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Hey everyone. I just stumbled on this site yesterday and am really excited to see that such a great support network exists. I was diagnosed with a mixed germ cell tumor in 1995 at the age of 18 and there really was nothing (at least nothing that was easy to find) out there for us back then.
Anyway, here it goes. About five weeks ago now I began noticing a familiar ache in my lower abdomen. Within about a week, it became obvious that the pain seemed to be tied in some way to my remaining testicle. I went to see the doc once I realized this, hoping that I may have injured it somehow, or that it was just a case of epididymitis. The doc gave me Motrin--affectionately referred to in the military as Vitamin M due to the common belief among military doctors that it has a miraculous ability to cure anything--and said to wait it out a couple of weeks and see if the pain gets better. I kept a close eye on it for those couple of weeks and although I still don't feel a lump, the testicle size and shape have changed and the pain has remained a constant dull ache throughout.
(Note: During my first bout with TC--and being a non-seminoma--my tumor markers were incredibly elevated. I have had those same tumor markers monitored since and although they came back a little high in March and June, they are nowhere near the level they were when we know I actually had the cancer.)
I was referred to and saw a Urologist on Thursday who reordered labs, along with a ultrasound and chest x-ray, which I had on Friday. Once again, the wait begins.
Now I get to the reason I am posting on this thread. I have had many ultrasounds throughout the years but this one just seemed different--could be all in my head though. During the initial part of the procedure the tech was talkative and actually paid attention to what I was saying. As she got to the lower part of my testicle (the source of the pain) her demeanor changed and she pretty much ignored me. She also began snapping images as a much higher rate as well as saying she had to change the attachment so she could "measure this." The final thing that got me was that she told me twice to stay in the room while she showed the film to the radiologist, the second time she even said "Make sure you don't leave."
I fully expected her and the radiologist to return and say sorry dude, that thing is coming out tonight. It didn't happen that way though. She returned and said just this "You're good to go, your doctor should get the results in two to three business days." No friendly send off, not even a goodnight or goodbye.
Here are my questions for anyone that has ultrasound experience:
1. I realize that it is against protocol for the tech to give me any form of results but has anyone out there been sent away for more than a couple of days when the results clearly showed a mass?
2. Has anyone had an ultrasound where the tech didn't say something along the lines of "Everything looks alright from my end."?
3. I don't remember anyone ever saying they needed to measure something. Is it common to measure the testicle itself?
Sorry this is so lengthy and please know I am not looking for any definitive answers, just a discussion to pass the time until Wednesday. Thanks in advance for any replies.
J
Anyway, here it goes. About five weeks ago now I began noticing a familiar ache in my lower abdomen. Within about a week, it became obvious that the pain seemed to be tied in some way to my remaining testicle. I went to see the doc once I realized this, hoping that I may have injured it somehow, or that it was just a case of epididymitis. The doc gave me Motrin--affectionately referred to in the military as Vitamin M due to the common belief among military doctors that it has a miraculous ability to cure anything--and said to wait it out a couple of weeks and see if the pain gets better. I kept a close eye on it for those couple of weeks and although I still don't feel a lump, the testicle size and shape have changed and the pain has remained a constant dull ache throughout.
(Note: During my first bout with TC--and being a non-seminoma--my tumor markers were incredibly elevated. I have had those same tumor markers monitored since and although they came back a little high in March and June, they are nowhere near the level they were when we know I actually had the cancer.)
I was referred to and saw a Urologist on Thursday who reordered labs, along with a ultrasound and chest x-ray, which I had on Friday. Once again, the wait begins.
Now I get to the reason I am posting on this thread. I have had many ultrasounds throughout the years but this one just seemed different--could be all in my head though. During the initial part of the procedure the tech was talkative and actually paid attention to what I was saying. As she got to the lower part of my testicle (the source of the pain) her demeanor changed and she pretty much ignored me. She also began snapping images as a much higher rate as well as saying she had to change the attachment so she could "measure this." The final thing that got me was that she told me twice to stay in the room while she showed the film to the radiologist, the second time she even said "Make sure you don't leave."
I fully expected her and the radiologist to return and say sorry dude, that thing is coming out tonight. It didn't happen that way though. She returned and said just this "You're good to go, your doctor should get the results in two to three business days." No friendly send off, not even a goodnight or goodbye.
Here are my questions for anyone that has ultrasound experience:
1. I realize that it is against protocol for the tech to give me any form of results but has anyone out there been sent away for more than a couple of days when the results clearly showed a mass?
2. Has anyone had an ultrasound where the tech didn't say something along the lines of "Everything looks alright from my end."?
3. I don't remember anyone ever saying they needed to measure something. Is it common to measure the testicle itself?
Sorry this is so lengthy and please know I am not looking for any definitive answers, just a discussion to pass the time until Wednesday. Thanks in advance for any replies.
J
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