Bloated stomach for over 4 months now

I've had a bloated stomach for over 4 months now...maybe longer...hard to remember exactly when it started.  Went to OB for yearly pap and mentioned it.  She did a transvaginal utlrasound which showed a functional cyst on my left ovary.  Because my mom was going through breast cancer she went ahead and did the CA-125 blood test which came back fine.  After about 7 weeks went back for another transvaginal utlrasound to make sure the cyst had decreased in size or dissolved all together.  It had gone away, but now I had a complex cyst on my right ovary 5cm in size.  They considered it complex b/c it was septic.  Dr. said to return in 6 weeks to recheck the cyst.  She did the CA-125 test again which came back ok.  She said she did not think the bloating was due to the cysts and to make an appointment with a GI specialist which I did.  My appointment is this Thursday.  The only other symptoms I have with the bloating are pain in my hips and at times some lower back pain.  I haven't experienced any bad cramping or any type of IBS symptoms.  My stomach is always somewhat bloated and after I eat it becomes even more so.  I hope the GI specialist might be able to shed some light on what is causing the bloating.  Just wondering if anyone else has had the pregnant looking stomach w/o any other major symptoms to go along with it and what they found out.  Based on the info. my OB told me I probably shouldn't be concerned about ovarian cancer, but I do find myself worrying about that still.  Would appreciate any feedback to my situation.  Thanks.

[ineedtohavefaith]

You said your mom had breast cancer? Is there anyone else in your family with breast or ovarian cancers? I'm just newly diagnosed, so there are others here that who could probally give you more insight...but if there is a family history, you should be checked for the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 gene mutation...hope this is some help

~Denise

[kcd86]

I am sorry you have to go threw this, it is very stressfull to have this hanging over your head.  Keep in mind most cysts are benign!!  Since this has been ongoing for you and your trans-vaginal (TV) showsa complex septated cyst warrants a very through work up to rule out any other potential issues.
My wife was recently Dx with granulosa Cell cancer( GCT) Jan 2010 and I know what it is like to not know the next step will be. Here is an overview.
Tests like sonograms, Cat scans and MRI's along with blood tests like CA125, Inhibin A&B, MIS and CEA are just used as a guides for the Dr's to help assist in making a diagnoses(Dx).
A transvaginal ultrasound (TV) is the most valuable diagnostic study in the evaluation of an adnexal or pelvic mass/suspicious cysts.  
The blood test CA-125 is a test used by Dr's as a guide to determine if you have the most common form of ovarian cancer, approximately 80% of all ovarian cancers are epitheal ovarian cancer which is cancer of the cells on the surface of your ovary. Please keep in mind that CA-125 can be elevated if your menstruating and some other cuases of inflamation (inflammation)..
There are other types of ovarian cancer that are hormone driven and depending which form a person has there will be excess symptoms of that specific hormone. This is the type my wife was Dx with granulosa cell ca. These group type are called sex cord -stromal tumors. These type of tumors have specific markes that the Dr's use just like ca-125 to aide in their dx of epitheal ovarian ca. They are Inhibin A&B and MIS. Please keep in mind if and only if you have a dx of these form of tumors there is a missconception that these tumors are always benign, which is completely false> They are just slow growing tumors as opposed to epitheal.
Unfortunately with any type of suspected ovarian mass/tumor/ suspicious cyst(s) surgery will be the only way for the Dr's too make a definitive Dx. It is NOT recommended to biopsy any ovarian mass/tumor/suspicious cyst as it can rupture and seed the pelvis with cancer cells if that what it turns out to be.  Please make sure you have your blood drawn for the following blood tests,Inhibin A&B, CA125 and CEA so at the very least you have baseline blood work.
Since there is some suspicion based on your TV-sonogram I would immediately find a good GYN/Oncologist surgeon. I am not suggesting what you have is cancer but studies have shown that treatment of ovarian cancer by nongynecologic oncologists and by low volume surgeons is associated with suboptimal surgical management. I would reccomend going to a large tiertiary hopsital where they see large volumes of patients.  This is not to make you worry even more but to make sure that the Dr who treats you has vast experience with diagnosing and treating various types of GYN / Onc issues if that is what it turns out to be. If the Dr wants to remove the cyst/mass via laprascopic procedure PLEASE make sure they have much experience with removing these INTACT! All too often I read posts from patients who say their Dr thought it was a cyst and removed it haphazardly causing a rupture and seeding of the pelvis with cancer cells, only to be found on pathology post removal.
Next: From experience I would be asking for an MRI of the abdomen/pelvis ,MRI's are very precise when read by a Radiologist that specializes in GYN/ONC, My wife went to a radiology practice that does all types of MRI's and the Radiologist read her MRI as a fibroid. I then took her to Sloan Kettering in NYC to see a GYN/ONC surgeon Dr Carol Brown who had the MRI repeated by a GYN/ONC Radiologist who called her DX to the tee which was confirmed after surgery.
The best advice you see all over these posts is you have to be your own advocate, be aggresive (aggressive) and stay on top of your phycicians. Get copies of all your tests/results. Post with any other questions you have this site has some very knowledgeable people on it. I wish you all the best
Kevin
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[kcd86]

Also, the Dr cant get tunnel vision just because your CA125 was normal. They need to draw your blood for an Inhibin A&B, CEA. As I stated in my above post there are other forms of OVCA.

[kmd69]

Thank you so much for the feedback and useful information.  I hope your wife is doing well with her treatments.  What were some of her symptoms that led to her eventual diagnosis?

[kcd86]

She was post menopausal and had started to bleed again found a adnexal mass on her ovary.