Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Has anyone else had ovarian cysts?

In mid December I started having small jabbing pains in my right abdomen. I figured cramps, I should get my period in a couple of weeks. Then after about 4 days of those, I was at work one night and I felt this horrible stabbing pain, like someone had just taken a knife to my right side. I fell to the ground in pain, and I was far from over reacting. I called the doctor the next day and they thought appendicitis. I went in, they did a urine and blood test. I didn't have appendicitis and I wasn't pregnant; so they sent me for an ultrasound. After drinking what felt like a gallon of water and waiting 30 minutes, I had the test. 3 days later my doctor calls to tell me I have a cyst on my right ovary and to call my Gyno and follow up there. So freaked out, I did so (by now it was around Dec 20th). I went in to see them, and explained it and they told me that the cyst was 4inches in size and that was quite large. Well I'd assume so! But meanwhile since the ultrasound the pain had pretty much just stopped. So I was like, maybe it's gone? The Gyno gave me birth control pills (which I had been on for 5 years straight until November when my insuarance lapsed and I couldnt get anymore...could this be where the cyst came from?) and she sent me for another ultrasound. They called me back the 23rd said there had been no change it was the same size and on the 8th (tomorrow) when the head doctor came back, they'd have him look at the ultrasound and make a call on what to do.

I have gotten some achy pains in the past couple weeks, but nothing as horrible as before. I also have been having some bleeding, is that normal? My period came and went 2 weeks ago, so I know it's not that. I've also felt completely exhausted and I was wondering if that was part of this, too? I'm really kind of freaked out. I mean a 4 inch cyst?! That's so much larger than an ovary...that's like what...covering my whole inside of my stomach or something? And surgery?! Will I be awake?! I hope not!

I hope someone has some helpful answers...because I don't....and they just play the "if" game and aren't just straight with me.
11 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Hi, how many of you ever heard of more than one case of large ovarian cyst removal (4 inches or bigger) where only the cyst itself was removed but not the ovary? what kind of cysts were removed (complex or functional or dermoid or whatever)?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, my ovarian cyst is almost 4 inches too but the ultrasound revealed that it may have turned from simple/functional cyst to complex, what was your type of cyst? any idea? thanks.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Oh and by the way I'm only 22 years old. =/
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
So I have been scheduled a consult for surgery on Feb 3rd...I had to wait over a month. Yesterday the pain started back up and has made me nauseous with very little appetite.

If I have surgery with a 10cm=4in cyst...do you think they can save my ovary? I want kids more than anything in the world I don't want to lose one or both or anything. :( And which form of surgery do you think they'll do?

I'm a fulltime nanny so if I'm out of work too long, idk how I'd pay my bills. This is just so messy.
Helpful - 0
1980489 tn?1326255851
Hi thatquietgirl. I just had surgery on 12/20. My cyst measured 9.4cm.  They DID remove my ovary and Fallopian tube because the cyst had basically just turned the ovary into a "shell". After a cyst reaches about 6cm, they are more likely to do surgery to remove it. Birth control can help manage the symptoms a little but, it didn't help me. Sorry I can't be more positive for you. Its one of those things, that for me, it just kept getting more and more painful. I first started having the severe pain in June. I put it off as long as I could, and it had gotten to the point that I no longer walked up-right anymore. Hope you get to feeling better soon. :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yeah, unfortunately, it can.  If it's inside, they have to open your ovary to get to it.  When I went in, they weren't sure if they'd be able to keep mine, but thankfully, they were able to.  I was only 21.

An at that size?  I'm not so sure that it can.  I had already been on birth control for a while at the point I went to the ER doubled over in pain and had the emergency surgery.  They knew it was a cyst and not at risk of rupturing because of the type it was, so I think if there was any chance pain pills to help with the pain and a different type of birth control could have shrunk it, they would have done that, especially considering Kaiser does like to do the least expensive option.  You might ask if with your type of cyst it would, but they probably would have put you on it by now.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been having the same pain you described since last Monday (it is now Sunday, so 1 week). Tuesday into Wednesday morning I swore I had the stomach flu times 10. I also woke up with my period Tuesday morning after having it for 2-3 days a week and a half before (which is not normal for me to be irregular). The pain, bloating, vomitting, dizziness, everything is exactly what I had experienced. Friday night about 5-6pm I went to Urgent Care bc it hurt so bad. It came and went after the all nighter Tuesday into Wed. UC told me they believed I had a cyst on my left ovary and would need to come back Monday for an ultrasound to confirm this. I was back to the ER that next morning at 5am with excruciating pain again! After all the blood tests, internal and external ultrasounds the doctor told me NOTHING was wrong with me!!! I insisted that I may not be a doctor, Im only 24 so he may think I am ignorant, but Ive had more periods then I can count and I know my body. He told me that I was in the middle of my cycle and my ovary was just "trying to release an egg"! I laughed at him and told him again that I know how my body feels and when something is wrong I know it - hence my reason for being in the ER. He made me feel like I was some junky just looking to get a high or some attention. They gave me a shot (forgot what the name of the medication was) but it was relayed to be that 1mg of this medication was equal to 10mg's of Morphine. This was the only time I never felt any of the pain. I am a Police Officer that has been Pepper Sprayed and Tased and I believe I have a pretty high pain tolerance. This pain is INSANE! This doctor then did not even prescribe me any pain medication because "Nothing was wrong with me". It is now 24 hours after I left the ER and I am at a loss as far as what to do. I know I should go get a second opinion but my question is, if it was a cyst and it ruptured the night I was very sick, would they have been able to see anything on the ultrasound 4-5 days later? If not, I believe this is what was wrong but, I am really concerned to say the least....ANY SUGGESTIONS? Thank you again!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Save my ovary?! I didn't know a cyst could damage it...eeek. This whole mess gets scarier and scarier. Do the birth control pills possibly make it go away? I know I'm asking for a miracle here, but I'm scared of surgery. But thank you for letting me know how the surgery is done and such, they didn't talk about that with me yet. Just "we'll see" kind of stuff. But they keep putting me off. Like now my ultrasound is almost 2 weeks old again, so I bet they'll probably make me go for another one.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks! I'll check out that tracker and talk more to my doctor,
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You won't be awake during the surgery, if you have one, which you likely will due to the pain and whatnot.  There will likely be a cut made right above your hairline down there that is maybe 6 inches in diameter.  It's a fairly normal surgery.  They were able to save my ovary despite mine being a little bigger than yours.  Just make sure you take the pain pills and stool softener after your surgery and be sure to have somewhere to stay where you don't have to deal with stairs.  Just relax.  Everything will be fine!
Helpful - 0
1940167 tn?1331835255
Hey sry dear ! I have the same thing.. I completely understand..if u just had ur period 2 weeks ago then the bleeding could be from ovulation. It happens to me every now and then.. But then again it may not be that.. If the pain increases then you have to call your dr. If they get to big and compressed they can burst which is painful but pretty unlikely to happen.. I suggest you use the monthly tracker on this website to track your symptoms and show your doctor everything.. I hope this helps a little !
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Ovarian Cysts Community

Top Women's Health Answerers
363281 tn?1643235611
Nelson, New Zealand
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
Normal vaginal discharge varies in color, smell, texture and amount.
Bumps in the genital area might be STDs, but are usually not serious.
Chlamydia, an STI, often has no symptoms, but must be treated.
From skin changes to weight loss to unusual bleeding, here are 15 cancer warning signs that women tend to ignore.