1. Community
  2. Women's health
  3. Ovarian Cyst

Anyone else had their cyst shrink?

Posted , 6 users are following.

MissBurbs
MissBurbs

Hi, back in December I was told I had an 8cm cyst on my left ovary completely filling the Pouch of Douglas area.  I was told to wait and see if it would shrink before they decided on doing surgery.  I had another TV scan last night and the consultant told me the cyst is now 2cm (plus have two small fibroids). The consultant who performed my myomectomy last April said no need for an op now and advised me to take Evening Primrose oil for the pain i'm still experiencing (tummy pains/back pain/nausea) and if that doesn't help then to try Cerazette - which I don't particularly want to do. 

Anyway, has anyone has this happen to them????

I'm not entirely convinced because my tummy and back just hurt all the time and I've been feeling for weeks plus my tummy is bloated still. I'm just concerened the guy who did my scan might have been a bit too quick this time and missed something rolleyes

1 like, 30 replies

30 Replies

Next
  • amy65421
    amy65421 MissBurbs

    Posted

    You need to demand ca125 bloods and not wait if your in pain hun bloods is an indicator test that can say if risen that infection or something else .. I'm in remission now but my Facebook page wombles small cell ovarian cancer fight and awarenesssays my story good luck and don't take no for an answer x
    • MissBurbs
      MissBurbs amy65421

      Posted

      Hi Amy, 

      I had a CA125 back in Dec and it came back normal. They (both consultants) say it was like a heamorraghic cyst that just got smaller. They say the pain is probably hormonal/ovulation.  It is the same consultant that performed my myomectomy so I do trust her... just wondered if this had ever happened to anyone else?

    • amy65421
      amy65421 MissBurbs

      Posted

      Oh ok I have had them disappear but not shrink good luck x
    • MissBurbs
      MissBurbs amy65421

      Posted

      Thanks Amy. I hope you are ok too! The things us women have to go through!

       

  • Acejohnston
    Acejohnston MissBurbs

    Posted

    This happened to me too. I have been dealing with a large cyst since October 2014!! I had pain under my ribs and was feeling sick and had a scan and they found a gallstone and told me there was causing my problems. They removed my gallbladder in December 2014 and I got worse and spent weeks in and out of hospital being told it was a rare side effect of gallbladder removal. Was then told I had the 8 cm cyst on my ovary and I asked could that be making me sick and no one answered me! Saw a gynaecologist in hospital who said to wait for 2-3 months to see would it go itself. He also told me it was there in October 2014 but smaller. I continued to vomit and have dry wretching and nausea for months until I got a heavy period last August and horrific stabbing labour type pains. I had a scan and the cyst had reduced to 2cm. Unfortunately it filled up again with 8 weeks and I went to another gynaecologist who told me all my symptoms were from the cyst. As I had bowel surgery in 1994 he recommended aspiring the cyst as he said I would be high risk of bowel rupture. Had the cyst ( or should I say 2) as another cyst has grown on top of the cyst and was bleeding aspired in December and had 600 ml of fluid drained from the cysts. The doctor advised me that it may fill up again. Here I am now a month later and just got my period and feel sick again. Had a scan last week and the cyst is still there but 2cm now and only 1 cyst. My ca125 continued to rise over the last year to 67 but they biopsied the fluid they drained and it's ok. I have never felt so sick in all my life and never realised a cyst on your ovary could cause so many problems. I'm taking herbs and trying all kinds of foods and acupuncture to try to get rid of this cyst. I wish you well and I hope your cyst resolves itself when you get your next period. Take care x ps get your progesterone levels checked as usual cause of cysts is low progesterone
    • MissBurbs
      MissBurbs Acejohnston

      Posted

      goodness!!! sounds like you have been through the wars! I'm sorry!!!

      I have been dry retching for months... maybe even a few years now... but only in the mornings when I wake up.  Doc said it's acid reflux maybe cos I have a cough in the mornings too. I feel terrible every morning when I wake up... like i have a fever or something - every morning!!! I'm fed up of my doctor... doesn't seem to take anything seriously!

      I never used to have such nausea so I can only imagine it must be the cyst that is causing it and the back pain!! sad I feel pretty miserable every day and exhausted but my thyroid came back normal. My consultant has told me she doesn't need to see for a year now but i'm not so sure I should go so long unmonitored. 

      oh well... 

       

    • Acejohnston
      Acejohnston MissBurbs

      Posted

      Your symptoms sound so like mine. My dry wretching and vomiting was always in the morning too. Cysts can cause symptoms similar to morning sickness. Unfortunately doctors do not take cysts seriously at all and I have had to become so persistent. I have no doubt my perfectly healthy gallbladder was removed unnecessarily and it was the cyst causing my symptoms. I was going to my GP for months prior to this complaining of irregular periods headaches, night sweats, flushes and bone pain and she kept telling me it could be the early stages of menopause at 42 and gave me multivitamins. I was left for 6 months after my gallbladder removal being told my symptoms were rare side effects. Eventually my GP listened when I told her that it was the cyst and she admitted that cysts can cause lots of problems and she referred me to another gynaecologist. The sad thing is I spent 3 weeks in hospital last March and no one suggested aspiring the cyst even though the specialist that did mine eventually works there!! She was horrified I was left so long to suffer. She said there's 50% chance it will refill but in the 10 years she's doing it has only had 2 come back. I have a feeling I will be her third. I have spoken to so many people that have had cysts and were so sick from them. It's dreadful that doctors don't pick up on this. I had to research it myself and insist on my GP doing blood tests to check my ca125 and also other hormones as I had read that low progesterone and increased estrogen can cause cysts. I was proved right as I have low progesterone and increased estrogen. If you continue to feel unwell demand another scan after your next period. I can totally relate to how your feeling. X
    • MissBurbs
      MissBurbs Acejohnston

      Posted

      We do sound similar and of roughly the same age. I'm 44 this year.  I get hotness in my head like someone has turned on the heating inside me but I've had my hormones checked and they said i'm not premenopausal or anything.  I'm very stressed though so it could be that also why I also feel so unwell all the time.  I feel that nobody understands or would even think that something like a cyst can effect a person so much.  

      I've just started taking evening primrose oil today now so maybe that will help.  Did anyone ever recommend that to you? 

      I'm sorry they removed your gall bladder unnecessarily.  That's bad. 

      My consultant is good but I can't help thinking that when they're seeing so many patients, their brains go a bit fuzzy. I feel like maybe they're not paying attention and just going through the motions forgetting that we are all different. 

      I will see how I go for the next few weeks and then I might ask my GP to refer me for a scan under the NHS. 

      Thanks for your messages. x

    • Acejohnston
      Acejohnston MissBurbs

      Posted

      No I haven't tried evening primrose oil. Will have to get some of that. I'm just fine 44 now and this has being going on so long. Some people have cysts and have no symptoms and some people get terrible symptoms. I've spoken to lots of people who've had cysts for a long time and were told it was other things and they eventually ended up in the emergency room with cyst ruptures. The gynaecology team told me my symptoms were very common! I also had my hormones checked and was told I wasn't menopausal! I specifically asked my GP to check my estrogen and progesterone levels. I was on steroids for a few years which caused me to stop producing a hormone. I saw an endocrinologist who put me on a synthetic version of the hormone and I was on and off it for 6 years. I wasn't feeling well on it with these symptoms and kept emailing him and he told me to stop it. I've since found out that this hormone can cause cysts and increased estrogen! Also the pill and hrt can also cause cysts contrary to what we've been told! My endocrinologist told me this when I asked him if the hormone drug caused this. Unfortunately we put so much trust and faith in our doctors without realising the side effects of medications they prescribe. I saw an acupuncturist last year when I was feeling so sick and she explained that the liver is responsible for balancing the hormones and that sometimes the liver gets congested with excess hormones which causes cysts and fibroids which I also have. She put me on herbs and milk thistle and I took them for about 6-7 weeks and that's when the cyst reduced! Unfortunately I stopped taking them thinking the cyst would go but have started them again a few weeks ago. At this stage I will try anything to get rid of the cyst. Hope you feel better soon. X
    • Acejohnston
      Acejohnston

      Posted

      One thing I meant to ask you do you get any bone pains? I have been getting pains in my feet and it's always when I have my period! Has to be connected I think! X
    • MissBurbs
      MissBurbs Acejohnston

      Posted

      You make me think now.. For the last few years I get bad pain in my hips like a dull ache coming from deep in my bones. Sometimes I can't lie on my side for long cos it starts to ache and I have to turn over in bed. I suffered very badly with it a couple of years ago even walking was painful. I out it down to being slightly overweight.

      I hope we both start feeling better soon. I'm gonna harass my doctor

    • Acejohnston
      Acejohnston MissBurbs

      Posted

      That's interesting as that's how all this started for me 2 years ago next month. Was getting terrible pains in my lower back and hip and couldn't lie on it either. I had an MRI and it was clear. My doctor put me on steroids thinking it was some inflammatory condition! I went to a chiropractor who did an x Ray and said my pelvis was out of synch and he manipulated it over a number of visits. I was still have all the other hormone symptoms as well! I know someone who had similar symptoms and was feeling unwell on and off for 3 years! They kept telling her it was kidney infections and putting her on antibiotics. She also had the nausea and dry wretching and the other hormone symptoms. She said she felt like she was coming down with something all the time. Turns out it was a large dermoid ovarian cyst that was precancerous. She had it and the ovary removed and all her symptoms went. Xx
    • amy65421
      amy65421 Acejohnston

      Posted

      I as told dermoid cyst turns out that it wasn't it grew lots so had it removed with my ovary and tube it was cancer
    • Acejohnston
      Acejohnston amy65421

      Posted

      Am so sorry to hear this Amy. This is what worries me about the medical profession. They seem very dismissive of ovarian cysts and their symptoms. My GP was convinced my cyst was cancer as my ca125 was elevated. The biopsy from the fluid drained was ok but cyst is still there. I worry in case there's cancer in the shell of the cyst that wouldn't show up in the fluid biopsy. I've had another ca 125 test the other day and am waiting for the results. What symptoms were you having? Are you ok now? What grade was it? You poor thing. Hope your ok now. Xx
    • amy65421
      amy65421 Acejohnston

      Posted

      I have a Facebook page wombles small cell ovarian cancer fight and awareness page with everything on .. I suffered years of cysts and back pain ..lower abdomen pain and leg pain many scans and just told ibs or in my head. . Until one final push as was in so much pain they thought dermoid and put me on a pill .. I quit the pill and begged for help so had another scan wich showed it had grown so had it removed last April tuns out it was cancer and had spread to my lymph node .. I've since had chemo and amazingly told good remission for now. .but had more cysts on my right ovary so had that removed December 30ththankfully they were benine x
    • amy65421
      amy65421 Acejohnston

      Posted

      I have a Facebook page wombles small cell ovarian cancer fight and awareness page with everything on .. I suffered years of cysts and back pain ..lower abdomen pain and leg pain many scans and just told ibs or in my head. . Until one final push as was in so much pain they thought dermoid and put me on a pill .. I quit the pill and begged for help so had another scan wich showed it had grown so had it removed last April tuns out it was cancer and had spread to my lymph node .. I've since had chemo and amazingly told good remission for now. .but had more cysts on my right ovary so had that removed December 30ththankfully they were benine x
    • Acejohnston
      Acejohnston amy65421

      Posted

      I'm so sorry you've suffered so much Amy. It's disgraceful the way you were fobbed off for so long. I've just liked and read your Facebook page. Your an inspiration. Fair play to you for sharing your story and raising awareness. Am so delighted your in remission now. Was your ca 125 ever tested all the time you were feeling unwell? I've heard it's not reliable for diagnosing. Big hugs to you. X
    • amy65421
      amy65421 Acejohnston

      Posted

      Thankyoudon't want to worry people I just want people to have fight and push for a diagnosis as pain is never nothing ...my first ca125 test receptionist just said it was normal but it wasn't it was 189 I think normal is 35it's only an indicator of infections or fybroids but can indicate bad if in thousands .. Once I was diagnosed I had a test b4 every chemo session and b4;I saw my oncologist and I had ct scans every 3:months and an mri to check the other cysts
    • MissBurbs
      MissBurbs Acejohnston

      Posted

      Goodness that's how I feel all the time. Constantly feel like I'm getting flu or coming down with something. When I had an MRI on my hip and back they told me I had an inflamed tendon in my glute! Anyway, it's not as bad as it was a couple of years ago but that could be cos I had 13 fibroids removed last April. The largest was 10cms.

      They tell me my cyst is a just a fluid filled cyst.

    • MissBurbs
      MissBurbs amy65421

      Posted

      I really hope you're well on the road to recovery now Amy. It's scary and horrible and am glad you kept pushing the doctors. Did you also have fibroids?
    • amy65421
      amy65421 MissBurbs

      Posted

      Thankyou yes I did I had a laproscopy back in 2012 as they were looking for endometriosis and I was told a cyst then but then told just fybroids nothing to worry about. . And from having both ovaries out they said I had fybroids x
    • Acejohnston
      Acejohnston MissBurbs

      Posted

      Mine was a fluid filled cyst too and when it reduced to 2cms last August it filled back up with septation and internal echoes. If your symptoms don't improve insist on another scan. Mine refilled within 6 weeks to over 6.5cm and was 8cm by start of December with another bleeding cyst attached to it. Just be careful and insist on another scan if things don't improve. Also it's usually when you get a period that cysts with disperse or grow again. Also I've been using a castor oil pack the last few weeks and it does help. I use it 4 days on and 3 days off and not when I have my period. It's suppose to help dissolve cysts. Take care xxx
    • Acejohnston
      Acejohnston amy65421

      Posted

      Amy your very courageous and very brave helping others after all you've been through yourself. I nearly lost my mind last March when I was in hospital for 3 weeks with the vomiting and dry wretching and nausea. I broke down one day and they got a psychiatrist to see me!! She said there was nothing wrong with me at all and that I was being treated appallingly. She kicked up murder and that's when I saw the gynaecologist although he was bloody useless too! This whole experience has really made me question the medical profession. I've told my GP that I have no faith in doctors at all because of all this. Anyway I wish you well and thank you for sharing your story. Xx
    • MissBurbs
      MissBurbs Acejohnston

      Posted

      Im definitely going to go back to my own GP soon and see if they can send me for another scan. The problem is being NHS, the waiting time. thanks again. x
    • MissBurbs
      MissBurbs Acejohnston

      Posted

      completely with you on this for what the doctors have done to my brother on a completely separate issue!

      Amy, thanks so much for taking the time to respond. I hope that everyone will be much better soon! x

    • amy65421
      amy65421 Acejohnston

      Posted

      Thankyou I'm so sorry you have been treated so badly. . It's made me fight but my anger stands no one should have to fight when they are in so much pain .. pilatas was never going to heal my back pain ..chemo did .. I only wish this other doctor knew how much she failed people x
    • Acejohnston
      Acejohnston amy65421

      Posted

      I know how you feel Amy. I'm so angry with my surgeon whom I've known and trusted for 23 years. He was told about the cyst in October 2014 but because I was complaining of pain in my ribs he assumed as I had 1 gallstone that the gallbladder was the cause of my issues. He never even told me I had the cyst until after he removed my gallbladder. I have since written to him letting him know how angry I am. He also left me all last year with vomiting and nausea and diarrhea telling me he didn't know what it was and that it must be because of my gallbladder removal!! Only for my GP referring me to the second gynaecologist I would be still thinking it was from my gallbladder. Unfortunately you need to have your wits about you when dealing with doctors which is awful when you are so vulnerable when your ill. Xx
    • jackie47060
      jackie47060 Acejohnston

      Posted

      I know it's been a while but I was wondering if your cyst ever went away? In August - November I started experiencing painful periods but had no other symptoms on days I wasn't on my period so I just thought I was having bad cramps. Then in November I had a cyst that burst and at that time I didn't know I had it and just thought it was a really bad cramps but I knew something was off. Then about a week later I had a weird feeling on my right side and went to the hospital and they said I had another 2.5 cm cyst and that thy could tell I have a ruptured cyst because there was liquid around that area. It's now January and I'm experiencing a lot of bloating, not a ton of pain just an uncomfortable feeling and I just want it to go away!! I've been trying natural things like apple cider vinegar and lemon to detox the liver and body, maca powder to help with regulating hormones, and just eating healthy in general but I feel like nothing is really helping :// my period is supposed to come in a couple days and im scared my cyst is going to burst again it hurt so bad last time sad I was wondering what other herbs the acupuncturist recommended and what helped best for you? Thank you

Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.