Ovarian Cyst Questions

At three weeks post op, my doc found a small (2.6 cm) fluid filled cyst on the left ovary. He wants me to come back at the end of January to check on it. At 7 weeks I saw my urologist. He said bladder was fine, but the left ovary was "enlarged" (could that have been the cyst he felt or would it make your ovary enlarged??) I had been taking detrol to help with bladder spasms and was able to stop taking it at week 8 or so. I was SO glad to be feeling better. I had my post op appointment at week 8 and although doc did look for any granulation tissue (none), he didn't do a pelvic exam.

The past week or so, I'm finding that fatigue is getting to me. I was feeling WONDERFUL for a few weeks. Just a twinge or a sharp pain here and there on that left side. For three days this week, I did nothing but sit because I was so tired. Today I had to do Christmas shopping and was so worn out from a few hours, I came home and slept two hours. I'm about to go back to the couch and snore here in a minute .

My questions are, do cysts effect your hormones? Seems I go from "me" to head spinning around in 2 seconds these days. Anger I've never experienced before! My hair is so dry, it's feeling like straw, my nails are brittle and my skin is so dry I itch.

My left side seems to be hurting off and on more frequently now. If it's just a fluid filled cyst that was found October 29th, wouldn't it be gone by now??

My fear is my ovaries aren't working right post surgery, but I wonder if a cyst can interfere with hormones also. ANY links on the issue I would love to read. I've searched and searched and I can't seem to find anything other than the standard cyst information i.e. what they are, why they form etc. It sure would help to read other people's experiences with a small cyst and if the sharp shooting pains (they sometimes go into my back - weird!) are normal. The sharp pains are now being replaced with a dull ache that seems to be sticking around longer and longer . Think I liked the shooting pains better ha ha!

Thank you for any and all information!!

Hi Shan,
I don't know much about the hormone issue as my remaining ovary seems to be working. I would be interested in other sister's comments/experiences.

I went back to my doc last month (8 months post op) as I was spotting due to granulation. Whilst I was there I mentioned the cyclical pains I had been experiencing, I told him that the pains wern't bad and would not have warranted a visit by themselves. He did an ultrasound and discovered a cyst on my remaining ovary. He then sent me to a specialist in ultrasounds who found two cysts on my ovary. Have to go back on Jan 2 to see if they've gone.

What a nuisance this all is isn't it? I was hoping never to have any more internals/scans!!!

All the best and do let me know how you get on.

Diana

((Shan)),
I'm sorry you are dealing with more problems Here are some very informative sites on Ovarian Cysts:

http://www.ehendrick.org/healthy/00044670.html
http://med.chungbuk.ac.kr/~jeong/ghks/huge.htm
http://www.gynob.com/GBU2000b.htm
http://www.cyst101.com/summary.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/001504.htm
http://www.alphalink.com.au/~paman/page64.html
http://womenshealth.about.com/librar...ariancysts.htm
http://www.tjclarkinc.com/d_ovarian_cysts.htm
http://health.yahoo.com/health/centers/women/index.html
http://www.nezhat.com/hormther_.htm#c10
http://www.arcfertility.com/infertil...l_therapy.html
http://12.31.13.84/library/healthgui...?HWID=hw178611
http://www.reproductivecenter.com/cysts.html
http://www.gynsecondopinion.com/OvarianCysts.shtml
http://www.obgyn.net/displayarticle..../ovarian-cysts
http://12.31.13.84/library/healthgui...?HWID=hw178433
http://12.31.13.84/library/healthgui...?HWID=hw181644
http://12.31.13.84/library/healthgui...?HWID=hw178560
http://12.31.13.84/library/healthgui...?HWID=hw199854
http://12.31.13.84/library/healthgui...?HWID=hw181644
http://s.ivillage.com/health/lnav/cy...166054,00.html
http://www.familydoctor.org/handouts/279.html
http://www.drdeljuncojr.com/ovariancysts.html
http://www.emedicine.com/aaem/topic331.htm
http://www.reproductivecenter.com/cysts.html
http://www.drcook.com/adca12.html
http://www.ivillagehealth.com/experts/womens/

FAQ'S-Ovarian cysts:
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/ce...an_cysts/FAQs/


Ovaries:
http://s.ivillage.com/health/lnav/ov...416874,00.html

ovaries working or not?
http://www.hystersisters.com/working.php

Old Ovaries still of value?

http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/sh...&threadid=10987

Outcomes of Ovarian Removal:
http://www.pelvicpain.org/Outcomes%...n%20Removal.ppt

Surgical Statistics:

http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/sh...&threadid=61301

The Hormone Jungle - Surgical Menopause: http://www.hormonejungle.com/

list of 35 symptoms of Menopause:

http://www.howdyneighbor.com/menopaus/symptoms.htm

I know this is a lot of info Shan but hopefully it can help in understanding more of what is going on with your body Good Luck and please keep us posted on how your doing
((hugs))

I don't know for sure if what I experienced was normal but I had surgery 4 weeks ago for bilateral larger ovarian cysts that thankfully turned out not to be cancer as first thought. I had been having perimenopausal symptoms for months and my Onc Gyn Dr thinks they may have been made worse as my cysts grew. I finally found out I had them after going to OPD thinking I was having an appendicitis attack. I also had bladder surgery 6 months ago that might have been more the huge size of my ovaries pressing on my bladder then problems with my bladder itself. I think anytime you have sudden problems with stress incontinance it might be a good thing to have a ultrasound done to check ovary size because I have since found out this is also very common. Cramping like menstral cramps, even though I had my uterus removed 11 years ago due to fibroids was also present and common with cysts. Low back pain. Fullness in your lower abdomen, all symptoms which were pretty easy to ignore. Thank goodness it wasn't cancer because by the time the symptom had gotten bad enough I sought help my ovaries were huge and if they had been cancer it would have been advanced.
Hope this was of some help.

I had a TAH/LSO 9 weeks ago. One of the reasons was because my left ovary contained a mass. It was "enlarged" to 5 cm. Now my right ovary is "enlarged" to 5 cm and contains several cysts. So yes, cysts on your ovary cause the ovary to be enlarged. I was put on bc pills yesterday to (in the doctors words) put my ovary to sleep. I have had hormonal swings something awful. Don't know if the cysts cause hormone problems or hormone problems caused the cysts, but I am sure they are connected.

Shan, I hope you get the answers you need soon. Take care!

Cysts do cause fluctuations in the hormones,however, I dont know if it depends on the size of the cyst. I just had a cyst removed (9.5cm) and knew that my ovary hadnt been working i.e..hotflashes etc. But didnt realize that the cyst was the cause of this until my dr put me on hormones before my surgery because he said my ovary wasnt working due to the cyst.

I hope all turns out well and your cyst is gone at your appt. in January.

Dawn