Dermoid Cyst

[teigyr]

Marcie (I love your avatar so much!) -

I am so sorry you had concerns when you were riding. I'm glad you were riding, of course, because it'll make your recovery all the easier. Honestly, I think you'll go through it and think "is this all it was?" and be back on your bike far sooner than you think. Just, as people have said, be careful. The anesthetic whupped my backside pretty good and it tends to whenever I have surgery. Some recovery things are subtle too...healing takes energy. Just be nice to your body, realize it needs you right now, and don't get frustrated. I had jaw surgery a year ago and I'm just now coming around from it! Growing bone is difficult! There were good days then I'd have expectations and be frustrated because the next day wouldn't be better.

I'm so glad you found out what the problem is though. And if you want really perverse and icky reading, check out your pathology records after I did after the first one.

I bet anything after this you will be ok, not in pain, and riding as well as you were before you took the unexpected hiatus.

[makbike]

Teigyr

Thanks for the compliment about my avatar. It is a picture of my buddy Penelope. She was one of three kittens my dogs found in my shed last year. They were a week old when I took them in (feared my dogs would kill them and felt mom had abandon them). She is a wild girl with a ton of personality.

The long rides last weekend actually helped to lift my spirits. All I knew at that point, according to my doctor, was they had discovered a large mass in my pelvic region - no more, no less. As is human nature I started playing the "what if" game. In reality the worse part was trying to figure out if I should tell me parents or wait until I had the ultrasound and talked directly to my doctor the following week. I simply did not know how to handle this so after the ride on Sunday I called my oldest sister for some good old fashion sisterly advice. I knew she would be honest with me and help me figure out how to best handle the situation. So after two good days of riding, a great endorphrine rush and talking to my sister I felt mentally stronger.

At the moment I'm not worried at all about my upcoming surgery - I'm simply ready for them to remove the growth and ovary and begin my recovery. I know I have a huge circle of friends and family saying prayers for me and that too is a giant comfort.

I've been reading about dermoid cyst, teratomas or "monster tumors" this week. The pictures are rather gross but also pretty cool - amazing what they find in these growths - hair, teeth, thyroid tissue, etc. Nature does some strange things is all I can say.

I'm going to be okay and I know it. Life is good this I know. Whatever comes my way I'll handle as best I can and if necessary I'll put up a good fight.

[snapdragen]

Yup, you'll be fine. With all the good vibes being sent your way, it can't be any other way!

A friend of mine had an ovarian cyst -- 9 pounds worth! Her's was major surgery in that it had actually grown up into her chest. She's fine and dandy now - although she no longer has a belly button because of the incision they had to make.

[teigyr]

I will send good thoughts your way on the 12th. I will be getting my braces (good thing, no?!) so I think that means good things will happen for both of us that day. Nature does some very strange things. I remember reading about the teeth and hair and just thinking "what?!!! "!!

I'm so glad they caught it early. They can get very large, mine was 11 x something, can't remember. That was the first one. The second was spiked and was about to puncture intestine. I have a scar from my navel on down (first one) and another one that is straight across hip-to-hip. I'm envious that you won't have muscle trauma there! I think that'll make your recovery very fast. It's also good that they are willing to do the surgery that way, if there was any risk of having it be potentially bad, they would open you up.

Penelope looks like one of my fur kids named Brigit. Brigit's pretty wild too but is also very affectionate. She's so funny because she chooses her battles; she stays curled up on the couch until she senses immediate danger to her specifically, not the other cats. She knows when the carrier is meant for her and when it isn't!

Are you stocked up on books and/or magazines? Think of it as a chance to catch up on all that stuff you wanted to read. I bet you'll be surrounded by cats at most times! Is there anything you need?

[makbike]

Teigyr - I picked up the book on Einstein to read during my "couch time." I also have a stack of National Geographics I want to enjoy. I'm positive I'll have lots of cat help.

There really isn't anything I need at the moment. The basement repair guys are right on schedule to finishing their work by Friday. The new gutters will arrive Friday afternoon. BF, my dad and I will put the new gutters on my house/garage on Saturday. New driveway goes down on Monday. I'll hopefully get my house back in order before my surgery on Tuesday. There is so much to be done but I know it will all be completed on time and I won't have to worry about any of it during my recovery. My focus will be on getting well and back on my feet/bike.

[teigyr]

Marcie, how are you doing???

[makbike]

I'm alive and kicking, well maybe not kicking but I'm up and about. I'm moving slowly and am bored, very bored.

My doctor told my parents that the cyst and ovary were softball size so it appears "Junior" was growing like a weed for only two weeks ago he was just the size of a tennis ball. The growth was benign and that was by far the best news of all.

I'm very bruised on the right side and the bruising appears and feels like it is very deep. My guess is this must have been the side they worked out of for the left side (the side with the growth) feels great and has little bruising. I've been putting ice packs on my right side to help reduce some of the bruising and swelling and it does seem to be helping.

I took three short walks yesterday, each about 1/2 mile or so. I walked about 3/4 miles this morning and am planning on another walk this afternoon. My mom took me to Wal-mart this morning so I could do some shopping (I can't drive until tomorrow). It felt great to be out of the house albeit brief.

Yesterday was not a good day mainly because of the discomfort from the bruising. Today is a bit better and I know with each passing day I'll feel better and stronger. I just have to figure out how to reduce my boredom levels.

So all in all life is good. Thanks for asking about me.