Pre-Surgery...in a Foreign Country (well not that foreign anymore)

So it has been four months since I went to the gynecologist, here in San Jose, Costa Rica, for a routine girly annual checkup (pap smear). I also went in to get an ultrasound to check on the position of my IUD. Since I don’t speak Spanish fluently I called every doctor office listed in the phone book looking for an English speaking doctor. I finally found one who, I found out when I got there, doesn’t exactly speak fluent English either. But between the both of us we figured out how to communicate. The good news I discovered during our hour appointment, which should have probably be a half hour appointment, but because of the tricky communication took longer, was he, Dr. Dam, is an extremely nice, patient and knowledgeable doctor. The bad news I found out during the ultrasound is that I have a mass (tumor) in my right ovary. As soon as he told me this I started freaking out. A what!!! Really, is it cancerous…am I going to die!! No, no he assured me it has all characteristics of a non-cancerous tumor but does need to be removed.

A few weeks later I had a spur of the moment trip back to the US to visit with my family. (If you remember I blogged about my trip back home in April before I started work/ teaching in May.) So, I figured why not go see an American doctor to get a second opinion while at home. The American doctor gave me the same results. Yes, I have a mass in my right ovary which looks benign but should be removed.

So, now months later it’s July and I am going into surgery tomorrow morning, here in San Jose, Costa Rica. I still have my same doctor, Dr. Dam, whom will be doing the surgery as well. I am confident in him and both Ryan and I believe everything will go smoothly. I am having a laparoscopic surgery and will be out of work for two weeks recovering. Though the doctor says I should be feeling fine after week I still need to take it easy for a while.

Bummer, no aerobics for a while.

Well, that’s it for now. I will get back with you with a Post-Op update. Wish me luck!!!

written by

ryan & debbrial on July 30, 2010 from San Jose, Costa Rica

from the travel blog: Us Discovering the Latin Americas

Send a Compliment

i am moved by your blog, thank you. asupershoes.com

written by lisa on December 21, 2010

comment on this...