Ovarian Torsion: My experience

Hello all,

I often see posts about ovarian cysts but rarely do I see stories on ovarian torsion so I wanted to share my story and what I experienced during my recovery. please note this is just my experience everyone is different.

A couple of months before I was diagnosed with ovarian torsion, I began to experience a dull ache in my lower right abdomen. The ache was unusual but also inconsistent, because it wasn't anything severe I didn't think anything of it (please don't do this !!). One morning I woke up feeling a sharp pain in my lower right abdomen and right thigh, I honestly thought it was cramps so I took some Feminax and went about my day. Within 45 minutes (literally !!) the pain became very severe (on a scale of 1-10 it was a 10). I still just thought it was really bad cramps so I grabbed a hot water bottle, but that did nothing. When I became nauseous I knew that something was wrong. I immediately called 111 to get help. They sent out an ambulance and within a couple of hours I was in A & E. I took any pain killer that I could get, as pain was not budging. Despite me telling the nurse that I did not experience the most if not all symptoms for either diagnoses, I was told that it could be kidney stones or a UTI ( from the few stories I've seen ovarian torsion is often misdiagnosed as a UTI or Kidney stones ). After some blood work the Doctor finally came to examine me, after me explaining my symptoms and pain severity. I was admitted and sent to to the Gynae ward to get examined. The following day I was taken for a scan, they discovered a large cyst in my right ovary. This cyst was weighing my ovary down which ultimately caused my ovary to twist (ovarian torsion) I was taken to theatre that day, in all efforts to save my ovary. This all took place during Covid so I was really alone as no one could stay with me (understandably so) . I honestly couldn't process anything at time. I remember crying when they told me I had to go into surgery and the potential outcome. But I understand that it was their job to tell me the truth. I was just very emotional and felt very alone.

After surgery, I was taken to a new ward to recover, I remained in hospital for two days.

The initial aftermath of surgery wasn't bad as I was put on morphine and I was pretty out of it most of the time. However, following my discharge the recovery has been rough physically and mentally. It has been 6 weeks since my surgery, I get constant aches, and pains that pain becomes severe if I over exhaust myself, sudden weight-loss, extreme anxiety and mood swings. I am told that it's just a part of the recovery and that I should be healed soon. My GP had mentioned that for some women the recovery period can go as far as 3 months. With my job being so " physically demanding", I am currently not in a position to go back (managements response to this has been devastating, but that's another story! ) I will provide an update soon. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I will do my best to answer them.

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