How worried should "I" be?

[mimi_tiger3]

Brief history- Had LAVH in 2000 due to Endometriosis but still have my Ovaries.  Have had cysts off & on since then.  But the last 6 moths have been unbearable.  My PCP FINALLY had an MRI done & found 3 cysts on my Left Ovary, 1 of which was 3.4cm.  My PCP & the Doctor that read the scan said to go to my Gyno ASAP.  I lost my job in January due to missing too many days because of the pain.  I was in pain so bad I couldnt get out of bed. Then I had the MRI 1 week later.  Well, I applied for Insurance at healthcare.gov & it said I was Eligible for Medicaid. That was Jan. 31, 2016 and Im still waiting to receive insurance.  I have since had to go to the ER for the Pain and they did a CT and it still showed the 3 cysts, with the large one now 3.8cm and said to get into my Gyno as soon as my insurance starts.  Everything I read says after a few menstrual cycles they usually go away.  I dont have those & havent for 15 years.  So really, thats 3 Doctors telling me to see my Gyno Quickly.  So to me it worries them. So how worried should I be?!?  I'm terrified now.  I hurt so much.  When I do take a pain pill I sleep all day, so I've been quartering them just to be able to see my family.  Help! What can I do?

[old_before_my_time]

Just wanted to chime in. Since this cyst is still on the small side, it may very well resolve on its own. You don't want to have surgery unnecessarily. I believe around 7cm is the "cut-off" for monitoring a cyst versus surgically removing it provided there is no or little concern of malignancy (VERY FEW cysts are cancerous). It is not unusual for the ovaries to develop cysts after hysterectomy because the loss of the uterus can impair ovarian function.

The MRI and CT reports should have some details about the cysts' characteristics. That can be helpful in understanding the type of cyst and its chances of resolving versus needing surgical intervention. So if you don't have those reports, you may want to get a copy.

Let us know what more you find out once you get insurance coverage.

[krchelle]

I had a very large (11 cm, grew to 14 cm) cyst two years ago.  I was also in a lot of pain, because of my pain and the size, I was referred to a GYN.  I was able to work with the hospital and the GYN to make financial arrangements and got a charity deduction prior to the surgery.  I suggest you contact the Dr. office and hospital to explain your situation and see if they will help you.  You may also try going to a public health clinic.  
Sometimes cysts will resolve themselves, but other times they do not and need to be removed.  Since you no longer have periods, the cyst could be complex and complex cysts often need to be surgically removed.  Try not to worry too much about cancer...although I know from experience that this is easier said than done!  The majority of cysts are not cancer and cysts are quite common.  However, if you are past menopause, the risk does go up and cysts post menopause are typically taken more seriously.  While, I wouldn't get too worried, at this point, I would probably not wait until the insurance to be seen by a doctor.

Hope this helps some.  Keep us posted!