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Recurring Ovarian Cysts

Hi all!  My hope for this is to help and be helped!

I am a 30 year old mom of 2 great kids!  My recent saga began July 21, 2008.  I had intense abdominal pain, went to the e.r. and had to have immediate laparascopic surgery due to a ruptured 8.9cm hemorrhagic cyst.  I was blood inside from my diaphragm to the neverland.  The doctors were able to save my left ovary.  From July 08 to January 09, every other month I was having painful recurring cysts.  My gyno and I made the decision to remove my left ovary via laparascopy in January 09........  All was well until April 09, then my right ovary began developing very painful cysts, I have been on BC and am now on Lupron (my fourth month) as well as BC.  Now I am having the same pain, yes even on Lupron.  I am going in for my hundredth (LOL) U/S tomorrow, I have had this pain before with no signs of cysts as well as very small cysts.  My gyno has mentioned removing my right ovary with a full hystorectomy.  I am grasping at straws as to what to do.......... I feel my pain tolerance is normal but the pain I am having in my abdomen with these cysts ranging in sizes, is unbearable most of the time.   I am very confused as to what the right decision is and if there is anything else I can do?
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Avatar universal
I wanted to update............  Let's rewind to August... I was late getting my Lupron shot (about 10 days).  The nurse said it shouldn't matter......(not really sure i agree with her)  I was back into the doctors office late last week with the pain (AGAIN) (lower abdominal, on my right side, huge water weight gain, bloating and stabbing pain).  The dr did a vaginal US that showed several small cysts on my right ovary, but nothing remarkable as it was put to me.  So I felt like the dr. was telling me I shouldn't be hurting because he can't find anything wrong with me.  I also feel like he is saying "There's no large cyst there so it shouldn't hurt........" Well it does hurt and it hurts very badly.   So now he is sending me to general surgery, pain management and a gastrointerologist..........  I get the part about making sure it isn't something else going on but I know what this feels like.  I have been dealing with the same symptoms and same pain for well over a year now.  It is the same pain I had on my left side when I still had my left ovary.  I can also predict when it is going to happen........the pain always comes on the third week of my BC pills.  I am very frustrated with what is going on, I am tired of going to the drs.  I feel like they don't have any answers for me.  


Please excuse me for venting and thank you for letting me vent!
Jojo
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Avatar universal
Hi
I read that keeping away from eating too many proteins helps to keep these cysts from forming all the time. I hope this helps some! I only have one rupture every 6 months or so.....on both ovaries one each so far,(and one in my right breast, cant even touch it!) I'm a newbie and scared to death of the pain I know will be coming again even though my Lyme doc also has me on Rifampin now to prevent infections from the last ones.......
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I had a 3.7X0.5 cm ovarian cyst a few months ago.  I had a cystectomy done.  Tests came back negative for malignant cells.  I felt great after the surgery.  No discomfort until recently.  I am having a dull ache on the same side (left) lower abdominal and thigh.  Could these cysts reoccur and this quickly?  
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Avatar universal
Thank you!  I hate doctor visits and surgery just as much!!!  I also hate being in pain....  Surgery, especially a hysterectomy is a very scary thing.  It's so final.  I am pretty sure I am done having children.  I KNOW I want all of this to come to an end and a hysterectomy is the only thing that offers an end.  
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Avatar universal
Your situation is very similar to mine, actually.  I have no children, either.  I had one big fluid filled cyst on one ovary (and they diagnosed it on the right ovary but in surgery found it was really on the left one!)  My cyst centered itself between the location of both ovaries, which added to the confusion.

My gyn/onc was more interested in removing both ovaries (which turned out to be a great idea considering the location confusion).  I was ready to suggest hysterectomy myself (uterus removal) but he said there was no reason for it.  I never had uterus problems.  No fibroids, no endometriosis and now that I was post-menopause, those problems were unlikely to occur.  So I had a BSO, which means removal of both ovaries and tubes instead, even though I really only needed the ovary/tube on one side removed.

Much depends on whether you ever had issues with the uterus such as endo or fibroids which may be still present.  If not, there's no logical reason to remove it.  I'd say remove the cyst (definitely) and possibly one or both ovaries/tubes along with it.  But remember always that I'm not a doctor.  I just believe in accomplishing what will get you the best result and less chance of reocurring problems without removing more than necessary based on past advice I was given and what I've read in others' stories.
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Avatar universal
Thanks Marie Michele, for being there for all of us. I have the opposite problem. I'm 56 and  will have no children. My right ovary has a big cyst on it and after visiting the Oncologist/Gynecologist the other day, he is proposing that even though he does think I have cancer (but can't be sure) to remove the offending ovary at least. He has suggested I go for both ovaries and the uterus to avoid future problems. My cyst has remained the same measurement all year with 3 ultrasounds.

What would you suggest, I know the hysterctomy requires more healing. Or just remove both ovaries? I have only had one experience with another cyst and that was a water filled one in my breast, we did a needle biopsy. The Oncologist feels that this cyst on my ovary is fluid filled.

?
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Avatar universal
As for me, I hate surgery and frequent doctor visits so much I would want to take the choice that would decrease my chances for future surgery and vigilant followup.  In that case, I would probably choose the hysterectomy.  I have heard that hormone patches have worked for others that experienced hysterectomy at a young age.  Much depends on whether you want to have more children or not.  That is the biggest reason women strive so hard to retain the parts they have.
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Avatar universal
Thank you MarieMichele!  It is not an easy answer, it has had a major impact on my social life, my relationships and my poor babies having to go to Grandma's because mom is going to the hospital again.........  on the other hand I am only 30.  
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Avatar universal
That's not an easy answer.  Think of all the inconvenience all these U/S tests, surgeries and ineffective hormone treatments have caused you and you still have pain.  Yet a hysterectomy at age 30 is not the greatest solution either since you will still need hormone therapy to prevent early menopause.  It's like choosing the lesser of several unpleasant choices.
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