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Does having an ovarian cyst affect your bowels? Please help!!!

Posted , 41 users are following.

Susie27
Susie27

Hi everyone!

Since having my first ovarian cyst my bowels have been all over the place. Is this normal. I never know what my bowel movements are going to be like from one day to the next.

When I spoke to my gynae he said that it shouldnt affect my bowels but these changes only started at time I had this cyst.

I also have abdominal pain around and below my tummy button as if someone is poking inside in it. Does anyone else experience this?. 

I havent listed all my symptoms but they are so scary and uncomfortable. Having a blood test tomorrow morning to check my ca-125. Petrified!

If anyone has any problems with their bowels please do share as feel as though I'm on my own with it all. Thank you x

1 like, 47 replies

47 Replies

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  • amanda6793
    amanda6793 Susie27

    Posted

    Hello ladies, also glad I've come across this to give some perception because I know everyone has differing symptoms! I have just had a 10 x 8cm dermoid cyst removed from my left ovary (New Years Eve spent on the operating table woohoo!). The wonderful (NHS) surgeon warned that it was unlikely she would be able to salvage the ovary, so I was delighted to learn soon after coming around, that she'd saved it-particularly as I'm only 22.

    I have had problems with my bowels for a few years now, but in the last year I've had only constipation. It can definitely effect your bowels, particularly if its rather big like mine was and pushing on all surrounding organs!

    3 days after laparotomy im in AGONY with gas pressure in my shoulders and ribs which has reduced me to tears, for me that is rare considering I didn't take morphine for the wound pain for more than 12 hours. This isn't a post-surgery thing that they warn you about! The only thing other than moving around which I've found to help is the peppermint tea.

    Good luck to future patients- as someone with crippling anxiety I expected this experience to be a lot worse than it actually was. Xx

  • want2feelbetter
    want2feelbetter Susie27

    Posted

    I have been having bowel issues for over a year going between constipation and diarrhea. I went to the GI doc and he said it sounded like ibs. Well all the meds he prescribed me didnt work so he did a endoscopy/colonoscopy and every thing came back neg. . I get bad cramps in my lower abdominal area and I just recently had a episode where I had bad cramps and diarrhea with nothing but blood tmirolleyes well I called my gastrointestinal doc and he said since it was after hours to go ahead to the e.r. well all my test came back neg again except on my ct scan they found a ruptured cyst on my right ovary and lots of fluid in my pelvic region. No explanation for the bloody diarrhea but I was dignosed with the cyst! Im starting to wonder if I have endometriosis since im having issues with my peroid and now cysts. rolleyes
    • Susie27
      Susie27 want2feelbetter

      Posted

      Hi there, I'm sorry to hear that you're going through it. I posted this over a year ago and have since had a laparoscopy to remove the cyst from my left ovary. During surgery my surgeon also found a small patch of endometriosis which he removed. It was news to me as I had no idea I had got that. SInce surgery I have started to get more symptoms of which I put down to it being the endometriosis. My bowels are still a bit all over the shop but I generally tend to be more constipated now and so take Laxido twice a week to keep things moving. The only way for you to find out if its endometriosis is through having a investigative laparoscopy unfortuntately but it's worth mentioning it to your GP if you havent already. My periods are also irregular and I tend to get more pain around my cycles now. Are you going to have your cyst removed? Consultants tend to do advise the watch and wait to see if your cyst goes down. Mine didn't and so just opted to have it removed as it was 5x7cm.

      ​Nearly forgot to mention that I also had a colonoscopy as my gyne surgeon thought I had IBS. Mine was clear apart from diverticulosis which I think was found by accident. None of my symptoms were put down to this though. I still believe that all of this is endometriosis related.

      ​Hope you manage to find some answers soon as I know how frustrating it can be.

    • caroline25937
      caroline25937 want2feelbetter

      Posted

      Do you know what  want2feelbetter... I totally get what you are saying here.

      All of the bowel issues/cramping/constipation/pressue  etc etc  just makes me wonder more and more whether I do have some Endo somewhere in my pelvis..!!   This is getting worse since my laparoscopy 6 weeks ago, where they found adhesions on my right abdominal wall  bowel  and also on my appendix.  Says they couldn't see Endo?? I am still noy convinced. 

      I have cysts and sever pain cropping up monthly since January..mainly on the right ovary... blood filled cysts....

      all of this just makes me wonder what the hell is going on and if I have had a rupture that went undiagnosed when I became ill January...

      Endo causes cysts flaring and pain and also adhesions and bowel issues/bladder pressue etc

      Caroline

    • Guest
      Guest want2feelbetter

      Posted

      I am so glad I came across this forum. I have been having bowel issues for about 3 weeks now. I just figured it was from something I ate or from the sinus thing I had. I went to the doctor & he figured it was diverticulitis because of the symptoms I told him I had. He gave me 2 antibiotics to take & scheduled me for an abdominal/pelvic CT scan. I got the results from that yesterday. There is no diverticulitis but it found that my left ovary is enlarged with several cysts & my right ovary just has several cysts. Reading through this forum seeing your symptoms, I'm starting to think my bowel issues are related to these cysts. I had a hysterectomy in 2010 so I don't have any issues with periods or anything like that. I do have some back & side pain but I figured it's from sitting for a long period of time. As for thigh pain, I have noticed my left thigh hurts every-so-often. I have a transvaginal ultrasound this afternoon, so we'll see just how bad this ovary thing is.

      I truly hope that everyone is feeling better now, since this forum is over a year old.

    • Guest
      Guest

      Posted

      Oh, I do have some pelvic pain but it hasn't been severe for about 2 weeks.

  • Janjan109
    Janjan109 Susie27

    Posted

    Hi Susie,

    I just got out of surgery from removing my large 10cm dermoids on both sides of my ovaries, and the doctor also found endemetriosis as well. He was able to keep both of my ovaries, but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed going to have children w my husband one day. I had cramps my whole life, and I always thought it was normal. I also always had IBS symptoms + back aches + butt and leg aches. I just thought I had a weak stomach and posture, but at the end of the day, I think it was all because of my dermoid / endemetriosis combo.

    Don't worry. The surgery is not that bad and the recovery is going well so far. I was up and walking on day 3. Bc of the size of my cysts I had 3 laproscopic holes and one 1" incision. It's not so much my surgery wounds that hurt so much, but I've been getting a lot of bloating and cramping post surgery. It's been 10 days now and I still get them sad

  • kathleen33630
    kathleen33630 Susie27

    Posted

    Hi after an hysterectomy when I was 30 was left with one ovary in 13 year had ten cysts hospital keep saying not big enough to remove I went for a scan last Friday n within hours was phoned to go asap to my doctors scan revealed multiple big cyst I was told to have ca125 blood test because the cysts have pins r pots in them at the time I went into meltdown but I have also noticed that with every bowel movement or bladder movement my pain gets worse I have been in constant pain a month now I have appointment with specialist 6th may I do hope this tym they will help me my ca125 test come back clear so that's huge weight of my mind x
    • kathleen33630
      kathleen33630

      Posted

      Hi Katie I have 8cm cyst due to av ovary removed when.i get back of holiday I av same problem with bowels told me av adhesions on bowel n bladder from my hysterectomy 18 yr ago it does cause intense pain when u need to pooh lol n bloating I have to av meds to help x
  • eneyi30413
    eneyi30413 Susie27

    Posted

    HELL YES!!!! I have the exact same symptoms. My cyst definitely affects my bowels. Very unpredictable and uncomfortable. Countless sleepless nights from pain in both ovaries mainly the left were the cyst is and lower back pain and period like cramps.

    Going in for a test tomorrow. Good luck!!!

  • Bailey08
    Bailey08 Susie27

    Posted

    Yep!  13 cm cyst removed 3 weeks ago.  Pre-op I was all over the place - constipated one day, running for the bathroom the next.  Post-surgery is a whole new world.  I forgot how pleasant it is to have things just work!  If the cyst is a decent size, it absolutely causes bowel issues.  Constipation is actually a common symptom of ovarian cysts.
    • katie47273
      katie47273 Bailey08

      Posted

      Hi, I have an 8cm cyst on my right ovary, I'm awaiting my operation appointment, but I've been getting myself worried as I have had lots of uncomfortable symptoms around my bowels,as previously spoken about never no from one day to next how bm Are going to be,but I've been having feelings of pain in the bowel/anus and feeling like the bowel itself is blocked/squashed! Could this be related to cyst pushing on to something......pain in ovary and side has decreased and this other has increased! Was hoping to get it out and see if other symptoms persist.....but appointment is taking longer then expected to come through! Did you or anyone else experience anything I have said?

      Thanks

    • Guest
      Guest Bailey08

      Posted

      Can you also have a upset tummy with a ovary cyst? Mine is about 10cm x
  • sarah85800
    sarah85800 Susie27

    Posted

    Hi yes I have a 10 cm left ovarian cyst. And the last week my bowels have been runny as hell I have tummy and back pain and feeling sick. I'm going to go to the walk in as I don't feel great.

  • caroline25937
    caroline25937 Susie27

    Posted

    Hi Susie.. and all the ladies...

    I am posting my  recent post (copying & pasting) it here.. see below... as been advised to try and see if anybody can relate to this, please read on..

    I am trying to get to answers..!!!  How it all started so suddeny and WHY ?? almost like a rupture / infection..... please read on and if any of you can relate to this or help me then please let me know as I really do not know which way to turn right now....

    Caroline

    Adhesions abdominal wall/appendixPosted about an hour agoHi, anybody that can help here then great..!

    I had a laparoscopy over 6 weeks ago due to all the pain I was getting mainly on my right side loin area. This had been going on since January this year and started out as severe right sided stabbing pain and a rash that also appeared right side above the hip, with urine frequency and burning.

    To cut a long story short it has been going on some time now and I've had three hospital admissions due to the pain.

    Anyway.. the LAP was done just over 6 wks back so they could get in and have a look what the issue was. He found adhesions on my right side abdominal wall and over my appendix, he called them grade 4 adhesions??  He dealt with them, but all the pain is back, the awful pulling and tugging feeling and my tummy is swollen with gas/constipation. I feel like my whole bowel on the right side is in a straightjacket.. if this makes sense??

    Never have they given me an actual answer as to why this has happened to me, they hint at a possible infection or inflammation, possibly the appendix, but he said the appendix looked OK so left it in there !  

    I also have ovarian cysts (blood filled) which keep cropping up mainly on my right ovary with severe pain in the pelvis and the whole leading up to a period from ovulation and so on... is a nightmare now, all since January this year when I became ill.  I also have some fibroids in the uterus which they are saying will NOT be causing  me the pain.

    So just a recap -

    I'm not dealing with right sided pain and pulling and I'm guessing the adhesions are back.. with severe bloating and pain, gas  etc.

    General back pain and pelvic pain, ovary is enlarged I was told on last scan and currently has a cyst in it.

    Fibroids.. but told they are not an issue??

    Terrible periods now, the most recent lasting only 2 days with awful pain and then almost dark brown clots (balls) coming out of me...sorry yuk !!

    THE GYNE WHO DID THE LAP SAID HE CAN FIND NO EVIDENCE OF ENDOMETRIOSIS.  I'm not convinced here. Being investigated further but its all a waiting game, whilst I'm in continual pain.

    HELP.. Anybody any tips here or advice on this at all ??

    Caroline

    • caroline25937
      caroline25937

      Posted

      typo above, mean't to read I am dealing with right sided pain.

      To add also to the whole thing above... I have had bladder pressure/some frequency/spasms  since I became ill January and also bowel issues/pain/bloating/constipation.

      Only ever had 1 positive UTI infection ecoli  recorded in January.. all the rest have been negative before and since. The uti and all the problems I've had  DO NOT answer how my issues started January or why/what it all was??

      Anybody that has anything to add here, really... I need all the help I can get. 

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