Please Help!

[Ganeida]

I am 52 and have been in menopause for about three years now.  About two weeks ago I started having dull but persistent pain in my low back.  This increased to the point where I called my doctor's office on Labor Day and the on-call physician instructed me to go to the emergency room at our local hospital.  There I had blood test, urinalysis, and various pokings and proddings.  I explained that the back pain was intense and radiated around to my lower abdomen, with a feeling of pressure, and that I had NOT, to my knowledge, injured my back.  They sent me home with a prescription for Vicodin (which I did not fill).  Went to my own doctor a few days later, same symptoms -- back pain pretty bad.  He saw my distress, and was concerned enough about the "abdominal" part of my complaint to send me over to the hospital for a CT scan.  They did both an abdominal CT (drinking the barium) and a venous scan (running the contrast fluid into a vein).  

Scan results, which I found out a few days later from my doctor, showed everything normal -- EXCEPT for a small fibroid on the uterus AND a small cyst on my right ovary...!  

I was (and am!) concerned about the cyst -- I said that shouldn't be happening to a woman in the third year of menopause.  He looked at the CT report again and said, well, it's obviously a simple cyst and the radiologist would have mentioned if it were complex or needed further looking into.  So it must just be a fluid-filled simple cyst.  I said WHY would I even have a fluid-filled cyst after menopause.  He all but patted me on the back and said "Well, obviously you're in PERI-menopause, and that can last for a while and you can still have functional cysts now and then." I argued that I think I know my own body, and I was well aware when "perimenopause" ended and I had settled into menopause (it was a relief from all the wacky flutters and weirdnesses of perimenopause -- all of a sudden all was calm and nice!).  He just shook his head and gave me a referral for an ultrasound in SIX WEEKS so we can check on the cyst and see if it persists.  He also gave me a referral for a colonoscopy (which, I admit, I should have done).  

He said otherwise the CT scan looked fine -- "your ovaries look fine!"  (Sure, other than the CYST that shouldn't be there!)  I said the back pain and weird abdominal stuff is still going on.  He sent me home with a prescription for amoxycillin (for possible diverticulitis, I gather, even though the scan showed no diverticulitis), a muscle relaxant and an arthritis pain pill.  I am to come back for my annual "well woman" exam in about three weeks -- nowhere in all of this was anyone concerned enough to actually give me a pelvic exam.  The ultrasound is not for six weeks.

My questions - can they really tell my ovaries "look fine" from a CT scan??  Shouldn't I be sounding the alarm and demanding further tests -- like an ultrasound NOW, perhaps a CA-125 blood test, and etc.??  

Meanwhile the symptoms go on and on.  Indigestion, lots of lower back pain and pressure, pressure feeling in my lower abdomen.  For a while I was getting the feeling of a lump or mass in my LEFT lower abdomen, but that went away with Phayzyme, so it was probably gas.  In the past few days I have also had a strong sensation of bloating and abdominal distention after meals -- like my stomach/abdomen would just swell up and feel swollen for several hours before going down.  I have NOT, however, felt fatigued, feverish or nauseaous -- in fact, I have had high energy and feel fine except for the abdomen and back symptoms.

ALL these are, of course, symptoms of ovarian cancer.  But they are also symptoms of several other things, including ovarian cyst, fibroids (both of which I have), irritable bowel and etc.  

Still, with the stakes so high, shouldn't someone besides me be alarmed and wanting more tests immediately??  I am in an HMO and so have to be referred by my main doctor to any other tests or doctors.  How can I convince him that I feel this is serious, without sounding like I am a total hypochondriac who's catastrophizing?? -- Ganieda

[jlock]

Try not to worry to much.  95% of ovarian cysts are benign.  There is a ovarian cyst board that might be more helpful to you than this board. Yes you do have several ovca symptoms,but these are also symptoms for several other conditions including benign ovarian custs.  Maybe you should go to your gyn...they might be able to understand and answer some of your questions better.  Good luck~~~Joanne

[deanamarie]

I to have a cyst and fibroid tumor. I have been three years in menopause and I am going to have another ultrasound Sept. 23. I had 1 a month ago and he wanted to see if it was gone. If not he wants to remove the ovary. I had spotted for about 3 days and got concern is why I went to the doctor. The tumor is not a concern but the cyst is. It is a small one but he wants to make sure it is gone. I know how you feel because I am concerned to. I found out my pap smear has come back abnormal also he wants me to come back in 6 months to have it done again. I am going to ask about that when I get the results of my ultrasound back. Ask your doctor for an ultrasound to ease your mind. Maybe he will send you for one. I will poat the reaults of my ultrasound when I get it. Good luck and GOD BLESS. I will remember you in my prayers.
                                                                                      deanamarie