Ovarian cyst causing constant heartburn & indigestion?

[Kiki225]

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping that others may have gone through what I’m experiencing and may be able to provide some kind of reassurance.

First off, I’m speaking to my GP and private consultants (I’m lucky that I can do this) about everything in this post, but, as I said, I’m hoping to hear from others that have experienced similar situations.

I’m 38. No kids, but I was trying until my recent health issues, and I got pregnant, fairly quickly, in August but had a very early miscarriage not long after I found out I was expecting.

I first started to experience what I presumed was heartburn then - I’d never had it in my life before. It felt like a tight band round the top of my ribcage, just under my boobs, and it got worse if I leaned toward. I started having to take my bras off a lot as they were really uncomfortable. This discomfort went when I miscarried. It then came back again before my next period and disappeared once I bled.

I found out in September that I have a cyst on my left ovary via ultrasound. I had experienced incredibly light periods and some pain at my right ovary five months prior and that’s why I was referred for the scan (periods had got more back to my normal after a few months and right ovary is actually fine).

The cyst is about 4cm, and the report that was sent to my doc said it was a simple cyst. My period was fairly normal until October. In October the heartburn came back and was worse than ever - tight band feeling, burning in chest, pain in centre of chest that can radiate to both sides and my back. Sometimes I had a feeling of acid in my throat and a sour taste when I woke up. I also started getting bloating and trapped wind.

I saw a private consultant about the cysts, and she did a transvaginal scan. She said it hadn’t grown, but she thought it could be an endometrioma cyst/chocolate cyst, and, if it is, it could be affecting my hormones.

Something is definitely off as that month, I ovulated at day 10 (Clearblue fertility monitor), had light bleeding and spotting for three days after ovulation, brown sludge for five days when my period would normally be (around day 25) and then actually got my period after 45 days! My average is ovulation at day 14 in a 25-day cycle. When I did get my period, my symptoms did ease a bit, and they started to build up again after it stopped.

I’ve been given Omeprazole and am taking 20mg twice a day (AM and before dinner) this has helped a bit, but bad days are still horrific.

I’ve seen a consultant about the heartburn and indigestion too, and he said there’s nothing that’s giving him cause for concern. He said it could be my IBS causing the reflux, and it could be related to stress due to the cyst and miscarriage, however, it all started before both of those!

I have also had blood tests, including, CA-125 (came back in normal range so no indication of ovarian cancer), liver function, H-pylori, and inflammation, and they were all fine. I had hormonal blood tests for thyroid and pituitary gland hormones but not oestrogen or progesterone.

None of the doctors seem to think the cyst is linked or want to discuss it even, but I’ve read quite a lot about others having cysts and heartburn and indigestion, and websites, including NHS, state that hormones can cause it. Docs keep saying it’s “not big enough to be pressing on other organs to be causing heartburn and indigestion”, but my hormones are definitely off, so surely it could be causing it? I’m currently on day 16 of this cycle and haven’t had a positive ovulation test yet. A friend said she had the worse heartburn and indigestion of her life - worse than when she was pregnant - when she had a cyst, but hers was large and pressing on other organs.

Prior to this, I was fit and healthy and could eat anything I wanted without issues. My IBS wasn’t giving me issues. I’m not overweight, I don’t smoke, I don’t drink much, and I eat healthily (I’m also looking at what I eat to see if that helps, and avoiding known heartburn causing foods, but it’s not helping much so far).

Sorry for the long post, I’m just really struggling with how tough this is and really hoping it’s temporary and will go if I get the cyst removed. I’m seeing the consultant again in December, and, if it’s still there then, we’ll discuss surgery. I really want to try and get pregnant again, but I’m not going to until I see what needs to be done about the cyst. I also couldn’t contemplate being pregnant with these symptoms as I know pregnancy sometimes isn’t the most comfortable time, so I want to be starting at a good base level.

Thanks for reading and for any comments.

Just wanted to reply as I am having a similar experience. Since September I have been having horrendous heartburn/acid reflux. I had a consultation with a gastroenterologist and he said it was nothing to worry about. Even had an endoscopy which came back clear apart from
mild gastritis. However on an upper abdominal scan a 5cm cyst was discovered by accident of my left ovary. I am convinced this must be what is causing the heartburn and acid reflux. My CA125 levels were also normal. I have another trans vaginal scan soon to take another look at the cyst but I’m just feeling fed up at the moment. I have also been prescribed 40mg of Omeprazole but it doesn’t seem to do much. I’m currently on day 11 of my period with just brown spotting which I’m assuming is down to the cyst.

Hi @Twins4M

Thanks for responding. Your situation does does similar. I am fairly convinced the cyst and all of these issues are linked too as the timing is too strange otherwise and I have found stuff online that backs this up.

I can totally sympathise with how you’re feeling. I never realised heartburn, indigestion and acid reflux could be so horrific. When it’s basically constant, it can make life miserable. I’m just hoping like mad that if I get the cyst removed, it all goes.

I don’t think the Omeprazole has done much apart from take the edge off the heartburn and reflux, but I also think it’s making my stomach ache, which does look like a fairly common side effect, but is very unpleasant.

I hope another scan helps you move things along.

I had a cyst and was suffering with heartburn type symptoms and was taking the meds for it. I had never suffered with this kind of thing before - my consultant did say the cyst was probably linked. When I went to have it removed by keyhole surgery, I remember asking if it was okay to take my medication for the heartburn the day of the op. That was the last one I ever took - the cyst was out and the heartburn went. Mine was a simple cyst but bigger - the size of a grapefruit.

The plot thickens as I had a follow up scan and they seem to now think it’s fibroid not a cyst 🤷‍♀️ I have been referred for an MRI. Both consultant radiologists who did the ultrasounds were forthcoming in saying it was not malignant or anything to worry about in that sense so that’s put my mind at rest a bit but doesn’t help my issue with the acid reflux. The gastroenterologist has recommended some new medication so I will give those a try and hopefully get some relief. He did say that it sometimes takes trying a few different meds before you get the one that seems to work.

Gaviscon can be taken alongside Omezaprole which might be helpful..

Thanks @MrsPelligrinoPetrichor i have been using rennies as well which provide brief relief

@mrsrobin, your story sounds like my friend’s.

@Twins4M, I do wonder if anything in the abdomen that wasn’t there before, no even if it’s on the smaller side, takes up room, causes extra pressure and presses on things like the stomach….but who knows? I’ve decided I’m going to get an endoscopy too. How did you find it? I’ve had a lot of stomach pain, upper back pain and stomach bloating lately, but I do wonder if the omeprazole is causing these symptoms.

@Kiki225 yes that’s my theory that something is pushing on my stomach causing it. They said it measures about 5x5cm. Definitely go for the endoscopy if you are offered it just to rule anything out. I was really nervous leading up to it but I had the sedation and don’t remember a thing! I haven’t had any stomach pain but lots of upper back pain. I just want it all to go away. I know people have it a lot worse but still it’s affecting my day to day life!

@Twins4M, I think it’s definitely good to get it done, and I’ll get sedation too. As you said, (hopefully) it’ll rule stuff out.

Surely it is all linked…

Totally feel you there. It’s utterly rubbish the impact it has.

Kiki225
Hey, just reading this older thread with interest! Wondering how you got on, are you feeling better?
I have very similar symptoms to yours but mine is alot of silent reflux, bit of bloating and daily headaches. I'm also convinced it's all linked to the cysts I have. Waiting on an op to remove soon. I've felt pretty awful with all of this for months and am hoping so much to feel better. Hoping you are all good now!

@Kiki225

just wanted to share my story, after my second miscarriage I had episodes of terrible pain in chest upper abdomen and pain round my lungs and back. It was so severe I ended up in A&E. I then had loads of bloods which showed I had elevated liver function and was diagnosed with gallstones this was caused by the pregnancy hormone from my miscarriages. I had to have my gallbladder removed. I was otherwise fit healthy.

haven’t fallen pregnant since and time is running out so going down the ivf route - praying for success xx

Hi Iv had similar symptoms as in severe heartburn, acid reflux, regurgitation, nausea, vomiting, hardly eat or drink, have to force myself, cannot stand the smell of cooking, strong odours etc, taking gaviscon and omeprazole with little effect.

My current prognosis is I have a complex ovarian cyst/possibly from bowel too, last measured at 17cm 5 weeks ago, it had doubled in size in the short space of a week??? Lord knows how big it is now???? Docs have put me on a suspected cancer pathway, told me there’s a 6 week wait for surgery.

My ca125 was 175, wcc 18 and crp was 78 a month ago. MRI and CT scan showing nothing suspicious but awaiting biopsies after surgery.

I am in a lot of pain and cannot tolerate the constant nausea and lack of appetite. I am in bed all day, short of breath, lethargic and my belly looks like I’m pregnant!!!! I want to build my stamina for surgery but I’m worried I won’t be able to.

I do have a history of GERD which improved over time but this feels like it’s physically draining me with it constantly being there.

I do hope I get my operation appointment soon with the NHS, it’s been 3 weeks now since I saw the consultant.

I had similar problems. The CA-125 was normal, they thought my cyst was a fibroma. I had the cyst removed and due to how it looked, they did a complete hysterectomy and removal of omentum. The cyst was sent to pathology and two weeks later I got the results. It was a type of ovarian cancer. This was ten years ago and I remain cancer free.

I hope you get answers @Kiki225 . Your cyst needs removing and checking.