Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Should I push for more tests?

Hi. I found this forum when I was researching some of my symptoms. From what I have read it seems like a very supportive commumity full of information. So after a bit of reading I have decided to go ahead and post my questions.....hope I don't bore anyone to sleep since I have a tendency to drone on HEHEHE sorry.

About a year ago my periods went haywire.....either really heavy or none at all. At this time I was told it was probably the beginning of perimenopause. Then I stopped having a period for about 3 months and began having a lot of sharp pains. About 6 months ago the doctor did an exam and thought he felt some cysts on my ovaries. When they did the US they saw two cysts one on each ovary. One cyst was 5.2 and the other was 3.4. They also saw some fibroids. The doctor said the cysts appeared simple and would resolve themselves. Well 5 months later I am having much more pain and losing ability to hold my urine and seeping (right word?) diarrehea all the time (sorry to be so blunt) . I went to my doctor again and she said oh it must be endometriosus (sp?). He put me on low-ogestrel saying it would help resolve the cysts if I still had them and it would also help the endo. Well, I completed my first month and since I have been on it the cramps and the sharp pains in my pelvic area have increased and I have been spotting everyday. The pains are mostly on the side areas of my pelvic area and seem to be causing some back pain although it could be from something else.

So my question is..... I feel that I should have another US since my last one was 6 months ago since I am still having symptoms.... should I be pushing for one?  If I should be, does it make a difference if it is a TVUS or a regular US....will they both tell the same thing? Would it be unreasonable to ask for a Cat scan? Is there a possibility that this is OVCA or does it sound like something else. Thank you in advance for not falling asleep while I rambled.
17 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Thank you so much. I did call and he is sqeezing me in this afternoon. I don't have the CT or ca 125 results yet, but maybe he can help with the pain.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I would call the ob/gyn and see if they can get you in sooner, with the recent worsening of your symptoms. They may see you today, if you really push. The otehr altenative is the ER, if things get any worse.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I don't know if it anticipation of going to doctor or what.... this morning  I had to be to work by 5am. By 6am I was doubled over with pain like severe cramping in my pelvis and shooting pains through my back and then I began to throw up. I had to have someone drive me home because there was no way I could drive home. I feel so awful  right now....could this be a cyst rupturing and resolving? Is it something else?? I am popping handfuls of advil which are not helping. Please tell me should I call doctor or just deal with until I have my ob/gyn appointment,
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I saw the new doctor yesterday. I called the office for an appointment and told them about what had been going on with me. They told me come right in and the doctor would see me. When I went in this doctor had a completely different attitude then my other doctor. She set up an appointment for me next week with an OB/GYN. She also wants to send me for a CT and ca125 before my appointment with the OB/GYN. She said that I would most likely need to do surgery because of the size of the one cyst, but that I shouldn't worry because most cysts are benign.....of course that is easier said than done. I was really nervous about going to a different doctor.....but so glad I did. Is there anything else I should be asking?? Are these tests enough?

Victoria.....I do know you! Your name and Lake Arrowhead made it click...OMG...I am Mrs. P's friend who did your make-up last year for the show in LA....Cindy. OMG you are the most incredible skater I have ever seen or met. You and your partner were incredible...How is skating going? How's your mom...such an awesome lady.

Thank you everyone for your help...you are so great.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am glad you went to the ER and getting some help. I don't know if I know you but see that you are from Palm Springs which is only about an hour from me. I also know quite a few friends from that area....so it is possible I guess. I live in Lake Arrowhead if you have ever been there. If you tell me something about yourself I can let you know if we have met.  I come to this forum because I want to help encourage people to get help from their doctors so that OVCA can be found earlier and treated. I also want to offer my support to those who are so wonderful here. Victoria
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am sorry. I did not read your first question carefuly so I gave you wrong answer to that question. Here is the correction.
what is septated?-"Septated" means that the cyst is divided into segments. It is not a simple cyst.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Let me try to answer your question. Not professional but hope give your some help.
Get an ob/gyn ASAP and second opinion as well.
what is septated?--It is seperated from your ovary, not locates inside of your ovary. It couls be sth original(cells)from your ovary grows out of your ovary, or sth. origianl from your other organs grows on the outside of your ovary. If your primary thought you may have endometriosis, it could be the emdometrium from your uterus grows outside of your ovary.  
What is calcification? It could be emdometrium spread into your abdominal cavity. Or you have infection in the past and it is recovered now.
Is it normal to see a lot of gas on an x-ray?---No, but you have two cysts in your body. They will definetely give some pressure to your intestine. you will have gas and GI symptoms.
should i be doing anything else?--Eat healthy and have enough sleep. Do not do intensive exercise and labor work. Be careful, there is some risk for the cyst rupture and torsion which are extremely dangerous situation. Check your breast ae well when you get to an ob/gyn.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was feeling so awful last night that I went to the ER. I was very lucky...I didn't have to wait to long and the doctor was really nice. He ordered an US and abdominal and chest xrays. The abdominal xray showed calcification in the pelvic area and lots of trapped gas. The chest xray showed a lot of gas below the lung area. The US showed that the cyst on my right ovary has grown to 5.8cm and is septated and the left ovary cyst is 4.1 cm. The doctor said that I need to see an ob/gyn so I need to go to my primary for the referral. When the doctor left I told the nurse about my experience with my primary....she recommended someone in the same group.....so I will try to get an appointment with them today when the office opens.

So the questions..... what is septated? What is calcification? Is it normal to see a lot of gas on an x-ray? I am guessing the ob/gyn is the right direction....should i be doing anything else?

Thank you so much for all your help....I felt funny wanting to make an issue about this with my doctor.

vrw520.....you look very familiar.....do I know you???? You are awfully young at 16 to be on an OVCA cancer forum.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You definitely need to get another gyncologist and see about a second opinion. You should not be going through having to deal with the frequency of unrinating and diarhhea. I had that as well. Just had a laparoscopy to have 2 dermoid cysts removed that was on my left ovary. They took my left ovary.
I would think if the simple cyst was going to be resolved, it would have by now.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My Aunt went through so much (some different symptoms than you) and the doctors gave her every diagnosis but the right one--Ovarian Cancer.  CHANGE DOCTORS.  I don't want to scare you and it is probably just what your doctors now are telling you.  There is a blood test (some insurance companies don't pay for it-but my family is in the middle of trying to get that changed!)  This blood test shows presence of ovarian cancer.   It is called a CA125.  Even though it can show a false positive, it can be used as a guideline for future test.  I know if i was going through what your going through, i would go and get this test done just to ease my mind.  You need a good Gyn.!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am not ob/gyn. just some opinion.
As I know, low-ogestrel is a birth control pill. It will prevent new cyst form but does not work on the cysts already there. If your cysts is functional one that means will resolve by itself, you do not need take any medication considering you want to start a family. While Birth control pill does work for endometrisis. But you can not have baby with birth control pill.
Find an ob/gyn for your case.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I think you need fire your doctor. You have two cysts on each ovary, he/she did not refer you to ob/gy and no follow up in six months. Generally a patient needs follow up in 6-8 weeks if a ovarian cyst is found even if something will be resolved by itself. Good luck and let us posted!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I think that it is always best to push the doctor to give you the tests you need. This very well may not be cancer....but on the very small chance that it is.....early detection is so important. With the size of the cyst you had...you should  have been rechecked long before 6 months ago. If you asked for a referral, then I am assuming that you haven't even seen an ob/gyn. I would think that you would have been referred if you have cysts, fibroids and possibly perimenopause. I hope that you get in soon for help. Trust me a year of symptoms deserves answers.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello,  Thank you so much for all you responses...I was feeling like I was being silly. I thought since they were called simple cysts it may not be necessary for more tests. I asked the doctor for another US and a referral, he said it wasn't necessary. I didn't know if a catscan would be a better choice. Yes, I am 29 and the doctor told me I was going probably going into perimenopause. My mother was in menopause by 35 so they did a FSH test and said my numbers were off, probably meaning that I also would go into menopause early. It wasn't something I was anxious to hear since I am getting married in the summer and of course want children. I  was also concerned about all this because my mother passed away at 43 of breast cancer. I don't know if there is any relation. I hate going to the doctor and have never really been sick until this. I can probably count on one hand the number of times I have been to the doctors including the two visits over the past year for this. I just want to get back to feeling normal, so if some tests will get me there then I will be happy. I am not very good at talking to doctors.....feel like someone put a ten ton weight on my tongue so I can't say anything. Thank you again...I will immediately call the doctor.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You definitely need go to see a Ob/Gyn and have another ultrsound. The OB doc. will decide the US for you for the diagnosis purpose. Are you 29 and you have the beginning of perimenopause? It is important to know your real age to give you more opinion.
5.2cm cyst is qualified to have surgery to remove. But if you are 29 and US shows functional cyst, you do not need rush to have surgery. Wait 2-3 periods to see how will the cyst change.
If you have endometrioma, you definitely need laparoscopy to remove the cyst and have endometriosis treatment at the same time.
Good luck!
Helpful - 0
158061 tn?1202678326
Absolutely get another TVUS, the loss of ability to hold urine can be your cyst getting larger.  Standard follow up for cysts of that size is to repeat the TVUS in 3 to 4 months to see if they are decreasing in size.  The 5.2 if it was cm qualified for removal simple or not.  Do not let they put you off on this appointment.  If the cyst has changed or gotten larger go to a Gynecologist/Oncologist, not because I think it is cancer, because they are the best educated to treat women's surgical problems.  A Cat scan is not any better than a TVUS, it needs to be repeated, and you let them know that you know it should have been done.
Helpful - 0
119341 tn?1232563757
Please return to the doctor and push for the TVUS. To have continued symptoms and cysts of that size the doctor should never have let you go without a follow up. The only thing that can tell you if it is cancer is sugery. Just go get that test done now.

Possibilities of cancer - 99% of ovarian cysts are benign. So don't worry, but do get it checked out.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Ovarian Cancer Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Learn how to spot the warning signs of this “silent killer.”
Diet and digestion have more to do with cancer prevention than you may realize
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.