journal/check up

Well today was an okay day. Matt went with me to Billings, along with my trusty sidekick Meredyth-off to Billings to "discuss" with Dr. Kent where to go from here. I wanted Matt in on the process of listening to Dr. Kent and figuring out what our options are to help us come to a decision we're both comfortable with. I also wanted to be an informed patient and not just say, "Well if the doc says I need surgery, then let's do it!" Right?! I'm 34! A hysterectomy is a big deal to me. I can't understand how women my age can do something like this and it NOT be a big deal. So, Dr. Kent went through it all and here is the DL----
-My uterus is 4 times it's normal size.
-there is a fibroid on the top/outside of my uterus.
-there is a polyp on the top/inside of my uterus.
-there is a (what they think most likely) is a dermoid cyst on my left ovary.
-the uterus and cyst will only get bigger.
-with my CA 125 number a nice low number (12)-there is only a slim chance of having ovarian cancer. (huge relief)
-BUT once removed, everything can be sent away and tested thoroughly. Decision time: -hysterectomy-(this is his recommendation)-removal of uterus, fallopian tubes, left ovary. He would leave the right ovary and I WOULD NOT go into menopause. Yay! On a side note, I recently read an article by Dr. Oz that stated hysterectomies are often times an unnecessary surgery for women. I discussed this with Dr. Kent. He said "Liz it's up to you, but I can tell you this.....Your uterus and cyst will only keep growing. They will not get better or go away. End of story." I discussed with him some of the annoying things happening in there and asked if they would be fixed. My needing to pee every half hour? Yes this should alleviate that as my uterus would no longer be pushing on my bladder, but he did point out that I need to lose weight as that weight is right now pressing on my uterus which makes it even heavier on my bladder. I also asked about my stomach. Of course my stomach is fat, but the past couple of years it seems so "bloated." It's because of my enlarged uterus!!! woot woot! I was beginning to think i was crazy, i mean I know I'm fat, but my stomach just seems so puffy all the time:( Removing the massive uterus should help with this also.
So, it's a done deal, I will get the surgery. we are just trying to figure out the best time. This surgery will mean 3 weeks of no driving and 4 weeks recovery total. This is a big deal for me. And apparently it is a big deal to my sweet sweet husband as we left the Dr. and he hugged me. He said he wants me to sleep on the way home from Billings. "You need to rest." he says. Huh?? I don't think I have ever had my husband be this kind. I think in many ways, he is so used to me constantly having something wrong with me, it didn't occur to him how serious this really could be. As Dr. Kent was explaining the catastrophe that is my abdominal insides, my husband just looked so serious and maybe even, dare I say, a little scared? Well I'll take all of the pampering I can get!
Off to bed now and I'll keep you all posted, please keep me in your prayers.