Large ovarian cyst- help?

[OhFFS162]

I went to the GP yesterday after intermittent pelvic pain for 2 weeks (I had difficulty getting an appt due to Xmas). GP examined me and told me I had a pelvic mass and sent me straight to the nearest hospital.

Long story short it turns out I have a cyst (I wasn’t told what type) on my right ovary. It’s large, 12 cm across by 9 cm. I was told to go home and avoid strenuous cardio and heavy lifting and that there’d be a letter in the post in relation to my next appointment in approx one month to check if it’s reduced.
If it hasn’t then “options will be discussed.” Theyre very confident due to my age and the appearance of the cyst that it’s not cancerous but bloods were taken as a precaution. I’m under 25 btw.

However I’m fully shitting myself.

Has anyone else experienced this? I’m really really scared that I’ll have a torsion and maybe even lose my right ovary, I’m also terrified of surgery. Also scared for my fertility.
I really want kids If this has happened what happened to you? Did you need surgery or did it go away by itself? If you had surgery were you able to keep your ovary?

I had an 8cm simple cyst discovered on my 12 week scan whilst pregnant with dd1. At my 20 week scan it was still there so my consultant discussed options with me. I went for surgery and had it removed 10 months after dd1 was born.

They managed to remove the cyst and leave my ovary intact but losing the ovary was a possibility. I had to have a full laparotomy (horizontal cut similar to a csection cut) so recovery was tough for me, especially with a 10 month old to look after as well but everything healed fine and no further complications.

Poor you, it is scary, I remember it well. I had a 16cm cyst in my 20s before having children. It looked sinister and was growing rapidly so was taken out quickly. It was removed by laparotomy, and the ovary was saved. I've since had two children who were both conceived easily. Try to stay calm. I know its a worry for you but if they were concerned they would be acting much more quickly.

I had one (9cm) which was only discovered on an early 8 week scan when I was pregnant. It caused intermittent pain and when I was 30 weeks I was admitted to hospital due to torsion of the cyst. I can honestly say the pain was worse than labour, there was no mistaking it. It brought me to my knees and caused me to vomit, I couldn't keep even a slice of toast down. If I hadn't been pregnant they would have operated then and there but it was very risky in the 3rd trimester. So they had me wait out the pain to see if they could get away without surgery. And after 4 (very, very long) days it finally stopped. I was provisionally booked in for surgery on it for after my due date but as it happened I ended up having an emergency C-section and the consultant had the brainwave of removing it at the same time (which I was very grateful she though of in the middle of the night!).

I was convinced my ovary would have been irreparably damaged and removed after so many months of pain and the 4 days of severe torsion but they were able to save it! So there is every chance that they will be able to save yours too even if it does come to surgery.

Yep I had one which burst causing pain at the time. Had it removed 5 months later, had twisted my ovary so one was removed too at same time.
Was back at work in a week, walking a bit slow. They said one ovary was no issue (though I didn't want kids anyway)

I had one for years (discovered during second pregnancy). Eventually I did something about it by which time it was 17cm x 16cm x 12cm. Because I was 42 they did a total abdominal hysterectomy but I think that was very much due to the fact I already had my children. They took samples of lymph nodes and checked elm organs. Everything was fine.

I had a 10cm one - I was spotted in my first pregnancy (when it was 5cm) but nobody told me - though it was in my notes - and so it was only spotted when I was pregnant with DC2 and it had clearly grown.

Luckily, it seemed to shift out of the way sufficiently enough for the consultant to be satisfied I could have a HB. I had it removed when DS was about 9mo old via keyhole surgery.

I think it’s come back though

Oh and I kept my ovary!

Thank you all and I’m really sorry you went through it. The worry alone is hell.

I’m reassured in a weird way that the pain of torsion is so severe. Every cramp/twinge (I’ve had a few in the last 12hrs) is hell because I’m worried it’s something starting up but good to know it’s v severe pain.

I hope I don’t lose my right ovary but I’ll try to stay positive even if it comes to surgery and it can’t be saved, my left is very healthy apparently with no cysts.

@OhFFS162

Just to reassure you again, the torsion pain for me came on fast and was unmistakable compared to earlier cramps. I was in work feeling absolutely fine one minute and physically bent over double at my desk the next (my boss had to drive me to A&E, oh the shame ). You will 100% know if it's happening to you, get yourself to A&E if it happens. I managed to last 22 weeks from diagnosis to getting torsion and that was with a very active baby kicking the living daylights out of me so there is no reason to think you won't be absolutely fine until your next appointment

(Also when I mentioned to my consultant my worry about losing my left ovary she said "it just means the other works twice as hard!". No reason to think you won't be able to have kids).

I’ve still got mine
It’s about 8 Cm
All checked for cancer..it’s been 11 years now

I'm 4 weeks post op. I'm 42. had large cyst 13cm in length removed from 1 overy and 4 other 5cm from other overy along with a full abdominal hysterectomy and an Omenectomy. I was back in hospital 2 weeks post op with infection so recovery is slower than I expected. In addition to the horrendous pain I'm full swing into the menopause. I wouldnt wish this on anyone. My hubby has taken a month off to look after me as I've not even been able to get out of bed myself albeit down to the infection that developed. still on antibiotics 4 weeks after. Plenty of rest, poo softeners, fluids, and no lifting of any sort. Those huge V shaped pillows are good, due to the size of cyst I've been cut from hip to hip so the pillow gives some comfy relief. I made and froze lots of meals before hand too, a good diet is just as important. good luck x

When I was expecting DD2 I had a very large cyst that was taken out by keyhole surgery late in the second trimester. I was worried sick about miscarrying, but it was all fine and she was full term and healthy. I think my ovary was fine too, but I was so worried about the baby that I didn't really pay attention to those sort of details.

Luckily I didn't have any pain with my cyst and it was picked up on the scan.

I have one. It's larger than yours. It's been there at least 2 years. Due to previous operations and scar tissue, keyhole surgery to remove it failed but it doesn't look sinister, so it is being monitored by ultrasound every 6 months. There's been no change, so that should stop after the next scan. I do worry about it bursting sometimes, but apparently I am fairly low risk for that due to its position. With regard to fertility, you can get cysts with endometriosis (which I have), so I would ask about that.

It is really scary, and can be painful.

I had one that grew fast and got much bigger than this, and when they removed it they thought I would lose the ovary. But, I didn't, and just a couple of months after my poor butchered ovary was actually ovulating, too.

I felt so much better once it was gone! And visibly dropped a (generous) dress size.

Good luck with yours!

(The only thing I will say is, if you do have it removed, stay in if they suggest it! I had mine out on keyhole surgery but it was massive and when I came round they suggested I stay in overnight so they could keep me doped up on morphine. I went home instead as I had a 6 month old baby and was missing her, and I was literally shouting out in pain at intervals through the next 48 hours. Not good!).

Another one here with a good news story, I had one the size of a large grapefruit removed at 23.
Unfortunately this was after 18 months of being told by various GPs that it was impossible at my age/imaginary/wind/false pregnancy/being chubby. Although it was major abdominal surgery, I was back at work after 8 weeks, feeling about a million times better than when I had it. It had completely subsumed one of my ovaries but I managed to keep part of one ovary as well as the other one being intact, and I've conceived three times since then.

I had one in my 20s that was the same as a full term pregnancy. My ovary was shattered and had to be removed, but I've since had several children, all conceived really easily while in my 30s.