Question:
Ovarian cyst- any advice?
I went to the ER a couple weeks ago with pain in my abdomen that was so bad I couldn't walk. They ran some tests and said that I have an ovarian cyst and that that was probably what was causing the pain. I have an appointment with a gyno on March 11, but I'm really worried and wanted to see if anyone has experienced this before. Lately, sex has become more and more painful to the point where I don't really want to do it. It feels as if my vagina is getting shorter and shorter. The last time my husband and I had sex was right before the severe pain that sent me to the ER. I read that pain during intercourse is associated with an ovarian cyst. Has anyone experienced this and can sex make it worse or cause it? I didn't discuss this with my husband until after the ER visit because I kept thinking up excuses like maybe I just wasn't turned on enough or maybe I had a cramp..etc. I guess I was in denial that there was a problem, but now that I look back, sex began getting uncomfortable a few months ago. Also, when I went to the ER and they did a vaginal ultrasound, that little thing that they use hurt like nothing I've ever felt. The lady that was doing it applied slight pressure and it felt like a knife. The pain that this seems to be causing is absolutely excruciating... is that kind of pain normal? Like I said, I will discuss this with the doctor when I see him, but I would really like to hear from someone who has had one of these cysts before. I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but a few months ago, around the time that this pain during intercourse first started to catch my attention, I spotted between periods for the first time in my life (I'm 25). It scared me to death because it's never happened before and I spotted for a few days and then no period. Since then my periods have seemed strange- I'll start spotting several days before starting rather than a few hours before (which is what has always been normal for me). Does this have anything to do with having a cyst? How long could I have this for and is it common to keep getting them?
Answers:
Absolutely-this could be pain from cyst(s) or it could be pain from fibroid tumors of the uterus. I have had experience with cysts and the pain from these can bring you to your knees. I have had cysts that caused me to have surgery twice once on the left side and the right side too. I had an 8cm cyst on the left that actually ruptured. I felt like someone stabbed me with a butcher knife. Well, I ended up with emergency surgery from that one. I ended up losing my ovary and part of my fallopian tube. Exactly a month to the day that I had that surgery I was in severe pain again! Every time I had a bowel movement my right side would hurt like you can't imagine. Needless to say I got checked out and I had a 13 cm cyst on the right side. This time when I had surgery they drained the fluid from the cyst as they did not want me to lose both of my ovaries. At that time I was 31. After this surgery I was put on Depo-Provera to prevent me from ovulating. At this time I already had children but they still did not want to take my ovary due to hormone loss. I was on Depo for over 5 yrs. When I decided to discontinue Depo the cyst returned at that time my GYN recommended a complete hysterectomy as I also had Endometriosis. So I suggest you get your symptoms thoroughly evaluated. I know what you are going through.
i have had a cyst before but i cant remember what they said causes it but my doctor said most woman do get them but most of the time they go away on there own and dont cause any pain. i have only had to go to the er once cause it was painful and it has not happened since but if it does happen alot the doctor said birth control can help. hope you feel better