Coping with Ovarian Cyst(s)

Posted , 8 users are following.

Hi, I posted a couple of weeks back about bladder pressure being recurrent symptoms of my previous 10cm ovarian cyst I had removed via open surgery in Jan 2012. At my 20 week pregnancy scan around October 2013, I had 3-4cm cysts. I now have a referral from the GP for an ultra sound but haven't got the letter through yet and appt could be weeks away.

My symptoms have now progressed to dull achey and ripple pain around my right ovary sometimes spreading across, tiredness/fatigue, lightheadness and queasyness. I also feel really down and teary. These symptoms I also had in the final weeks run up to the previous op in 2012 after I had acute urinary retnetion and admission to A&E.

I've got my hot water bottle and trying to rest up but I have a toddler, full time degree (final stages) and part time 1 day a week job plus a big show opening tomorrow night. I'm really stressed about my symptoms/condition and possible outcomes i.e. another op and how I'll juggle everything, because I remember how hard recovery was without any of these additional responsibilities! I'm reluctant to take time off uni now pre-diagnosis, especially if I need time off for an op. I would probably take time off work next week if I felt bad enough on the actual day.

I'm trying to ignore the pains as they are, in themselves, quite mild but every time I stand up and go dizzy or wake up and feel the pains it reminds me about the issue! I also don't have an actual diagnosis yet although I'm pretty sure it's ovarian cysts due to symptoms, history and ruling out UTI, pregnancy etc. I checked my symptoms and the other possibilities of ectopic pregnancy, UTI, bowel issues and appendicitis don't seem to fit my symptoms as well as the ovarian cyst diagnosis.

Has anyone got any advice how I can cope with my symptoms until my ultrasound date comes through?

I'm guessing nothing can be done to bring it forward unless it becomes a medical emergency again.

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  • Posted

    Also, my little boy has refused a couple of feeds yesterday and today so I'm wondering whether he will miraculously self-wean before surgery!! He's teething bad and will alternate between feeding lots and refusing feeds depending on how he's feeling. I'm thinking of dropping the daytime feeds (only 1 or 2 anyway, which he doesn't have when I'm at work) so it will be just morning and bedtime feeds he'll be missing out on post-surgery.

    I also spoke to the pharamicist today about when I can breastfeed after taking tramadol and he said if I took it for a week he'd recommend 24-48 hours wait after stopping taking it before it's at a safe level in my system to breastfeed. I know it has an acculative effect in the body so the longer I take it the longer gap I'll need. Good to know!

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  • Posted

    OMG! Injecting yourself?! That I could not do!!! I was warned about clots with abdominal surgery as I have potentially got something called Factor V Leiden. I've ONLY just found out about it from my aunt because of everything that is going on. (Why it would only just come to light after 27 years I do not know!!!) but it is basically an inherited gene mutation that means your blood is more prone to clotting. My aunt, mum and nan all have it. So the chances of me having inherited it are very high!

    I was tested for it a week and a half ago but I have not had my results back yet as it is so rare that they can take up to six weeks (!!!) Joke.

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    No I am not on anything right now as I am not in any pain, I have got some co-codamol for when I come on as that is really painful but nothing for day to day.

    For your meds, good news that the tramadol comes out of your system quickly for you! But on the flip side, also good news on your son refusing your breast too! I hope that he is going to take it smoothly...that would be brill and make things so much easier!

    I think I had my letter one or two days after referral so it has to be quite quick. I think they must refer you electronically as it would make no sense not to be able to.....

    Fingers crossed it is through soon!!! I know at my hospital they have a bookings line, maybe you can google what the line is and they can tell you if they have sent out the letter????

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    Oh god what a pain! lol Shame that they have not had it but also no shame in calling each day.....you will likely hear sooner that way and if you are anything like me you will want to know at least a week ago! lol

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    Yes a morning slot sounds best! Do you know I have never had surgery before so you will have to give me all the tips lol!!!

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  • Posted

    It may be slow but at least my surgery experience last time and maternity care for that matter were top notch I must say (except **** GPs that is). My last cystectomy was my first surgery too and first time ever I'd needed any major medical care or hospital stay at all since I was born. It was a big thing then and is again this time now with the toddler.

    I had to cancel a trip to India last time which was disappointing especially as the inlaws went (we were all booked to go but insurance only covered me and OH) and they kept texting me about sandy beaches and delicious curry while I was laid up in recovery!!

    I know what you mean about every little thing going on your body. Chances of anything sinister are really really low at our age though - your 27?? (I'm 30, so would've been 28 first time round). My scan/diagnosis helped this massively for me as before even though I was sure it was another cyst there's always that doubt in your mind. Doesn't help when your mum goes ooh nausea? frequent urinating? bloating? are you sure you're not pregnancy again? Lol! The way I deal with it is one step at a time; diagnosis, surgery date, biopsy, recovery etc. I was told the biopsy result of the last when when still in hospital and I was still quite out of it on the drugs and it was just another piece of information in the haze of what was going on.

    Recovery is definitely about one day at a time. You get some good days, some bad. Have you got plenty of support for when you're discharged? You might not *need* it but it's always good especially for the emotional side of it. Also you might feel fine one minute but rubbish the next and need to put your feet up, so don't turn down any offers of help!

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  • Posted

    This might sound a bit crazy - but do you think my VERY ANNOYING right eye twitch tht's been intermittently present since the other ovarian cyst symptoms could be related?? I just put it down to tiredness/stress but now I've got pins and needles in my hands and feet and shooting pains down my right leg I wonder what else it's affecting?! When I had my scan I told the sonographer I'd had right ovary pain then left ovary pain and when she said there was just the left ovary cyst I said that right ovary.side pain was weird and she said it was common! Apparently it transfers across. It's very weird. I've had eye twitches before when tired etc but this is freakishly coincidental and persistent.
  • Posted

    OMG!!!! I have had the WORST eye twitch for ages, I had been putting it down to tiredness!, I am so freaked out that you said that! Hahaha

    I get a dead leg sometimes and I asked the dr about it and she said it is very possible that the cyst could be bumping into a nerve so I guess it could be?!

    I think mine has bumped my sciatic nerve a few times as I have got agonising - but split second - shooting pain about four or five times since I have been diagnosed.

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    Sorry for my really randomly organised reply....I was picking bits out and it probably doesn't make sense!!

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  • Posted

    By the way, what was the reason that you ended cancelling your trip in the end? Were you advised to or did you just feel better to cancel?? Xx
  • Posted

    Sorry, posting again. I just re read and missed some points.

    It's so lovely that you ended up wanting a child out of your cyst experience. At least there was something positive! I bet you were made up when you had your little one?

    I have my partner who is going to be around a lot. My sister and my dad will pop round ans stay in the spare room also friends are all ready to help so that's good.how long were you out if action f or? Xx

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    I'm totally convinced the eye twitch is related now lol!

    We had to cancel the trip primarily because surgery date was day after we were due to fly but also because of the different healthcare system in India; even with holiday insurance, I wouldn't want to need emergency medical care there. They have some excellent healthcare but insurance does not guarantee you'd get access to it. With the urinary retention there was a risk of a repeat and the dr advised not to do a long haul flight, but that was all irrelevant with the surgery date anyway.

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  • Posted

    I think it is too....mine has been mental. Goes on for like ten seconds at a time sometimes. Its persistent all through the day.....

    I am going to LA so I am not too bothered about the standard of medical care as I know that it is good over there but I asked my gynae and GP a lot of questions about whether flying would actually have any negative impact on me and they both said no. The actual flight wouldnt do anything, the only issue would be if it burst and you couldnt get to see anyone but it is just as likely to burst sat at your desk as in flight. I will see what they say when I hear from them though....

    Awww that is so cute! How old did you say he was now? Do you think you will have any more? xxx

  • Posted

    Aw you are braver than me flying! But LA wow I wouldn't want to miss that either!

    I'm not sure if the eye twitch is caused directly by the cyst or whether it's the extra tiredness and stress that the cyst has caused! I've had eye twitches before but this one is ridiculous too! It's about every hour or so and goes off for no good reason!

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  • Posted

    I phoned the appointment centre back and the very snotty advisor said the referral wouldn't come through and show up on the system til mid-late next week and then I would have to have a consultation with the consultant first and then they would finally book me in for surgery. Why it should take over a week to send a referral through is beyond me. So I'm not even going to get a consultation til back end of next week earliest probably week after and then another wait for surgery :'(
  • Posted

    Oh what a nightmare! Why was she being so snotty? I did have some arguments with them at first as they said that my scan appointment would be 20th march, (this is at the end of February) I kicked off and said I wouldnt accept it as I could see my stomach growing and needed to know ASAP!!!! I got passed between three hospitals before I got my appointment on March 3rd.

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