Need answers, feeling anxious.

[Crystalee]

Good morning to all,

I don't know what's wrong with me but I'm honestly not doing well. I haven't stopped thinking about my ca-125 blood test that came back with a reading of 34. I know it is just below the norm, however I've read from other people that they have had a lower reading and been diagnosed with cancer. I'm honestly freaking out that I've booked in for an appointment tomorrow to request another ca-125 blood test I hope she doesn't think I'm crazy and won't allow me to get one. I just want to see if it's stayed the same, gone lower which I hope or rosed. I still am yet to get my period and it's been 4 weeks since I've had my last period. Please tell me I'm not going crazy and everything will be ok. I'm just not coping well and I'm so anxious that I'm really not myself.

I have no pain, I open my bowels frequently, I don't know if I'm bloated... can anyone tell me what bloating looks like or if it has any symptoms?

Thank you

[Callamatie]

Hi there,

Why did you have the test in the first place? have you had some other symptoms?

It's rare for anyone who shows below 35 in their test to have ovarian cancer, and also if your above 35 it doesn't mean you have cancer either. There has to be other testing such as an ultra sound.

Bloating is where your tummy swells from gases and can cause pain and a tightness feeling.

An average woman has a period every 28-31 days, but there are so many reasons for your period to be late, one is stress!

If your worried indeed speak to your GP, but from what you have said, all sounds normal to me

[Crystalee in reply to Callamatie]

Hi there,

I went into hospital 4 weeks ago with serve 10/10 pelvic pain in which they suspected appendix. So I had a lap and they found a bursted endometrioma also known as a chocolate cyst and is ruptured with 100mls of free blood that they cleaned up in the operation.

1 week later I had a pelvic ultrasound and they found a 36mm cyst on my right ovary and is yet to be diagnosed.

I currently have no pain and am yet to get my period after the lap. I'm so stressed and I'm really not doing well

I had a pelvic ultrasound and that's where they seen the cyst and then tested my tumour markers and these were the results

My results that I would like to share.

S AFP is 2.4

S CEA is 1.9

S CA-125 is 34

So does bloating mean it makes like gas noises in my stomach or? Like bubbles in my stomach?

I have no pain, not even during intercourse.

I want to request another blood test tomorrow for my ca-125 levels, do you think that's silly for me to ask again, I had my first one 2 weeks ago and that was when it came back with a reading of 34.

Should I be stressing, please help

[GrittyReads]

Hi Crystalee,

I'm sure your GP won't think you are crazy and will hopefully help and explain a lot to you, put your mind at rest and probably do the test again. Most importantly she will be able to examine you and almost certainly put your mind at rest about the bloating. I'm not a medic, so I can't describe it accurately, but I'm pretty sure that the bloating associated with ovarian cancer is different to the usual gas and gurgles-type bloating. Also, if you have endometriosis and have had some of the issues associated with Endo, then bloating can be down to that.

Your initial pains were obviously related to the burst endometrioma, and if you had that and all the blood, fluid, etc removed, then your cycle will have been upset and the usual blood and tissue of a period may not be there, so nothing is happening. Also, cysts on ovaries are quite common, it's good they've found this one and it's being investigated, but they are generally harmless. Finally, if you had an ultrasound and they did a trans-vaginal check, it all sounds good if they didn't spot anything else in the ovaries, uterus etc.

Yes, go to the GP, but do try to relax, and also do a lot to treat and spoil yourself. It may all help you chill, as you have a lot going on, but with all of these conditions, stress is the worst ... so try to do all you can to stress-bust. Be good to yourself.

Take care.