Ovarian cysts

[kimblebee]

I searched for other threads with this topic, but they’re all old so I thought I’d start a new one.

Is anyone else suffering through a cyst at the moment? I found out I have a golf ball sized one in my right ovary. I was worried it was my appendix because it was matching all the warning signs. One ultrasound and ct scan later, they confirmed it was a cyst.

The pain had been non existent for a week but for the past three nights the pain has woken me up in the middle of the night. The dr at the hospital said to just take Advil or Aleve, but they aren’t doing anything.

I have a follow up appointment with my gp on Thursday and I will be asking for something stronger for the pain. I’m allergic to codeine so I’ll probably ask for Tramadol. Because of my previous cervical cancer, I now have to get ultrasounds every three months for the near future to keep an eye on things. They don’t think it’s of any concern now, but will monitor just to make sure.

So, back on track, does anyone have any suggestions on how to deal with the pain until I can see my doctor? The pain is constant, but it’s mostly just a dull throb. Every once in a while there’s a burst of added pain, but that passes quickly and goes back to the dull throb.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I've been there. Sorry you have to deal with this. It's can be painful and scary. I also thought my appendix was acting up and went to the ER. It turned out to be an ovarian cyst, which was in the process of bursting. I got them again on both sides and eventually had surgery to remove them. This was about 20 years ago.

I don't have much advice about the pain. I would find that some positions (such as curling up on my side) would help lessen the pain. But that doesn't really help when you're working or not able to lie down. Perhaps a heating pad would help, plus Advil until you can see your doctor about a different pain med. Feel better soon!

 

[loves to dive]

I'm allergic to codeine as well, thus have developed a very high tolerance for pain. Advil, Aleve, Excedrin migraine, even Midol are just about all I can take, even after major surgeries. Maybe a heating pad might help a little, I know they were my friend during those times of the month when I was younger. I had a grapefruit sized cyst on one ovary and a golf ball on the other that grew when I was pregnant with my son, evidently going off birth control pills was what caused them.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I have no experience with them because they didn’t hit the market until after I had my issues, but I’ve decided I would try using a TENS unit if I ever suffered from severe cramps again. Might be worth looking into.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

How are you taking the Advil? Be exact

 

[5kidsmommy]

Honestly the only thing that really helped even a bit for me was an old fashion hot water bottle or you can get an electric warming pad. They do help.

 

[kimblebee]

How are you taking the Advil? Be exact

First, I find the bottle. Then, I unscrew the cap. I tip the bottle..what? That’s too exact?

I take them when the pain gets bad enough that I can’t tough through it. I know you’re supposed to keep ahead of the pain, but I take a million pills already, I don’t want to be taking more.

The pain hasn’t let up and I found a walk-in clinic open today so I am here now..with 15 people ahead of me. Usually a tear or two speeds up the process but I don’t think it would be any help today.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

First, I find the bottle. Then, I unscrew the cap. I tip the bottle..what? That’s too exact?

I take them when the pain gets bad enough that I can’t tough through it. I know you’re supposed to keep ahead of the pain, but I take a million pills already, I don’t want to be taking more.

The pain hasn’t let up and I found a walk-in clinic open today so I am here now..with 15 people ahead of me. Usually a tear or two speeds up the process but I don’t think it would be any help today.

Trying to help you, Kim

NSAIDs work by decreasing inflammation (and its the inflammation that causes the pain). You do have to take them round the clock to get the most out of them. Taking them just when you have pain defeats the purpose in a lot of ways, as inflammation rebuilds between doses. Waiting too long allows quite a build up and it becomes harder to dispel than keeping it away.

So, take your Advil (I prefer Motrin) as directed every six hours. Only doses over 400mg will have the best anti-inflammatory effect. Better yet, while you’re at the clinic, ask for the 800mg prescription Ibuprofen and take them as directed areound the clock. I would be surprised if you still had pain through that (and yes I have had these cysts/PCOS). A hot water bottle is your friend, and warm fluids like decaf tea.

I don’t know how it is in Canada, but providers I’m familiar with are extremely reluctant today to order narcotics, especially when there are other ways to treat the pain with non-narcotics - due to the opioid crisis. Good luck, I hope you find relief

 

[kimblebee]

Trying to help you, Kim

NSAIDs work by decreasing inflammation (and its the inflammation that causes the pain). You do have to take them round the clock to get the most out of them. Taking them just when you have pain defeats the purpose in a lot of ways, as inflammation rebuilds between doses. Waiting too long allows quite a build up and it becomes harder to dispel than keeping it away.

So, take your Advil (I prefer Motrin) as directed every six hours. Only doses over 400mg will have the best anti-inflammatory effect. Better yet, while you’re at the clinic, ask for the 800mg prescription Ibuprofen and take them as directed areound the clock. I would be surprised if you still had pain through that (and yes I have had these cysts/PCOS). A hot water bottle is your friend, and warm fluids like decaf tea.

I don’t know how it is in Canada, but providers I’m familiar with are extremely reluctant today to order narcotics, especially when there are other ways to treat the pain with non-narcotics - due to the opioid crisis. Good luck, I hope you find relief

I was just trying to make a joke..I wasn’t trying to be rude. Sorry if it came across that way.

I’ve been waiting for an hour to see the dr and will probably wait at least another hour so I’ll see what he says. I’ll keep the 800mg in mind, though. Thank you

 

[disneychrista]

Heating pad.

And unfortunately for this type of pain you might need to take naproxen on a schedule, every 8 hours. As you said you have to keep ahead of the pain.

 

[wgeo]

I had them in college, so it's been awhile. But I remember crying a lot and taking more advil then I thought I should. But when all else failed my roommate would rub my shoulders as I laid curled up in bed. It usually refocused my attention enough that I could drop off to sleep for a little while at least. Sorry you're stuck with the pain right now.

 

[kiddo76]

800 mg Ibuprofen every 6 hours has helped me some in the past. Seriously, set an alarm to remind you, even at night during bedtime. Heating pads and a warm bath also helps.

I would also suggest following up with your gynecologist rather than a GP.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Watch the Tramadol. I was just prescribed it for the recurrent pain in my broken arm and I had to stop taking it after only a few days. it's some serious stuff, and also a really addictive opioid. You probably have done your research, I'm just speaking from recent personal experience to please be careful.

 

[kimblebee]

800 mg Ibuprofen every 6 hours has helped me some in the past. Seriously, set an alarm to remind you, even at night during bedtime. Heating pads and a warm bath also helps.

I would also suggest following up with your gynecologist rather than a GP.

I asked the doc at the er who originally diagnosed me and he specifically said to follow up with my gp. I was surprised too, but I have to see him anyway so this is just one more thing on the list.

Watch the Tramadol. I was just prescribed it for the recurrent pain in my broken arm and I had to stop taking it after only a few days. it's some serious stuff, and also a really addictive opioid. You probably have done your research, I'm just speaking from recent personal experience to please be careful.

I took tramadol after my hysterectomy two years ago. It definitely works and I didn’t feel addicted to it at all. I do get addicted to super doses of steroids so I know what to look for and when to be careful. Thank you for the warning though

 

[mousefan73]

Dies heat help? A hot water bottle, bath or a UV light?

 

[ronandannette]

Have you made it in to see the walk-in doc yet? What did (s)he say? I know you don't want to but the advice everyone has given about the ibuprofen really is accurate - take enough of it to knock down the pain and then take it regularly enough to prevent the inflammation from reoccurring.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I usually sleep semi sitting up with pillow pressed against my side or abdomen and I use heating pad in addition to staying on top meds. I would want to know why doctor didnt recommend removal of the cyst. At that point, I've had several removed before my hysterectomy and the cysts damaged my ovaries quite bit.

 

[kimblebee]

Have you made it in to see the walk-in doc yet? What did (s)he say? I know you don't want to but the advice everyone has given about the ibuprofen really is accurate - take enough of it to knock down the pain and then take it regularly enough to prevent the inflammation from reoccurring.

yeah, I finally got in to see him. He asked if I was allergic to anything, when I was seeing my regular doctor, what meds I was on, and then wrote me a prescription. I was only there to get a prescription so that was fine by me. My regular dr will get a more complete history.

I usually sleep semi sitting up with pillow pressed against my side or abdomen and I use heating pad in addition to staying on top meds. I would want to know why doctor didnt recommend removal of the cyst. At that point, I've had several removed before my hysterectomy and the cysts damaged my ovaries quite bit.

I don’t know why surgery isn’t an option, and honestly, at the time I didn’t know it was an option. I knew relatively nothing about them. That, and I had been up for about 36 hours by the time I was all done so I was on autopilot and just wanted to get home and into bed. I have more knowledge and therefore more questions for my regular
Dr follow up this week.

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

I recently found out that I have endometriosis (doc won't officially diagnose it without surgery, but the symptoms fit and my scans show thickening of the lining of my uterus). I've heard that cysts can hurt even worse than endo, you have my sympathy. Pain meds weren't touching my pain either, and my doctor didn't want to prescribe anything, just told me to take ibuprofen which you know doesn't help--it's so frustrating to be treated like a drug-seeking addict for legitimate pain! Weirdly enough, a diet change seems to have helped with my endo. I don't know whether that is a possible solution for the cysts, but the endo is related to hormones and since I've been following a diet that is supposed to balance my hormones my flares are less painful.

 

[kimblebee]

I recently found out that I have endometriosis (doc won't officially diagnose it without surgery, but the symptoms fit and my scans show thickening of the lining of my uterus). I've heard that cysts can hurt even worse than endo, you have my sympathy. Pain meds weren't touching my pain either, and my doctor didn't want to prescribe anything, just told me to take ibuprofen which you know doesn't help--it's so frustrating to be treated like a drug-seeking addict for legitimate pain! Weirdly enough, a diet change seems to have helped with my endo. I don't know whether that is a possible solution for the cysts, but the endo is related to hormones and since I've been following a diet that is supposed to balance my hormones my flares are less painful.

Im willing to try anything right now. I 100% agree with you about not wanting to seem like a drug seeker. That’s why I really like my gp, his philosophy is treat the patient, not the symptoms. He doesn’t like that I’m still taking sleeping pills four years after I started them, but, they’re the only way I can sleep, so he keeps prescribing them.