A repeat questoin about ovary removal but I have special circumstances-please help

[sheepie56]

Hi, my name is Katie and I'm new to the forum. I'm writing with a number of concerns and had been reading some older posts from you all and wanted some specific advice if ne1 could give me any.

Heres my story. I'm 26 yrs old and had a TIA (mini stroke) in March of 2008. I also suffer from Bipolar 2 which of course is a mood disorder and have depression and hig anxiety. I cannot be on hormonal birth control ever again because of the high risk for the possibilty of another TIA or a actual stroke. In Dec of 2008 I had a normal pap but after my first period in Jan of 09 it has been my last. It is now Dec 09... I started some new psych meds at the time of the period loss but the one I started has a low ,extremely low chance of ceasing periods. I've never once (I believe) really missed a period since around age 14/15. Never been pregnant etc.

I finally went to the gyno around May/June because it began worrying me. Well, I'm unisured (I'm currently awaiting decision on whether or not I'll recieve disability for my BP and medicade but as of now have no pay out of pocket for medical). The gyno had me get a transpelvic ultrasound and found 2 large cysts on my right ovary with I believe she said nodules on them? If that sounds right to you all. Since I can't take "regular" birth control with hormones she put me on another form which name I can't remember. Anyway I'm guessing if I remember correctly it was either supposed to start my period up or help dissolve the cysts. I'm sorry I do not remember. So if anyone could clarify the usage of birth control for this situation I'd appreciate it. She then ordered another pelvic ultrasound and said the 2 cysyts with too large for me to keep the right ovary. The fallopian tube she could keep and the left ovary was perfect she stated. She said I'd need surgery and stated not to worry a thing about it. Well I did my own research and do have worries. The main worry isn't about having children because I doubt due to my mental illness I could ever handle it and would not want to pass it down....I struggle with this thought a lot. But my moods. As I said I suffer very bad with my bipolar. I've been struggling to live practically since I was around 22. I don't want to even risk a chance of having even more emotional ups and downs on top of what I already go through. I'm not trying to complain but it gets hard sometimes.

So, I haven't gotten the surgery mainly because I was waiting on the medicaide decision and I'm just scared. Well this week I was highly recomened to see a Doctor of Oriental medicine/Acupunture physician. He went to mediacla school-i know completly he is the real deal in that field/practice. But I went for him for migraines but noted on my paper about my womens health issues. One of the first thing he said to me is "do not get that ovary removed bc of the emotional side effects". We just talked briefly about what he could do to help with natural remedies and maybe acumpuncture. I'm very knew to this field of medicine but it does interest me bc I take 7 medications going on 8 now. So if anyone could give any type of advice just from a personal stand point. I'm thinking I don't want to chance it due to emotional reasons. But I'm not fully educated on what else to do. Wouldn't just leaving the cysts on my ovary eventually cause ovarian cancer?  How even did I get these cysts and why didnt anyone catch them sooner? And does having cysts usually cause your period to disapear? As I said it's been a year in jan of 2010. The obgyn that was going to do the surgery said something about taking a needle to my ovary that there keeping and poking holes in it with a hot instrument to start my period??? I've never heard of such a thing.

Sorry for the long post. Just very confused. Thanks to ne1 who replies

[doublek180]

sounds like you have alot to deal with !!  im sorry your going through so much!  alot of times the docs refer cysts as tumors.. did she do transvaginal ultrasound or an MRI? alot of times cysts wont go away ..(ive had one for a little over 3 years) mine is mostly solid...the docs think its a fibroma. i wont know for sure until they remove it in january. do you have any symptoms like bloating or pain or feeling full? (dont worry too much if you do as even benign ones can cause those those symptoms as well.)  my periods have been so weird too..not having them for a looong time, and then spotting.  sounds like she is talking about doing a laporoscopy..(maybe)..id first ask her if she is going to do surgery to bag it !! that means no spilling of fluid from the cyst. just incase there is cancer in the cyst. if she is talking about just draining it ask her if she is 100% sure its benign and why she thinks it is...most are..but they wont know for sure til its out.  im sure others on here will advise you on their thoughts too...please keep us informed on how you are!!! also..TRY NOT TO STRESS...YOU ALREADY HAVE ALOT TO DEAL WITH !!!

[ireneo]

I'll add a few comments here, just randomly - you didn't mention how large the cysts are. If they're rather large (over 5 cm) there's a chance they could cause torsion (a twist) which would then be a medical emergency. That's why they like to do surgery to remove them.

In some cases doctors will use birth control to shrink cysts. But that's out for you.

Many doctors use cyst and tumor interchangeably but yes, I think tumor sounds worse.

I can't think of any reason that a cyst or even one ovary removal would cause emotional or personality changes. There's the basic anxiety over any surgery. And if you still have one ovary left, that will take care of your hormone needs. You won't be starting surgical menopause.

I've never heard of poking an ovary over and over again to start a period. I know in some cases of fluid filled cysts they make take a needle and aspirate (draw out) some fluid. Not sure if they do that with ovarian cysts.

Although I respect acupuncture specialists (one vet we had at the clinic used it for pain control occasionally), I tend to disagree with the emotional repercussions of having a single ovary removed. I had my left one removed along with tube and a 10 cm cyst. Other than a sore tummy, I felt much better, great peace of mind knowing it wasn't cancer and that thing was now out of there.

Perhaps others will drop in and add more information. I hope so.

[sheepie56]

Oh and I would like to add the gyno called the cyst(s) tumors now.She didn't elaborate. I'm really thinking the more I read I need a new gyno bc I don't feel mine is adequate IMO. ..