Ovarian Cyst Surgery and Recovery and Return
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Hi. My name is Courtney Wahlstrom. I'm a 24 year old veterinary technician and stand up comic. For months, I've been having excruciatingly painful periods and generalized abdominal pain. I've been to doctor after doctor who just assured me that it was a typical heavy period.
This past Sunday, after severe pain and nausea I went to the emergency room, where they performed an ultrasound and found a large ovarian cyst measuring 9.7x9.5x6.9cm. For context, that's the size of a newborn babies head. Surgical intervention is recommended at 4cm, and I am two and a half times the size.
Due to the size alone, I've been in immense pain and have already missed work. I've used all of my sick and vacation time in the process of receiving a correct diagnosis. My job is great and is allowing me to take the time off, but it will all be unpaid.
After referral to a surgeon, the soonest availability for the procedure is Thursday, October 24th. Recovery at a minimum is 7 days, but due to the high physical nature of my job I may need additional time to recover.
My boyfriend and I are in the process of moving in together, and have already budgeted for an extra few hundred dollars in expenses but did not plan for me to lose at a minimum of two weeks of income. I do not have family in Arizona, and my mother passed away when I was 16. My boyfriend will be the sole caretaker of me post-operatively, and therefore will also be required to miss some work.
I honestly am at a loss. I am embarrassed, I am angry, I am ashamed but I do need help. I would love an opportunity to just rest, and get the surgery I need and get my life back on track.
I am asking for help, for the lost wages, the surgery itself, and any additional follow up visits. I am lucky that my insurance will cover a majority of the procedure, but when you are living paycheck to paycheck, $200 in copays is crippling.
If you've made it this far, thank you for at least hearing me out. This sucks, dude. I'm gonna go now. Thanks. *UPDATE* surgery has been done and I have been diagnosed with endometriosis, a chronic and painful condition. I’ve received the full cost of the surgery and because I have not met my deductible I will end up paying full price, which is a little over $5,000. I have adjusted the goal to include surgical costs as well as my lost wages. *UPDATE #2* I just found out my dog, Mr. Pickles. will need surgery as well, for a blocked salivary gland. Estimated surgery costs are at $700 and I will have to pay this up front. I wish I was kidding. I adopted him from El Paso in July and he is the absolute love of my life. Because of you guys I can pay this but no longer have my lost work wages or personal surgery covered. Anything helps. Thank you *UPDATE #3* I went to the ER for pain in the same region as the cyst. And it’s come back. Right now it is only at 3.2cm, but it is getting bigger quickly. I also learned the doctor did not remove any of the endometriosis that he found, so no matter what I will need surgery again to excise that tissue. I don’t know how soon I will need it, but if this cyst does not go away on it’s own I will need surgery. It has only been 3 weeks. I’m devastated. My baby boy did have his procedure and he is doing amazing. Thank you
This past Sunday, after severe pain and nausea I went to the emergency room, where they performed an ultrasound and found a large ovarian cyst measuring 9.7x9.5x6.9cm. For context, that's the size of a newborn babies head. Surgical intervention is recommended at 4cm, and I am two and a half times the size.
Due to the size alone, I've been in immense pain and have already missed work. I've used all of my sick and vacation time in the process of receiving a correct diagnosis. My job is great and is allowing me to take the time off, but it will all be unpaid.
After referral to a surgeon, the soonest availability for the procedure is Thursday, October 24th. Recovery at a minimum is 7 days, but due to the high physical nature of my job I may need additional time to recover.
My boyfriend and I are in the process of moving in together, and have already budgeted for an extra few hundred dollars in expenses but did not plan for me to lose at a minimum of two weeks of income. I do not have family in Arizona, and my mother passed away when I was 16. My boyfriend will be the sole caretaker of me post-operatively, and therefore will also be required to miss some work.
I honestly am at a loss. I am embarrassed, I am angry, I am ashamed but I do need help. I would love an opportunity to just rest, and get the surgery I need and get my life back on track.
I am asking for help, for the lost wages, the surgery itself, and any additional follow up visits. I am lucky that my insurance will cover a majority of the procedure, but when you are living paycheck to paycheck, $200 in copays is crippling.
If you've made it this far, thank you for at least hearing me out. This sucks, dude. I'm gonna go now. Thanks. *UPDATE* surgery has been done and I have been diagnosed with endometriosis, a chronic and painful condition. I’ve received the full cost of the surgery and because I have not met my deductible I will end up paying full price, which is a little over $5,000. I have adjusted the goal to include surgical costs as well as my lost wages. *UPDATE #2* I just found out my dog, Mr. Pickles. will need surgery as well, for a blocked salivary gland. Estimated surgery costs are at $700 and I will have to pay this up front. I wish I was kidding. I adopted him from El Paso in July and he is the absolute love of my life. Because of you guys I can pay this but no longer have my lost work wages or personal surgery covered. Anything helps. Thank you *UPDATE #3* I went to the ER for pain in the same region as the cyst. And it’s come back. Right now it is only at 3.2cm, but it is getting bigger quickly. I also learned the doctor did not remove any of the endometriosis that he found, so no matter what I will need surgery again to excise that tissue. I don’t know how soon I will need it, but if this cyst does not go away on it’s own I will need surgery. It has only been 3 weeks. I’m devastated. My baby boy did have his procedure and he is doing amazing. Thank you
Organizer
Courtney Wahlstrom
Organizer
Tempe, AZ