Ruptured cyst, continued intervals of pain

[blindbat101]

Went to the ER 16 days ago for acute abdominal pain from my pelvic floor to my neck and the CT scan said ruptured ovarian cyst with extensive blood in the abdominal cavity.  Sent me home telling me they couldn't tell me how long it would take for the blood to reabsorb and that blood is an irritant so expect discomfort.  I had an ultrasound and transvaginal ultrasound 9 days post ER visit and the results were exactly the same as on the CT scan -- same swollen left ovary and more visible cysts, many pockets of blood and fluid.  It has been 16 days and while I feel a lot better it still has me crying out and close to tears when I have anything in the bowel -- even gas -- and no, I'm not constipated.  Even having anything in my bladder has me in severe discomfort.  Doctor says that is just the remaining pockets of blood and fluid which will take time to dissipate.  I have no history of cysts, but have had bulging disks in my low back for years, which respond to my monthly cycles with increased or decreased pain.  There has never been any mention of endometriosis.  

Anyone have any advice on how long it takes for the blood and fluid to absorb?  Anyone have any pain management suggestions?  Excedrin migraine sometimes helps, but haven't found anything else.

Thanks!

[old_before_my_time]

Wow, you have really had a time of it...sounds like everything that could possibly have happened did happen! The DVT could also be the cause (or part of the cause) of the chest pain and breathlessness and that can last for some time after the clot resolves. I hope you are soon feeling much better!

[Lel1]

Thanks all, for your stories. Since the medicos don't know, we obviously must discuss it amongst ourselves to try to understand what's happening to us.
So, my story: friday night 8 weeks ago, in bed, midnight, no sleep because of feelings like an adrenaline hit and a strange, busy, crawling sensation  in my abdomen. This was weird, and went on until 5am. I felt shocky, fast heartbeat, and when I finally slept it was as if I was passing out after a trauma.
I woke 3 hours later with a painful, rigid abdomen. I could hardly pee, and couldn't move my bowels. It was as if my insides were paralyzed. This went on for 3 days, no bowel movements, no appetite. If I did eat, a very small amount made me feel ill. Ditto drinking, even water.
On the fourth day I went to the dr. She said "acute abdomen!" and sent me for a ct scan, thinking diverticulosis. She thouht my problem was constipation, but that's because she didn't listen. The scan showed a 5cm ruptured cyst, right side, and free fluid in the adnexa. I'm 54, so had to have it checked for malignancy. All good, and the dr happily told me my bowels didn't work because the cyst had been pressing on them! I pointed out that they DID work on friday, I felt the cyst rupture friday night, and they didn't work saturday. She looked pensive and muttered as if to herself "oh, it would cause irritation!"
So, I googled frozen bowel, which is what if felt like, and there it was - ileus. Paralyzed, or partially paralyzed intestines or bowel. And indeed, everything has only started to work properly again in the last week - 7 weeks after the rupture. My regular doctor confirmed that ileus after a cyst rupture was possible. I wonder if that is what's happening to some of the previous writers...

More was to come. I very slowly got a little better, then began to get sicker. More abdominal pain, and increasing malaise. After 2 weeks I became aware of a pain in my right hip. My bowels not working, I thought that was the problem, with referred pain. Feeling generally miserable, but without anything specific to tell the dr, I didn't bother looking for help. Waiting.
2 weeks more, feeling worse and worse, and I started to run a fever intermittently. Off to the ER, thinking the cyst remains had become infected - this was 5 weeks after the rupture. Another ct scan. 2 days later I got a call from a dr at ER to call me in, as a review of the ct scan showed a large area of peritoneal inflammation, and a 7cm DVT (deep vein thrombosis) in my pelvis, in the hypogastric vein. Triggered by the inflammation caused by the cyst rupture. So, ruptured cyst, ileus, pelvic DVT.
I've been back to ER with chest pain and breathlessness, but it doesn't seem to be anything to do with the DVT, or the enormous dose of anticoagulants I'm on now - the chest pain under my bottom right rib and around to my back, and breathlessness to the point of faintness, is suspected to be caused by fluid from the cyst that's worked it's way up to irritate my diaphragm. So 8 weeks after the rupture of a 5cm (2") ovarian cyst,  I'm still in pain from fluid in the abdominal cavity. The cyst is resolving - it's 3cm, 7 weeks after rupture.
The thing that bothers me: the doctors brush off a cyst, but it seems, anecdotally at least, that the irritation caused by the cyst contents in the abdominal cavity can cause real problems like paralysis or partial paralysis of the intestines or bowel, and, as in my case, enough inflammation to trigger a DVT.

[old_before_my_time]

Welcome to the community. I am sorry you have dealt with recurring cysts and poor medical treatment. Have you tried various birth control pills to see if that keeps the cysts from forming? That works for some women.

Of course removing your female sex organs will ensure you have no more ovarian cysts but that is like "throwing out the baby with the bath water." It will cause a whole new set of health and quality of life issues. Numerous studies show that ovary removal or (hysterectomy induced ovarian failure) is associated with many increased health risks - heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, hip fracture, dementia, Parkinson's, cognitive and memory impairment, poor sleep quality, vision changes, skin changes, sexual dysfunction (loss of desire, arousal, response)...I think I captured them all!

Hysterectomy destroys anatomical and pelvic integrity due to the removal of the "hub" of the pelvis (uterus) and severing of ligaments / support structures hence a repositioning of bladder, bowel, and vagina as well as spine, hips, and rib cage. It is associated with increased risk of prolapse and "celes" - enterocele, rectocele, cystocele, urethrocele - as well as vaginal vault prolapse (a falling of the vagina without the uterus and uterine ligaments to keep the vagina upright.  

I had a hysterectomy 9 years ago and wish I had known just a small percentage of these facts. I NEVER would have allowed removal of any organs.

[Musiclady10]

I have been have problems for 5 years. Would get this unbelievable  pain and then have extreme bloating, pressure and frequent urination. During one episode I couldn't go 15 mins without having to urinate. Everyone said it was a UTI. I have Er trips, PCP visits, Urologist and two Gynecologist. When it all started happening I said it feels like something burst. Last week the same thing happened but the pain last for 14 hours before I talked myself into going to the ER. Where after getting the "Well no one else can figure it out why do you think we will now speech" the doctor ordered an ultra sound. They discovered a ruptured cyst on my left ovary and gave me pain meds and told me to follow up with my GYNO. Got into see her two days later. Do to a blood clotting problem I am on blood thinners, she is very concerned about this and suggesting I meet with a specialist and look like a complete hysterectomy is in my near future. I am a week past rupture and still in pain and very bloated, had all the same post symptoms mentioned extreme pain when having to use the rest room, pass gas etc.
Listen to your body don't give up only took me over 5 and well over 6 ruptures before it was diagnosed.

[old_before_my_time]

Welcome to the community. Thank you for sharing your story. I am sorry you went through this but glad the cyst resolved and you did not need surgery. Of course, most cysts do resolve on their own but unfortunately, too many women who undergo surgery lose their ovary(ies) versus just the cyst(s).

[mbc095]

This thread was so helpful to me, thank you to everyone for sharing your stories. I went through almost exactly what @mijacafe experienced through the beginning of her story.

I was suffering from lower back pain and general pelvic discomfort for a few days before I finally decided to go see a doctor for what I assumed was a UTI or kidney infection. After a urinalysis, blood work, and x-rays, the doctor diagnosed it as kidney stones (that were in the process of traveling to / through my bladder). I was prescribed an antibiotic (800mg /160mg Bactrum) and pain medication and was referred to a urologist for the next day. ps- Obligatory pregnancy test was negative even though I knew I wasn’t preggo.

I was vomiting after two doses of the Bactrum and the pain meds weren't helping. I saw the urologist the next day and had the same tests run (urinalyis, blood work, x-rays). The urologist was 90% sure the "stones" were actually just calcifications and totally normal but would have to run a CT scan to be certain.

CT scan came back negative for stones, the urologist discontinued the Bactrum, but the radiologist located a 4.5 cm cyst on my right ovary. I should note I had also started spotted a few days before that but just thought my period was being weird. The urologist told me to see my GYN as soon as I could, so the appt. was for the following Monday.

The pain meds (5 mg Hydrocodone / 325mg Acetaminophen) were barely helping the pain in my back, especially the right side, and it was shooting throughout my whole body. Over that weekend I started cramping really badly and was clotting and had a really heavy flow. The cramps were so intense at times I was almost in tears. My husband came to check on me at one point because I was vocally in pain.

The GYN did an ultrasound and confirmed the cyst was there and that it was a hemorrhagic cyst; the fluid or blood within the cyst had started to come out and into my blood stream. She described it was “hell” but was hopeful that a few days would be the solution, gave me stronger pain meds (10mg Toradol), and said to come back if I wasn’t better in a week. 

Those pain meds definitely helped, and time was the cure. I had what I would describe as a really heavy period for about three days, then light bleeding for about three days after that, total.

I started to feel like myself again about four days after seeing the gyno and the bleeding or period or ruptured cyst fluid was gone. The pain was manageable, but this was 12 or 13 days from when I initially started feeling what I thought was a UTI.

It was frustrating to be in pain and have to go from doctor, to specialist, to gyno to figure this out, but I hope that sharing my experience can help women who might be in a similar situation. Don’t be afraid to be empowered and tell the doctor you’d like these tests if you don’t think you’re receiving thorough treatment. Thank you again to everyone who share their stories, you really helped me know I wasn’t alone.