People frequently bear their burdens in silence, and the tale of 20-year-old Allison Fisher is proof of the unseen difficulties that many people encounter. Her agonizing experience with an expanding abdominal mass ultimately resulted in a second shot at life.
Fisher started having irregular menstrual periods and excruciating stomach discomfort at the beginning of 2020, which lasted for a whole year. Despite her pain, she refrained from getting help because she was afraid of being criticized for her weight, which had been a recurring issue in her previous medical experiences.
Via Ascension Healthcare Blog
The 20-year-old did not seek medical attention, acknowledging that she disliked seeing physicians since they would usually focus on her weight.
In an interview, she stated, "I let myself believe that if I ignored it, it would go away." "I was afraid. I was simply terrified. Then the Covid-19 outbreak struck, which increased her fear of getting medical attention.
She went on to discuss why she was reluctant to seek medical attention, Growing up, I was often told, 'You need to lose weight,' no matter what I was there for, like a cold or an ear infection. You must reduce your weight," she said. "What's the sense of attending if no one would listen to me and they will constantly tell me that I need to lose weight? Why should I pay attention to my body?
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However, Fisher's situation continued to deteriorate. A developing bulge on her tummy caught her attention. Her tummy soon grew "rock hard," making it difficult for her to stand for more than five minutes. Her belly had gotten so big that it was almost difficult for her to get behind the wheel, therefore she was also unable to drive a car. Fisher's cyst effectively prevented her from moving or doing anything.
When I examined it more closely, I saw that it was quite hard. The 20-year-old remembered her awful experience, saying, "I couldn't lay on it."
She said, "I felt like I was pregnant with ten kids." "I was unable to lie on my stomach. My organs felt like they were being crushed.
When the mass started making it hard for her to breathe around Christmas 2022, the 20-year-old eventually gave up and went to the doctor. Her mother's cancer diagnosis in 2021 further fueled her desire to learn more about her health and get medical attention as soon as possible, which is another reason she made the decision to visit a doctor.
The nervous young woman received the news from Ascension St. Vincent's gynecologic oncology surgeon, Dr. Martin Martino. She was informed that she had an ovarian cyst that weighed 104 pounds and contained around 46 liters of fluid. It would need to be removed medically.
He said that lung and cardiac doctors were also there because of the problems brought on by the cyst.
"Let's figure out a way to remove this," Martino remarked. The robotic treatment "truly took a team," according to physician assistant Nicole Antenucci.
Antenucci remarked, "We all felt so fortunate to be able to be a part of it, help her, and now be part of her journey moving forward."
The physician remembered his initial encounter with Fisher. She was having trouble breathing when we first met in the emergency department, according to Martino. It was just prior to Christmas. I told her, "Now's the time, let's do this," as she lay on her side.
Martino told the reporters, "What was really interesting in [Fisher's] case was that after we removed it, we looked at the other ovary because we could see it now, and the left ovary was twisted three times."
The medical staff aimed to minimize the harm as much as they could. "That [the left ovary] was about 10 centimeters that really helped us to be able to untwist it and save [Fisher's] future fertility and the chance to have kids," the doctor continued.
The enormous cyst was surgically removed from the 20-year-old's body. She described it as a "second chance" at life.
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"I can see my feet again, something I haven't been able to do in years," she said, reflecting on her renewed sense of vitality. She said, "I feel so much lighter—I feel like a person—and I can stand a little longer." "I am able to dress normally and perform tasks that other people can perform." I'm truly looking forward to what lies ahead as I begin the initial phases of weight-loss surgery.
The weeks, months, and possibly years that this young woman struggled alone out of dread of medical experts criticizing her weight are devastating. Many people are reluctant to consult a doctor because they fear that their health problems will be attributed to their weight.
Fisher remarked, "There are others out there in my situation, other people who are afraid to go to the doctor because of their weight." "I want them to understand that they shouldn't be afraid."
The 20-year-old is excited to engage in things that she was previously unable to perform because of a huge cyst that interfered with her everyday activities. Driving and cooking are two activities she enjoys.
In women, ovarian cysts are somewhat frequent. According to estimates from the Mayo Clinic, "many women have ovarian cysts at some time," and the majority "cause little or no discomfort and are harmless."
Being well is a tremendous blessing. This young woman uses her tale to encourage others who might be hesitant to see physicians because of their size after waiting so long to seek medical attention out of fear. She exhorts them to face their concerns and get the help they require.
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