Week 13

I've had a week to absorb the fact that I had a endometrioma, a.k.a. chocolate cyst, drained and that I've been diagnosed with Endometriosis.  I've done research and I've talked to my coworker Dr. Dave Hnida about it.  Dr. Dave put it eloquently.  "You're a rare case as it's not usual to find Endometriosis in a pregnant woman.  It's quite wonderful you were able to get pregnant.  Be happy."

Today (Friday, Feb. 26th) is my follow up check with my doctor to make sure I've healed and that no infection settled in.  My main concern is to stay healthy to keep baby healthy with hopes we can delay any procedure to remove the cyst until after baby is safely here.  Today I will find out.

Again the doctor starts off by checking on the baby.  Again I hear the music of my baby's heartbeat.  I relax.

During examination of the incision area the doctor shares good news and not-so-good news.  The good news is the area healed nicely and there is no infection.  The other news made my heart sink.  The cyst that was just drained was already filling again.  The doctor says it was already over 1cm in size and she could see through the skin she could see blue, which means it is the endometrioma and not just a blocked gland. 

She had me dressed and then we talked of the future.  The cyst isn't on my uterus, which is good.  It's location in fact doesn't harm baby at all.  However, when it fills it pushes against the urethra making it difficult to impossible to urinate, it does need to be removed soon, before baby is here. 

She described what would be done to dissect the cyst.  It would be an out-patient procedure and anesthesia would used to put me under.  She explained the best time for any surgery during pregnancy is the 2nd trimester when the baby is stronger than the 1st trimester and when the blood flow isn't as great as it will be in the 3rd trimester.  This lesser amount of blood flow to the uterus makes using anesthesia during the 2nd trimester safe for the baby.  The one unknown is if I will need a catheter or not after the procedure.  I pray that I don't.  I guess it will depend on how much swelling there is after the cyst is removed on whether or not I will need a catheter.

I handled this news much better than I thought I would.  I just took it in stride with calm deep breaths.  I thought of all the women who have struggled and lived with Endometriosis.  Women who have undergone surgery after surgery.  Women who had problems conceiving.  Women who haven't been able to conceive.  These women are the true victims and survivors of Endometriosis.

I know how lucky I am that I am pregnant.  I know how lucky that I am the cyst isn't near the uterus or ovaries, and that so far, only one cyst has been found.