Ovarian cysts:- Any advice please

[ChanelNo5]

Hi I'm seeking your advice on behalf of my sister. Since just after Christmas she has felt pain in one side of her lower abdomen close to her hip. About Feb time it started to get worse so she saw GP at her practice and was told it was some sort of hip pain and referred for a few sessions of physio which he thought would help. However, about 3 weeks ago the pain started getting worse and around mid-cycle time she said it was agonising (she could also feel a swelling about the size of an egg by this time). She saw a different GP yesterday who thinks that it is actually an ovarian cyst and she is being sent for a scan on the 22nd. She says that the cyst becomes less or more painful at different times in her cycle but doesn't know if this is a good or bad thing. Also the GP wasn't especially reassuring so now she is worrying herself sick that it is something much worse than just a cyst. If anyone has experienced anything like this or has any advice or info, my sis and me would love to hear from you. Thanks!

I had an ovarian cyst 10 years ago and the pain does get worse during the middle of the cycle (ie when ovulating). When they removed my cyst they said it was as large as a melon so if your sister's cyst is that big its not surprising she can feel it. Trouble is if her GP is a male then they tend to consider things like this as women's things and unless they have actually worked in gynae they don't have a clue. I would tell your sister not to worry too much about it being something worse as cysts do tend to be very painful and especially mid cycle. Just one thing though if she goes in to have it out tell her to ask for proper stitches and not staples as when you've got a row of staple across your stomach it hurts like hell and they're not particularly pleasant to have out IMO. Hope she gets it sorted soon.

Thanks Selja, I'll pass on your info to my sister. I'm sure she'll really appreciate it.

Hi, I had two ovarian cysts removed about 8 yrs ago - both the size of oranges, one on each side. It was fine. Mine were agony all the time - terrible lower back pain, bursts of sharp, shooting pains in my abdomen, and, yes, it got worse mid-cycle. I kept seeing complete charlatans like osteopaths until I got a proper diagnosis! The op was straightforward (I had two actually, one laparoscapy, where they look inside you with a camera on a long tube, and a separate op under general anaesthetic to remove), I loved the time off work! I had staples and found them no trouble at all and painless on removal. I heard all sorts of stuff about no lifting/driving for six weeks but after a few days of being bent double and having strong painkillers I was fine in two, and back to work in three (after a week's malingering). The pain immediately vanished and never came back. Cysts are very common, and cancer, which is what I presume your sister is worried about, is incredibly rare in women under 50. Just get 'em out, and she'll feel fine. Oh, and it didn't damage my ovaries at all. I conceived easily some years later. Good luck.

Thanks Wells. Yes I think she is worried that it's cancer so will feel much better to hear that her symptoms are like yours were. She's not concerned about the fertility aspect as she has 2 kids and has completed her family, so at least that's one less thing for her to worry about.