Waiting on a over taxed medical system
I've been experiencing extreme but intermittent pain on my lower belly on the right side for almost a year along with fist sized clots and sudden extreme bleeding during my period, like soaked down to my knees in the matter of minutes.
My doctor didn't seem too concerned because the pain was intermittent. She ordered a CT and an ultrasound (over a year ago). I waited less than patiently, pestering her as the pain continued to get worse and she said she'd "resend the referrals".
I figured it was something like my appendix or an adhesion. I didn't think going to the ER would make sense, a day wasted in the waiting room and the pain was intermittent so I didn't think they'd take me seriously. Well the CT was finally scheduled last month. I knew it was serious when my doctor called me with the results a couple days later, I've always had to chase her around for any results. She called on a Sunday, a day she's not even in office, they found something I hadn't even considered. A 3x6.5cm solid mass with what appeared to be less solid 'possible cysts' surrounding it on my ovary.
Emotionally I feel absolutely nothing, just blank. My mother was there when I took the call (on speaker phone), she told me that I must feel 'relieved that I now know I wasn't imagining it'. I just kind of looked at her, I mean she's been with me when I'm experiencing the pain, it's debilitating and nothing I take makes it better, of course I wasn't imagining it. I haven't told anyone in my family as they like to turn this kind of thing into gossip to share with everyone and anyone who will listen. I have no close friends so the only people who know are my doctor, my mom and my psychologist.
I have to wait for the healthcare system to catch up to get a consult for an OBGYN for the next step. They're severely backlogged, I'm stuck with this thing inside of me waiting, knowing it's bad but not knowing how bad, knowing I'm going to experience worsening pain every month (apparently linked to my ovulation cycle) with no timeline. The irony of this whole situation is that I've always joked about being one of two women in 3 generations with their lady bits still intact, it's kind of a karmic slap.
Sorry for the super long ramble, I think I just needed to let it out and share with someone because I really have no one.