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Original poster

If you've had an ovarian cyst...

22 replies

becstarlitsea · 08/02/2010 09:59

My GP thinks it might be the cause of the constant tummy ache I've had for the past couple of months, and I'm booked in for a scan on Thursday. I was just wondering about other people's experience of this - in particular I feel really ill, tired, dizzy, keep getting the shakes, and keep fainting - did you have these symptoms?

The GP said that cysts are often symptomless, and gave me a hard stare as if to say 'so stop whingeing as most people don't complain about them at all'. And then told me 'you know, you're really not very ill'. Which is all very well for her to say but I still keep fainting, I've been in pain for months, and it's worrying me a bit.

If you've had a cyst did you feel tired and dizzy (like extreme post-viral type tired)? And what happened?

OP posts:

FromGirders · 08/02/2010 10:10

Mine (about 20 years ago) was completely symptomless until it burst, which is like a burst appendix, and not particularly trivial, so your GP is being rather dismissive. Not meaning to worry you more, sorry. I'm sure you'll get better advice at your scan.
At least you know about it, and are getting it looked at, so good on you for not ignoring it.

MadameCastafiore · 08/02/2010 10:18

I had one that burst just after Christmas this year and I have to say I would rather have a child without pain relief and my tonsils out at the same time - was horrific and can be very very dangerous.

I passed out from the pain and kept vomiting because it just hurt so much - I didn't think I could have actually carried on conscious and think my bodies way of helping was making me pass out or I would have gone mad it hurt so much.

For a couple of weeks beforehand felt sick, bloated and sore and tired (but I am constantly tired so nothing new there) but put it down to reaction to antib's.

Original poster

becstarlitsea · 08/02/2010 10:52

Thank you - it doesn't sound much like what I've got so far... I'm not fainting from the pain - it's more like in the past when I've fainted from heat exhaustion or after giving blood. My vision goes dark and then I come around a few minutes later on the floor. The tiredness is of the 'can't stand up' variety - it comes over me every now and then and I've had to sit on the pavement a few times because I just can't get my legs to work. The pain isn't agony, but it's just a bit wearing to have it constantly for so long.

I feel a bit distrustful as my GP clearly wasn't listening to me. She initially diagnosed it as ovulation pain and started explaining how the ovaries work to me and I had to interrupt and say 'But surely I wouldn't be ovulating every hour of every day continuously for two months?' She just hadn't listened when I'd said how long I'd had the pain for. Hopefully the scan will show whatever it is anyway. I just hope I get better soon - poor old DS is fed up with me saying that I can't do anything.

OP posts:

ArcticRoll · 08/02/2010 11:21

I was diagnosed with ovarian cyst over Xmas-my symptoms were different-acute pain as they had twisted around. I also felt very bloated.
I had the cyst removed last week by general anathestic.
I had been to GP last Feb with pain in stomach and bloating - GP was not particular sympthathetic but looking back I would have had cyst then as consultant said it would have been growing for months-so my advice is if you feel something's not right insist on further tests.

ArcticRoll · 08/02/2010 11:27

Forgot to add that the A and E doctor misdiagnosed it initially and sent me home telling me to take laxatives then had phone call from another consultant telling me to come straight back in as had seen large cyst on ct scan which other doctor had not seen!
By the way I had viral lyrinthitus (sp) a few years back and s0me of the symptoms sound similar to waht you'r experiencing.

MadameCastafiore · 08/02/2010 11:31

No what you have doesn't sound like a cyst but I would go along for the scan anyway to be sure then you can rule that out and demand more.

Original poster

becstarlitsea · 08/02/2010 12:14

Thanks all - yes, I'll definitely go for the scan. Hopefully whatever is causing the pain will show up on it. I think I'll feel much less worried when I have a diagnosis that makes sense to me. Hope you are recovering well from the op ArticRoll - glad that second doctor took a look at your ct!

OP posts:

PerArduaAdNauseum · 08/02/2010 12:18

Get another GP. Seriously. I had a symptomless cyst when I was pregnant with DS - at one point it was growing faster than he was - then another more painful one later on. But the tiredness, shakiness and fainting sound like something else - get it checked properly?

purple12 · 08/02/2010 20:58

I think cysts can present in lots of different ways. I was just diagnosed with a dermoid cyst last week which is going to need surgery to remove. Have been getting generalised abdominal pain, lower back pain and irregular periods (usually I had been very regular).
I haven't had much acute pain - it's more dull kind of pain. But it still doesn't sound too much like what you are describing..

Kathyjelly · 09/02/2010 09:26

I had general abdo pain & bloating for eight months which got worse and worse. My GP kept telling me I had irritable bowl & to stop making a fuss. Didn't offer me a scan or anything.

Finally I woke up in such agony, I dragged myself to A&E at 4am & fainted in their triage room. Came round next day after having a dermoid cyst, an ovary and a fallopian tube removed.

Dermoids can twist & cause tissue around them to die or to get infected which hurts like hell but can also cause headaches and dizziness.

So go for the scan which I guess is an ultrasound of ovaries and tubes. At least you'll have crossed one thing off the list of possibilities and your GP will have to look for something else.

Kathyjelly · 09/02/2010 09:27

Or even irritable bowel!

Original poster

becstarlitsea · 09/02/2010 10:30

Thank you purple12 and Kathyjelly - that has really helped me. Am now a bit reassured that the scan will spot it whatever it is. Sorry that happened to you Kathyjelly - your GP sounds a bit like mine... But at least mine is sending me for a scan.So I guess I'm lucky that I'm getting checked out now.

Am on brink of persuading DH that we should TTC a second baby. After my two year full-on PR campaign to bring him around, I'd be gutted to be let down by my own flippin' ovaries just as I've got him saying 'maybe'!

OP posts:

Polynomial · 09/02/2010 11:00

I had 15 years worth of IBS symptoms and pain...I was never offered a scan, one new GP said it must be due to moving to a new area and different water type(!). I just gave up in the end.

After a miscarriage at 8 weeks I had a scan and was diagnosed with a 9 cm dermoid cyst. Eventually the cyst, ovary, fallopian tube and part of the other ovary were removed (more cysts).

Be prepared for the trans-vaginal scan - not all that pleasant.

fledtoscotland · 09/02/2010 23:12

I was "diagnosed" with IBS after a trip to a&e in the middle of the night with acute abdo pain. 4 years later, a lot of bloating and random severe cramps (spent quite a few nights lying on the bathroom floor waiting for the pain to pass) my 9cm cyst was found when I had my dating scan with DS1.

It grew very quickly because of the pregnancy hormones and I the cyst, my ovary and a necrotic fallopian tube removed when I was 9 weeks pregnant with DS1. Thankfully we both pulled through such emergency surgery

Polynomial is right, the transvaginal scans arent pleasant

Rowlshar · 16/02/2010 21:49

i had the same as lady's above. mine grew onto my bladder and bowel. long story but two ops later, had the ovaries removed and tubes. i have felt ill for the last 3 years because of them and very tired. i had intermittent pain and at one point had the cyst aspirated and suctioned for it to grow back again bigger within couple of weeks. despite having nothing now, i have another 15cms cyst. The reason why i am replying is that i had an ultrasound scan but also a MRI. The 2nd opinion i got diagnosed me with IBS without checks apart from an internal! keep hounding;. its the only way to get them sorted in some cases

DidEinsteinsMum · 16/02/2010 22:34

Its better to get it checked, as mine werent found until one was size of melon, twisted on itself and killed that ovary, and the other had an orange size cyst. When they finally operated to take my appendix out - kid you not its what is signed consent form for! (after 3 days of nil by mouth in hospital) i had internal bleeding and was very very poorly. Told me i was unlikely to have kids with the result part of an ovary. so ds was a big surprise!

McDreamy · 16/02/2010 22:41

I had a dermoid cyst removed when I was 18. I had frequent bouts of abdominal pain, very painful around my period. Enough to have time off work. Was admitted to A&E and diagnosed with appendicitis but just before they were going to operate they decided I was constipated . I was fed laxatives and sent home. (I knew i wasn't constipated but the SHO decided otherwise)

At this point I thought all the pain was in my head as I was treated like a I was making it up in hospital. My mum worked for a lovely GP and after talking to him again he referred me for an ultrasound scan where they found a huge cyst.

I was supposed to have it removed a few weeks later but it twisted and I ended up being blue lighted to hospital a bit earlier!

cuteattitude2004 · 04/07/2014 13:25

So when You have the procedure Done do they have you take time off?

cuteattitude2004 · 04/07/2014 13:25

So when You have the procedure Done do they have you take time off?

emmamoo11 · 04/07/2014 22:13

Do I let my 17 year old go to morrocco for a month after she had a bleeding cyst last week?

I would love to say no and her say "ok mum no problem" but she will not say that. It will breakher heart as she has been working solidly for 2 months and her "special friend" lives there.
What is the danger of it happening again in the next month?

sashh · 05/07/2014 12:20

I've had 3 emergency admissions for what I now know is an ovarian cyst, in the first 2 cases it had probably burst but the last one they actually did an U/S scan while I was there.

The reason I think the first 2 burst is because afterwards I bled (about a day or two after) and I'm on depo so I don't normally.

Anyway symptoms

Dizzy if I stand up too quickly
My bowel movements can be anything from liquid to solid and an array of colours.
Right sided pain, sort of gripey / comes and goes and when I have been admitted the worst pain ever (and I live with pain) accompanied by vomiting.

Yes to tired and also to shaky - I put that down to low blood sugar but now you mention it....

Anyway I scared myself silly because a lot of the symptoms are similar to ovarian cancer, but my Dr did a CA125 blood test.

I'm seeing a gynae in a couple of weeks and I want the ovary out.

bluestripysocks · 05/07/2014 13:08

Emmamoo- this is really a question for your DDs doctor.
How do you know it was a cyst that bled- what was the treatment and what does her dr say?

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