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Women's health

Ovarian cysts pre menopause

21 replies

NeverTalksToStrangers · 21/04/2021 22:07

I discovered a few weeks ago via a ct scan for another reason that I have 1 large cyst and another (probably burst) on the other side. I did have really bad pain about 2 weeks before the CT (which I put down to pulling a muscle or something), which is probably when the other one burst. I have been referred to gynae for an ultrasound.

I'm 41 and not perimenopausal yet. Most things I've read suggest that pre-menopausal cysts tend to go away on their own etc but also that any over roughly 6cm need surgery. Mine is 7cm. The size of a medium orange...

So... have any of you had a cyst at my stage in life that WAS operated on?

OP posts:

Report

NeverTalksToStrangers · 21/04/2021 22:37

Anyone?

OP posts:

Trixie78 · 21/04/2021 22:41

I had one that size at 41 but it was discovered when I was pregnant and they got rid of it when I had a C section so not really the same. I don't think it's a difficult or particularly invasive procedure but I'm sure it'd be easily sorted. Good luck xx

Lovelivingbythebeach3 · 21/04/2021 22:52

I had a 14cm cyst that was operated on at age 48. It was slowly twisting and causing pain.

NeverTalksToStrangers · 21/04/2021 23:03

@Lovelivingbythebeach3

I had a 14cm cyst that was operated on at age 48. It was slowly twisting and causing pain.

14cm??

Is that melon territory? Have you been ok since? Sounds painful.

@Trixie78 did they take it out during the section?? Burst it? That is not something I was aware they would ever do, but I suppose 2 birds 1 stone (or 1 baby, 1 cyst).

The smaller one may not have burst, but there's a more solid mass beside it that they suspect is a cyst or tube haemorrhage. I'm just putting 2 and 2 together with the horrific pain I had briefly.

So many things I've read roughly say 5-7cm monitor but over 7cm operate. So I'm kinda in limbo as to which category I fall into. And I don't know how accurate the measurement would be via CT.

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Lilyminilli · 21/04/2021 23:12

I just had laparoscopic surgery to remove a 7cm cyst (am 44). The surgery was done in the afternoon and I was home that evening.
Just needed to take it easy for a week but by end of 2nd week I was back to normal.

I didn’t have to have the surgery but the consultant said at that size it wasn’t likely to disappear and I didn’t fancy ending up in A&E if it burst or something.

Lilyminilli · 21/04/2021 23:14

Oh the dr did an ultrasound to check the size. So maybe ask for a referral as a 2nd check?

NeverTalksToStrangers · 21/04/2021 23:55

@Lilyminilli

Oh the dr did an ultrasound to check the size. So maybe ask for a referral as a 2nd check?

Interesting. Sounds like a similar situation then. Was your cyst simple or complex? I have an ultrasound/gynae appt on Tues. Was your surgery nhs or private? I have medical insurance through work so this is a private gynae appt. They will also cover surgery if it can't be done in 6 weeks on the nhs.

Good to hear your recovery was quick. I had read up to 12 weeks for some and thought that seemed excessive for laparoscopic.

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Wond3rment · 22/04/2021 00:01

I had a 20cm (8inches) cyst removed at 42. Due to the size it had engorged the ovary.

The plan had been to remove via keyhole, under GA, back in recovery within an hour. The reality was full open surgery, over 2 hrs in theatre. The ovary was also removed. Recovery took a little longer as a result.

The consultant was so delighted with himself, on rounds the next day he had photos printed for me to take home and shared several videos from his phone. The cyst was one of the best examples of a Dermoid cyst he had ever seen, containing a couple of teeth and hair over 9inches in length ...yes they brushed it straight from the tight rolled ball of hair and measured the length - I saw it all play out on the videos and felt very sick. Not my thing at all but made my consultant’s week.

I’ve never looked back, don’t miss the pain, teeth or hair.

NeverTalksToStrangers · 22/04/2021 00:29

@Wond3rment

I had a 20cm (8inches) cyst removed at 42. Due to the size it had engorged the ovary.

The plan had been to remove via keyhole, under GA, back in recovery within an hour. The reality was full open surgery, over 2 hrs in theatre. The ovary was also removed. Recovery took a little longer as a result.

The consultant was so delighted with himself, on rounds the next day he had photos printed for me to take home and shared several videos from his phone. The cyst was one of the best examples of a Dermoid cyst he had ever seen, containing a couple of teeth and hair over 9inches in length ...yes they brushed it straight from the tight rolled ball of hair and measured the length - I saw it all play out on the videos and felt very sick. Not my thing at all but made my consultant’s week.

I’ve never looked back, don’t miss the pain, teeth or hair.

Sweet lord...

Is it wrong that I'm curious what colour the hair was? Think mine is simple, not dermoid. Thankfully (sorry).

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Lilyminilli · 22/04/2021 08:04

I had mine done privately although it was all delayed due to the recent lockdown. The cyst was simple. Probably the recovery is longer he I’ve never only just put jeans back on so stock up on joggers if you haven’t for lockdown already!

Oh I also got shown photos of the op while I was still in the recovery room! I’m not sure why maybe to prove they did it

Skyliner001 · 22/04/2021 21:57

Some of the cysts sound enormous! Would you mind me asking any of you who have had assist if you had any feelings with it? Particularly those who have had larger ones! Is there anything we should be looking out for X

NeverTalksToStrangers · 22/04/2021 23:11

@Skyliner001

Some of the cysts sound enormous! Would you mind me asking any of you who have had assist if you had any feelings with it? Particularly those who have had larger ones! Is there anything we should be looking out for X

Really good question. Mine is 'only' 7cm and I'm getting twinges etc especially during ovulation, but if I wasn't aware of it, i don't think I'd notice. My stomach area has always been twingey.

The searing pain I had at the end of feb was hard to not notice in fairness, but again I put it down to something else. I don't have the flattest stomach. Maybe look out for protruding bits?

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NeverTalksToStrangers · 28/04/2021 20:54

So my appylt yesterday was interesting.

She had difficulty fully seeing everything during the transvaginal ultrasound because my ovaries sit above my pelvis apparently. Abdominal ultrasound was a bit clearer.

She thinks either the cyst on my left ovary didn't exist or else has disappeared. There were two on my right ovary, one larger one partially covering the other (so she thinks it might have looked like it was on the left in the CT scan).

She initially thought the big one had shrunk as it was measuring 5cm but she drew a line through both cysts at one stage and said "that's measuring 9 there" and I stupidly didn't ask if she meant on its own or combined.

The cyst in the back looks cloudy so she's referring me for an MRI to make sure it's not sinister. I think she wants to check the size too.

I had asked if she thought it was likely to be dodgy and she said "no, but better to be safe and if it is I'll take it out". I assumed she had been referring to the cyst but she said "your left ovary is fine so it can stay put".

I'm already extremely emotional at the minute because my lovely dad died after catching covid in hospital less than 3 weeks ago. I cried during my vaccine. I cried during my ultrasound (before getting concerning news). So now I'm not just sad, I'm worried too.

OP posts:

nomorespaghetti · 10/06/2021 22:31

Hi @NeverTalksToStrangers
I hope you’re feeling ok. I just stumbled across this thread and wondered how things are going for you? I’ve been having bloating and twinges during ovulation, lasting up to a week, for a few months, and an ultrasound scan showed one of my ovaries was enlarged. Had an mri a few days ago and awaiting results.
hope you’re feeling a bit brighter, and really sorry about your dad

NeverTalksToStrangers · 11/06/2021 23:22

@nomorespaghetti I'm ok.

The MRI was ok. Cyst not concerning, and measuring 6.5cm. Blood tests for cancer marker were ok. The gynae wants to see me again in 6 months just. That whole area goes nuts when I'm ovulating. Constant twinges and gurgling. But I don't know how much of that is me being more aware of sensations now.

I don't think I'll ever get over how dad died tbh. I hadn't been allowed to see him for 3 weeks and they only called us after he'd passed. There's an investigation ongoing into the outbreak on his ward.

Have you had your results yet?

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Signifyingnothing · 11/06/2021 23:33

I had, what felt like trapped wind one morning when I was 19weeks pregnant. The pain v suddenly escalated until I started yelling for my husband to call an ambulance. I thought I was having a really painful miscarriage. It was a large ovarian cyst which had twisted. Awful pain. The painkillers in hospital didn’t touch it.

I had emergency surgery whilst pregnant to remove it within the hour. My unborn baby was fine!

The nurse who’d been with me when I was wheeled in came to see me the next morning and said she’d gone home and cried thinking I was going to lose my baby. Lovely woman. The little thing is 10 now and the car I have from that surgery is huge.

I was 36.

Signifyingnothing · 11/06/2021 23:34

*scar. Not sure the NHS have the budget for rewarding patients with large cars. No harm in asking though.

NeverTalksToStrangers · 12/06/2021 00:35

@Signifyingnothing

*scar. Not sure the NHS have the budget for rewarding patients with large cars. No harm in asking though.

The pain I had back in late feb was horrendous. It was so bad, I probably should have gone to hospital really but it was peak covid time, I live 45 mins away and it was my son's birthday weekend so I just decided to heavily medicate, grin and bear it.

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Treezan82 · 12/06/2021 00:45

Hi OP

I had a large (40cm) cyst on my ovary when I was 30. Obviously operated on and lost the ovary at the same time. My cancer markers were a little elevated and biopsies showed it was caused by a small cancer inside the ovary. Thankfully it didn't spread, no further treatment needed after the surgery. Had 2 kids since then (3 pregnancies).

I'm so sorry about your dad.

NeverTalksToStrangers · 12/06/2021 00:49

@Treezan82

Hi OP

I had a large (40cm) cyst on my ovary when I was 30. Obviously operated on and lost the ovary at the same time. My cancer markers were a little elevated and biopsies showed it was caused by a small cancer inside the ovary. Thankfully it didn't spread, no further treatment needed after the surgery. Had 2 kids since then (3 pregnancies).

I'm so sorry about your dad.

40cm?

I'm guessing it was visible/protruding?

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Cinni23 · 12/06/2021 21:58

Oh yes, very much so. By the time the operation came round my tummy measured the same as 32 weeks pregnant. I wasn't particularly mobile by the end.

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