17cm ovarian cyst

[Kmonster]

Hi, i've just been diagnosed with a 17cm cyst on my right ovary and and 3cm one of my left. I've got my first appointment as an urgent case with my consultant on Saturday.

Just wondering if anyone else has had these symptoms.

Dizzyness
Numbness/tingling sensation on the side of the big cyst and sometimes face.
Back ache (feels like i've been kicked in the kidneys)
No periods
Constipation
Urinating more frequently

My doctors haven't really told me what to expect and i'm wondering (not scared) if most 'large' cysts are surgically removed?

I am slightly worried though as to what damage may have been caused to my ovaries as I'm only 33 and have no children (although would love them).

Thanks for your views
K xx

[old_before_my_time]

If you don't have a family history of ovarian cancer, then this mass is likely benign. The frozen section done while you are in the operating room will tell if it is benign or not. And that should dictate the course of surgery. If it is benign, you should not need any organs removed although they may not be able to save your ovary if it is coming from your ovary. If you have a surgeon with good cystectomy (cyst removal) skills, he/she can probably save some ovarian tissue so that you do not suffer the possible long-term effects of having only one ovary.

I made the mistake of trusting my surgeon and believing he would not remove organs unnecessarily. That was a big mistake. He removed both ovaries, tubes, and my uterus when all he should have removed was the cyst. I am paying the permanent price in every way.

Best of luck to you. Please keep us posted.

[Deebro50]

Hi just found out I too have a 17cm mass  from my pelvis to my abdomen. I am scared to death of what this might mean

[old_before_my_time]

Welcome celcam. Hopefully, you will fall into the majority of ovarian cysts being benign, even in post-meno women. Since the ovaries produce hormones our whole lives if we have all our parts, hopefully, your surgeon will do what is best for your health and preserve as much of your ovary as possible if the frozen section is benign.

Let us know how your surgery goes...hoping all goes well!

[celcam57]

MarissaB_13.... thank you for your information.  I was diagnosed 4 weeks ago with 17 cm cyst.  Have had CT scan and ultrasound.  Meeting with GYN in a couple of days.  I am particularily worried as I am menopausal.  Wish me luck.  CA-125 = 30....  so that offers a ray of hope.

[MarissaB_13]

I know this is an old topic, but I wanted to post a bit of info after my laparotomy in case someone else with a 17 cm cyst lands upon this message board.

I am only 2 weeks post-op (2 weeks and 2 days), but thought I could shed some light into how the recovery is going so far!

The background: I played soccer 3-5 times a week before I found out about my cyst (I found out about it at the end of January 2015. I also walked a lot, did at home exerices (T25 - google that if you have no idea what it is :), about 2-3 times a week). So, fairly active I would say!

I found out at the end of January that I had a big cyst measuring 17x14x10cm on my right ovary. I had lots of symptoms, but the reason I found out is I had a miscarriage so they saw it on the ultrasound. The worst symptom of my cyst was feeling bloated all the time, weight-gain in my stomach, and peeing literally every 10 minutes! All day. After meeting my specialist/surgeon, having a CT scan, and seeing the specialist again, I finally had surgery on March 5th, 2015. So, it took about 5 weeks to have surgery from the time I found out about the cyst.

As far as recovery goes, it's been quite good actually! Luckily they saved my ovary which they thought they'd have to remove. I didn't use any morphine in the hospital, and was released the day after my surgery as I was doing so well (usually they make you stay 2 nights). I was given a few prescriptions for pain killers, but only needed Advil and Tylenol extra strength, and rotated between the two. I was up and walking around the day after surgery (not far, I'll admit, just around the hospital corridors). It definitely hurt to walk around the first few days, but I thought it would hurt more! I never got tired easily as I was told was common post-surgery. Just felt pretty normal!

The worst pain I felt, was the day I got home, I had some trapped air on my right side. It literally felt like I had broken ribs, and I could barely move or breathe. It moved up into my shoulders the following day. And I also had gas pain in my stomach. But, that subsided after about 2 days. The more you get up and walk around, the quicker it goes away.

The other worst thing was getting a cold 3 days post-surgery and trying not to sneeze/cough as that hurt the most!

Now I am 2 weeks and 2 days post surgery, and I'm walking a fair bit! I would say about 20-30 minutes a day. The pain subsided for the most part 1 week after surgery. Today I feel quite good, and I think I can start going for even longer walks, so will start doing that tomorrow.

Hope this helps! If you have any questions or anything, I will do my best to answer. I read so many laparotomy horror stories in terms of recovery, so I just wanted to put a fairly positive one out there :)

Marissa

[MissNicolae]

I was in pain constantly, but I forgot to mention...

There are some cysts that they will leave alone (I'm not sure at that size)....some will go away on their own, some will burst, and some will just continue to grow. Mine was a dermoid, so it was in the special classification where it was just going to keep getting bigger.

[Kmonster]

Thanks for your views. I'm in a lot of pain today and was last night, so have taken the day off work as cant get comfortable. Hopefully my consultant will be able to give me a timescale tomorrow. Just want it sorted now as its starting to get me down. Hope there isn't more testing needed as i can't cope with any more prodding and poking.

MrsRia, good luck for today, big hugs xx

[MarieMichele]

I am sorry to say that, yes, all your symptoms could be related to the big cyst and that all doctors would say it needs to be surgically removed at that size. There is no way to know what it might have done to the ovary. Surgeons do try to save an ovary for those that still want children. If the one is lost, it is still possible to have cycles and to conceive with just a single ovary.

[MrsRia]

Hi there,

I currently have a 13.9 cm cyst on my left ovary. I have very similar symptoms (e.g. numbness in my lower pelvic/leg region, back ache, constipation, urinating frequently). I asked my doctor about it and she told me that it is due to the pressure the cyst is putting on my other organs. I am labeled as an "urgent" surgery also. I go in tomorrow morning and they will do a laporatomy and partial ovary removal (or at least that is what they hope to do). I have my blood work ran for the CA-125 and it came back at 61 and my family has a history of breast and ovarian cancer as well. My doctor thinks there may be endometriosis but we'll see! I just pray all goes well tomorrow. I encourage you to check out the other postings because there is a lot of helpful information from previous experience. I wouldn't worry about the other 3cm cyst. I have a 2.5 cm cyst on my other ovary as well, but according to my doctor if everything goes as planned I can plan on having another child after my recovery. Hope all goes well with you! Keep us posted!