OVARIAN CYST

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After a scan showed two ovarian cysts , they now want to do an x-ray in 3 weeks time

One cyst is 5cm

Worried that this is serious

Anyone else had this ?

I have ovarian cysts due to endometriosis (chocolate cysts) currently I'm living with a 9cm one. They told me it was urgent and needed removing then left me on some waiting list and I've not heard anything for months almost a year so I'd say probably not. I had some cysts removed in 2019. I had one baby in 2013 but couldn't get pregnant again and by the time the cysts were removed my tube was fucked so if you want to get pregnant push for removal. Sorry if I sound a bit matter of fact.

I've had a couple of cysts over the years that have caused me issue - both of which ended up being removed via surgery. But those were very big and it was painful. An A&E type job with surgery the same day.

And I've had a few noted as an incidental finding on ultrasounds for my fertility treatment. They're fairly common and normally go away on their own!

Also, to add, the incidental ones that were seen all disappeared on their own. And they absolutely weren't the cause of requiring fertility treatment - I just don't happen to have a partner.

@teaandtoastwithmarmite

Thanks for replying
My two kids are 18 and 15 so defo no plans to have anymore
The treatment you have experience sounds awful 😞

@Olivia199 Thanks for replying

Yeah from what I’m reading cysts are alot more common than I realised

3 weeks ago I had surgery to remove a 10cm ovarian cyst. It was a dermoid cyst. I wouldn't be too worried, they're rarely serious. I was referred urgently to oncology for mine because it looked a bit suspicious on ultrasound, but it turned out to be benign. They nearly always are benign according to my gynecologist. If they were even slightly concerned they'd refer you under 2 week wait like they did with me.

I have, I was offered the options of watch and see if my cysts ‘turned nasty’ or having my ovaries removed. My MIL died at 38 from ovarian cancer. My elder son is a GP and so is his FIL both thought removing the ovaries I no longer needed was a good call. The operation was a doddle and I’m happy to get rid of any risk.

I've had them removed twice - the first 7cm one was found during a pregnancy scan and was liquid filled so it was surprising the baby didn't burst it tbh. It was removed almost a year after I gave birth and never bothered me pain wise.

My second one I had removed just over a year ago and that was painful every day, which was really annoying. I ended up going private via work to have it removed as the waiting list to see a gynae (let alone actually have the surgery) was 6 months. That one was a 'more complex' cyst, needed a referral to oncology and was about 8cm by the time it was removed. It was benign, as most ovarian cysts are.

If you have private health via work I would highly recommend using it as gynae waiting lists are horrific in most postcodes at the moment. But also try not to worry, 5cm only just pushes you over the threshold for treatment.

Have you had any side effects from having your ovaries removed? I'm curious as I expect I have yet another cyst and frankly don't much fancy having to have an operation every few years if they keep coming back (always the same side too!).

@BrioLover

My hubbie has private family health care through work so going to phone them tomorrow

Think I’m more worried why it’s an x-ray doesn’t seem to be the norm

Thanks for your advice

Hiya, I had an ovarian cyst when I was a teenager - I think part of polycystic ovaries (though I've never had another one since, and I've had 2 kids since then!). Mine was painful, and at one point I was hospitalised due to pain (I think it had twisted or something) while waiting for the surgery to remove it. When I eventually did have it removed, possibly a few weeks later - it was 10cm!
I was only 15 at the time so I imagine that was quite big for a teenager - but it was all fine! Hope they can remove them for you x

@Daisythecat15

Thanks for your reassurance

Hope your doing well

I am thank you. Recovering well!

Also if it helps, I had an MRI of mine after the ultrasound. I'm not sure why they've chosen x ray instead for yours, but I think it's common to have extra scans so they can get a proper look at the cyst. Ultrasound is not as sensitive. Try not to worry.

@Bluebirds1987

Thanks for your positive words

When I was 20 I had fertility issues but went on too have two kids

It’s an ultra sound i’m getting not an x-ray
Didnt read the letter correctly
I go to the x-ray department

An ultrasound showed I have one 3cm cyst on one ovary and two endometrioma just over 3cm each on the other ovary. I’ve been referred to gynae and just had an MRI to have another look at everything!

The radiographer who did my ultrasound said gynae don’t usually bother doing anything for 3cm and under.

@Christmascracker0

Done a lot of googling tonight which I know I shouldn’t have
Think it’s because mine is 5cm which is borderline for surgery or not

Ah that's totally normal then. Probably you will have the ultrasound and then be referred to gynecology and they will decide if they want to remove it. If it's a dermoid they might, if it's a simple cyst they might leave it alone and recheck it in a few months.

Yes ultrasound is perfectly normal. It will probably be an internal one, just to warn you. When I went private they doubled down and did an MRI too but I think that was because it was a complex cyst.

Fingers crossed you can go private and get it sorted sooner. I felt weirdly guilty about it initially and then my GP kindly pointed out it meant one less woman on the NHS waiting list!

Ten years ago I had a 10cm x 6cm cyst on my left ovary. They weren’t sure what it was from the ultrasound scan and MRI. They decided to remove it and I also had a full hysterectomy. It was cancerous. At the time my GP told me that if it was cancer, I was far better off staying in the NHS.

I have the same ,it's 8cm and waiting to go in for surgery, it's been put down as urgent so don't know when that will be, I've had my pre op assessment. Can I ask what your recovery was like please? Was it keyhole? I've been told it's unlikely they will be able to do it by keyhole due to the size of it . Bit worried about the pain afterwards, I had keyhole in the twenties but that was 30 years ago!

OP, don't panic, if there was any worry you'd be referred very quickly, I was seen on the 2 week pathway.

Hi, yes of course. Mine was open surgery as the cyst was too big for keyhole, I had a midline incision so straight down from my bellybutton. Recovery wasn't as bad as I expected honestly, I wasn't in that much pain. I stayed in hospital 2 nights. I woke up with a morphine pump attached which apparently they usually do for a big surgery like this. I used it a few times straight after I woke up and it really helped the pain, but then I didn't need it again. I would rate my pain after that as no more than 3/10 to be honest, and within a week I was basically pain free, except it did hurt when getting out of bed/sitting up etc. I stopped taking any painkillers after 5 or 6 days. I did need a lot of help the first few days with things like getting dressed/meals/washing etc.

Be prepared to wake up with a catheter in, I had one for the first night. It didn't cause me any problems and wasn't painful, but just so you're prepared they might give you one. I also had to have blood thinning injections for 10 days after surgery, injected into my tummy. After leaving hospital I had to do these myself! Which I didn't find too awful honestly, but apparently is standard practice for open abdominal surgery.

I'm now at nearly 4 weeks post op and am doing pretty well. My incision is healed and fatigue is lifting 🙂 good luck with yours! Happy to answer any more questions if you have any x

Sorry for highjacking your thread OP!

Thanks so much for the info. I've been told I will have a catheter ,had one before so not bothered about that. Also I will be on blood thinners do you an existing problem, I'm able to do them myself though.

Can I ask how big the incision was please?

Glad you're on the mend now 😊

Sorry, OP, hope some of this might be useful!

Do you know what kind of cyst you have op??

No existing health issues, they just gave me blood thinners because open surgery is a risk for blood clots. I'm still wearing compression socks, they told me to wear them for 6 weeks. Can't wait to take them off!!

The incision goes from right below my belly button to the very top of my pubic area, so fairly large. I had dissolvable stitches so it's quite neat though.

Hope you get your surgery too! Not having bladder issues any more is SUCH a relief.