say that she would have my surgeon gets some good pictures of it while they were removing my gallbladder. Seemed logical to me. I met with my surgeon and scheduled the surgery for July 13th.
My gallbladder removal went off without a hitch! It was outpatient surgery, and due to covid, I was not allowed to have anyone in the hospital with me. So, I text Rich that it was time to come pick me up, and by 6pm I was on my way home. Before I left, my nurse handed me some pictures of my insides that my surgeon had captured while she was in there. I had no idea what was what in the photo and neither did the nurse. She said I could ask my surgeon at my post op in 2-3 weeks.
The next week, my gynecologist called me to have a “chat”. She told me that she spoke with my surgeon and the surgeon couldn’t find my little grapefruit. I was a little more than confused. Did it disappear? Did it dissolve? What happened to my grapefruit? My gynecologist told me that this was way out of her league, and that she and the surgeon wanted to refer me to an amazing surgeon, Dr. S (this is how I’ll refer to him - just for some anonymity). I asked where he practiced, and she responded “Sloan Kettering - in the city.” Everything else stopped. She told me next steps, but I can barely remember them now. All I kept hearing was “Sloan Kettering”.