I wanted to write this blog not only to let you know why I’ve been quiet on Zoom for the past month, but also to highlight Women’s Heath and why it is always wise to tell your doctor of any symptoms that may suggest the presence of ovarian cysts.
Although most are benign, in rare cases they are a sign of ovarian cancer. Symptoms to watch out for are:
Pelvic pain
Bloating
Changing in urination or passing stools
Nausea
Vomiting
Fever
Unexplained bleed
Pain during sex
Unexplained weight gain
Trouble getting pregnant
My story began last March 2020. I took myself off to my GP with symptoms of bloating and frequent trips to the bathroom (very time consuming!), which are two of the symptoms on the list above. The GP asked for a urine sample and all was clear. I was then asked if I had experienced any bleeding, to which I replied “No”. To this point in time, I still haven't. Since the sample was clear and there was no sign of bleeding, I was informed everything was fine. "Hurrah!", thought I, "these symptoms will pass!"
I've since found out through my consultant that any sign of bloating and frequent trips to the bathroom are a sign of everything being not so fine. A definite red flag alert for all ladies! The GP should most definitely refer you for further investigations.
2020 passed in lockdown blur, keeping busy with Zoom classes. Because I was still able to teach11 classes plus per week, I felt on top of the world There was no pain and I was moving about with ease. But the frequent bathroom trips were increasing and bloating appeared to be getting worse. It’s so easy to be in denial, but especially during Covid! I put the worsening symptoms down to lockdown menopause and a weak pelvic floor (which completely floored me because I've been religiously doing my pelvic floor exercises for years!) No apparent bulging evidently a 16cm can hide itself away by squashing itself between ribs hips and spine! I explained away all other symptoms by hanging onto the words of the GP that everything was totally normal.
By early January 2021 I was looking more like Humpty Dumpty - a large body on thin legs who lived in the bathroom.
Reality check. Everything was not fine.
Lockdown or not, I decided to return to the GP convinced it was a pelvic floor problem and would maybe need an operation. Maybe I hadn’t been on Penthouse level but in the basement for all these years!
This time I was thoroughly examined by two doctors, who told me they could feel a huge mass which seemed likely to be cancerous. They decided to send me for a 2-week referral at the hospital.
I felt as if a rug had been pulled from under my feet. It took me more than half an hour before I could reverse the car out of the car park! I always considered myself to be a glass half-full kind of girl, but at that point the glass appeared completely empty.
Waiting for the ultrasound appointment seemed to take an age, with each day feeling like a lifetime! But having a very supportive network of friends and family, and continuing to teach during this time was a lifesaver. Everyone was so supportive and I felt a strong sense of success at beating whatever this thing was inside me. The quote “behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back" really came into its own .
Ultrasound day arrived. It was all very surreal. I was then immediately referred to the Gynaecology Oncology department. It’s no-good pretending I wasn’t scared. The word oncology puts fear into everyone! Fears and worries were all-consuming at that point.
Various tests then followed and with the advice from the most amazing friends one of whom is a consultant gynaecologist a recommendation of a fellow consultant gynaecologist was given and an operation was booked in for two weeks later. Again, dancing and exercising and being with the alldancefitness tribe during these two weeks really gave me a sense of normality. Hiding under the duvet seemed the best option, but after getting the leggings and shoes on, everything seemed brighter. So, thank you so very much ladies. I owe you.
The day of the operation couldn’t have arrived sooner. I was scheduled to have a laparotomy (large vertical incision into abdomen to see what was going on). Before the operation, we discussed staging - if cancerous chemotherapy would then follow, if benign no further treatment. Trying to get myself prepared for all eventualities, I was somewhat of a train wreck!
The extraordinary fact is that I still felt physically very well. So much so that when the anaesthetist came to talk to me before the operation, I was dancing in the room to release cortisol from the body and release those happy hormones prior to being operated on! He found this highly amusing but equally valuable, thank goodness.
The most wonderful news I’ve ever, ever received was when I opened my eyes after the operation to see a figure making a prayer gesture (a vision I will never forget) telling me all was benign and the huge 16cm and 6cm dermoid cyst had been removed. The operation was a success and no further treatment was required.To say I wanted to jump for joy is an understatement. Jumping was at that point sadly definitely not an option!
After a few days recovery in hospital with 6 week recovery at home, all will be done and dusted. Humpty Dumpty has left the building.
It has been a real wake-up call and really makes you realise how fragile life is - and how important it is to take the best care of yourself both physically and mentally and never to ignore symptoms. You have one body and one life, so if you are unsure always always get a second opinion.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope it explains my break!
I'm signing off now with my favourite quote:
“Be thankful for the bad things in life. For they opened your eyes to the good things you weren’t paying attention to before”
