Large complex ovarian cyst

[Mouscadoo]

Hello, I would really appreciate if anyone has any experience with something similar and could provide some reassurance or guidance. I was found to have a cyst on my right ovary during pregnancy, it caused me no pain at all. I had an ELCS and they decided not to remove it, instead I was put on the waiting list for repeat ultrasound.
About 3 months after my daughter was born (Feb) I started to get severe abdominal bloating and pain. It would last for days on end. I went to the doctor as the pain was so bad I couldn't look after my 2 young daughters. The doctor tried to say it was IBS or acid reflux but i knew it was something else. I had a private ultrasound and I've been told that I have a large complex ovarian cyst. When I was experiencing the symptoms I had, I was very worried about ovarian cancer due to bloating, no appetite, pain and feeling like I had UTIs. Now I am even more worried. I am having an MRI done but I'm so anxious thinking the worst. The bloating and pain comes and goes but when it comes its debilitating and nurofen doesn't touch it. Has anyone experienced something similar? I am so worried thinking the worst.

I know it's incredibly hard but try not to worry. I experienced similar last year. After three consecutive months of intense period pain, disabling fatigue the week before and week of period, heavy bleeding, bloating (I'm frequently bloated as have IBS so wasn't a new symptom for me), etc I went to the doctors.

Was given an appointment with the nurse practitioner which I think helped as I am sure one of the aged male partner GP's would have fobbed me off as you have been.

She prescribed a form of anti- inflammatory for the pain and referred me for an ultrasound due to my age (I'm 43).

Results showed that I had a large complex ovarian cyst and would be sent an appointment for a follow up scan in 3 months time (it ended up being almost 6).

That's all I was told, that these things are fairly common and resolve themselves so it's best to use the "wait and see" approach. The GP giving my results did add that should I experience a sudden excruciating pain then to go ti A&E as it may have ruptured.

Of course turned to Google and all I could find was women commenting about these types of cysts on cancer forums. My grandma had ovarian cancer so I worked myself up quite badly at times but I had had blood tests done at the same time which were all fine so I just told myself not to worry due to that fact.

I now know that ovarian cysts, even large and complex ones, very, very rarely indicate cancer or anything menacing.

The pain & bloating continued, especially on my period. I could feel the cyst through my abdomen it was that big (7cm) compared to a teeny 2-3cm ovary, but I think it did start to ease a bit month but month.

When I finally got the follow up scan I was told then and there by the sonography what she could see. There was no sign of any cyst, it had completely resolved itself.

She commented that there were a few fibroids but that all was normal.

Her comments were followed up by a letter from the GP saying the cyst had resolved itself and therefore I was discharged. No mention of the fibroids and I'm yet to follow up on that.

So please try not to worry. Is the MRI being done privately too? Was this recommended by the hospital? Did they say why? Have you had any blood tests done?

I still have more painful & heavier periods than I used to, which has been a constant since January last year, so do need to push for further investigations I suppose, but believe I may be peri-menopausal where I've read our monthly's do get heavier and more painful - oh joy!

I hope some of my experience helps

Sorry just re-read your post and seen you did have a further scan which showed it was a large complex ovarian cyst (mine was right too!) so I guess that counts as the follow up. Or did they say it had grown from the original cyst found in pregnancy?

Also seen that this is a random pain, so not connected to your periods? Have your periods returned yet? What are they like?

I did suffer with trapped wind which was incredibly painful from a couple of days post c-section and sporadically for months after.

How have you healed from the surgery? How long has it been now since your daughter was born?

@Salt14 Thanks so much for replying to me. Im so glad to hear that everything turned out okay for you, your story brings me some relief as it sounds very similiar to mine. I had a repeat ultrasound done about 3 weeks ago after my symptoms continued to get worse. I had to push my doctor for a referral for ultrasound as she thought it was IBS or muscular. The scan showed it was a large complex cyst which has gotten bigger since pregnancy. All i was told during my pregnancy was that i had a 4cm cyst. My GP is doing an urgent referral to gynaecology and i suppose this made me a bit nervous and also Google of course telling me the connection between complex cyst and ovarian cancer!

My symptoms actually aren't during my period at all, they are more during my ovulation period. In the past i have always experienced pain around my ovulation, like a sharp pain but this was very different. My stomach was completely swollen for days, nurofen didn't touch the pain at all and I was pretty much bed ridden with the pain and tiredness. Couldn't wear any of my normal clothes and looked like I was pregnant (again lol). It was not something i have ever experienced before. I also suffer IBS.

I had my baby at the end of February. It definitely took some time to recover as this was my second C section but it wasn't until about 3 months post partum that these symptoms came on. I got my first period in June, which I was sort of surprised by as I am exclusively breastfeeding but I know it can happen and my periods have been fine, very little pain, bloating etc.
Nervous now to wait for the MRI and see what the results of that are. I told my doctor I thought it could be endometriosis and she said that normally preganncy clears endometriosis for people. So I don't know! Thank you for responding and giving your experience of the same thing, I haven't seen a lot of thread about "complex" cysts.

Sorry to bring up this old thread.
Please could you give an update on how this turned out for you?
I had an emergency c section at the end of Feb where an 8cm cyst was found on my left ovary. They could only drain it as I had not consented to removal and I was sent for a follow up scan 3 months later to check if it had returned.
Had the scan and it is back to 5x6cm so have been referred for blood test and follow up at outpatient dept to 'discuss management of the cyst'. I feel they will want to remove it given the size. The letter also stated it 'doesn't look as simple as before' so obviously now I'm slightly concerned. Babe is EBF so not sure what will happen if I have to have surgery.