How to cope with ovarian cyst for 6 months?

[NiceToesNaughtyToes]

After several months of intermittent (and worsening) pain in my lower right abdomen, I was finally scanned yesterday and have been diagnosed with a dermoid cyst in my right ovary.

I'm currently 12 weeks pregnant, so the consultant I spoke to said, unless the pain becomes unbearable, there's not a lot that can be done. He will reconsider operating once the baby is born, but for now I have a check up booked with a specialist at the end of January and have been told to take paracetamol when needed.

Sorry for the waffling! What I'm wondering is if anyone has had experience of an ovarian cyst? Does anyone have any suggestions for coping with it for the next 6 or so months.

It's like toothache; it's constantly throbbing and aching away. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Poor you. I'm currently 30 weeks pregnant, and had an ovarian cyst diagnosed a month ago. So far I've been in hospital three times with the pain, and am now just lying here stoned on tramadol, unable to move. Like you, I have been told that "unless the pain becomes unbearable" they cannot operate until after the baby arrives. The problem with that, in my recent experience, is that "unbearableness" is a very subjective thing, and that doctors like to decide on behalf of their patients what constitutes unbearableness - I was told by one (male) gynae consultant that despite screaming and vomiting in pain and despite needing two doses of diamorphine, my pain wasn't yet bad enough for them to operate. My personal preference is to wait if at all possible (the main risk of the surgery during pregnancy being preterm labour, and I really don't want that due to my own health issues related to my own premature birth) but it does seem that ovarian cyst removal is a relatively safe and straightforward procedure to carry out during the second trimester.

Sorry for the waffling essay (as I said, I am lying here in shit-loads of pain all fizzled from tramadol) but if I were to give you any advice... decide what you want, and assert yourself to advocate for what you want. It seems like its such a medically contentious area that, if you want the cyst removed now, you could. And if you want to and can't get your current consultant to agree, you should be able to ask your midwife or GP to refer you to a different gynae surgeon.

And yes, you asked for advice on coping in the meantime. I'd be really interested in hearing what others on here might suggest. One obstetric consultant I saw (who was willing to remove the cyst for me if I wanted, and was very sympathetic to the pain) told me to sit/lie down as much as possible, on the theory that exercise might cause spasm/torsion/rupture. I have been trying that (though I have two DCs already, so it's not ideal!) and I think it does help a little.

I developed an ovarian cyst upon conceiving and was in pain with it for beyond the first trimester. For me the pain was similar to bad period pain and was intermittent, so was definately bearable.

By the time I have birth it had compketely healed itself and I was fully well again. 2+ on from giving birth (and about 3y from the cyst first developing) and I've never been bothered by it since.

Oh crikey Matilda, you sound like you're going through the wars with it Thank you for taking the time to reply.

Sorry to hear your pain meds aren't helping. I'm allergic to codeine, so the consultant gave me an exaggerated shrug and told me to keep up with the paracetamol when needed.... which would be fab IF it actually made a dent in the pain.

I'm finding lying on the sore side with my legs curled up and a pillow under my stomach helps a little bit, but I'm not sure how long term a solution it is!!

I have fibromyalgia too, so when the throbbing starts, it radiates through my right hip and down my right thigh too. Needless to say, there have been a lot of tears recently!

Really hope the next 10 weeks fly by for you and you get it sorted out! I can almost imagine the relief of not having the pain! If you need a chat or a moan, feel free any time! Hang in there!!xx

I also have a 4 year old, so totally empathise with the having to run around after little ones! I think I'm just in shock af how horrific it is... and the possibility it can get worse!

You need to make friends with people with endometriosis so you can have a big moan and a hand hold.

I totally sympathise about the pain - you're right, it's just so constant. Try to focus on happier things (like your pregnancy) and just generally try to keep your mind off it as much as possible (easier said than done know).

Have you tried a TENS machine? (Not a labour one, just a normal one - although maybe you could use a labour one on a low setting?)

Sadly, I can't use a tens machine due to other health issues. But NiceToes, sounds like maybe an option for you? Paracetamol has its uses, but for this level of pain will surely be wholly inadequate. Are you allergic to all opiates, then? If not, the consultant should surely be able to offer alternatives to codeine?

I had reiki this morning from one of DH's friends. Pain free for now, and hoping it lasts a while. I've spoken to the MW too, who was very kind. I have a consultant appointment for something else next week, and she has agreed to help me raise the question of pain and of the inconsistencies and mixed messages then.

I had an ovarian cyst spotted on my 12 week scan. It was 10 cm x 10 cm. They removed it when I was 17 weeks pregnant. All was fine, although I was terrified!

@autumnchat That must have been frightening! Were you in a lot of pain?

No I didn't have any pain at all. It was just quite large and the fallopian tube was wrapped all around it so they advised to have it removed.

Autumn, I can imagine that was very frightening for you. Did you ask to have it removed or did a doctor recommend having it taken out? Glad all went well!!

I've just been for my 12 week scan and the sonographer has found a larger cyst in my left ovary Although it doesn't hurt at all, unlike the right side. I wonder what dictates whether they're painful or not?

Yes I wonder too.. it doesn't seem to make sense at all. I've just been released from hospital after a day and night and day of yet more excruciating pain. The doctors are now telling me that it mightn't even be the cyst, because cyst is too small to be so painful. They seems baffled too.

They advised I had it removed at the best time in pregnancy rather than at a not so good time as an emergency. I went for a second opinion who agreed that I didn't have to but he would advise I did. Because of the size I think. The type I had was related to pregnancy and growing quickly with the pregnancy hormones.
They had to operate with open abdominal surgery rather than laparoscopy so that they could operate outside my body, away from the baby. The worst part was waiting a couple of weeks for a scan afterwards to check baby was OK although I did hear the heartbeat the day after surgery.
But he's 17 now and just gone off to work and I've had two more babies since.
Hope everything goes well for you.