Scared, scarred, and alone
This is an emotional release. If not appropriate, please feel free to remove my post.
I am crying with joy and relief at having found this forum. To all of you who have posted, and to the wonderful Mayo Clinic and volunteers moderating, I give you my most heartfelt appreciation. You have made me feel brave enough to speak for the first time about my experience.
I was first diagnosed with vulvar cancer in 1995 when I was in my mid-30s. I had a partial vulvectomy which unreasonably traumatized me because I had no support system and stupidly felt shame. I avoided gynecologists after because of that shame--misguided as I know that is. Fast forward to the start of COVID and I began having pain while sitting. There were no immunizations for COVID at that point and I was afraid to go to the doctor for fear of contracting it. By the time immunizations were available, I had a full blown tumor on the left side extending into the crease of my thigh. I was completely bedbound, unable to sit or drive and can not even stand / walk without issue. I will spare you the bathroom issues my ignorance has caused me but it has greatly exacerbated things and contributes to not being able to leave home. I am a kidney stone sufferer with two PCNL in my past, one on each kidney. I need to stay well hydrated, so that is a complication I have to consider.
Urinary issues aside, I discovered by keeping a food diary that my pain was elevated whenever I ate food that contained too much oxalates (my stones were caused by infection, not oxalates, for what that is worth). Some nights I have to pee every hour, so now I stay awake at night and sleep in segments throughout the day. My rectum has become severely constricted and I have issues with getting even a small bowel movement to push through. I don't have words to describe the level of pain that causes. I literally pant and cry out involuntarily from the pain that causes. Thankfully, I live alone so I am spared the embarrassment of another person seeing me like that.
I recently discovered the Mayo Clinic low fiber diet, merged that with an oxalate list I got from Harvard, and after strictly adhering to the low fiber / low oxalate diet, my pain level has actually started to subside. It is the first time I have felt any hope that I might one day be able to leave my house and get the care I need. Then I found the Mayo Clinic oxalate list and am working on incorporating that new info. I am so very grateful to you Mayo Clinic.
I realize I have been my own worst enemy. I don't know why I feel such terror but am I absolutely traumatized by this. I just felt the need to reach out and talk to someone. I hope this isn't upsetting to anyone and again I thank you all for what you do and for making this resource available. Most of all, thank you to all the much braver women than I who through their posts have finally removed my shame and given me courage. I don't know you, but I love you. Thank you.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Gynecologic Cancers Support Group.
The cancer had not spread.
No lymph nodes were involved.
Did not spread to any lymph nodes.