Ovarian Cysts causing my problems?

[lovemylittles]

Hello all. I am new, and have been looking around this page. Anyway, here is what has been going on the past few months. I am currently on bc, and have been since 2012. I went on the bc because of very painful periods, and I hated not knowing exactly when my period would start. The bc worked (I knew it would, I'd been on it before). My periods started at the same time every month, and lasted for 4-5 days. I still had minor cramps and nausea, but nothing too significant and it didn't last long.

Fast Forward to the present. My periods have gone from lasting 4-5 days on average to lasting 8+. They have also gotten quite painful and there seems to be quite a bit of clots.. mostly small. Bad cramps, severe lower back pain. . I have spotting in between periods, and in January had a period of 10 days extra bleeding between periods. I've had constant nausea since Dec 29th and breast tenderness, left side only. My normal lower back pain has gotten more frequent and much more severe and now includes my left hip. I also have periodic pelvic pain/cramping without the period. It feels like I am going to start my period, though I am not due for it. . My eating habits have drastically declined, and when I do eat, I feel sick. Which is why I am here...

Last week I went to the ER with severe abdominal pressure radiating to my back. They did an upper abdominal ultrasound that didn't show anything wrong. The last test they did was an abdominal CT. The only thing that came up on this was bilateral ovarian cysts. L- 4.5cm and 2cm, R-2cm. They think I have ulcers and prescribed prilosec and a referral to gastro. I had my ER follow up with a PA in my clinic. I asked her about the cysts and if they could be related to the irregular and painful menses, and she mentioned the 2cm one on the right side, and said "probably not.... that's very small."

So the question is, could the cysts on my ovaries be causing all of this discomfort, or is it purely coincidental?

[lovemylittles]

Thank you for your response! I had a GYN appt and they are sending me for an ultrasound this Monday. They mentioned bilateral fullness of the ovaries, as well as unusual tenderness. Guess we shall see!!!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Mostly ovarian cysts are symptomless But Ovarian cysts can, however, cause problems if they twist, bleed, or rupture. You seem to be having the symptoms of metrorrhagia(heavy periods). Various factors causing it are endometriosis,ectopic pregnancy,hormone imbalance,endometrial hyperplasia,polyps,use of IUD’s and depo shots, sexually transmitted diseases,PCOS and benign and malignant pathologies of the uterus.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.