symptoms clarification?

[2unknown]

Just wondering if others have gone through this, and what were their experiences. Am 47 yrs old and want to find as much info as I can. Woke up with sudden severe pain in my lower abdomen 2nd day of my period, a few weeks ago. My period only lasted 3 days and was very light. Went to my pcp, had ultrasound and results showed 5.6 cm cyst and other cysts. CT scan also showed fluid filled cysts. Was referred to ob/gyn and had CA 125 done - my level was 102. I understand CA 125 can be an indicator of other things other than ca of the ovaries, but that result scares me. I'm scheduled for surgery and was told that the only way they can tell if these cysts are malignant or benign is through surgery. For the most part I've been told that probability of cysts being malignant is a small percentage, but no one wants to be in that "small" percentage. I've had no pain since then, only some breast tenderness, and slight twinges in my pelvis and left lower back. Other symptoms like bloating, pain in lower back came only before and during my period, which seemed to have become more prominent that I was taking 2 ibuprofens on the days that it bothered me. Had no pain when I was on the pill and figured this was because I was no longer on the pill. Just worried and confused...

[2unknown]

Thank you so much, Helle. Your info helped. I apologize for not answering quickly as I've been pre-occupied for the past few weeks. I am now home 2 days from abdominal hysterectomy (6 days post-op), and the initial dx they had was endometriosis after they had opened me up. It was apparently a fairly extensive case. They also took out my appendix at the same time. The other stuff they took out they also sent out for analysis, which I'll found out the results sometime this week. I am hopeful that endometriosis is all they'll find. I am very happy to be home recovering. It doesn't seem to take much to tire me out at the moment. I'd appreciate finding out other people's experience post hysterectomy...

[Hellen123]

Hi there - you'll see from the various other comments what my experience has been over the last few weeks but had a similar situation to yours, other than the high CA125 result.  I now know from doing a lot of research on line in the last month that a high CA125 can often be an indicator of the presence of endometriosis, which is what they've discovered during my laparoscopy.  Have they offered you that surgery?  If so, take it as I understand this is the only certain way of diagnosing it.  I've read so many times on different sites that a high CA125 does NOT have mean cancer, so try not to panic - although I fully understand you are likely to do so anyway!  Make sure you do what I didn't and get ALL the info you need from the relevant professionals - knowing more stops the endless imaginings!

Good luck
Helle
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