Ruptured ovarian cyst not showing on scan

[Pelvicpaininthebum]

I've been having severe pain attacks (during my period but they only last an hour or two) on most periods over the last 7 months.

The last one was on Friday night. When I mean severe I could barely breathe or move. The pain was like being in labour. It went from a 1/2 level of pain to a 10 in about 5 seconds.

I've been thinking I may have been having ovarian cyst ruptures and after the pain Friday have had a very tender distended tummy which seemed to fit with this so in desperation in wanting to know what's happening to me I booked a private scan yesterday.

The sonographer found a 7cm ovarian cyst on my right ovary and a thick uterus lining (11mm). He said the cyst could cause the pain I've been having but surely this wouldn't just be for such a short attack of pain.

He said there was no sign of a rupture.

My AIBU is - could there still have been a rupture but this not been visible on the scan? Could a rupture have been behind the 7cm cyst?

YABU - there was no rupture.

YANBU - there could have been a rupture.

Thank you!!

Wow it seems like you were lucky looking at other people's experiences here! How long did you have to wait for the surgery??

A chocolate cyst is endometriosis, surprised they didn't explain this. The pain may or may not be the cyst, pain like this is common with endometriosis regardless of whether there's a cyst or not. Have you been referred to gynae?

I take lots of pain relief, heat pads, TENS machine, have adjustments at work to take time to let the medication kick in
when its really bad I go off sick for a couple of hours

I think it's mad you've had to wait so long for treatment. This is awful.

Yes he said it indicates endometriosis. I'm used to dealing with painful periods but the pain I'm talking about is another level - so sudden and severe, then eases back to normal level after a time - that's why I thought it had to be something else going on like a rupture.

I've googled torsion following the answers on this thread and it definitely sounds like it could be that.

Thanks for all the answers. I've got a practitioner from my GP surgery calling back this afternoon and now I know to ask about torsion.

I would describe the pain I get as someone stabbing and twisting my ovary, I feel faint with it and often yelling in pain. Sometimes it feels like I want to stab my ovary just to relieve pain which probably sounds weird
being on all fours helps a little

I'm thinking of asking to go on the mini pill. I have spotting before periods and a thickened endometrial layer which suggests low progesterone. It looks like estrogen dominance can make endometriosis symptoms worse. The mini pill can stop or reduce periods and pain.

Have you ever tried this?

I haven’t, but I don’t get on with hormones at all

I had the pain you describe, starting in my early 20s. I was eventually diagnosed with severe endometriosis. Years of internal bleeding from the endometrial tissue dotted around me abdomen caused extensive adhesions and scarring on my bowel and bladder. I also developed scarring around the sciatic nerve and had chronic problems with sciatica.
I had multiple surgeries since it affected daily life and fertility. Once I had my DS I had a Mirena coil fitted and my life was transformed.

I’m now post menopausal and life is so much better without hormones. Although my bladder is knackered. The nerve damage from endo lesions mean that I suffer with urine retention and I can’t always feel when my bladder is full. I don’t have incontinence issues as such but because my bladder has to be very full for me to feel it can be a problem.

Chocolate cysts are an indicator that you have endometriosis which is not detectable on a scan or MRI. I would make a list of all your symptoms when you see your GP, so you don’t forget to mention anything. Endometrial lesions can be all over the place and the pain can refer. I used to get a pain in my liver area when I lay on my right side, it went when I rolled onto my left side. It was due to adhesions tethering my left ovary to my abdominal wall. I had to stop running because of it since the constant movement caused tension.

A large cyst can also put pressure on the sciatic nerve. I had a large fibroid that cause severe sciatica. I was on HRT which had caused it to grow rapidly, once I stopped the HRT it shrank and the sciatica disappeared.

Me too, I was on the combined pill in my 20s and it made me crazy. I'm hoping it may be different this time just with progesterone as if it's low it will just pull me up to normal levels maybe. I'm 40.

They are fitting a mirena for me on Thursday so I’ll see how I get on (I’m 41)

Ah interesting. I've read about that and looks good. Lower dose of progesterone and because of where it is it's more targeted and doesn't affect the whole body. The mini pill would have more effects but I'm thinking if it doesn't agree with me I can just stop taking it.

Good luck!