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Complex Cyst- Laparoscopic Surgery
Hello!
I'm 47 and recently had an ultrasound due to abnormal bleeding, really to check out/biopsy my endometrial lining, but they found a 6cm complex cyst on my left ovary. The blood test to detect ovarian cancer came back okay, but the doctor still recommended removing the cyst, and I agreed as I have been having some discomfort. This seems to be different from the cysts I had when I was younger due to polycystic ovarian syndrome, and I've tried to read up on complex cysts, but i guess i still feel a little clueless. I'm scheduled for the laparoscopic surgery on January 16 and the doc advised I'd be out of work 2 weeks. I've been reading some posts here (thank you! ) hoping to get a better feel for my situation, but I'd love more insight. If anyone has advice or thinks I'm not on the right track with this, based on what I've written, please do let me know! I appreciate your help!
I'm 47 and recently had an ultrasound due to abnormal bleeding, really to check out/biopsy my endometrial lining, but they found a 6cm complex cyst on my left ovary. The blood test to detect ovarian cancer came back okay, but the doctor still recommended removing the cyst, and I agreed as I have been having some discomfort. This seems to be different from the cysts I had when I was younger due to polycystic ovarian syndrome, and I've tried to read up on complex cysts, but i guess i still feel a little clueless. I'm scheduled for the laparoscopic surgery on January 16 and the doc advised I'd be out of work 2 weeks. I've been reading some posts here (thank you! ) hoping to get a better feel for my situation, but I'd love more insight. If anyone has advice or thinks I'm not on the right track with this, based on what I've written, please do let me know! I appreciate your help!
I don't know what happened to my response just now -?? I'll try again. ...
thanks for your thoughtful and informative post. I absolutely hate that you had such a bad experience and that you still suffer from that doctor's actions. :( I will definitely take your words to heart and add instructions to my consent form and also write that if I'm under anesthesia, my husband must be consulted before anything beyond the cyst is removed.
Thank you for sharing your experience!
thanks for your thoughtful and informative post. I absolutely hate that you had such a bad experience and that you still suffer from that doctor's actions. :( I will definitely take your words to heart and add instructions to my consent form and also write that if I'm under anesthesia, my husband must be consulted before anything beyond the cyst is removed.
Thank you for sharing your experience!
COMMUNITY LEADER
Glad to hear the endometrial biopsy was negative. Your symptoms are common for an ovarian cyst. If you do not have a family history of ovarian cancer then your lifetime risk is less than 2%. Many women who get breast cancer have no genetic link unlike ovarian cancer.
Hopefully, your gyn really is one of the good guys. I thought mine was too. I had great respect for him for 20 years. But when it came down to it, he put money (and maybe power) before my long-term health and quality of life by unnecessarily removing all my sex organs even though my ovarian cyst was benign (as determined by frozen section while I was under anesthesia). He even waited for the frozen section results before proceeding to remove my other ovary and my uterus when all that really needed to go was the cyst itself. I wish I had understood more especially the gross overuse of female organ removal and tactics used by gyns. And I wish I had revised the surgical consent form to explicitly state my wishes and not assumed that he would only remove what was necessary. I also wish I had sought out my own gynecologic oncologist and not gone to the one he suggested for a consultation. But of course hindsight is 20/20. I have learned so much about this subject in the 9 years since my surgery.
Although I was 49 at the time of surgery, it has negatively affected every aspect of my life. For one, the hormonal losses threw me into a suicidal depression along with a whole laundry list of other issues, all of which are medically documented adverse effects of "surgical menopause" which can occur when any part of the sex organ / "reproductive" system is removed.
I have connected with many women who have lost healthy organs regardless of what was verbally agreed upon between doctor and patient. Most gynecologic surgery consent forms are designed to allow this.
So please be sure you understand the LIFE LONG functions of the female organs and the many adverse effects of the removal of any part(s), even an ovary.
Hopefully, your gyn really is one of the good guys. I thought mine was too. I had great respect for him for 20 years. But when it came down to it, he put money (and maybe power) before my long-term health and quality of life by unnecessarily removing all my sex organs even though my ovarian cyst was benign (as determined by frozen section while I was under anesthesia). He even waited for the frozen section results before proceeding to remove my other ovary and my uterus when all that really needed to go was the cyst itself. I wish I had understood more especially the gross overuse of female organ removal and tactics used by gyns. And I wish I had revised the surgical consent form to explicitly state my wishes and not assumed that he would only remove what was necessary. I also wish I had sought out my own gynecologic oncologist and not gone to the one he suggested for a consultation. But of course hindsight is 20/20. I have learned so much about this subject in the 9 years since my surgery.
Although I was 49 at the time of surgery, it has negatively affected every aspect of my life. For one, the hormonal losses threw me into a suicidal depression along with a whole laundry list of other issues, all of which are medically documented adverse effects of "surgical menopause" which can occur when any part of the sex organ / "reproductive" system is removed.
I have connected with many women who have lost healthy organs regardless of what was verbally agreed upon between doctor and patient. Most gynecologic surgery consent forms are designed to allow this.
So please be sure you understand the LIFE LONG functions of the female organs and the many adverse effects of the removal of any part(s), even an ovary.
Thank you for the response and insight!
I think my doctor is one of the good guys and will only take the cyst, unless it really does become necessary to do more. I've been so impressed with him for years. :)
I was wavering about the surgery, but I actually think it's the right thing now... the last several days, I've had increasing discomfort, and the last day or so, I keep getting this radiating pelvic pain. I wonder if the cyst has grown even more.
Even though the CA-125 was negative, I still am glad the cyst will be gone and biopsied...with breast cancer in my family (mom and grandma), this little fear keeps sneaking into the back of my mind, worrying that some issues I've been having the last few months-- bloating, feeling full, bleeding, bowel issues-- are a sign of something worse going on. I know chances are so small, but I'm actually looking forward to just getting that cyst out, knowing it's fine, and hopefully feeling better...
Oh, and thankfully the endometrial biopsy was fine. :)
I think my doctor is one of the good guys and will only take the cyst, unless it really does become necessary to do more. I've been so impressed with him for years. :)
I was wavering about the surgery, but I actually think it's the right thing now... the last several days, I've had increasing discomfort, and the last day or so, I keep getting this radiating pelvic pain. I wonder if the cyst has grown even more.
Even though the CA-125 was negative, I still am glad the cyst will be gone and biopsied...with breast cancer in my family (mom and grandma), this little fear keeps sneaking into the back of my mind, worrying that some issues I've been having the last few months-- bloating, feeling full, bleeding, bowel issues-- are a sign of something worse going on. I know chances are so small, but I'm actually looking forward to just getting that cyst out, knowing it's fine, and hopefully feeling better...
Oh, and thankfully the endometrial biopsy was fine. :)
COMMUNITY LEADER
Most cysts, even complex ones are benign (non-cancerous). And some do go away on their own. But once they get over 7cm or so, there is risk of ovarian torsion which can be very painful and choke off blood supply to the ovary causing it to die.
Since the ovaries produce hormones into a woman's 80's it is best to have just the cyst removed (cystectomy). However, it is a more delicate surgery than removing the ovary so many gynecologists take the easy and more profitable way out by doing an oophorectomy. Some may not even have good cystectomy skills.
Being that you are 47 and probably in perimenopause, it is common for the lining to build up. But most women's bodies do a good job of shedding it before anything sinister happens. Of course, with your history of PCOS, this may need more careful follow-up. Hopefully, your biopsy was negative or nothing more than hyperplasia that is typically treatable with medication.
Since the ovaries produce hormones into a woman's 80's it is best to have just the cyst removed (cystectomy). However, it is a more delicate surgery than removing the ovary so many gynecologists take the easy and more profitable way out by doing an oophorectomy. Some may not even have good cystectomy skills.
Being that you are 47 and probably in perimenopause, it is common for the lining to build up. But most women's bodies do a good job of shedding it before anything sinister happens. Of course, with your history of PCOS, this may need more careful follow-up. Hopefully, your biopsy was negative or nothing more than hyperplasia that is typically treatable with medication.
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