jarrettdooty
New member
I'm not sure where to put this on the board & I hope it won't be deleted.
I am overweight, 46 years of age, with a history of various illnesses including GERD, anxiety, depression, IBS, borderline ovarian cancer, etc. Last night I was getting ready to take a bath when I noticed a large mass to the left of my belly button. It doesn't hurt, although now that I know it's there I swear I can feel it! It's a little larger than my hand. I don't think it's been there for long or I would have noticed it sooner.
So, I went to my primary care's office today and she examined it. She told me she thought it could be either an incisional hernia because of the long scar I have that is just above my belly button and runs straight below it for at least 12 inches. This was from my hysterectomy I had five years ago. Or, she said it could be a lipoma, which is a benign growth of fat, or it could be stool trapped.
I just got over a bad case of the stomach bug and was on antibiotics for a tooth extraction. So, between those two things and IBS my gut doesn't feel very good.
She ordered xrays of my abdomen, and the results should come in tomorrow or Wednesday. Depending on the results, I may have to have a CT scan or ultrasound. I'm on pins and needles and am not thrilled about the idea of going through cancer again. I realize that what I had before may not even be considered a cancer, but according to my oncologist, who I see yearly, my tumor was "borderline." No chemo or radiation was required, I just see him for annual checkups.
What could this be? Ever since I got over my stomach bug the IBS has been acting up, and it's not unusual for me to have IBS with alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation. Right now my lower gut is sore and I feel constipated and I have to strain to go sometimes.
I'm scared out of my wits and don't know what to do. I would appreciate anyone's advice. Thanks!
I am overweight, 46 years of age, with a history of various illnesses including GERD, anxiety, depression, IBS, borderline ovarian cancer, etc. Last night I was getting ready to take a bath when I noticed a large mass to the left of my belly button. It doesn't hurt, although now that I know it's there I swear I can feel it! It's a little larger than my hand. I don't think it's been there for long or I would have noticed it sooner.
So, I went to my primary care's office today and she examined it. She told me she thought it could be either an incisional hernia because of the long scar I have that is just above my belly button and runs straight below it for at least 12 inches. This was from my hysterectomy I had five years ago. Or, she said it could be a lipoma, which is a benign growth of fat, or it could be stool trapped.
I just got over a bad case of the stomach bug and was on antibiotics for a tooth extraction. So, between those two things and IBS my gut doesn't feel very good.
She ordered xrays of my abdomen, and the results should come in tomorrow or Wednesday. Depending on the results, I may have to have a CT scan or ultrasound. I'm on pins and needles and am not thrilled about the idea of going through cancer again. I realize that what I had before may not even be considered a cancer, but according to my oncologist, who I see yearly, my tumor was "borderline." No chemo or radiation was required, I just see him for annual checkups.
What could this be? Ever since I got over my stomach bug the IBS has been acting up, and it's not unusual for me to have IBS with alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation. Right now my lower gut is sore and I feel constipated and I have to strain to go sometimes.
I'm scared out of my wits and don't know what to do. I would appreciate anyone's advice. Thanks!