Adding insult to injury – Karen’s Story

I am 50 years old. In July 2011 my GP found a large lump on my left ovary. While the NHS dragged out the endless tests my body got fed up of waiting! I didn’t even have a date for surgery when, in the early hours of September 20th I woke up in severe pain which rapidly worsened. I was at home alone at the time and called 999. They sent an ambulance immediately and kept me talking on the phone until it arrived about 10 minutes later. By the time I arrived I was lying on the floor with the phone near my ear as I was in so much pain I thought I was going to pass out. I was taken to A&E & from there to the gynae ward where the consultant came to see me, he said “we have known about this for some time haven’t we. Yes I replied. “And it has to come out doesn’t it?” Another yes from me. “Right then, we will operate today” – I got  the distinct impression he wasn’t happy that they had taken so long to get me in! They performed a salpingo oophorectomy and removed the fallopian tube and lump which they did a biopsy on. 3 weeks later at the follow up with the consultant I was told the lump was a benign tumour which had torted, hence the extreme pain The surgery triggered the menopause and I had the miseries of the flushes, night sweats, palpitations, panic attacks, severe anxiety, mood swings, loss of concentration – I thought I was going mad! And it made my stressful job almost impossible to cope with at times....
Source: The Hysterectomy Association - Category: OBGYN Authors: Tags: Your Stories breast cancer total abdominal hysterectomy unilateral salpingo oophorectomy Source Type: news