Ovarian cysts anyone?

Hi...

I'm glad I found this site..... I have a long LONG history of problems that were mainly caused by adhesions following an appendectomy at 13.

I have had several surgeries to unglue my ovaries and uterus from the bowel and had the right ovary removed. I thought I was free and clear since the last surgery 8 years ago and almost a year ago moved from the the UK to Trinidad.

A few months ago I started with bowel obstruction type problems but 2 weeks ago had massive abdom pain followed by urinary retention. I struggled on until earlier this week when I sought medical help and got catheterised... (Jeeezz the relief!!). They rapidly found I had a huge left ovarian cyst that is occupying most of my abdominal cavity and surgery is scheduled for tomorrow.... almost as an aside, the doc suggested hysterectomy as well as it will be surplus to requirements (ahem) and is obviously a future site for problems if it is left in....I can see the piont entirely but it is still a bit of a shock as I haven't really had time to come to terms with it. Unlike most of the ladies here, I have not had long histories of painful bleeding etc and so feel relieved to be rid of the thing!!

I am also a bit worried becasue although they have said Ovarian cancer is most unlikely due to normal CA 125...they are also NOT entirely sure it is just the cyst as ultrasound and CAT scans are not totally conclusive.... there is talk of bowel rescection etc et cand colostomy bags.,...yuch.

So I am a bit sideswiped by it all and wonder if there is anyone out there who has had similar experiences??

(((((Skizz)))))

I'm sorry you're so scared! It's so completely normal though.

While I didn't need a bowel resection, I did have ovarian cysts. The reason I needed a BSO 6 months after the TAH is because the cysts returned and the right one had massive adhesions and had attached to the omentum and the bowel.

Try keeping a pad of paper with you and anytime you think of a question, write it down to take with you to the Dr.

Hopefully, another sister will come along and be able to talk with you about bowel resections.

We're here for ya hon!

Love & Hugs

Thanx!!

Just on my way to the hospital now and actually feeling a lot better - good to just get things off my mind!!

I've had ovarian cysts for years. Mostly in my teen years (I'm 40 now), but haven't had one in at least 10 years. Last week, my right side started to hurt and by Friday night I was on the phone with my dr in massive pain. I'm sure it was a cyst. Luckily, he told me to just take some Advil and try to sleep... if it go too bad to call him and he'd meet me at the hospital, but in the night, it must have burst, because the pain was gone. I'm scheduled for a TVH on 6/20 and I guess they'll look at my ovaries then although I really want to keep them and that's the current plan.
Do what your dr said! At least it will eliminate any further surgery! And stay in touch... you'll get so much support here!
God Bless you!

My first surgery was in 1990. Since then I have had 4. The reason for these surgeries were endo, cysts, adhesions to the appendix. My cysts are strange. They grow on birth control pills, they grow w/o the pill, they come and go and some stay and get huge. Now, even if there isn't a cyst, I can feel pain in my ovaries. Some of my friends think it's impossible but there is no mistaking the pain.

My options were to have another lapo, clean stuff out and make me "o.k." for a few years but history has shown it will come back again. A colleague of my obgyn/surgeon told me that at age 37, with "female cancer" on both sides of my family and 4 surgeries already, I might want to consider "taking stuff out" with this lapo. Second option was to have a LAVH... that way I'm cleared - no more surgeries atleast on my stupid ovaries and stuff.

Once, before I found my favorite MD (honestly, I just love her) a male MD told me that it's impossible to feel cysts and that the pain was from my husband "being too rough." The next week I saw my current MD and she found a cyst the size of a grapefruit. I literally laid down on her table, pointed to the exact spot and sure enough, it was there. Funny how a MAN can tell us that we can't feel them and they don't hurt. I'd like to put him through a similar pain test!

I can relate to the bowel problems you are having as well. I'm hoping that my upcoming surgery answers more questions about what has been going on. I've felt so crappy.

You'll be in my thoughts. When is your surgery?

Thanx everyone for your replies.....

I have only just got out of hospital which is why I didn't reply.....

As it happened, it wasn't an ovarian cyst but one of the broad ligament, about which I can find little info. Everything was stuck together in one cystic mass and they spent 5 hours freeing everything up. Despite the ovary not being cystic, I actually can feel better now the **** thing is out - I reckon the adhesions were messing with it anyway.

The bowel took forever to settle (they had to take me back into theatre as they suspected I was bleeding internally post op - thankfully I wasn't) and when I got out of hospital I was back in the next day haemorrhaging and they had to restitch the vault of the vagina ( I reckon it was all the vomiting I was doing - I had a naso gastric and STILL vomited past it!)

So I hope I am now finally out - crossed fingers!

Mrs Slags....I have that experience of pointing to where the problem is and medics rolling their eyes and telling me its all in my imagination. To give them massive credit here in Trinidad.... I did not have that problem once.... in fact they were always ahead of me as I was explaining. ..... a most refreshing, if unusual experience!!

I'm just catching my breath and I'll be back to talk more soon.....

thanx again for the support