Ovarian Cysts - Columbia,MO

Ovarian cysts can be just that, ovarian cysts, or they can be ovarian cancer. My mom who is only 60 went to the doctor for bloating and constant pelvic pain & just an overall feeling of "bad" and she was pretty much blown off as having a cyst that would rectify itself as cysts usually do. She was also unhappy and moody, not her usual self. Four months later the bloating was much worse and you could actually feel something, so she decided to see another doctor. This doctor said she now had a tumor she thought (not a cyst - different sound waves are made by tumors than cysts) that was about 6 inches (after some tests and an ultrasound). They were not sure whether it was cancer until she had surgery. Even though a blood test indicated it was since her CAT score was 400 (normal is 35 & under). It was Ovarian Cancer and that 6 inch tumor was actually her ovary that became wrapped in the tumor.
Get a second opinion if you are in constant pain and feel like the doctor is not taking your concerns seriously!
My mom has now had surgery and the tumor ruptured during surgery. It is clear cell cancer, so they don't really know if they got it all. She is undergoing 6 rounds of chemo 3 weeks apart and after this 4th round finds herself completely exhausted and in excruciating pain 24/7 - even with pain medications to help manage it. She is in so much pain and so exhausted that she didn't even "do" Christmas (which is not my mom at all).
Earlier & accurate diagnosis is always better. Make sure you feel your doctor is truly listening to you and exploring all avenues to ensure you are receiving accurate information and a quality relief/ease of symptoms. Remember these doctors work for you. Wishing you the best!

My doctor actually put me on a diabetic medicine called metformin. It helps control your hormones through sugar levels. It worked really well and I not only had a huge decrease in pain, but my one of my cysts actually disappeared!
I have PCOS as well... also once I starting taking this med, it solved my thinning hair and adult acne problem as well... some of the other side effects of PCOS. Good Luck

I'm managing my PCOS with diet & exercise. I've refused to take the medication suggested as it increases the risk of cancer. I can tell you that I know exactly what you're talking about when you talk of pain and moods and whatnot.

I would see another doctor and get a second opinion.

I would see another doctor. My PCOS causes more of the metobolic issues, but the PMS is bad too, so if this were constant, I would seek releif and tell the next doctor that you do not like the "keep an eye on them" treatment option.

I hope you find a doctor to help you.

M.

Hi L.,

I'm sure you'll get a better answer than this but I just wanted to offer my empathy and support and little experience that may be relevant.

I have had ovarian problems including cysts and fibroids. I know the hell you speak of and I'm sorry you are going through this.

The reason the doctor may want to wait, as I understand it, is that cysts are very normal in our regular cycle and often rectify on their own. Your doctor may not want to suggest an operation or something drastic if it is possible that your body sorts it with just a little time. Believe me though, I know a "little" time is an eternity when you are suffering with these problems. It will get sorted though one way or another so remind yourself this won't last forever.

I also have been given "the pill" for these problems and some have made it worse, while others have made a huge improvement even if only temporarily. There are thousands of variations of the pill and some are only slightly different but can make a world of difference to how you feel. Maybe you should make an urgent request to try a different one. Tell your doctor what your symptoms are and they can look into the various pill balance of hormones and try something different that can work wonders for you.

Good luck and hang in there. You are not alone and I'm so sorry for your suffering at the moment. Make noise and get them to help you try something new!

usually the reason for waiting a month or more is because there's a good chance the cysts will resolve on their own.....without meds or intervention. In the past, I have used b.c. pills to correct this......& I have waited - both methods took months to resolve & I did experience pain thruout the timeframe. When you factor in hormonal fluctuations, combined with the pain.....it can be a nightmare!

What I found fascinating was my dr's description of the monthly cycle: he said that each & every month you ovulate...a cyst develops in the ovary. The actual opening of the ovary to release the egg is - by definition - a cyst. I had never, ever thought of it that way! Sometimes it closes properly, sometimes it does not......& that's how you end up with a diagnosable cyst.
& Sometimes it's gone after that next cycle, sometimes it's not.

As for pain control, what about using heat? Would a heating pad help? I used OTC meds - both ibuprofen & Tylenol.....& that's it. Good Luck!