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Went under for laparoscopic surgery for cystectomy for dermoid, and found nothing?

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stephbrooks1
stephbrooks1

A few weeks back I went to Dr. For severe pain in my left lower quadrant. after an ultrasound tech completed an ultrasound I was taken back to my dr who reviewed the multiple ultrasound images, and confirmed I had two large ovarian cysts on my left ovary. One was a follicular cyst, which she was not concerned with operating on at this time, because follicular cysts can come and go, However the dermoid cyst measuring 103 cm3, would need to be removed. I was scheduled two weeks later to have it removed. Ca125 was the only follow up test completed after US, which came back normal. I went to preop a few days prior to procedure, however she was unable to review images with me at this time because the computer system was down. She discussed how she would try to save my ovary but that she may have to take it with cyst.

Before surgery I met with her again and she reviewed the procedures and risks. I came out of the surgery to be told by the nurse and my parents that the doctor said that they couldn't find any cysts, and she appeared baffled. The doctor stated that there were some spots that appeared to be Endometriosis but nothing else. She did not stay to talk to me, and my father was left to explain it to me instead. My op nurse told me to call and schedule follow up in two weeks. I was not happy that she did not stay to talk to me, so I called her office and then she called me back. She explained the same thing that she told my parents, and seemed confused about the ultrasound saying she had another dr at the practice look at images to and confirmed her diagnosis of a dermoid that day.

Does this happen often? Is there something that often appears to be a dermoid on the ultrasound,but it is in fact something else? Should my doctor have ordered an MRI, CT scan, more ultrasounds prior to operating? If she saw spots of endometriosis during the laparoscopic procedures should she have removed lesion then? Is this a malpractice situation? Should I go to the follow up? Or should I just schedule with another doctor for second opinion? Please help! Any advice or comments welcome!

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Hannah2233
    Hannah2233 stephbrooks1

    Posted

    Oh bless you!!!!

    That is terrible that that has happened to you !!!

    I had 2 lots of transvaginal ultra sound and one lot of ultrasound on my stomach so they made sure !!

    I was going to be sent for an MRI if they needed further proof to confirm before they opened me up!

    They should have sent you for an MRI !!!

    I would go to your follow up for sure and see the Dr too to talk about that went wrong and definitely discuss how they were with you!!!

    It sounds very traumatic!!!

    Make sure your scan result pics are explained to you too!!! And get more opinions chick!!!!

    Sending hugs and hope you can get this sorted!!!

    • stephbrooks1
      stephbrooks1 Hannah2233

      Posted

      It was pretty traumatic! I researched it non stop for weeks prior, very concerned about my body, surgery, recovery, lost wages, payment for procedure etc. now I don't know what's still on me, what was really on the scans and so on. I scheduled another appt with another doctor for second opinion, as I don't really trust what this dr.s opinion is anymore. Thanks for your kind words.
  • Guest
    Guest stephbrooks1

    Posted

    I am surprised she did not do an MRI before surgery; ultrasounds can be difficult to read/interpret
    • stephbrooks1
      stephbrooks1 Guest

      Posted

      i agree. normally i would have pressed for one too. but she seemed so sure about it, told me she had ran it by another obgyn as well, and looked so clear cut on the pictures, with the US tech, and the pain i didn't have reason to question that there wasn't a mass in there. i wil be getting a second opinion in a few weeks to see if they felt she was negligent or give me more insight to what went wrong. weird thing is i am still having left lower quadrant pain in that area. i am most concerned that she missed something when she preformed the surgery or its not in the location she thought.

      she did tell me there were some small spots of endometriosis present that could be causing the pain too. i dont understand while she was in there she didn't attempt to move the lessions. people under go laproscopy all the time to get try to clean up endometriosis i thought?

  • stephbrooks1
    stephbrooks1

    Posted

    ANOTHER odd thing to note:

    when she came out to speak to my parents she had my menstrual cup "soft cup" in during the procedure (due to the spotting I was having I had completely forgot to take this out prior to surgery)  and she found it during surgery.

    HERE IS WHERE IT IS CONFUSING:

    She was perplexed as to what it was.... she came out showed my parents, explained I had it in my vagina and didn't know what it was and asked them if they knew! She then said, "my assistant surgeon thought it might be a menstrual cup (but acted like she didn't know what it was). The dr goes on to say... "I don't know if maybe she had this in during the ultra sound and that's what was causing the images???"

    - first off, she did a pelvic exam on me right before my ultrasound was preformed.... I didn't have it in then and I know I didn't because (sorry for the tmi) I distinctly remembering I hid my pad from the underwear I had just taken off for the exam so I know I wasn't wearing one then.

    -second-Why doesn't my gyno know what the most common menstural cup looks like or what it is-it is literally the only type that is sold at walmart. also, I think the menstral cup would look much different then a suspected dermoid cyst.

    -third-What was she doing in my vagina? I wouldn't normally ask this, but I ask because I had asked at my pre op if there was any way she could take out my IUD while she was in there and I was under (I had a lot of pain getting it put in and I am afraid of the pain to get it taken out) She told me that she could not do it at the same time because its general surgical protocol if their is one entry point during surgery to ensure no cross contamination to decrease chance of infection.

    I'm nervous about many things.

    1.That there is something in there and she missed it, or maybe it is in the uterus or somewhere she couldn't see.

    2. they have to perform the surgery again.

    3. IS THIS COMMON???

    and  I am angry because I want my vacation time and money back!

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