Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I’m so so frightened

151 replies

INEEDAWEEAGAIN · 13/02/2023 13:27

Posting for traffic I need some positive experiences if any..

I suffer with horrific health anxiety, I pay privately for therapy. All my life on and off I’ve had a weird pelvic pressure but it goes away the same day this time I got it and began panicking over it as it felt worse. Then the past week I’ve been needing to wee all the time. A weird feeling down below. I had some antibiotics but felt they wasn’t working.

Saturday I stupidly booked an ultrasound to check everything was okay and they’ve found a cyst in my right ovarie and I have bulky ovaries. He said he can’t tell me if it’s cancer or not and I’m worried sick.

I’m absolutely devastated I have a little girl and we are each other’s world. I can’t bear it, I feel like I’ve been handed my death sentence 😭😭😭😭

OP posts:
WhatInFreshHell · 13/02/2023 13:30

An ovarian cyst doesn't mean cancer OP...I've got cysts on my ovaries, it can be quite normal for a lot of women.

DelphiniumBlue · 13/02/2023 13:45

You weren't stupid to book a scan if you suspected something was wrong, that was a good move.
Presumably the person doing the scan has given you a report and a copy of the scan? Take it to your GP, tell them you are worried it might be cancer and take it from there.
Of course it is worrying but you have taken the right steps . So pleased you are not ignoring your body giving you signs that something is not quite right, hopefully you can get seen quickly and get a definitive diagnosis ASAP.

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 13/02/2023 13:47

Ovarian cysts are surprisingly common, and given you said you have had these symptoms on and off all your life, the chances of it being cancer are minimal.

Go see your GP, get put on the 2 week referral and get on with your life.

Rebellious23 · 13/02/2023 13:48

I had exactly the same symptoms with a cyst
Scanned again 2 weeks later and the cyst had gone, all normal

Dotjones · 13/02/2023 13:50

Try to think of it this way, the sooner you are aware of something the sooner you can get treatment and the better the likelihood of a good outcome.

Littleloveydovey · 13/02/2023 13:55

Gosh you poor thing, hypochondria is so hard to live with, and also very hard to treat, but I think it worth speaking to your doctor again to get help. For you and your child’s sake. Because what you have to accept is the cyst isn’t the issue, you are unwell, but with hypochondria

ovarian cysts are very common and most go away within a few months without treatment. As said, it’s the mental health you need to focus on.

Kentlassie · 13/02/2023 13:59

Ovarian cysts are really really common. I only realised I had 3 when I was ttc. Hope you get some answers from your GP.

Angelofthenortheast · 13/02/2023 14:00

I don't think the person doing the ultrasound can tell what it is, it has to be analysed by someone else, so that's the only reason they told you they can't tell you if it's cancer or not.

If it helps with your worry - I had the same things going on years ago, alongside raised pelvic lymphnodes. Symptoms eventually went away after a few months (although they come and go now and then every year or so) and nothing was diagnosed. I'm OK.

So1invictus · 13/02/2023 14:05

Oh bless you. Flowers I agree with pp that the fact you've had these kind of symptoms all your life is probably a good thing and means it's less likely to be something awful.

Littleloveydovey · 13/02/2023 14:16

I think what concerns me is you write you booked an ultrasound like it was a totally normal thing to do. Which leads me to believe you get private testing done on the regular. It wouldn’t occur to me or anyone I know to book an ultra sound in this scenario, You also clearly have been to your doctor about it, as you are on anti biotics.

hypochondria/health anxiety can be linked to ocd. As said it is very hard for doctors to treat but it is treatable, and I really think worth a visit to discuss your mental health.

as the honest truth is ovarian cysts are very common. They mainly go away without treatment, and quickly, You may not even need the anti biotics you are on, as nothing is wrong with you. That’s why they are not working. So it is best to focus on the root cause of the issue, your mental health, and go from there.

CharlotteRose90 · 13/02/2023 14:43

I get cysts on my ovary every month and i also have bulky lining and ovaries. It’s not cancer. In my case it’s called adenomyosis which is similar to endometriosis. If the cyst isn’t painful they’ll look at it again in the future. In the meantime I suggest you go back to the therapy for more as it’s clearly not working. Health anxiety is awful but you can’t let it rule your life.

Original poster
INEEDAWEEAGAIN · 13/02/2023 15:09

Thank you everyone. Im honestly so so frightened.

i do have the constant feeling of needing a wee. I know I’m not well mentally, but this has really really frightened me

OP posts:
Alexandernevermind · 13/02/2023 15:13

I think you should be proud of yourself for getting it checked out so quickly. If its is the worst case scenario then the sooner found the easier it is to get rid of. It's more likely than not to be something mundane and treatable quickly and easily. Hang on in there.

Emmamoo89 · 13/02/2023 15:18

Littleloveydovey · 13/02/2023 13:55

Gosh you poor thing, hypochondria is so hard to live with, and also very hard to treat, but I think it worth speaking to your doctor again to get help. For you and your child’s sake. Because what you have to accept is the cyst isn’t the issue, you are unwell, but with hypochondria

ovarian cysts are very common and most go away within a few months without treatment. As said, it’s the mental health you need to focus on.

You sound so patronising

Original poster
INEEDAWEEAGAIN · 13/02/2023 16:15

I don’t get private testing done regular, this was my second. First being a smear as it was my first.

the worst thing with health anxiety is getting a symptom or an illness and not knowing what’s real or not because our mind begins playing tricks on us.

anyways, I’ve been referred to gynaecologist under the 2 week referral. The Dr doesn’t think it’s anything to worry about but we can’t be sure.

OP posts:
SaltedButty · 13/02/2023 16:50

Just to point out, when the scanner said he can't tell you if it's cancer or not, was this information volunteered by him or was it in response to you asking him if it was cancer.

I think that makes a big difference here

SaltedButty · 13/02/2023 16:51

I would strongly suggest speaking to your GP about your health anxiety. I suffered for years and it was horrific. I am on a low dose of Citalopram now and it's changed my life.

Crumpledstilstkin · 13/02/2023 17:10

I've done the two week pathway multiple times for this. It's always scary, even after the first time when I knew why it was happening! Totally normal to freak out.

Have you had a ca125 test? It's not that reliable but can give a bit of a steer.

Family members who have had cysts all had hysterectomies and were absolutely fine after they recovered from the op so even if it's a big cyst it is by no means a death sentence.

Justmeandthedog1 · 13/02/2023 17:19

I had a scan nearly 40 years ago , booked privately because there was a wait, when drs thought I had a kidney problem. Nothing wrong with my kidneys, person who did the scan said I had a cyst on one ovary. No symptoms, nothing done about it, I can only assume it went away. They’re very common, apparently and most people have no idea they have them.

mauvish · 13/02/2023 17:24

OP, I really hope that your cyst is as benign as the vast majority of cysts are.

Just to give you something to hold on to though ---

I had early ovarian cancer which caused me some major urinary symptoms (that's how it was picked up). I had surgery; I didn't need any other treatment. That was more than 10 years ago now, and I've stayed well.

The chances of an ovarian cyst being cancer are very low, but I thought maybe it would help you hear a real-life story that turned out OK? Hope so.

TheWonderhorse · 13/02/2023 17:35

I think you're allowed to be anxious at this point, don't be persuaded you're being silly. You will be seen quickly though and the chances are great that it's nothing to worry about. You need to get through the two weeks however you need and then enjoy the relief on the other side.

OP as an aside, have you tried the Dare approach to anxiety? Have a look, I'm finding it a game changer 🙂.

Abreezeitheglade · 13/02/2023 17:41

Have you had the blood test yet? If they have any concerns it’s what they usually do first. CA-125 it’s called.

Original poster
INEEDAWEEAGAIN · 13/02/2023 17:42

mauvish · 13/02/2023 17:24

OP, I really hope that your cyst is as benign as the vast majority of cysts are.

Just to give you something to hold on to though ---

I had early ovarian cancer which caused me some major urinary symptoms (that's how it was picked up). I had surgery; I didn't need any other treatment. That was more than 10 years ago now, and I've stayed well.

The chances of an ovarian cyst being cancer are very low, but I thought maybe it would help you hear a real-life story that turned out OK? Hope so.

I’m sorry that you had it but honestly that’s the last thing I needed to read 😢 now I’ve completely convinced myself I have it.

OP posts:
user1471538283 · 13/02/2023 17:43

I think it's great that you are tackling it head on!

Lots of women have cysts on their ovaries and in their breasts. You can get treatment and see what it is.

The needing a wee thing could be anxiety. I get like that sometimes. I also get low level water infections when I'm upset so it could be that.

I know it's scary. I hope it is ok.

JustDanceAddict · 13/02/2023 17:44

Health anxiety is awful, I have it too, but it’s good you booked a scan and now you can act on it. Tell your GP & they will follow up / you can have a blood test for ovarian cancer - I had one last year as had bleeding, but it was something else non cancerous that they saw on an nhs scan.
I also had a private ultrasound for something else - it was worth it for peace of mind.
im also on waiting list for cbt, def advise to get some help for the anxiety. Good luck!

Swipe left for the next trending thread