Looking for reassurance - ovarian cyst, cancer, ibs?

Posted , 3 users are following.

Hi,

I'm a 25 year old female. I've worked in a GP practice as a medical secretary for nearly a year now and I have become increasingly aware of my health issues. It has made me paranoid.

I have seen numerous Drs with my symptoms, 2 of them say ibs. Over the last few weeks I've had new symptoms like what feels like period pain, even though I am on the mini pill and don't get periods or pain anymore. I have decided to come off the pill all together as I've only been on this one about 6 months and think that it's possibly making me feel worse.

The dr gave me buscopan as mebeverine which both worked for a short time and now doesn't have much effect so stopped taking them. I have finally got the dr to refer me for an ultrasound but I am absolutely teriffied about the outcome. I'm convinced I have maybe ovarian cancer or something. I have always had issues in that area, I had reccurent uti's as a teenager and on and off in my adult life as well.

I'm looking for reassurance as most people pass it off and say don't worry but I'm starting to loose sleep over it and am contemplating paying private to have my ultrasound done quicker. Does anyone know how much they cost? Can anyone advise me or anyone have any similar symptoms? My symptoms include stomach cramps when I first get up in a morning which I've had for months, I then go to the toilet and stools can be loose or normal, they're unpredictable. Last week I had a horrendous pain under my left rib that lasted all day, like stitch, I couldn't stand up and was unable to go to work. Recently, as mentioned above similar to period pain even though I don't have periods. Also, not sure if this is connected but my chest has started to crack when I stretch in a morning, like when you crack your fingers or knuckles. I also find it hard to get a deep breath, like when you yawn and you get the satisfaction feeling. I can't get that and have to try and yawn. I don't have it always but have done for the past few days. I don't have any chest pain with it and had an ecg today which was fine, last year I saw the consultant cardiologist who said he wasn't worried about my heart as it's normally 100bpm on rest but I didn't have the cracking in my chest then.

Any comments welcome, but like I say I'm so worried at the moment and I feel like it's making me feel worse.

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Posted

    One thing about life--when you fear the worst it hardly ever happens.  Go for the ultrasound as soon as you can get one but I see no need to pay for it yourself.  They cost hundreds of dollars or pounds.  As you probably know, an ultrasound is painless and an excellent diagnostic tool.  Just try to be patient.  Having frequent UTIs in the past will not make you a greater candidate for ovarian cancer.  You didn't mention bloating, which is one of the chief symptoms of that cancer--but it is also very common with IBS.  At your age I doubt it would be possible to have all the ailments you are concerned about.  If your chest cracks, then I wouldn't be able to imagine the cause of that, but it's very doubtful it can mean anything very bad.  Same with the yawning.  I didn't know one could get any satisfaction from the act of yawning!  Take it from one who's been there--young people are quite prone to conversion hysteria.  This means there is something going on in your life that is troubling you and, for one reason or another, you are converting that into physical symptoms and obsessing over them.  It doesn't mean you can't have something physically ailing you, like perhaps IBS, but when a young person like you describes many symptoms that are hard to connect and fears something is about to kill them, a doctor might suspect an underlying psychological cause.  Honey, it will get better.

     All this worry is draining your energy.  Worry never helped or solved anything.  Get up in the morning and tell yourself like a mantra "I am young, I am strong, I am a fighter. Look out life!"  When I was young there were many times when I felt just like you.  I am still heresmile 

    • Posted

      Thank you Janeeyre! When people tell me positive things I start to realise and calm down a bit so thank you. I just need to get into positive thinking and the right frame of mind but the pains and uncomfortable-ness get me down!
    • Posted

      You're welcome.  My european-born mother usually said to me something along the lines of "You're too nervous!  It comes from reading all those books. Can't you find something else around the house to do?"  So, you see, to some people life and its problems have simple answers, but the rest of us struggle a bit more. rolleyes

  • Posted

    Hi, try not to worry - just have the ultrasound to reassure you.  As we all know stress creates IBS - and it doesn't have to be the worst case senario so please don't worry If you want reassurance quicker then its worth the money to pay to get it done.  Nothing is worse than worry.  I've had loose and weird stools for 6 months - i was absolutely terrified but had to face my fears and have a colonoscopy and gastroscope Monday. I wish i had of had it done sooner. Fortunately nothing sinister - but the worry has been shocking.  Im not saying there's anything wrong at all with you apart from IBS - but emotionally it will be good when you can eliminate your fear.

    take care.

    • Posted

      Thanks Rhonda. I'm just worried about these period pains I've been having for the last few days so I'm paying private for an ultrasound scan. I just don't want to wait 3-4 weeks. It's really playing on my mind.

    • Posted

      Piece of mind is everything the damage we do to ourselves by worrying causes more damage to us than most things - I'm glad youve mare the decisión and then you can relax. Goodluck

  • Posted

    Your symptoms sound like IBS.  It can feel you are having your period without the bleeding.  Hormones can make IBS worse; it is good you came off the mini pill because it can cause sude effects.

    Bowel habits change as well from constipation or diarrhoea or loose stools or a mixture of both.  IBS is very unpredictable.  I have had this and was eventually diagnosed with IBS.  If two doctos say IBS, I would accept this; two doctors saying the same thing is a good sign.  

    Since you are worried, ask for the ultrasound privately.  My anxiety wouldn't let me wait a month on the NHS.    I did this because I had multiple health anxieties. I panicked about ovarian cancer, cysts, pancreatic cancer, and cervical cancer.   I focused on a different health anxiety every day.  The procedure cost £400 in Britain and came back negative for everything.  However, it didn't stop my anxiety because at that point, I still had no diagnosis.  I had to wait 3 and a half months for that.

    Health anxiety and problems with diagnosis acceptance is very common with IBS. Anxiety will make IBS symptoms worse. Doctors continued to tell me that my symptoms didn't sound serious but I didn't believe them.  Family members also said the same thing and told me I was the only one who thought I had something nasty.  No one understood that I was thinking this way because I had no concrete proof that my symptoms could point to something simpler.

    My symptoms improved massively after my diagnosis and my health anxiety disappeared completely.  Before diagnosis, my symptoms were worse.

    • Posted

      Thanks for your comment 😊 I checked today and I'd be seen within 4 weeks for my ultrasound so I'm going to go private I think. It's expensive but worth it to find out as I don't really want to be waiting another 4 weeks. I wouldn't be as worried but it's these period like pains I've had for 3-4 days now, it's that which is worrying me.

    • Posted

      My pain was constant for three and a half months, just like the pain you describe.  Don't worry; it will make the pain worse. See what the ultrasound says.

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