so long and good night
Right so last time I wrote was 10th Feb. Well my life has changed somewhat since then. Not like I'm a millionaire or anything but that things are different. Gonna write a series of blogs to try and catch up.
13th Feb I had my 6 week check up at the hospital (feels like a lifetime ago already). They were running about an hour late so I think I was probably in a bad mood before I even got to see anyone. When I got into the room there was a med student, a nurse and a totally different (male) gynae consultant. Just what I was hoping for, honest. Right so I am determined not to cry and to stay completely calm so I take a deep breath mentally note that I need to give them a chance and sit down. Ok so I was wrong, giving them a chance was a waste of time and totally setting myself up for a fall. On the upside i managed my other two objectives.
He didn't know what operation I had; had never heard of my condition (it's a gynae condition and he is a gynae consultant are my expectations too high?) he said the HRT was permanent and asked how it was going so I explained I was still getting permanent sweats, always tired and a load of other unpleasant symptoms. Anyways to save ranting it was unhelpful, I even mentioned again that I had thought I had another ovary and he told me that when I have managed to locate a copy of the MRI scan results from six years ago could I send them onto his department!
Apparently I work for the NHS.
About a week later I finally got the radiology report through showing the results of my MRI. I am not gloating but I do feel I need to say this: I WAS RIGHT. ok now thats better. The MRI scan clearly showed 2 ovaries (one since removed) both 4cm in diameter (average size) and both with a large dominant follicle (they are working). Oddly enough when they did the surgery they couldn't seem to locate the left one but it is definitely there. I can now even give them directions on where it is!
So after crying from relief and ringing Tom to tell him I rang the hospital. they advised I could stop the HRT but would need a blood test to check that my remaining ovary was indeed functioning. I got no apology or explanation as to why they hadn't checked and why they hadn't bothered to listen to me.
Got the blood test referral form through a couple of days later, the form says that the reason for the test is "query small left ovary". At this point it is worth mentioning that they haven't seen the radiology report, haven't asked to see it and have no idea if it is undersized or not. It isn't of course undersized and they appear to be trying to prove their previous actions correctly.
It was like being on a rollercoaster. I felt like I should be happy but I was just so surprised, relieved and angry at all of this that I couldn't seem to snap out of it.
Research on the internet says that taking HRT (for some reason I was only prescribed oestrogen rather than a progesterone and oestrogen mix which is normally recommended) whilst still having a functioning ovary would cause a hormone imbalance. Specifically oestrogen dominance. The effects of this include: sweats, weight gain, poor sleep, lethargy etc. It can also cause ovarian cysts, lupus endometreosis and cancer. The incidence of breast cancer is 200% greater in people with oestrogen dominance.
A big round of applause and a heartfelt thankyou to the NHS for putting me through 2 months of symptoms and for the fact that I would have been left on this medication unchecked until I developed one of those diseases at some point in the 30 or so years I would have been taking it.
I shall calm down now.
13th Feb I had my 6 week check up at the hospital (feels like a lifetime ago already). They were running about an hour late so I think I was probably in a bad mood before I even got to see anyone. When I got into the room there was a med student, a nurse and a totally different (male) gynae consultant. Just what I was hoping for, honest. Right so I am determined not to cry and to stay completely calm so I take a deep breath mentally note that I need to give them a chance and sit down. Ok so I was wrong, giving them a chance was a waste of time and totally setting myself up for a fall. On the upside i managed my other two objectives.
He didn't know what operation I had; had never heard of my condition (it's a gynae condition and he is a gynae consultant are my expectations too high?) he said the HRT was permanent and asked how it was going so I explained I was still getting permanent sweats, always tired and a load of other unpleasant symptoms. Anyways to save ranting it was unhelpful, I even mentioned again that I had thought I had another ovary and he told me that when I have managed to locate a copy of the MRI scan results from six years ago could I send them onto his department!
Apparently I work for the NHS.
About a week later I finally got the radiology report through showing the results of my MRI. I am not gloating but I do feel I need to say this: I WAS RIGHT. ok now thats better. The MRI scan clearly showed 2 ovaries (one since removed) both 4cm in diameter (average size) and both with a large dominant follicle (they are working). Oddly enough when they did the surgery they couldn't seem to locate the left one but it is definitely there. I can now even give them directions on where it is!
So after crying from relief and ringing Tom to tell him I rang the hospital. they advised I could stop the HRT but would need a blood test to check that my remaining ovary was indeed functioning. I got no apology or explanation as to why they hadn't checked and why they hadn't bothered to listen to me.
Got the blood test referral form through a couple of days later, the form says that the reason for the test is "query small left ovary". At this point it is worth mentioning that they haven't seen the radiology report, haven't asked to see it and have no idea if it is undersized or not. It isn't of course undersized and they appear to be trying to prove their previous actions correctly.
It was like being on a rollercoaster. I felt like I should be happy but I was just so surprised, relieved and angry at all of this that I couldn't seem to snap out of it.
Research on the internet says that taking HRT (for some reason I was only prescribed oestrogen rather than a progesterone and oestrogen mix which is normally recommended) whilst still having a functioning ovary would cause a hormone imbalance. Specifically oestrogen dominance. The effects of this include: sweats, weight gain, poor sleep, lethargy etc. It can also cause ovarian cysts, lupus endometreosis and cancer. The incidence of breast cancer is 200% greater in people with oestrogen dominance.
A big round of applause and a heartfelt thankyou to the NHS for putting me through 2 months of symptoms and for the fact that I would have been left on this medication unchecked until I developed one of those diseases at some point in the 30 or so years I would have been taking it.
I shall calm down now.
posted by stunted at 9:40 AM
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