Hi, I joined Daily Strength back in 2008 when my daughter lost her son at 26 days old. The site helped me a lot with the grieving process. I met many sweet grandmas to chat with.

Fast forward to July 2016. I was 61 post menopausal when really bad sharp menstrual type cramps began. I had no clue what it could be but knew it felt like my right ovary was being strangled. I had no insurance so started taking a lot of Motrin. By October I couldn’t take it anymore so my husband took me to the ER. Diagnosis... UTI They did do a pelvic region CT Scan which showed nothing. Sent me home with some pain pills and an antibiotic. So back to the Motrin I went.

I turned 62 in November and found I could collect SS, half of what my husband gets. So I got it and dedicated 2017 to finding answers. I got Anthem Insurance and was on a mission. Started at the GYN, internal exam, felt nothing, was told no pro-lapse but for safety sake she scheduled me 2 uultrasounds, transvaginal and pelvic, again nothing.

Then I was sent to gastro for possible IBS and from there to a urologist because of the UTI, I was told it could cause cramping. Test showed I wasn’t emptying my bladder so he scheduled a cystoscopy, everything looked fine. Was told to add a cranberry supplement which I did. Then they referred me to a back doctor because of my bad lower back pain, saying pain radiates and it could be my back. So after 6 weeks of PT which did nothing for my back and I was once again on my own.

So much pain and suffering. My daughter talked me into going back to the ER but a different one. So the next day we went. The doctor was very rude and said I should not have come there because I have chronic pain. He did however do a panel of blood work and told me I had renal insufficiency, kidney failing. Recommended I go back to the urologist, I did, she ordered an ultrasound of my bladder and kidney. A few days later I get a call saying they found a large mass and scheduled me for surgery in a few days. Not for removal of the mass but for a stent placement from bladder to kidney, they said the mass was pressing on those organs and I needed it to get them working properly.

So I had an outpatient surgery and stent placement and back home I went. Meanwhile because of the mass I was sent back to my GYN who did a transvaginal ultrasound and said it was my ovary, he could see it clearly. He said it needs to be removed. I was ecstatic, after all this time I was finally getting answers. He sent me for another CT of that area and did a bunch of blood tests. I was supposed to meet with him the following week to discuss my options.

A few days later my left leg became really painful and swollen. I thought... just out of the blue, so weird. Then it dawned on me that it must just be muscle pain from having the stent placed but it didn’t get better, it got worse, I could barely walk, it was and still is excruciating pain and swelling. So I call my GYN office and she says go to the ER sounds like blood clots.

My daughter took me and after an ultrasound of my leg I was told it was DVT, one big clot and some smaller ones. So I was admitted and given blood thinner shots in my stomach at 12 hour intervals. Three days later I’m discharged and told to go back to my GYN. He referred me to an Oncologist because he said it was major. Just met with the oncologist a few days ago. Can’t have surgery because of the blood clots and the blood thinners so after an internal exam and more blood work I was told it’s like 99% that I have ovarian cancer. This Friday Jan 12, 2018 I return to have a port put in. I will begin my chemo the next Wednesday. It will be a combination of taxol and carboplatin.

So sorry for the book but as you may imagine I’m a bit freaked out about these next 6 months. I’m really upset because even though a year and a half ago I told the doctor my ovary was being strangled, it was like I don’t even know my own body. So awful when you know it’s there but it just doesn’t show up. So here I am hoping for some love and support. Thanks so much for reading this