Could it be a cyst??

I doesn't sound like a cyst to me it sound like premenopausal did u get checked for that if u had a cyst u would be in really bad pain in your back, legs, and abdominal pain u need a pelvic ultrasound it will determine if u have a cyst on not that is how they found mine

Hi Claire!

I can chime in with my own similar experiences, which hopefully you’ll find helpful! I’ve had some more severe symptoms and it’s been a long road for me - learning a lot along the way! I am 41 years old, no pregnancies. 

In early 2015, I saw my ob/gyn because I had been experiencing some bleeding between periods. I had been on the pill off and on for 20 years. The breaks I had taken while on it didn’t last for more than a month or two. 

My dr recommended an ultrasound and a few days later, she called me to give me the results. She said that I had a cyst on my right ovary but that it was “no big deal and would likely resolve itself.” I believed her because she had been my dr for a long time and I respected her. Regardless of my opinion or feelings, I should have gotten a copy of the radiology report for myself! This was a tough lesson to learn.... more on that later.

I moved to a new state a short time later and found a new doctor approximately one year later. I had discontinued all hormonal birth control 3 months prior to seeing him. After discontinuing the birth control, my periods returned to normal (timing-wise, that is. The pain and heaviness of them increased which wasn’t surprising given the length of time I had been on it).

He ordered a complete panel of blood tests to help determine the cause of my symptoms which included: fatigue, breast pain, painful periods, bloating and pain during ovulation, moodiness and waves of nausea that would come and go depending on the timing during the month.

The findings of the blood tests surprised me but I was relieved that everything was treatable. I learned that I had estrogen dominance, a low functioning thyroid and severe vitamin deficiencies (vitamins B12, D and magnesium). This is the second important lesson I learned; don’t ignore symptoms like that! Unfortunately they were (I thought), too easy to “explain;” I work in law enforcement and frequently work night shift (aka I’m usually always sleep deprived). 

I was prescribed hormone replacement and prescription supplements. After some time passed, I was feeling pretty darn good! I also did a lot of reading on Synthetic Birth Control Syndrome and this was very helpful! It explained a lot about the likely cause of the thyroid issues and vitamin deficiencies. (Keep in mind I am by no means a medical professional... just someone that is very curious and  learned to be her own advocate along the way!) 

Fast forward to November/December 2017. Most of my symptoms returned and the pain in my lower right abdomen became concerning. 8 years prior, I had an emergency appendectomy and I thought maybe there were complications with the scar or something. 

I had moved once again and, of course, needed to find a new doctor. This time, I requested the records from my previous doctor and the results from my first ultrasound. When I received them, my jaw hit the floor.

Not only did I have a cyst on my right ovary, but it was complex (not likely to resolve itself), an enlarged ovary, adenomyosis (it’s similar to endometriosis).

Had I been proactive and requested these records immediately after the ultrasound, I could have saved myself a lot of pain, progression of the cysts, treatment of adenomyosis through pelvic floor therapy and overall confusion as to what was happening with my body and endocrine system! Although my doctor at the time was great, it didn’t replace having the information in front of me! 

I presented these results to my new doctor and we also went over my new symptoms. She ordered an ultrasound once again. There was minimal change with the cyst on my right ovary and another one had formed. Adenomyosis was still evident, I was also making too much estrogen (discovered from a blood test) and both of these are likely the cause of most of my pelvic pain and nausea. 

The last month has been exceptionally difficult. The nausea and vomiting comes and go in waves (my friends that have children have said it sounds like morning sickness). I’m scheduled for laparoscopic surgery to remove the cysts on Thursday, June 21. I would have had the surgery sooner, however, the demanding nature of the job I have didn’t allow for it.

I don’t say any of this to frighten you; everyone’s experience is unique! Fortunately, cysts can resolve on their own sometimes and if not, surgery or alternative therapy is an option. Knowing what you’re dealing with is half the battle and it sounds like you have been very proactive in your health care decisions where I was not.

Don’t write off any of your symptoms, be thorough in your explanation to your doctor (keep track of your symptoms and write them down), get a second opinion if you’re not satisfied and always request a copy of any radiology reports or test results! 

My goal is to move forward after this surgery and work on healing and managing symptoms holistically. No more hormonal birth control for me. Again, this doesn’t suit everyone! I’m just hoping to learn as much as I can to heal my body and mind and try to prevent this from happening again!

Ask questions, take notes, read up on your findings and lean on friends and family for support. You are never alone. You’ve got this!

Best of luck to you! 

Roxanne 

Unfortunately the only way of determining what is going on is by getting all these tests ..the waiting is the worst part ..hope you find an answer soon!