Ovarian cyst pain and waiting, waiting.

[GeorgianMumto5]

Please could thou help me to get some perspective on this? I have had very heavy periods for at least two years now, which my gp treated with various contraceptives, none of which really solved the whole problem. I was anaemic for 6 months last year.

In January I went to see another gp, who said she'd refer me for a pelvic ultrasound, as I had decidedly odd bleeding,and pain on one side. Unfortunately she forgot to refer me, but I called back and she did it again. So in March I had my scan, which showed an 8cm cyst on one ovary. Was advised to see the gp, but she had a long waiting list, so I saw a different one. She said it looks like a chocolate cyst or endometrioma and put me forward for a gynae referral and now I've got an appointment for the end of June. The gynae will presumably say, 'Ooh, that's a big cyst. Let's remove it.' (Seems to be the standard response.) Then I will have to wait for the actual op.

In the meantime, I am in a lot of pain. I've bought a walking stick, so I can go out and about with the DC, do my job, etc. I get intermittent vertigo and nausea. (I also have an ear problem, so this could be linked to that instead.) I bleed (very lightly) almost all the time. I'm fed up. I'm fed up with the pain, with people seeing the stick and asking, 'Ooh, what've you been doing?', with dd saying its embarrassing seeing me with a stick (and with thinking, if she feels like that, my parenting is somehow out of whack), with it limiting what I can do, how far I drive (it's my 'clutch pedal leg), with no sex...

Here's where I need some perspective: is all this waiting getting too much or should I just put up and wait patiently? The pain and other symptoms are finite - it will get sorted out eventually - but they are starting to get me down.

Would you shut up and wait, or call and ask if there are any earlier appointments?

Ha - you, not thou. I am not some Tudor maiden. Thanks, autocorrect.

Shameless bump.

I would call.

Don't automatically assume that they will remove it surgically though. I have PCOS and Endo and had an Endometrioma of a similar size and rather than operate I had monthly implants in my stomach to induce temporary menopause.

This course of treatment removes the hormones that Endo needs to grow and without them it shrivels up and disappears. It is a long process, I had monthly implants for six months and it's not pleasant as you get all the side effects of menopause but it's very effective, and unlike surgery it clears ALL Endo in your body, which in turn clears all Endo pain and symptoms.

I remember the sheer agony of my Endometrioma but also the agony of the other 'normal' Endo. If I hadn't had the implants the 'normal' Endo would still have been there causing me severe pain.

My point is there are other options to surgery. I was TTC at the time (with treatment) and the thought of six months deliberately rendering myself totally infertile was devastating but the fact was that Endo can add to infertility and my chances of conception were increased by killing off the Endo. I was pregnant (with assistance) six months after my last implant.

I'd go back to the GP, you need effective pain relief at the very least.

Also call the secretary of the gyne Dr, tell her (may be a him but rare), that you would like to be seen sooner, that you can come in at short notice so if anyone cancels can she let you know.

Also chronic pain can cause depression, maybe something to make you feel a bit better from the GP will help you.

I'm in a similar situation but am on a 5 month waiting list for endo surgery which involves my bowel. The pain is miserable, but it's not treated as life threatening so they rarely bump you up.

One exception is if you bleed from your back passage or collapse from extreme pain (usually means the cyst has burst) or if they think it could be cancerous (from what you describe it doesn't sound it).

Waiting lists suck, you could try ringing for an earlier appointment, no harm in asking.

I have / had 2 massive endometriomas and was told I was too heavy for surgery. Had a Mirena put in, which promptly came out (weird cervix) then was switched to the Depo jab. Just had a scan and it appears my endometriomas have shrunk down to nothing, so there are non surgical options available if it gets desperate.

However, the trouble with endo us that it needs to be visible, and stuff like the drugs coola has been on, and to some extent the Depo, is that it causes the endo to wither and shrink down so may be invisible during a laparoscopy. As this is the only standard way to diagnose endo for sure I think a gynae is unlikely to stick you on those without a firm confirmation (and if they try I would push for a lap first, to be sure).

I would call the gynae's secretary and see how things are progressing. If you can, ask if you could get a cancellation - these can be super short notice but can be really speedy too and may be worth it if you can manage it.

The pain relief I had was prescription co-dydramol and Buscopan. Found the Buscopan a god send - really helped loads. The painkillers were too strong for the day so managed on otc co-codamol which took the edge off. Also keep an eye on diet, found the drugs banged me up a bit but the big aggravaters were high fibre foods, my bowel is involved with my endo but the pressure from the cysts really flared it up.

Take it as steady as you can, hope you get some relief soon.

Thanks. Have to watch what I eat anyway as am milk, soya and gluten-intolerant. Had all my babies and this is the first and only 'endo' thing I've had, so hopefully they'll just get rid of it.

Can't have depo, owing to a blood-clotting disdorder.

Thanks for the advice - much appreciated. I'll call the secretary & ask for a cancellation, if one comes up. I can go in at fairly short notice, so that might be ideal.