One should not open letters intended for one's GP

[Cat of Ulthar]

Yesterday I had an ultrasound of my uterus done, great fun, having a woman whose name you don't even know poking around in your vagina with a plastic dildo and making pictures of what she finds inside. I mean, should I not at least have bought her flowers first?

She then gave me a sealed letter that I should give to my GP. I being Dutch was highly indignant that she gave me a sealed letter to give to my GP, meaning I should not read what she wrote about my uterus. In the Netherlands, all letters they give you are in an open envelope. So I opened it, and read it.

See, and that's what you should not do. The letter was in English, I am sure. But I don't have a scooby what she's on about.

Indication: Amenorrhoea Oooh, that sounds scary.:grey:

Uterine anomalies: Septate uterus. I what?

Endometrium clearly visualised I guess that's good?

Structure: Intact Well thank Gods for that.

No obvious adnexal masses seen Well, that sounds good. Wouldn't want no adnexal masses up my cunt, least of all obvious ones.

Right ovary: Morphology (I study morphology for fuck's sake! Why does this make no sense?): the appearances are polycystic. Hold on. I know that word. Polycystic means lots of cysts. Now I am getting worried, and stupid stupid me googles polycystic ovaries. Polycystic ovary syndrome? PCOS??? What??? I don't have PCOS!?

See, I should never have done that. I should have waited until my doctor's appointment tomorrow for her to explain the letter to me. I know patients who google their illnesses are every doctor's worst nightmare because they come up with all kinds of weird and wonderful diseases they may have. And now I am scared. Should have left the bloody thing sealed. There may be something to the British method. I mean, if I had to worry, she would have told me, right?

Aaah, bugger this. :(

[Megamieuwsel]

From the Wikipedia:
Amenorrhoea (BE), amenorrhea (AmE), or amenorrhœa, is the absence of a menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age. Physiological states of amenorrhoea are seen during pregnancy and lactation (breastfeeding), the latter also forming the basis of a form of contraception known as the lactational amenorrhea method. Outside of the reproductive years there is absence of menses during childhood and after menopause.
My guess?
Kitten Of Ulthar-The Human Edition will be released somewhere late 2009...

[Cat of Ulthar]

Great. Thanks Mieuw, you really eased my worries... Grah! Should have left closed! Want see doctor!

[Varaj]

Great. Thanks Mieuw, you really eased my worries... Grah! Should have left closed! Want see doctor!

Lack of period, sonogram shows polycystic ovaries. Sounds like PCOS. If you aren't trying to have kids PCOS isn't a bad thing, they will tell you to lose some weight and maybe go on the pill.

[Brynja]

She isn't overweight. The pill for the win?

[Cat of Ulthar]

The funny bit is, I don't have a lack of period. I have irregular periods, but they come alright, on average every five weeks I guess. I am not overweight, and I can't take the pill because it makes me suicidal.

I just can't imagine I'd have PCOS. Can it just suddenly appear? I have always been skinny, until I passed thirty, now I am of normal weight. I don't think I have too much testosterone, I have not overmuch hair growth or loss of head hair, and I always have had periods.

[Cat of Ulthar]

See, and that's why I should not read letters written in doctorese. I googled polycystic ovary instead of the full thing: Ovary: Morphology: the appearances are polycystic. How could I overlook morphology, my beloved subject (though I decided to study Arabic morphology instead of something useful like ovarian morphology).

First google hit, a medical article:

Polycystic Ovarian Morphology in Normal Women Does Not Predict the Development of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) is present in 25% of normal women in the absence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); however, the natural history of PCOM is unknown.

Phew. I have to admit I was really worried. That just shows how stupid I was trying to gain information about something I know nothing about. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, curiosity killed the cat, etc.

[Lady Fury]

Take a deep breath. It's going to be ok. You know my medial history and why I had a hysterectomy. You need to talk to your doc first then find out what your options are. I had irregular periods all my life because of the endometreosis. The only way they can find that is by doing a lap surgery. No ultrasound will show it. If you have PCOS then there are many treatment options. The biggest thing you need to consider is if you want kids one day. When I found out my issues I said I wanted a hysterectomy if they couldn't fix me and I was going to ok with the fact that I'd never have kids. Well we all know what happened after that.

What ever the diagnosis I'm certain that you'll be ok. :hug:

[Cat of Ulthar]

Take a deep breath. It's going to be ok. You know my medial history and why I had a hysterectomy. You need to talk to your doc first then find out what your options are. I had irregular periods all my life because of the endometreosis. The only way they can find that is by doing a lap surgery. No ultrasound will show it. If you have PCOS then there are many treatment options. The biggest thing you need to consider is if you want kids one day. When I found out my issues I said I wanted a hysterectomy if they couldn't fix me and I was going to ok with the fact that I'd never have kids. Well we all know what happened after that.

What ever the diagnosis I'm certain that you'll be ok. :hug:

Went to the doctor's today, she said the ovaries were alright as long as I still had my periods, and probably were the cause of my irregular periods. But the septate uterus may be a problem if I want kids (which I don't). Phew!

[Name Lips]

Doctorese is worse than legalese. You can understand just enough to scare you.

[Black Angel]

Well that's a relief for you! Glad things turned out generally ok!