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Ovarian Cysts or Ovarian Cancer
Let me start by saying my journey began in October of 2005 when I begin to experience pains in my stomach that I ignored and thought it was gas. Pains came and went and came back worse in November over Thanksgiving weekend. Went to my family doctor, explained I had pains in my stomach and pains in my back, they did an ultrasound and found a 3cm ovarian cyst. Great, at least I have an answer, right? Not really, over the past month, I've had bloating that has made me extremely uncomfortable and for two days now have had extreme back pain. My OBGYN put me on birth control last week and has a follow up ultra sound scheduled for this Monday. I have been in and out of the doctors for three months now. They did do a CA-125 test, which came back negative, however, I'm still worried. They keep acting like a cyst could not cause all these issues, yet, that is the only thing that is wrong. I've been told it could have been IBS, but I know it is not because it doesn't stick with me. All the signs point towards Ovarian Cancer, how do I get persistent with my drs. Oh yes, I had a partial Hysterectomy where my uterus was removed and I am only 32 years old. HELP! Anyone else have all these issues and feel like they are crazy and the drs keep wanting to tell you the cysts has nothing to do with it.
I hear you. I am having the same problem getting Drs to take the 7cm cyst I have on one ovary seriously. On top of it, I developed sudden malignant hypertension and my periods stopped. I was told that I suddenly went into menopause (I'm 43) and that the cyst and the other things have nothing to do w/ one another and even though I'm supposedly in menopause, the cyst is likely benign and a functional cyst. it hasn't changed in 3 mos. I have terrible bloating from it.
For the person who has pain associated w/ their cyst - it really sounds to me like endometriosis. I had this for several years starting about 15 years ago. The pain could be worse than when I was in labor and I was incapicitated by it. The good news is that when I finally got it removed, the pain went away. I had also had infertility problems for 5 years and removing that cyst solved that. I had asked about that pain for years and I can really sympathize with the frustration you all are going through in getting a Dr to take it seriously. BTW, endometriosis does cause horrible GI type problems too. I would get upset stomachs and diarrhea with it.
By far the best pain medication I found for the endometriosis was Aleve. At the time you had to get it by prescription. Advil and tylenol didn't touch the pain. But if I took a double hit of Aleve at the first sign of pain, I didn't have to take any more and it was like I didn't even have endometriosis. I think it is the best for shutting down prostagladin, which I think may cause the excrutiating pain.
I also share the fear people are talking about here. It's natural to be afraid of ovarian cancer when a growth on your ovary is found. And like you, I keep seeing that the advertised symptoms are similar to what I am experiencing. So I just want the thing out to know one way or the other.
Good luck to everyone and I hope we all get relief and peace of mind soon!
For the person who has pain associated w/ their cyst - it really sounds to me like endometriosis. I had this for several years starting about 15 years ago. The pain could be worse than when I was in labor and I was incapicitated by it. The good news is that when I finally got it removed, the pain went away. I had also had infertility problems for 5 years and removing that cyst solved that. I had asked about that pain for years and I can really sympathize with the frustration you all are going through in getting a Dr to take it seriously. BTW, endometriosis does cause horrible GI type problems too. I would get upset stomachs and diarrhea with it.
By far the best pain medication I found for the endometriosis was Aleve. At the time you had to get it by prescription. Advil and tylenol didn't touch the pain. But if I took a double hit of Aleve at the first sign of pain, I didn't have to take any more and it was like I didn't even have endometriosis. I think it is the best for shutting down prostagladin, which I think may cause the excrutiating pain.
I also share the fear people are talking about here. It's natural to be afraid of ovarian cancer when a growth on your ovary is found. And like you, I keep seeing that the advertised symptoms are similar to what I am experiencing. So I just want the thing out to know one way or the other.
Good luck to everyone and I hope we all get relief and peace of mind soon!
I hear you, yes my OBGYN is a male. I'm tired of the excuses they come up with like the IBS. Today has been the worst I felt in three months. I have such severe back pain that I just go home from work and have to put a heating pad in hopes it will help and the gas and bloating is out of control. Yesterday, I had the back pain and diaharrea, called the doctor, his nurse had the nerve to tell me that I might have the flu. Like I don't know what the feels like, give me a break and my doctor was in the hospital all day so she recommend I call my family doctor. Left a message for the family doctor today, I'm sure I will here the same thing I always here from her. I'm just getting sick of this. Three months with no answers. Why can't they just put me in the hospital, run all the tests and get it over with, no they rather give me pain medicine that does nothing or makes me so jumpy I can't take it. So, I've opted to not take any. I look on the Ovarian Cancer board and I have every thing they list except vomiting. I've threatened to take myself through emergency, if I can't get answers in the next day, I may have to do so. Thanks for answering me and I'm finding this website very useful.
OK, first things first: Yes, a cyst can indeed cause these symptoms and pain, and any doctor who tells you otherwise must surely be either (1) a man, or (2) a woman who has never suffered a cyst herself!
Yes, it is the sad truth - the symptoms of benign ovarian cysts and tumors are the same as the symptoms of malignant ovarian cyst and tumors. That is why when all the tests and all the images are done, the doctor still cannot say for certain whether a cyst is malignant of benign until surgery.
Generally speaking, cysts are most often benign. When you factor in all the information, about whether it is complex, has solid components, is very large, or has thick cyst wall, then you do raise the risk of malignancy, by a few percent.
Yes, it is the sad truth - the symptoms of benign ovarian cysts and tumors are the same as the symptoms of malignant ovarian cyst and tumors. That is why when all the tests and all the images are done, the doctor still cannot say for certain whether a cyst is malignant of benign until surgery.
Generally speaking, cysts are most often benign. When you factor in all the information, about whether it is complex, has solid components, is very large, or has thick cyst wall, then you do raise the risk of malignancy, by a few percent.
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