Ovarian Cysts
 

Who has gone through this hell? I made a 2:00 AM trip to the ER Friday morning and had one that was about to rupture. It was 7.5 cm and a complex cyst. Worst pain I've ever had. I think it ruptured in the wee hours of the morning Saturday...and I'm on the up and up now...just resting. But it was terrible!! Anyone other ladies go through this?

Men, it will slightly make me smile if you write that you've gone through it...I know you want to.

Girrrrrrl, me too!




(Did it work?)

I think the worst pain a fella can go thru is a kidney stone....

Thanks gents! Yeah, they thought it might have been a kidney stone at first...and then they thought it was my appendix...and they settled on a massive ovarian cyst.

whitedaisy, i am sorry to learn that you are having ovarian cyst trouble. i have not had the trouble you just went thru, but have had friends who have-and as you say, they went thru hell! i am glad that you are feeling better now, and the er was able to figure out what was going on. i'm sure you and your husband were very anxious and worried. (((hugs to you)))

I luckily haven't had to go through it, but one of my good friends from college did. (She was just out of school.) And she got some inadequate medical care with the ER. Apparently, they assumed any young women presenting with abdominal pain must have Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and gave her some antibiotics and sent her on her way.

My friend knew she didn't have PID; her funny comment to me was that she couldn't have it unless she could give it to herself (since she wasn't sexually active). But because, I guess once the cyst ruptured she didn't really have any more symptoms, she didn't follow up as much as she should have, which of course isn't the ER's fault.

Several years later, she experienced another cyst on the same ovary and in the course of treatment they discovered pretty pronounced necrosis related to the first cyst in her ovary and she had to have the whole ovary removed.

So basically, make sure you get some good follow up care. And yes, she said the pain from the cyst was excruciating.

I had one, or they think I did. I had the excruciating pain. Of course, that pain tends to be caused by it rupturing and once it ruptures, they can't find anything. It was explained to me that the fluid from it irritates everything it touches which causes the pain and that's also why they often think it's something else. I also get them on my ova, on a monthly basis, and they burst when I'm ovulating so I always know when that's happening, which side, etc. Motrin takes care of that pain and they are obviously pretty small, so the pain is less widespread but that big one, the pain made me dizzy it was so bad. That was 9 years ago and I haven't had another ovarian one, so it won't necessarily be a recurring problem.

WD I'm glad you are feeling better! That does not sound like fun at all.

The same thing happened to a close coworker of mine, but in the middle of the day. At first they thought it was her appendix, but it was concluded it was a big ruptured cyst :(

I guess the need for follow up must depend on the kind of cyst.

While I have never been through what you just did, I'm sending my get well wishes.
((((hugs))))

They watched me carefully for a while afterward, but after a few years of nothing new, they let it go.

Yes, I know the pain all too well.

Yep, they had me go through a CAT scan and an ultrasound looking for kidney stones and appendicitis...the ultrasounds showed the cyst. I have a follow up appointment tomorrow. Yeah, my poor newly wed husband was terrified! I was so sad that our first ultrasound together was not for a baby! Haha. Things are looking up though. :-)

A friend of mine in HS had a pretty severe one. She was told that if she could get through that pain, child birth would seem like nothing. So with that, you are in my thoughts for a speedy recovery, lol.

My mom had this problem when I was a senior in high school. My dad had to take her to the ER and she was in the hospital for some time. The doctors said had she not gotten prompt treatment it could have proved fatal.

Sorry, don't have any ovaries, but my mom went through it so I'm sorry and hope you're doing alright.

I had one that was removed when I was 16 years old... I thought I had one when last year, but, it turned out to be bootirrific horrible cramps. The physicians said to take Aleve (prescription strength) because the amount of prostaglandins that cause the inflammation and bloating.

A former coworker of my actually had hers to rupture. It literally took the ovary over to her other side. There was no other recourse but to remove the ovary. She couldn't walk that fast for ~2-3 months or up stairs all the fast.

All I got to say is watch yourself, you know your body the best. And when you have an inkling that you think you cannot do it, just let it be and don't do it... Listen to your healthcare providers and take the appropriate meds they give to you. What you had is serious.

Ohh, sister, I am glad you are ok!!! That must have been so scary for you guys! Get lots of rest, and take care of yourself!!

(((WhiteDaisy)))

hope you feel better

I had a 6 cm one on my left ovary 4 years ago, I would have the worst pain ever to the point that I couldnt stand and no pain medicine I took helped and after 2 months of complaining to drs they finally decided to give me an ultrasound. At first they kept telling me to take advil and it would pass, that it was stress related, or I need to switch BCPs and then when they ran out of other stories they gave me an ultrasound which is when they found it. They were afraid it would rupture so I ended up getting it surgically removed which was not fun...mine was also a complex cyst...

Funny you should have posted this because I have a feeling I may have another cyst (due to a lot of recent pain) and I'm going in for an ultrasound tomorrow...

Haha! It must have been a male doctor who told her that! Just like the one who told me that labor pains weren't any worse than gas pains and I believed him, until I went through labor.

Childbirth pain beats ovarian cyst pain--take it from a veteran of both, although both are horrific. It's just that you can get an epidural for labor.

I also had a cyst removed in 2002. Funny thing was, I had no idea it was even there. It was during a routine visit to the OB/GYN when my Doctor told me he felt something. He's said, "it feels large, it doesn't bother you?" I was in no pain. And I don't believe I was in immediate danger for it to rupture, but I was scheduled for an ultrasound and ultimately, surgery the following week.

The operation itself was no problem, but the fact that I was allergic to Vicodin, did slow down my recovery. It was probably the most severe pain I've ever felt. I thought I would be able to get back up and go to work in a few days. And I tried! Just three days later. I was in a blur. I don't remember driving to work, feeling completely horrible and being told to go home and go back to bed! I must have looked like death!

Just relax, get some rest and good luck with your recovery!

I'm glad you're feeling better White Daisy!! I have heard from friends that these things are NOT FUN!!!

my mom did...Dr. kellog in the fulton county regional hospital is who she recommends to anyone in the atl area.

yup- I had that pain back in 1996-98. I had them every month and then a large enough one that it sent me to the ER. They finally discovered what was going on. They put me on BC and since then I haven't had any problems.
Something to talk to your doc about for sure!

To all Sisters, Greek or not:

Please go for a second opinion if a doctor tells you not to worry, that it's nothing and will go away with Advil or some other OTC drug.

I had a gynecologist tell me I had a yeast infection when I knew the kind of pain I was experiencing could not possibly be something so simple. I found another gynecologist recommended by my Internist and he immediately hospitalized me, did a D & C, an endometrial biopsy and hysteroscopy and found cancer. When the oncologist operated, he found both Stage 3 ovarian and uterine cancer. I am now doing 6 rounds of chemo (4 to go) and should recover completely. Your body will tell you when something does not add up, so pay attention. You may have to see several doctors until you find the right one, but if it saves your life, it is worth it.

I wish there were an easier way to detect ovarian cancer. Usually by the time it is found, it is too late. I am one of the lucky ones in that I had a good doctor who was concerned for my health and did the right thing.

Please don't ignore the symptoms because a doctor gave you information that made your problem seem minor. When pain brings you to your knees, find the right doctor who will take your problems seriously. No one knows your body better than you.

Wishing all of you the best of health.

Paula M.
Sigma Delta Tau
ΣΔTPatriae Multi Spes Una One Hope of Many People

I second what paulam says, don't let any doctor dismiss your concerns about your body for any reason. I found a lump at the end of last February and because of my age and family history (breast cancer in great aunts, other cancers for parents and grandparents) they blew me off and it took my ear nose and throat surgeon to take my medical concerns seriously.

He refused to do the surgery until we knew and sent me to the cancer center in Spokane he trusted. I don't know what the hell happened but my medical records weren't sent, no mammogram was scheduled, and it took almost FOUR MONTHS from the time I found the lump until I got mammograms. I'm thrilled to not have any malignant growths but if I had I'd have lost precious treatment time.

The most annoying this was that the doctors who blew me off were women and then I found other women my age who had the same treatments, and two of them weren't as lucky as me with their diagnoses.

Dear Vanda Squirrel,

I am so glad to hear that you finally received an accurate diagnosis. Doctors and nurses need more training in this area and women need to learn to stand up for themselves.

Please keep me posted on how your treatment progresses. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Fraternally,

Paula M.
Sigma Delta Tau
ΣΔTPatriae Multi Spes Una One Hope of Many People

I'm going back in for a follow up and I'm glad you're doing well! My grandmother was diagnoses with ovarian cancer and died within a few days so I know how rapidly it can spread and how critical (and for all cancers essentially) quick and proper treatment is.

Back to cysts, have any of you ladies who have had that painful experience also had endometriosis issues? If you don't want to share publicly I've got my PMs turned on. Just curious.

I've (just recently) been through a slightly similar situation... And believe me it is something I wouldn't wish on even my worst enemy... The pain is excruciating, but luckily, unlike the person a few posts above (Scully) I'm not allergic to anything. While the Painkillers did (and still do) kinda make my stomach uneasy, it's bearable compared to the pain you would have to handle with out it. It helps when you have someone that you are close to that can be there for you. My best friend (who happens to be my cousin AND roommate) has been a blessing throughout the entire ordeal and I am so thankful to have her since my mom and sister are about 1,100 miles away...

well, my mom just got over having ovarian cancer this past summer, and she was stage three[out of four] and so i ended up having to get checked for everything...i had one cyst on my left ovary that was continually rupturing[as in for weeks at a time, it would just keep on going..] and then they think a new one is on that same ovary and i have a new one on my right ovary possibly. so, i know how you feel. try getting on birth control, it helps to shrink cysts and prevents future cysts from growing.

i'll be praying for you : ]

Gosh, y'all...it seems like the worst thing in the world when your in the midst of it, but when you realize what others have gone through it becomes somewhat minimized. Mine was 'horrible' at the time, but it's long gone. In spring 1988, I had my first laparoscopy for about 20 cysts. The pain was excruciating & the surgery worked. In 1991, found another 6cm cyst: protocol was to cut at 5cm, but because I'd been there before, they offered the option of trying to shrink it with meds. I chose that route. December 1992 was my second surgery. The wonderful Ob/Gyn said that the way my body was reacting to ovulation meant I'd be there every 4 years until I gave birth. Baby #1 was born in 1996 (after 1994 wedding!). I'm nearly 6 years after baby #3, with no discernable recurrence.
If a doctor isn't reasonably sympathetic, go elsewhere. Even with HMOs and limited choices and distant appt times, you can jump up and down and get in somewhere else. My doc was known for being a little less than marvelous with his bedside manner, but if you ask for his time you'll find he's loving & LISTENS and doesn't take things lightly. Everyone deserves this kind of care.
God Bless those of you in the midst of cyst pain and certainly those who have endured cancer.
And, yes, epidurals make for good memories of childbirth! Every disclaimer they make you sign is SO worth it!