My Ovarian Cyst, Torsion and Surgery Story
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This is going to be a long one I'm afraid. Hopefully my story can help others!
First of all I will start of with this...I was 21 at the time of my first cyst and a fit and active person.
I'm only 22 now so this has all happened in a short amount of time!
Whilst on holiday in July 2012 I started experiencing some strange stomach cramps. They were sort of like a cross between a period pain and the feeling you get when you need to go to the loo with a stomach bug! Not pleasant. They were happening a couple of times a day but I didn't really think much of them!
These seemed to pass when I returned home and I had 2 weeks pain free! One evening I felt a strange, minor pain in my lower right abdo area. I wasn't sure what it was but it didn't feel like something I had felt before. It was only painful whilst I was moving but fine if I layed down still. After aroiund 3 days of this pain I went to my GP who thought maybe I had a case of a rumbling appendix and told me to return if the pain hadn't gone within 24 hours.
For about 5 days after this I had zero pain at all and thought it had gone away. I would then say about mid week I started feeling the same pain again only this time it was painful to touch but would still come and go. I visited my GP again and he recommended I go home with painkillers and return to A&E if it became significantly worse. I went to work the next day feeling fine however mid day I started to feel much sharper pains and began vomiting. I left work and went straight to my GP who did a urine dipstick which showed high levels of white blood cells so I was sent straight across to the hospital to be admitted.
I was in hospital for 3 days before a diagnosis! I saw 3 different doctors who did the same thing over and over...felt my tummy and asked the same questions. Eventually they gave me an ultrasound and found what they thought was a 6cm cyst on my right ovary. The sonographer told me it was 'borderline needing something to be done about it'. Whilst I was in hospital my pain increased big time. It was impossible for me to walk without horrible sharp pains and I felt very sick. I was on morphine and codeine for the pain although neither seemed to help!
I was moved on to the Gynae ward where a consultant finally came to see me. He told me in actual fact my cyst was about 8 cm and was bleeding. He said it had twisted (a torsion) and was cutting off the blood supply to my ovary. He told me I would be in for an emergency laparotomy the next day to have it removed. He explained that he couldn't be sure until he opened me up wether my ovary would be intact enough for him to repair it or wether it would have to be removed.
Let me tell you I was not prepared at all for what was happening. I went in to surgery the next day and was under for around 4 hours. When I woke up I was in the worst pain I had ever experienced. I had a catheter in and also a tube which was called a drain which was going in to my stomach and was stitched in. The drain was there to take away any extra blood loss from the repair on my ovary (which they managed to save) I was told I should lose no more than 150mls blood. This was at 11pm. By 3am my night nurse was getting worried as my pulse and temperature were still high and by this point I had lost 600 mls of blood. My surgeon was called and he came and told me if I lost more than 700 I would be going back into theatre to have my ovary removed.
I was very out of it on morphine and not really understanding what was going on but luckily I lost exactly 700mls and no more. The next few days were a blur. My Hb level had gone from 14.2 to 5 and I was very weak. I was on iron supplements and was having blood taken 3 times a day. I ended up having a transfusion. The recovery was the hardest part. Trying to walk with a 15cm wound and a catheter and the pain from gas OUCH! Anyway I healed properly after around 10 weeks but as I have a physically demanding job I was off work for 4 1/2 months!
I was then pain and cyst free until the following summer...to the exact date. When I was re admitted with similar symptoms and diagnosed with a 4cm ruptured cyst which had to be removed. This time by keyhole surgery so a much faster recovery (2 weeks).
I am now 6 months on and have a 3rd ruptured cyst. Waiting to hear about what they want to do! I really hope this answers questions for some of you and please ask them I'm willing to answer!!
2 likes, 42 replies
catherinesno LaurenZetta
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janine1234 catherinesno
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Sorry for the rant!!!
gabee46923 janine1234
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Christy123 catherinesno
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talysha49917 LaurenZetta
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I have PCOS and I started getting these sharp pains that haven't gone away and I feel like I need to vomit I don't want to go to hospital if it's nothing
I have never had these pains and I'm worried about it
talysha49917
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gabee46923 LaurenZetta
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amber87358 LaurenZetta
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Christy123 LaurenZetta
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Chilifizz LaurenZetta
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I had a large cyst removed from the left ovary and a large group of cysts from the right ovary 19 years ago. I was 18 when this happened and have had symptoms off and on since then. Despite being advised that I may not be able to conceive naturally due to scarring to the falopian tubes I had my daughter at age 26. I have nominal amount of ovarian tissue to the left ovary but I am having problems with the right ovary.
I was diagnosed with renal colic two and a half years ago and following 3 CT scans no stones have been found. I was only when I had an ultrasound scan 3 weeks ago that a cyst was found which is leaking. I have been off work with extreme pain and needing very strong pain killers, it is unbearable at times. I can not drive as it is too painful to break.
I am due to see a specialist next week and I am desperate for the right ovary to be removed so this can not happen again. Last time I was rushed into hospital and had surgery on the same day. I feel that this time I am in more pain and been left for 4 weeks now in lots of pain. I hope that this does not impact on my job.
ginger52277 LaurenZetta
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I did fine the first week. Tomorrow is my 2 week post op appt. Last night I started to have a lot of stomach discomfort. More than the gas. It started after my first bm after surgery. I know things move a little after you have surgery. They are taking things out. I have been down this road before. But it has been getting worse. Has anyone had this happen? I don't have any fever and don't feel sick. But I am having intense pain in my lower abdominal area.
Calling Dr to see if he can get me in earlier than tomorrow.
Thanks😕
beth07889 ginger52277
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beth07889 LaurenZetta
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tshonda28477 LaurenZetta
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xinagv LaurenZetta
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