Questions-Complex cyst

[IdahoMom]

I started having pain on my ovary about 6 months ago.  The pain comes on & off and is a sharp pain.  The first time it happened I thought I was getting appendicitis.  I suspected a cyst but never got it checked out until I haven't been able to conceive as I am trying to get pregnant.  I had a U/S and they told me I have a 2cm complex cyst.  That seems to be a small one & I was told to wait 6 weeks for a repeat U/S.  It has been about 4 weeks &  tonight I am in such excruciating pain, it hurts even to walk.  The pain wraps around into my back.  I am scared to have it removed because I want more children & I'm worried about my ovary.  Also, is it possible to get pregnant while you have a complex cyst because I haven't been able too.  One more question, my breasts ache on and off as well & I have only had that problem for as long as I've had the cyst pain...is that related?  Thanks for any help/advice!

[IdahoMom]

Thanks,

I'm trying to not let the tumor thing worry me.  I actually had a bone tumor removed last year & I went from doctor to doctor trying to figure out what it was & they were worried it was cancerous.  I finally found a doctor who knew exactly what it was (osteochondroma) which is a benign tumor & so I worried myself sick for weeks for nothing.  I'll let you know how my U/S goes in a few weeks.

[MarieMichele]

Oh it bugs me when they use the word "tumor" which is a catch-all word for doctors, even with cysts.  Don't let that word freak you out.  I hope the pain subsides for you and you get a favorable U/S reading in 3 weeks' time!

Doctors deal with this stuff so much they forget how to say things correctly.  For instance, I learned about my cyst and "surgery" and "cancer risk" from my gyn on Dec. 23 (and was urgently rushed in for a CA-125 test) and then had to stew over the news all throughout the Christmas and New Year's season and didn't get straight talk from the referral onc/gyn surgeon (the most brilliant doctor I ever met) until January 13.  You can be sure, I gave the people at the gyn office a piece of my mind over their callous bedside manner after talking with a surgeon that understood things from the patients' point of view.  And it was completely benign.  Meanwhile, I spent weeks thinking I was dying and Christmas was totally ruined for me.  Not cool.

Let us know how you are doing after your follow-up, OK?

[IdahoMom]

Thanks MarieMichele,

I called my doctor this morning & asked what type of complex cyst I have.  She told me it is a solid filled tumor.  Now I am worried about cancer.  She called me in some pain meds to help the pain until my 6 week U/S which is not for 3 more weeks.  I guess I'll hang in there until then.

[MarieMichele]

It's hard to say what's happening.  The pain from cysts could be from ruptures, pressure or twisting.  

It may be a rupture, which means it's going away on its own.  That's what you want it to do, but it HURTS (over a large area) and it takes time for the body to reabsorb everything. You have to pay attention, too, that you do not get an infection from the process which will require antibiotics.  If pain is the main problem, then whatever painkillers you take for cramps may do the trick.

Do you have an appointment for that 6 week followup U/S?  If so, you may get your answers then.  The appointment should include time with the doctor and not just an U/S technician since you need to see if the cyst "resolved itself" and check for infection.  If you develop a fever, move up your appointment to an earlier one.

Others have reported breast tenderness associated with cysts.  Not sure about the fertility question. Large cysts can interfere, yes, but smaller ones are pretty common and less likely.  There may be other reasons why you have not conceived.  

Write down your questions and ask your doctor at your next appointment.  Hopefully it's just a rupture and you just have to heal.  But if you think it's way more serious, seek medical attention.