Ovarian Cysts

[JennRN]

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!!

[nancyagd86]

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!

[neosoul]

(((WhiteDaisy)))

hope you feel better

[HBADPi]

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...

[paulam]

Originally Posted by HBADPi

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...

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

[VandalSquirrel]

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.

[paulam]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

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.

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

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by paulam

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.

[Scully]

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!

[Jimmy Choo]

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

[kappa_delta]

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

[ilovemyglo]

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!

[KonfidentOne]

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...

[deezeelove]

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 : ]

[CatStarESP4]

Christmas of 2005, I became violently ill with what I thought was something I ate that didn't agree with me. My mom thought it was something else, but I told her it couldn't be. More than a month later, I started feeling pain in my right side. I was taken first to urgent care and they sent me to the ER (they were concerned that I could have appendicitis) where I was diagnosed with an ovarian teratoma. After meeting with my gynocologist the next day, she referred me to a gynocological surgeon since the tumor had to come out. Almost two months after the diagnosis, I underwent surgery to have the tumor removed. It turned out they had to remove an entire ovary. Fortunately, it was benign. I still have the other one and I am scared that I will lose that one too.

It took me a few weeks to fully recover from the surgery. I also missed about two and half weeks of class as a result.