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a little confused,shocked and scared
Hi I dont know where to exactly post but I am diagnosed with a bladder tumor. did a cystoscopy last monday,the dr said it’s a medium size tumor,have surgery on monday to remove it. It’s done thru the scope they tell me. sorry for my ignorance and I dontknow all the medical terms yet. I am a mother of 3 dont smoke and stay at home mom. nervous about what they find. does finding a tumor always mean cancer?,I wasnt clear on that with the dr ,he said to me this is treatable and is one of those things us dr’s call a nuisance type of cancer yet he didnt call it cancer he sais we have to biopsy the tumor. we can remove it but chances of coming back again are high so we usually do the 3 month cystoscopy again for checkups sometimes chemo. I started to cry ofcource stammering about my babies at home and how I have to raise them . he said he would never lie to me about what he believes is going on here. so ofcource stacey being stacey sais,so are u really worried?? he smiles and sais NO,but we have to treat you and get that removed. you know thenI got brave again and said ok I can do this. funny thing is now the closer to monday we get the more phobic and net surfing on the problem I get wich is making me even more sick! The dr mentioned tumor looking flat yet bumpy so then ofcource obsession sets in about the shape size and it its the worst case scenerio. sorry venting feels good though. sort of shocked right now so excuse my panick attacks. any words of wisdom? just a friend looking to be friends that know about this stuff.
Stacey
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25 Replies
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I’m surprised your doctor didn’t put you on any antibiotics if he suspected an ensuing infection…..i would definately call him. You need to be on something.
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hi guys thanks for all your thoughts. I am also relieved but I do have a question. I seem to have pain when I urinate and some bladder discomforts. I know a week ago when the dr took the stents out he said I could get an infection,I supppose I should check in with that but does anyone remember after the surgery if they had any bladder pains or painful urination? I dont mean to be blunt here at all but Iv’e been intimate with my husband twice since surgery,,I dont know if that is it or what. I had bladder spasms for a few days after surgery and was on pain meds and I thought I was recovering very well ..I think maybe I’ve felt kind of icky now for 3 days,, I mean upon urination. how is everyone else feeling? and I hope it’s ok weather your way. I know we hit the deep freeze this way. many best wishes.. I wont forget u guys and visit when I can.
Stacey
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Hi Stacey,
I’m so relieved and happy for you–no cancer! That’s such great news! I’m so glad you’ve been able to keep us updated. Hope your pain subsides soon!Blessings to you and your family!
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When I was having babies many years ago, I remember friends having what was then called “saddle block” which is a shot in the back now called epidural. Many, many of them complained about terrible migrain headaches. The name may have changed but the problem of headache continues for many. I just learned of a technique that is prevelent in other countries but not so much in USA. Laser out of the growth with just a local anesthetic. I realize this best done once a few biopisies have been done to confirm the bladder cancer to be low grade. This is an interesting article I found. http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2004.04882.x/full/?cookieSet=1
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I found this on the Web. Evidently the headache occurance can be caused by both, skill of the anesthesiologist and patient individuality. It is caused by a puncture in the dura.
When an epidural is given, a needle is used to
inject local anaesthetic just outside the dura.
Occasionally the needle passes through the
dura: the chances of this happening depend on
the experience of the anaesthetist and certain
patient related circumstances. You can discuss
this with your anaesthetist.“What can be done about the
headache?The hole in the dura will usually mend itself in a
number of weeks but it can take longer.
Lying flat and taking simple pain relieving drugs
(such as paracetamol and ibuprofen) may help.
You should drink plenty of fluid (some
people find tea, coffee or cola especially
helpful) and avoid lifting and straining.
A severe post dural puncture headache will
often need to be treated by an ‘epidural
blood patch’.
Being given a blood patch is like having an
epidural and takes about half an hour.
The anaesthetist will take your blood and inject
it near the hole in the dura where it will clot,
forming the blood patch. This will tend to plug
the hole.
A blood patch will usually cure the headache
within 24 hours. After this period, if you still
have a headache, it may be worth repeating the
blood patch once more. It is very rare to need
more than two blood patches. Your
anaesthetist will discuss this with you.
After a blood patch, we recommend that you
lie flat in bed for 4 hours and do not lift
anything heavy for at least two days.”
Rosemary
Age – 55
T1 G3 – Tumor free 2 yrs 3 months
Dx January 2006
Yes, I certainly do see the potential problem.
I’ve had 4 epidurals in my life and had smooth aend easy experiences. I guess I had good anesthesiologists. I certainly paid them enough ;D I remember the nurse would always sit by me and lay me back down if I started to raise my head too soon.
Anyway, you still can’t convince me (for myself) that General is better.
But perhaps, since I’ve never experienced a migraine either, it is just a matter of individual differences.
With regards,
Rosemary
Rosemary
Age – 55
T1 G3 – Tumor free 2 yrs 3 months
Dx January 2006Now Rosemary you see why i hate epidurals….it all depends on the skill of the anesthesiologist….if he hits the wrong area which mine did and then has to go back in a second time with that l0 ft. needle……..my internist said he hit the muscle which resulted in the back aches which went on for some time. I also got the killer migraines and got in a situation where i was then getting rebound headaches from the codeine and that solution is to wean off the codeine slowly and then stop….they will subside…i remember smaller headaces but took tylenol and then weaned off of that. I then went into physical therapy for the back which took about 6 weeks of exercises. Both were killers but there is a light over the horizon. Ask your doc how to wean off the painkillers.
I don’t know why you’re having pain tho in your bladder….maybe the stents?….i never had any pain with any of my TUR’s but i was treated at a major cancer center in NYC …cath only stayed in until my urine ran clear which was about l5 mins after i woke up and then i had to pee and then i walked out of the place caught a cab and went back to the hotel.
I wish you the best. I wonder if your doc can give you some peridium for the pain in the bladder?….Definately call him……Pat
Stacey,
I do not understand your headache. I”ve had 2 epidurals in the last year without any back ache or headache at all.
Zero.
I wonder if you should call your Doctor on this. Does he know that you still have a headache?
With regards,
Rosemary
Rosemary
Age – 55
T1 G3 – Tumor free 2 yrs 3 months
Dx January 2006
thanks guys. yes actually this child birth thing has me wondering also. I started having pains during pregnancy. we got down to business finally after my daughter is now 6 months old and found the trouble. anyone with bladder problems I really give my heart out to them. just what I even went thru on monday and still today is very painful. but my mom often sais that sure seems odd that moms are getting more cysts and things like that these days. happy to be done with this surgical thing anyways. the spinal block is awfull my god I’d never do it again. wonder how long the headaches stay around.
thinking of u all.
Stacey
Stacey I am glad to hear your “tumors” were benign. Is it just a co-incidence that there seems to be a great number of new mothers having “tumors.” I wonder if the pregnancy and birth process itself has anything to do with bladder problems. The first time I urinated blood was a week after my son was born. It took another 28 years before it occured again and before a “tumor” was diagnosed.
Stacey,
I’m so glad that this is behind you and that the news is good.
I’m sorry that your back hurts and that you have a headache. I wonder if they had you sit up too soon? :-/ Also, I’m surprised that they did not also put you to sleep…
Anyway, hopefully this discomfort will pass soon.
I’m so glad for your good news.
Best regards,
Rosemary
Rosemary
Age – 55
T1 G3 – Tumor free 2 yrs 3 months
Dx January 2006
Hi everyone I am back home and in great pain. I did elect to have the spinal block and am paying the price for it. my back hurts awfully bad. but there is no cancer,there was alot of inflamation going on and I got stints in there now and will have them removed on monday. The nurse said I am very lucky. it was tiny tumors he scraped off and after the report came back yesterday no cancer cells I felt very relieved. I had been getting lots of infections while being pregnant so I dont know if thats where the problem started but no further treatments nessesary except getting the stints out wich were put in to keep scar tissue from growing over the urethur tubes. head hurts from the spinal. I’d recomend anyone thats doing the turb to go to sleep. I thought it would be simple to get the spinal in like my other two times for c sections but the girl that did mine clearly was not having any luck. thankyou for those that helped me thru this scary time. I’ve had bladder infections all my life ,back in the 70’s I’d be hospitalized for them even. my hubby came with me at the last min and left his work and handled jasmine all day. I saw lots of people getting the same thing done as me,I now know how common of a problem this is. Your all in my prayers and I had to just let you know how I made out in everything.
all the best.. Stacey
Hi Stacey
I hope your surgery went well. How old are you? I just turned 27. I was diagnosed with a low grade papillary tumor three weeks after the birth of my third child. I shared all of the same emotions as you. Feel free to send me a PM if you want to talk. I hope you are doing well.
Alyssa
Stacey, I woke up after my TURBT (and they removed a large tumor during it), my Mom drove me home, and I was just a little tired, and it hurt to pee for several weeks. But nothing debilitating – nothing overwhelming, other than I was waiting for the path report for the next couple of days…I was not catheterized at all when I awoke; it was all in all not a bad experience for spending the morning in a hospital – so please don’t get too upset up front – be positive. My urologist, who delivered the news about the malignancy, said if he was ever going to have cancer in his life, mine was the kind he’d choose… which made hearing the diagnosis of TaG1 very easy.
And checking in on this board frequently makes it even easier.
I’m going for my second 6-mo. cystoscopy (in office) on Valentines’s day :P First one was clear except for a little too much scar tissue forming, so I’m hopeful for the same result again.
Good luck to you!
TaG1 12/05
3 recurrences
BCG started 9/09
Well I called the cancer center here (day unit) and my sugery is two hrs after I get there. I have to go over all health screenings and talk to anestsiology. depends on my health on what kind of anestesia they give me. I am not nervous about the legs being numb,had this before with two of my babies,births. I sound like Ellie may here to. I dont know medical terms and spellings but anyways worried if my mom can handle jasmine all day. most of you got to come home quick? were you in pain ect,cause I’ll have jasmine when I go home til 7 tonight when my husband returns. a bit nervous..
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