thanks lynxgal! i hope we both get our cysts resolved-- it'd be great to put an end to the uncomfy and embarrassing symptoms (like the gassiness! good lord!)
initially, i was more worried about the prospect of having surgery, but the next day, i realized i had to worry more about the type of cyst inside me.
*****i have an update: i was a weepy mess waiting for my doc to call me back this morning and i have finally talked to her.
she said that mine was a complex 9 cm cyst (argh, not the fluid-filled) with some "calcification" and no blood flow. that the radiologist thought it was a dermoid. and that it will have to come out (here we go, surgery) . and that i have ANOTHER ("bilateral cysts") one on my left ovary :( but that it's way smaller than this 9 cm one she is concerned about.
but from reading the other posts on this forum, i had some reassurance that still, a lot of complex ones can be benign. she also said that there wasn't any sign of "blood flow" or hypervascularity. i guess that's good news ...that the thing inside of me isn't feeding on my blood (?) that would be a warning sign of a possibly-cancerous cyst. i really hope my U/S was easy to read or that they were pretty sure about it not showing any blood flow or anything indicating possible cancer? she said
they'd try for the minimally-invasive surgery but i'm assuming that the MRI will help them make the final decision?
now i'm wondering if a laparoscopy could be done for both dermoids, because i don't want to be worried about the small one on my left ovary growing or anything, in the future. or if i might need the bigger surgery? i just hope that the MRI results don't differ significantly from the results of my U/S??
Hi. I just wanted to let you know that I have ALL the same sx as you including the discharge with a normal pap. My cyst a month ago was only 3.3 cm and my doc said that it didn't appear to be cancer. I am still waiting on a copy of my US results to post here for more info as my doc didnt schedule a follow up US and there are times when I am in a lot of pain.
Anyway, Just wanted to say you are not alone with your symptoms.
thank you for answering! my doc was rated (i have cigna) as being pretty good with cost-effectiveness, and before my pelvic exam (thought uterus was enlarged but now we know it's the cyst) which led to the ultrasound , she gave me the option of taking a one-time pill or waiting for it to go away, for what she saw as faint traces of a yeast infection when i reported my weird discharge. and i ignored other symptoms of more bloating/constipation/frequent urination that started to occur earlier this year.
and yes, i did have a US atop the stomach and a transvaginal one, too. i'm really paranoid that since i had a fair bit of gas/constipation that day (embarrassing) and they had a hard time looking things over, like, what if they missed something else?
i'm just terrified because i didn't know much about ovarian cysts and after hearing from my doc that it was "big" and seeing the size on my MRI referral form, i started becoming more worried!! i don't know the structure or if it's solid, fluid, or complex(? mix of two?) .... it's a decision between "mentally prepping" myself for the worst instead of having it hit me or if not knowing and ignoring it to get through my work and daily activities up until the MRI will make it better? i just feel so stupid for having been a smoker for that long, and that it's made my chances of having a ...bad cyst...even worse. i don't have fatigue or nausea , but just the weird discharge and the GI and stool/urinary problems. but since you said that those were classic symptoms, i do feel a bit better at work where i am now ....
MRIs are not frequently ordered following ultrasound. Usually ultrasound is enough. Was it a transvaginal ultrasound? Is your doctor a gynecologist or another speciality?
9 cm is big no matter what type it is. Usually surgery gets recommend based on size alone but they also like to know more about its structure, too. You have plenty of the classic cyst symptoms and those alone should make you want to have it removed. So far it just sounds like the doctor wants more information to make the best decision on your behalf.
Are you in the US or another country? We see different diagnostic habits from doctors of different specialties and doctors from different countries.
I know you are afraid to know more, but you are entitled to that information. It's your body and at some point you may be involved in the decision process on what to do next, once your doctor makes some kind of recommendation.
also, i forgot to add: i'm 27, never have had kids, and i do unfortunately smoke (or have been for about 4-5 years), and have been on levora/portia combo BCP for 4-5 years.