thubpt

Alright ladies, you seem to be a helpful bunch of sweethearts, so I thought I'd pose a question: Anyone know anything about reaccuring ovarian cysts? I've been in pain since I first hit puberty (I'm 24 now), and I've had to have cysts removed on two separate occasions. Originally, it was all on my right side, but within the last few months, I seem to be having the same pain on both sides. My doctor seems to be rather stumped as to what to do with me. Any suggestions? Hell, I'd be happy just to talk to one person who has a similar problem, since most everyone who knows me can't seem to grasp the pain involved!

maleficent

I can't speak from personal experience, however I have a friend who's a massage therapist.

She has several clients who come to her on a regular basis, because it's about the only relief that they get from endometriosis.

There's some regulation that says Massage therapists can't advertise massage as medical treatment, because they don't have medical liscences or something like that, but I do know she's gotten several clients who swear by it for pain relief.

It's something you might want to check out.

__________________

thubpt

Thank you, maleficent. I'll definitely look into that.

__________________
The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

--Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

raeanna74

My sister-in-law has had a lot of pain from these. I looked up information for her on WebMD. Her Dr put her on Birth Control pills which has given her much relief. It may not be a permanant solution but supposedly according to her Dr when she eventually goes off the BC she may end up not having cysts form anymore. Just giving her ovaries a break from ovulation can sometimes relieve the problem that causing the cysts. Check it out and ask your Dr about it. It could at least give you some relief for now until he can figure out how else to help you.

__________________
"Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama
My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

Molly Moon

I suggest you do some research on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and if you're doctor isn't experienced with its diagnosis and treatment, find one who is.

I'm sorry for the pain you've endured. Good luck.

__________________
"You spend twenty years learning the spell that makes nude virgins appear in your bedroom, and then you’re so poisoned by quicksilver fumes and half-blind from reading old grimoires that you can’t remember what happens next." (Terry Pratchett, The Colour Of Magic)

thubpt

I have tried birth control before, both Depo Provera, and various pills, but I always had horrible side effects (bad migraines, low libido, lethargy), and decided against that route. My doctor had suggested birth control again to me a year ago, but I was afraid to chance it again.

__________________
The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

--Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

raeanna74

I do understand about the migranes. What made the difference for me was lowering my estrogen dose to a minimum. My Dr has turned me onto Seasonale. I know I mention it a lot here but it combined with Maxalt for any remaining headaches has been a godsend. Seasonale has a much lower dose of estrogen then 2 of my other types of BC pills.

Judging from the pain my Sister-in-law and neighbor have been in (my neighbor mistook a hernia for another cyst and ignored the pain until it was too much to take) it would be worth it to give the pills another try. Ask for something that low in the estrogen dosage. That's what made the difference for me. You could possibly go for Progesterone Only Pills even - not sure if that would work or not. The POP's in no way lowered my libido, if anything they raised it. The estrogen pills did seem to lower it a tad but only in relation to how high the estrogen dose was. I know every person is different but there's so many formulations of BC pills and with the newer stuff they're getting even better.

I really hope you can find relief from your pain.

__________________
"Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama
My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

thubpt

Thank you all so much for your advice. I've scheduled an appointment two weeks from now, and I guess it's time for my doctor and I to have a talk. If he doesn't clarify a little better for me this time, it'll be on to doctor shopping for me!

__________________
The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

--Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

ShaniFaye

I can tell you my experience.

A few years after I had my daughter I started experiencing severe cramps which I'd never had before...I figured...oh well Im getting older and I've had a child, my body has changed, I had my yearly check ups told them about the cramps etc. My tests always came back fine. Well it got to the point that my cramps really truly hurt like labor pains and the bleeding was really bad. Fortunately for me my insurance changed and I had to get a new GYN. She discovered that my uterus was full of cysts and that my body had pretty much stopped producing progestrone. They put me on a pure progesterone regimate...3 months on the pills, 3 months off. Every 3 months I had an internal ultrasound to check the cysts and they did indeed decrease dramatically.

It also changed my metabolism and I lost a lot of weight that I had not been able to get off by myself in the previous years. And as with Reanna my libido increased as well...Im not sure if its because I hit the "over 30" sex thing or if it was the pills...but I've been off of them for a year and its still just as strong.

__________________
I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!

isis

I have a mild case of Ovarian Cysts. I got them when I was about 14 and had the worst pain of my life for so long. I had extreme back pain, as well.

I finally went on Depo when I was 16, and its been great. The only side effect I've noticed is lower sex drive. Its not dramatically lower by any means .. but I swear, I'd take that any day over having extreme back pain like every day.

Ella

I've only had one two episodes of cysts, and both so incredibly painful. The last one landed me in hospital on morphine for a couple of days, but I've had nothing since. My sympathy goes out to any woman who has them on a recurring basis.

__________________
"Afterwards, the universe will explode for your pleasure."

thubpt

Well, it got worse . . . again. The night before last I ended up in the hospital, with an IV pumping pain meds and fluid into me. Another cyst had just burst, leaving me in immense pain, to the point where I couldn't move.

Now, on top of everything else, the e.r. doc said my cervix is "friable". That's enough to make the head snap up. I really wish she had chosen a better, more laymanish term, but . . . yeah - there it is. As soon as my head is a little less woozy, I'm off to do some research. In the meantime, I have a week left before my actual appointment with my gyno. Sigh . . .

__________________
The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

--Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

maleficent

I'm bored on a conference call, so I'm reading and googling....


I hate it when doctors speak in Medical-ese -

Most sites define friable as bleeds easily, which is probably what she meant when she used the term -- not really all thehelpful in making you feel better. Can you try to schedule an earlier appointment? Seems ridiculous to have to wait,

Not to panic you...
although this one makes it seem much worse...
Friable Cervix

and others point it to a symptom of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

-----------

__________________

thubpt

Well, I just came back from my gyno appointment. Luckily, I just moved to a new town, so I got to switch doctors - and got some startling revelations at the same time.

I found out that most of my symptoms actually stem from endometriosis (I didn't even know that that one ran in my family), which is evidently rather common, and entirely treatable.

I also found out that I have gonorrhea, which is also evidently very treatable, one shot and it's gone.

The first was comforting to me, to know that a doctor can finally tell me what's wrong with me so I can go on with my life, with a plan to stop the pain. The second freaked the hell out of me. I'm recently (9months ago) separated from my husband of 6 years, who claimed faithfulness, and I've been in a relationship with a man for 6 months who I KNOW is faithful. But, I guess it doesn't matter where it came from, just matters that it's taken care of now, and my SO is scheduling an appointment to get the shot as well.

Meh, such is life.

__________________
The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

--Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

maleficent

Finding out about the gonorrhea would freak me out - -but better to know and get it treated than to not know...

It just stresses the importance of going to the gyno... because even if you think you are low risk... you never really know...

Hope you are on the mend and feel better soon.

__________________