ovarian cyst

[danny1010]

hi,

i must say that i had mixed feelings when i saw all these different questions and responses on this forum. on one hand i felt glad cos i felt i was not the only one but on the other i felt bad that so many women (inclusing myself) are suffering from the same diagnosis.

i am 30 years old and 2 years ago i was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst (left ovary). it was an accidental finding i had a spinal injury and through an MRI they could see the cyst. at that time the cyst was 3.5cmx3.75cm and i was advised to have it removed by 2 specialists and to to have it monitored by another 2, i opted for the latter. 8 months later i had another ultrasound and the measuremts changed to 5.1cm x3.9cm, i was shocked and a week later went for yet another ultrasound and the measurments were 4.4cm x 4.4cm. why was there a change? they spoke about a laparoscopy and a +/- laparotomy, it was a shock for me, i was just starting to recover from my spinal injury which lasted a year, so i just refused to go through another trauma.

this year i decided to have it checked again. my ultrasound was done when i had my period and the measurements were 5.5cm x 4.5cm. the same surgeon who two years ago had told me to have it removed when it was measuring 3.5cm x 3.75cm told me that it has to be removed since it is more than 5cm big, cos normally they do not operate below 5cm? so why 2 years ago he still recommended surgery?

i wanted a second opinion also because the ultrasound was done when i was on and i stated that i preferred not to since there is hormonal change during this time and it might effect the size of the ovaries.... i had another ultrasound not consultation and the size was 1.9cm x 2.5cm. i was extactic then i figured out that they might have only mearured the mass for me cos my cyst is part of the ovary (don't know exactly they are never clear about how it really is) so i guess normally they measure the whole thing. so i had another ultrasound this week and the measurements are now 4.5cm x 5.3cm so same as when i was on.

i do not know why but i am adamant about not wanting to do surgery, i do not have children and the fact that i will be cut me open (more likely) gives me shivers. i am constantly thinking about it, i am just so scared and do not want to do it. i hear of scar tissues blocking the fallopian tubes, or cysts recurring in the same place or on the other ovary, of ruptures and severe abdominal infections which can effect fertility, of pregnant women having their cysts removed during or whilst giving birth, or people getting pregnant even with the knowledge of having a cyst, of patients undergoing surgery and after waking up they find they had the whole ovary removed and maybe a part of the other ovary too ......i mean what is one to expect? what is the best option?

am i being silly? am i thinking too much? can i live with having a cyst in my ovary? what are the risks of leaving it there? what are the risks of undergoing surgery?

i just feel that the professionals who should provide me with information and preparing me to go through this are just not doing much, aren't they paid for this too? or are they overwhelmed at times with their patient's petiness that they just block it away?

i am scared, confused and lost, i have prayed, tried homeopathy.....don't know what to do next. i am tired of pushing it aside and bringing it up but at the same time i just do not know what to do. i strongly feel that my body is refusing to cooperate with me, i am just not ready for this. the question is 2 years ago i was not ready, nor am i today, will i ever be? i am just hoping it will go away one day

can anyone understand me?

[danny1010]

hi neta,

thank you so much for sharing your experience and for giving me support. i have done a hell of a lot of research lately and i have come across some very interesting news. i do not know whether if it's true but once i have refused to go through the operation at least for now i have decided to give this a go and i thought i would share this with you. i do not know whether you have heard of alkaline and acidic levels in our body, well apparently a high acidic body triggers a number of diseases and conditions which are quite traumatic.

i have decided to measure the acidic level in my body (ph urine strips) and i have found out that my body is very very acidic so i am now working on alkalising  my body by changing my diet completely and eating only alkaline forming food. i too have suffered from IBS and constipation and bloating for a lot of years, i do not know if it is related to the cyst or to the acidosity in my body - i am confused now

I am attaching a link for you to have a look at: http://www.jeffreywarber.com/hc%20pages/alkalinediet.html

i am not saying this is the cause of my cyst and since they suspect it to be a dermoid i probably still need to remove it surgically (due to hard froming tissues - bone/teeth/hair) that might be present in the cyst.... but i am ready to give it a go.

let me know what you think

wish you luck
daniela

[Neta100]

Hi Danny.  It's the first time they are going to remove a cyst and the doctor I am seeing now believes that it's a dermoid cyst, too.  He doesn't want to remove it laparoscopiclly due to the high CA - 125 marker.  He suggested a laparotomy, doing a small incision in the groin to remove the cyst and also check me out in order to preserve my fertility since I am 37 and have no kids.

He seems confident that it's nothing complicated, but he has emphasized that he has to remove it surgically.  And to be honest, I am also scared but after talking to doctors, reading in the internet and from the ladies in this forum and in the cancer forum, it has given me a lot of confidence.

My regular doctor had suggested to do a complete hysterectomy and that probably I couldn't have kids.  When he told me this, I was shocked and almost crashed on the way home, but I decided to take things calmly and that's when I started doing all the research.  I have had 3 opinions and I trust this doctor.

I saw him last week and due to a urinary infection, the operation has been postponed.  He says I will be in bed for 2 weeks and that then I can start working a little again.  

I know it's scary, but there can be a lot of complications if it isn't removed.  I don't have any pain or bloating. I have suffered from IBS for many years, so it's not probably related to the cyst.

If you are not sure of the doctor's advice, get another opinion.  Some doctors only want to do the surgery, so it's better to find one you can talk to and discuss your situation.

Best wishes,

Neta

[danny1010]

hi sandy,

well the surgeon wanted to do the operation in october but i refused for the second time and have not really spoken to him but to his consultant and i scheduled an appointment in january.

so it was my decision really

danny

[Sandymac]

Hi again,
    Rest assured that women are able to conceive with only one ovary.  The remaining ovary "takes over" for the other one.
    And... another good thought.. If the Dr. is waiting until January 09 to perform the surgery, it is a good bet that he doesn't think there is any urgency. Believe me .. if he thought there was a chance of being more than a benign cyst, you'd be checking into the hospital before then ! So try to take some comfort in that ..
Take care,
Sandy

[danny1010]

hi Yvette,

i posted the message herunder yesterday, i do not know whether you have read it, but maybe you could help me with my problem.

please read the following - sorry for the length of this message

i must say that i had mixed feelings when i saw all these different questions and responses on this forum. on one hand i felt glad cos i felt i was not the only one but on the other i felt bad that so many women (inclusing myself) are suffering from the same diagnosis.

i am 30 years old and 2 years ago i was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst (left ovary). it was an accidental finding i had a spinal injury and through an MRI they could see the cyst. at that time the cyst was 3.5cmx3.75cm and i was advised to have it removed by 2 specialists and to to have it monitored by another 2, i opted for the latter. 8 months later i had another ultrasound and the measuremts changed to 5.1cm x3.9cm, i was shocked and a week later went for yet another ultrasound and the measurments were 4.4cm x 4.4cm. why was there a change? they spoke about a laparoscopy and a +/- laparotomy, it was a shock for me, i was just starting to recover from my spinal injury which lasted a year, so i just refused to go through another trauma.

this year i decided to have it checked again. my ultrasound was done when i had my period and the measurements were 5.5cm x 4.5cm. the same surgeon who two years ago had told me to have it removed when it was measuring 3.5cm x 3.75cm told me that it has to be removed since it is more than 5cm big, cos normally they do not operate below 5cm? so why 2 years ago he still recommended surgery?

i wanted a second opinion also because the ultrasound was done when i was on and i stated that i preferred not to since there is hormonal change during this time and it might effect the size of the ovaries.... i had another ultrasound not consultation and the size was 1.9cm x 2.5cm. i was extactic then i figured out that they might have only mearured the mass for me cos my cyst is part of the ovary (don't know exactly they are never clear about how it really is) so i guess normally they measure the whole thing. so i had another ultrasound this week and the measurements are now 4.5cm x 5.3cm so same as when i was on.

i do not know why but i am adamant about not wanting to do surgery, i do not have children and the fact that i will be cut me open (more likely) gives me shivers. i am constantly thinking about it, i am just so scared and do not want to do it. i hear of scar tissues blocking the fallopian tubes, or cysts recurring in the same place or on the other ovary, of ruptures and severe abdominal infections which can effect fertility, of pregnant women having their cysts removed during or whilst giving birth, or people getting pregnant even with the knowledge of having a cyst, of patients undergoing surgery and after waking up they find they had the whole ovary removed and maybe a part of the other ovary too ......i mean what is one to expect? what is the best option?

am i being silly? am i thinking too much? can i live with having a cyst in my ovary? what are the risks of leaving it there? what are the risks of undergoing surgery?

i just feel that the professionals who should provide me with information and preparing me to go through this are just not doing much, aren't they paid for this too? or are they overwhelmed at times with their patient's petiness that they just block it away?

i am scared, confused and lost, i have prayed, tried homeopathy.....don't know what to do next. i am tired of pushing it aside and bringing it up but at the same time i just do not know what to do. i strongly feel that my body is refusing to cooperate with me, i am just not ready for this. the question is 2 years ago i was not ready, nor am i today, will i ever be? i am just hoping it will go away one day

can anyone understand me?

[danny1010]

hi neta,

thank you so much for your prompt reply. yes we are not alone neta, you and i and a lot of other women seem to be in the same bloody boat.

are you scared neta? i am a real lot. have you had any cysts removed before or is this the first time you have to do it?

i did the CA125 and it seems to be ok but i still need to have my cyst removed through laparotomy due to the way it is attached to the ovary.

i am 30 years old and scared about having kids, i am worried that this will not be the firts and last, many women had recurrance of cysts.

i never heard of a possible medical treatment with birth control pills or metformin (a medicine used for diabetics) when they are smaller. mine was 3.5cm x 3.75cm two years ago and the surgeon still wanted to remove it for me, maybe because it is a dermoid and these apparently do not dissolve but can only grow bigger as mine has. even when it was small they said that it is more likely that it will be through laparotomy.

do the specialists help you to understand this problem, are they understanding or for them this is really a simple procedure? sometimes they confuse me some say leave it and monitor it others say have the op done?????

i hope that i will only pluck enough courage to have it removed this time round cos that seems to be the only option now enen though i feel my body is resisting me to go through it.

when are you meeting you surgeon again?

keep me posted
danny

[danny1010]

hi sandy,

thank you so much for answering my lengthy message and for doing it at length too. i appreciate the info and the advice. i do not know why i am feeling so scared, i know that with today's technology everything is possible and appears simple but that does not seem to calm me down. in my case it will have to be a laparotomy considering the nature of the cyst on the ovary. i am also afraid that they might find something more when they open me up, in some cases they do.

yes true after i read all the messages from women who are reporting more or less the same health problem it is a bit consoling but still i feel so bad about this.

i mean i know it is not the end of the world but i feel almost there. i never really thought seriously of having kids but now whenever i see a child i question myself why i have not done it. and my surgeon talked about the possibility of removinmg the left ovary or parts of it if necessary. i almost feel i am loosing my womanhood - i know it's crazy but i am feeling that way, and i need to get out of this feeling.

i will see my surgeon again in jan 09 and we will plan a date for the op. i have already refused going through it twice, i hope i will have enough courage to face it this time.

thanks
danny

[Sandymac]

Well, first let's calm down and take this one little step at a time. To begin with cysts are very very common in premenopausal women.. Check out the top right of this page and find "Health Pages".. There you will find lots of information about cysts.. Most of the time, they monitor these cysts to see if they resolve on their own, which many times they do. Now, if they don't .. then surgery is usually recommended and 5cm for some reason seems to be the cut off point. Although, they will remove them if smaller many times.

Now, for the surgery if it is necessary..---if it is a laparoscopy they don't "cut you open"..You will have 3 tiny little incisions.. One near the belly button, one near the bikini line and another between the 2. I had mine in January and you can hardly see the scars.
You're much younger than I , so you probably won't even be able to see them after
awhile .It is an outpatient surgery.. takes 4-5 hours from the time you walk in till you're released.. Very little pain after the first day. I took only Xstrength tylenol after 24 hours. You are not permitted to drive for 2 weeks, nor lift anything. Stitches are usually removed in one week .. I went to the grocery store that same week .

Now, what if you don't have them removed? Well, since they haven't totally disappeared, it is possible that the cyst will continue to enlarge, and it could twist or even rupture and you certainly don't want that to happen. Regarding cysts recurring.. it's not so much that the cyst reoccurs .. it's usually a different cyst. Cysts are sometimes  part of the ovulation process. and most of the time we have them, don't even know it and they simply disappear on their own. As far as the other "horror stories" , please try not to worry about those things happening. This forum is full of women who have had cysts removed and I'm sure they, too, will reassure you. In the meantime, when you see your Dr. again, tell him of your fears.. ask the same questions you asked here and I'm sure you will feel better about this procedure .And, keep us posted. Truly , there is very little to worry about.. this is a very common situation.

Take care,
Sandy

[Neta100]

Hi there.  I am pretty much in the same case.  I have a cyst that is around 6 cm and it needs to be removed.  I have a history of ovarian cysts for several years and without any symptoms (bloating, pain, irregular periods), but I have to have surgery.  They are going to remove it by laparotomy, a small cut near  the groin area and remove it.  The doctor will try to remove only the cyst and preserve as much as possible since I am premenopausal and with no kids.  

I have done a lot of research and talked to doctors over a period of 10 months, and finally found a doctor who seemed also worried about keeping my fertility in order for me to have kids.  He told me he couldn't remove it laparoscopically since I had the CA - 125 marker (a cancer marker) elevated so he didn't want to risk it bursting or spilling in the abdomen.  He doesn't believe it is malignant and most of the time these cysts are not cancerous in premenopausal women.

Even when they remove it, cysts can grow again if you have a history of cysts, but they can monitor you through US every 3 or 6 months to see how everything is.  They give medical treatment with birth control pills or metformin (a medicine used for diabetics) when they are smaller, but not when they have reached more than 5 cm.

Hope this info is helpful and in the health pages there is information about cysts.

Best wishes,

Neta