Ladies, another question about ovarian cysts

[Tiggeroo]

sorry to ask for more help but here goes. I had gone to the ob due to extreme pms symptoms and a good deal of lower abdominal discomfort and lower back pain. They did an ultrasound that found a fairly large complex ovarian cyst, a smaller cyst on the other side and a good deal of fibroids. I was told I would need monthly ultrasounds to see if this resolved. I had my second ultra sound 2 days ago and a dr. visit yesterday. Over the past month the pain has gotten better and then come back several times, but it is gradually subsiding some. Yesterday at the dr's appt. the pain was there and the exam was uncomfortable. Then she pulled my ultrasound results from the day before and said the cyst had resolved and all was well. However, my uterus is enlarged and she could tell this from the exam. She said this is likely due to the fibroids. I asked her about the pain I was in and she said maybe it is coming from my back. Uh, no. My lower center abdomen and pelvic area hurt and feel bloated.
So what I am wondering is, if this cyst just ruptured (I have had moments with a good deal of pain) could the area still be sore. The pain is worst if my bladder is even a little full and feels worst right after I go to the bathroom either 1 or 2. I am planning on giving this a week to ten days to see if I feel better. If not I have to see somebody else but not really sure who. If you had cysts did you feel sore for some time afterwards? If you have fibroids how bad do they bother you?

 

[Kristina]

sorry to ask for more help but here goes. I had gone to the ob due to extreme pms symptoms and a good deal of lower abdominal discomfort and lower back pain. They did an ultrasound that found a fairly large complex ovarian cyst, a smaller cyst on the other side and a good deal of fibroids. I was told I would need monthly ultrasounds to see if this resolved. I had my second ultra sound 2 days ago and a dr. visit yesterday. Over the past month the pain has gotten better and then come back several times, but it is gradually subsiding some. Yesterday at the dr's appt. the pain was there and the exam was uncomfortable. Then she pulled my ultrasound results from the day before and said the cyst had resolved and all was well. However, my uterus is enlarged and she could tell this from the exam. She said this is likely due to the fibroids. I asked her about the pain I was in and she said maybe it is coming from my back. Uh, no. My lower center abdomen and pelvic area hurt and feel bloated.
So what I am wondering is, if this cyst just ruptured (I have had moments with a good deal of pain) could the area still be sore. The pain is worst if my bladder is even a little full and feels worst right after I go to the bathroom either 1 or 2. I am planning on giving this a week to ten days to see if I feel better. If not I have to see somebody else but not really sure who. If you had cysts did you feel sore for some time afterwards? If you have fibroids how bad do they bother you?

I think you should see another Dr. and right away too. I had a cyst years ago and although I had no pain I had surgery to remove it. The Doctor said afterwards that it had grown rapidly and was the size of a grapefruit and that the surgery was more complicated than they expected. I think your case sounds really worrying and would seriously want a second opinion and I wouldn't wait!

 

[indygirl99]

I vote for a second opinion also and I would recommend you go to a general surgeon NOT and OB.

I ruptured an ovarian cyst because an OB kept futzing around with me and it was the worse pain ever. Even worse than when I ruptured a disc in my back. I had some major complications because of the futzing around.

Please don't wait go see someone as soon as you can get in. Sending good vibes your way that everything is okay.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

I have fibroids and history of cysts. I am constantly running to the bathroom, I have pain mostly on my right side and I also have some back pain. I went to two OB doctors to get their opinions on my situation. I had ultrasound done that showed a few fibroids and the doctor gave me different ways to deal with the fibroids. I tried birth control for a little bit and that did nothing for it. In fact, it made me feel worse. I tried some natural ways as well and that helped for a little bit. Anyway, I ended up in the ER because I thought I had appendicitist, but it turned out to be my fibroids. In fact, I have way more fibroids than the ultrasound showed. A CT can give you a better picture of the fibroids. I have a few large ones that are making my uterus 5 months pregnant and they are causing pain and pressure. Also making me have to pee too much!

I personally would get a second or third opinion.
I decided on a hysterectomy because I just can't live like this anymore.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I don't mind talking about this if it can help someone else.

I had the type of pain you describe as well as fibroids, uterine enlargement, and ovarian cysts from time to time. Had several ultrasounds, CTs, an endometrial biopsy, etc. which never showed anything alarming. Over time, the pain got worse. Way worse. To the point where sometimes I had trouble walking. (During my last trip to WDW I was in agony.) I had two gyns with differing opinions - one recommended hysterectomy and the other thought we could try more conservative treatments. I opted for the latter. Until one night last fall, I hemorrhaged. Badly. Lost a lot of blood and it really never stopped, for weeks. Pain got so bad there were times I was screaming out and could barely walk at all. So I opted then for the hyst. Doctor told me afterward I had something called adenomyosis, which was never diagnosed beforehand. (Even with MRI it's only diagnosed about half the time.) I won't gross everyone out here, but if you look at a picture of it you will realize it's no wonder there were pain and bleeding issues. Ugh. (There are basically holes in the uterine tissue.) Anyway, the recovery was rough (wound up having ovaries, tubes and cervix out, too, and surgery took two extra hours because my uterus was so enlarged) but the pain is completly gone, thank God, and it's so nice to not have to worry about that anymore. When I researched adenomyosis, it seems a lot more women have it than we realize, but somehow it's not very well known. So it's something to look into. (Not just you, OP, but others who might be reading, too, who can relate to these issues.) Good luck. Living with that pain is very difficult. (Everyone told me my pain was from fibroids, too, but I don't think it was, in retrospect.)

Oh, and your use of the term bloating is concerning, as it is a term often used (not to scare you) to describe symptoms of ovarian cancer - the disease whose symptoms "whisper". Keep on it. Find a doctor who will listen to you. (I can't say I was overly impressed with my gyn team, unfortunately, but at least they finally got the job done. I had to figure out lots of things on my own, though. They also seemed relatively indifferent to my pain issues, which was so disheartening at times.)

 

[AquamarineSteph]

I agree with the others that a second opinion could do you a world of good. I had ovarian cysts and fibroids, and the pain could be intense and debilitating. I also had a cyst rupture, and the only good part of that conversation was the fact that I could go, see? Picture proof on the CT. I TOLD you I was in pain.

In my case, they did two surgeries. The first one removed the right ovary because the cyst had grown an alarming amount. The second surgery was a complete hysterectomy because the cysts continued to return.

I wish I had known at the time (this was ages ago) that this happens more frequently than I realized then. I probably wouldn't have been as freaked out as I was, but I didn't know back then how common this can be. Now that doesn't mean it's not painful, and that doesn't mean it doesn't require treatment. It surely does. But you definitely need to find a doctor who will listen to you and not dismiss or ignore what you're describing. Once I found a gynecologist who would listen to me we were able to make major progress.

Bottom line - nobody knows your body like you. You're doing the right thing to keep asking questions! I hope you feel better soon!!!

 

[Tiggeroo]

When I originally made the appointment I wasn't in pain. It was because I felt like it was always hard to empty my bladder. I would go and it wouldn't feel like I was finished and then a few minutes later I felt like I had to go again. I thought I had a prolapse uterus which I do a little. These posts have been a big help. I am going to get a second oppinion. I think work all of the ultrasounds I am clear for ovarian cancer although when the pain started I lost a lot of sleep thinking about that. I was just wondering if I needed to see a gastro dr or get a 2nd obgyn oppinion. I think I'm going with the obgyn. I am up now because I have to go to the bathroom and it made my side hurt again.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

I don't mind talking about this if it can help someone else.

I had the type of pain you describe as well as fibroids, uterine enlargement, and ovarian cysts from time to time. Had several ultrasounds, CTs, an endometrial biopsy, etc. which never showed anything alarming. Over time, the pain got worse. Way worse. To the point where sometimes I had trouble walking. (During my last trip to WDW I was in agony.) I had two gyns with differing opinions - one recommended hysterectomy and the other thought we could try more conservative treatments. I opted for the latter. Until one night last fall, I hemorrhaged. Badly. Lost a lot of blood and it really never stopped, for weeks. Pain got so bad there were times I was screaming out and could barely walk at all. So I opted then for the hyst. Doctor told me afterward I had something called adenomyosis, which was never diagnosed beforehand. (Even with MRI it's only diagnosed about half the time.) I won't gross everyone out here, but if you look at a picture of it you will realize it's no wonder there were pain and bleeding issues. Ugh. (There are basically holes in the uterine tissue.) Anyway, the recovery was rough (wound up having ovaries, tubes and cervix out, too, and surgery took two extra hours because my uterus was so enlarged) but the pain is completly gone, thank God, and it's so nice to not have to worry about that anymore. When I researched adenomyosis, it seems a lot more women have it than we realize, but somehow it's not very well known. So it's something to look into. (Not just you, OP, but others who might be reading, too, who can relate to these issues.) Good luck. Living with that pain is very difficult. (Everyone told me my pain was from fibroids, too, but I don't think it was, in retrospect.)

Oh, and your use of the term bloating is concerning, as it is a term often used (not to scare you) to describe symptoms of ovarian cancer - the disease whose symptoms "whisper". Keep on it. Find a doctor who will listen to you. (I can't say I was overly impressed with my gyn team, unfortunately, but at least they finally got the job done. I had to figure out lots of things on my own, though. They also seemed relatively indifferent to my pain issues, which was so disheartening at times.)

Pea-n-me, thank you for this post. My hysterectomy is in a in a few days and I am having anxiety about the entire thing. I keep going back and forth on my decision, but I know it is the right one. I just want to go some where and not be in pain and enjoy myself. I just want to not worry about this pain.

 

[Tiggeroo]

My sil had a hysterectomy 2 months ago. She had similar symptoms to mine with the addition of out of control bleeding. She says it was the best thing she ever did. She went in to remove cysts but they had to do a full hysterectomy. She had a very small incision. She felt nearly, completely better after 2 weeks and believes that would have been even sooner except that she was very anaemic going into surgery and therefore tired.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

My sil had a hysterectomy 2 months ago. She had similar symptoms to mine with the addition of out of control bleeding. She says it was the best thing she ever did. She went in to remove cysts but they had to do a full hysterectomy. She had a very small incision. She felt nearly, completely better after 2 weeks and believes that would have been even sooner except that she was very anaemic going into surgery and therefore tired.

Part of me can't wait to me on the other side and thankful that I did it. I know my problem is I'm not in control (I'm a control freak) and having to stay in the hospital. I don't like people taking care of me.... it just feels weird.

Tiggeroo, do you know how enlarged your uterus is?

 

[Tiggeroo]

No. I'm going to request copies of the report. But she didn't say it was enlarged because of the report. She said she could feel it. Then she said it must be the fibroids

 

[loves to dive]

I agree get a second opinion. I was on birth control pills until I decided to get pregnant. Had no problems getting pregnant, actually got pregnant the first month off which surprised everyone since the doc said it would take about 6 months because of how long I had been on them. So had the baby no problem, went for my 6 week checkup and doc found a cyst on one ovary, about the size of an egg seems birth control pills were preventing it (family hystory). We'll watch that. When DS was about 3 months, went back (this was in 1980) and cyst had grown so surgery was the route we took. Found out had a cyst the size of a grapefruit on one ovary and the size of a tennis ball on the other, he didn't even know about the grapefruit because it had pulled ovary over and all we had were xrays back then. So he removed one ovary and left 1/4 of the other, saying I could still have another baby if I wanted to. A year later and having horrible periods so he did a DNC and found out I had endometriosis, so back to outpatient surgery to get that scraped out and had my tubes tied at the time since I was now a single mom with an infant and knew I didn't want any more kids and the birth control pills weren't helping my issues. After that I had to go in about every 6 months for a DNC. By the time I was about 34, DS was around 11 Doc told me this wasn't getting any better and now my uterus was spongy and had fibroids, so he recommended removing it. Gave me the option of keeping the 1/4 ovary but at this point I had had enough so we did a full removing ovary, uterus and cirvix. He put me on HRT as soon as I woke up and I've never looked back. It made the world of difference for my quality of life, no more pain, no more 10 day heavy periods, no more surgery every 6 months. I'm 58 now and asked about going off HRT since it's time for me to go through the change and he told me since I have osteopenia and can't take any of the drugs prescribed for it (tried the one you take once a month and now I have reflux and have to take nexium) that hormones combined with calcium and all the exercise I do are the only thing preventing me from getting full blown osteoporosis (which my mother and grandmother had).

So yes, get a second opinion and to the other person who was worried about the hysterectomy, best thing that ever happened to me.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm not even going to quote posts cause I can realte to just about all of them, lol. And again, I don't mind talking about this if it helps someone, so I'm glad it did.

Gottaluvpluto It will be ok, and reading your posts, I agree you are very likely making the right decision. I'm a worrier and hate having surgery so I was pretty anxious myself. Was so glad when I woke up! A lot of people told me the recovery was a piece of cake. Um, no, not so for everyone. And I got very little information from my gyn team. My saving grace was the Hyster Sisters post op videos. They helped me understand my post op recovery and what was normal, what not to do, etc. Had it not been for them I might have thought something was really wrong with me. But it wasn't. It's just a hard surgery. I also had a lot out (in part due to my history of breast cancer, oncologist wanted my ovaries and tubes out since we were going in anyway, and my gyn told me that when pain issues are involved, they take the cervix too, cause nothing worse than going through all that surgery and still having pain, which happened to a friend of mine!). They also did a cystoscopy on my at the end of the procedure to make sure my bladder was ok since, well, there was a lot of cutting to get the uterus out due to enlargement. I'd lost so much blood I was also anemic and my heart was racing just taking a shower. One day post op I tried walking the dog to get moving again and I almost didn't make it home, had to stop along the way. Then every other day I would be completely wiped out if I did too much (which didn't seem like much at all, but was, apparently). All fairly normal. But you will hear stories of people saying it was nothing, they were back to work after two days, etc. I think it was the third week post op that I was able to walk a mile one day. When we got back to the car I looked at DH and cried, because for a while there I wasn't sure I'd be able to do it. Kind of scary to go through when your body isn't your own for a while, you know? But it's all just part of the process. It's really important not to do too much or strain in any way because adhesions can develop on the inside if tissues stretch and tear before they're healed. That made a lot of sense to me and I didn't want that to happen, so even though it was hard not to do housework, or pick up the dog, I tried not to.

My surgery was a day surgery, believe it or not but I had to stay overnight because when they took the catheter out, I couldn't go on my own. (Shoot, when I was in nursing school a hyst was a four day stay, minimally, and yes, most are done laparascopically today, but still, it's a lot of manipulation and cutting, etc. Still a major surgery!) I won't post too many more details here but little things can be annoying afterward, too. PM me if you want to chat before or after your surgery. And bookmark the videos on that website.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I think there is a part of me that is afraid to push too much about this because if I keep telling them I feel bad I will end up with surgery. However I am 51. Sooner or later I will be in menopause anyway. If you have cysts post-menopause the likelihood they will be cancerous is higher. I don't want to worry about that. Another problem I have is that I form keloids. These are very large scars that come from any sort of cut. Surgery could trigger this. In fact it likely will. It's not just that they look bad, they can be uncomfortable.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

My ovaries were fully functional (and I am older than you). We think they might have gone several more years, same as other women in my family. That's why my gyn and my oncologist were hammering it out whether to remove them or not. I myself hated to have them out. But I also knew I didn't want to have regrets about it if I didn't take them out and later got ovarian ca (which can be related to breast ca). We also didn't know if they were part of the pain problem. So I had the final word and I decided to take them out. Anyway, menopause basically sucks (and surgical menopause is sudden, as opposed to gradual), but in a weird way, it's better than peri-menopause was for me. I think every case is unique, though, and you have to look at the pros and cons for each option and decide what is best for you. I think it's reasonable to try conservative treatments, but if they don't work, you have to look at quality of life and how pain or bladder issues or whatever are affecting you day to day. I know for me, it got to a point relatively suddenly where there was no other option than surgery. (The night I hemorrhaged if I hadn't sought medical help I could've died. It made me wonder about women who had this happen before modern medicine was available.) Had I gone ahead with surgery before it hit that point, I probably would have always questioned whether it was really necessary. No regrets, really, but I think the recommendation for surgery by one of the gyns was a good one, as was the one with opting for trying other treatment first. Nobody mentioned the possiblity of adenomyosis, so it wasn't looked for. Had we known I had that I likely would have gone ahead with surgery earlier.

 

[FLCyndi]

Same as you, enlarged uterus, fibroids, cysts and heavy bleeding. I was 51 and praying for menopause to help alleviate problems. Never came. I had a hysterectomy with the DaVinci-small scars, no overnight stay. Best decision I ever made.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Well got through to the dr. today to explain how badly I still am feeling. This is not the actual dr. but the PA who is enormously helpful and always takes time going over things. She is several years older than me and has had a history of cysts and fibroids so is a great source of info. She said it is possible the cyst just came right back. But even if it didn't she looked at my paperwork and said my fibroids are large and in some places that would cause a good deal of discomfort. Because of them my uterus is as if I was 17 weeks pregnant. She said of course I would feel awful and one of them is causing a good deal of the bladder problems. I now have a consult for a uterine artery embolization to supposedly kill off the fibroids. She said I have to do a 24 hour stay afterwards because the pain requires opium. So, a bit nervous. Also I have to have a uterine biopsy which is standard before this procedure. Also nervous about pain with this. Have you had any of this done ? Anybody had success with this treatment for fibroids. She said my blood work showed I was quite a bit away from menopause and therefore I would have to deal with this pain for a long time to come. The other option is a hysterctomy which she is not recommending.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

Well got through to the dr. today to explain how badly I still am feeling. This is not the actual dr. but the PA who is enormously helpful and always takes time going over things. She is several years older than me and has had a history of cysts and fibroids so is a great source of info. She said it is possible the cyst just came right back. But even if it didn't she looked at my paperwork and said my fibroids are large and in some places that would cause a good deal of discomfort. Because of them my uterus is as if I was 17 weeks pregnant. She said of course I would feel awful and one of them is causing a good deal of the bladder problems. I now have a consult for a uterine artery embolization to supposedly kill off the fibroids. She said I have to do a 24 hour stay afterwards because the pain requires opium. So, a bit nervous. Also I have to have a uterine biopsy which is standard before this procedure. Also nervous about pain with this. Have you had any of this done ? Anybody had success with this treatment for fibroids. She said my blood work showed I was quite a bit away from menopause and therefore I would have to deal with this pain for a long time to come. The other option is a hysterctomy which she is not recommending.

Before my surgery I went to the hystersisters site and people there talk about having it done. You might want to go and check the forum out it would be in the alternative section. My uterus was only 14 weeks in size and I decided on a hysterectomy because I only wanted to do one surgery and get it over with. In fact, I just had it and I am so happy I did. My pain before surgery was a lot worse. My uterus was all twisted because of the way my fibroids were growing.

I personally would get a second and third opinion before I did anything.

Did you have an MRI or CT scan? An ultrasound doesn't always catch all of the fibroids so you could have more.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Before my surgery I went to the hystersisters site and people there talk about having it done. You might want to go and check the forum out it would be in the alternative section. My uterus was only 14 weeks in size and I decided on a hysterectomy because I only wanted to do one surgery and get it over with. In fact, I just had it and I am so happy I did. My pain before surgery was a lot worse. My uterus was all twisted because of the way my fibroids were growing.

I personally would get a second and third opinion before I did anything.

Did you have an MRI or CT scan? An ultrasound doesn't always catch all of the fibroids so you could have more.

I will try to find a second opinion. When I go for the consult I am planning on asking for an mri or ct scan. It seems like drs are really reluctant to order these now. I just feel pretty lousy most of the time with this. She explained that the placement of these fibroids is actually making it worst. But I google these procedures and the pain factor is freaking me out. Pretty worried about the endometrial biopsy in office. I see some people saying childbirth wasn't as bad as that.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

I will try to find a second opinion. When I go for the consult I am planning on asking for an mri or ct scan. It seems like drs are really reluctant to order these now. I just feel pretty lousy most of the time with this. She explained that the placement of these fibroids is actually making it worst. But I google these procedures and the pain factor is freaking me out. Pretty worried about the endometrial biopsy in office. I see some people saying childbirth wasn't as bad as that.

I've had three endometrial biopsy and I was freaking out over my first one. My doctor gave me something to soften the cervix so it wouldn't be as painful. My other two, I didn't have anything and it was only mildly uncomfortable.

The way my fibroids were place and how distorted my uterus gave me a lot of right side pain. I'm thankful I had the surgery. I am 4 days post op and my pain is very mild (compared to the pain I had) and my tummy is already smaller.

It's really hard to figure out what someone needs to do for their health. I personally didn't want to go the embolization because most people that do that have a hysterectomy anyway.