Ovarian cyst or endometriosis? How do you all deal with these problems

I'm glad you have a gyn appt scheduled. I can diagnose myself with everything from a brain tumor to toenail fungus with Dr. Google.

I've had ovarian cysts a various times. My pain is usually sharp (especially if one bursts). I also often get a dull aching pain around ovulation (officially called mittelschmerz) but that doesn't seem to correlate with whether or not I have a cyst. The frequency and severity doesn't seem to change with my weight. I've had just as many when I was 135 pounds as when I was 200. Ibuprofen helps, as does a heating pad or hot water bottle.

bbell1985 wrote: »

I am going through the EXACT same thing right now. I'm literally lying in bed because the stupid cyst hurts so badly.

I've gotten sonograms and pelvic exams that don't see anything. But I believe the cysts form every month and burst, which is when the sharp pain happens. By the time it bursts, they won't see anything on a sonogram. The most I have ever heard is "it looks like there may have been some fibroids there".

This summer I was walking down the street alone (I live in NYC) and I collapsed with the pain of what I thought was a cyst bursting. I could not walk. I literally laid on the sidewalk sweating in pain until I finally asked a man if he could walk me to the Urgent Care down the street.

Last night I was looking into castor oil packs for fibriod/cysts. I was wondering if they were woo or not.

I wonder if it is endometriosis as well.

The radiologist noted mine on the CT scan I had when I presented with appendicitis. Not saying you should fake appendicitis to get a CT scan, but I did find that interesting. On a related note, I only went in with my appendix because my husband insisted. The pain wasn't really any worse than a cyst bursting, just different I'm sorry you're in so much pain today!

tinaalisa15 wrote: »

So since June of 2017, I developed this dull pain in lower abdomen that radiates to my lower back. The dull ache comes and goes. I started charting when I would feel this pain and it always comes during ovulation, a week or days before my menstrual cycle, and towards the end of my menstrual cycle.
Some months I will have painful breasts and the dull ache would be more pronounced on the left side.
I went to the ER in September and the ER dr found an ovarian cyst the size of a dime on the left ovary and they were dissolving on the right ovary.
At first, I did not believe the ER doctor because I came to the ER 8 times and was misdiagnosed. A nurse even told me I had PID and a UTI which was untrue because my pelvic exam showed no signs of an infection but a cyst and my urine culture came back negative
Now that I have been charting my pain, I believe that it may be a cyst or endometriosis. I have gyno appointment next Wednesday.

I am now having an ache on the left side that has been aching all week and my cycle is due in 3 days. When it starts, the ache leaves and for 2 weeks I feel no ache what so ever.

I thought that maybe if I lose weight the cyst will leave but I have lost 26 pounds so far and it's still giving me an issue. I also believe that I may have PCOS.

If there is anyone out there, how do you deal with these issues while maintaining a healthy lifestyle? What were your symptoms

Hold on, you're just starting to get pain now? You're a lucky person. I've been having horrible pains every month for a week before my period since I got my first period when I was 10!

But anyway, I alternate between Advil/Ibuprofen and Tylenol. I get the gel packs because they work much faster. Often I have to use both at once or it still hurts. Couple days at ovulation for the last 10years as well, then for a week before my period (was actually way worse on the pill).

I have cysts too, ended up at the ER a year ago because one of them twisted while I was exercising... They're 1 and 1.5 inch or something. Typically they will just do ultrasounds to monitor them. I'm sure your GYN will help.

IF you have PCOS, every release of an egg forms a cyst instead of getting released. So if you feel you are having this issue, go to your doctor and insist that they test your hormone levels. There isn't much they can do (medicine wise). I have PCOS and I was taking metformin. It killed my stomach and actually caused me kidney pain. I stopped taking it for a herbal choice of Vitex. It supports hormonal balance through the pituitary gland.

I am still without a period after 3 years, but since taking the vitex, I am having the typical symptoms of my period with spotting when I would have a period. So it is a success in my book.

TonyB0588 wrote: »

Hope it's okay for a man to comment here, but I have a mother, two sisters, a wife, and two daughters, so I think I qualify.

In almost 30 years of marriage, my wife has had both these conditions, and every other thing you ladies get. The ovarian cysts were removed surgically. The endometriosis was treated for a time with Vitamin K, but that wasn't sustainable long term.

Why is everyone here guessing about their condition and searching for temporary relief? Ultimately, you'll need medical intervention to fix the aggravating conditions.

I have been diagnosed and have help for it. Unfortunately, with PCOS, cysts are normal. If it was normal to have surgical intervention every time you had a cyst, you would need surgery every month or every few months.

tinaalisa15,
OMG Thanks for this! I will be purchasing a heating pad and ibuprofen. Why is dark chocolate good?[/quote]

Even just a fraction of a serving size of 86+% dark chocolate greatly improves my mood.

Losing 20 lbs has generally cured my cycts and PCOS. Plus a lower carb diet - I still eat fruit, veggies, lentils etc but have dramatically cut back on bread, rice, pasta and desserts.

Hi from London. Congrats on your loss so far.

My issues start in August 2016. I basically woke up one day feeling nauseated and dizzy. It went on for 3 weeks and has come back monthly since. These days it can occur for 2-3 days or 2-3 weeks with no indication of when or how severally it'll occur. Over the many months, it has morphed into severe abdominal, pelvic and ....um....even bottom pain....TMI sorry but that is the worst symptom. Excruciating!

It happens, like you've said, during ovulation and then in the run up to + during my period. I will be doubled over in agony, crying out and it is often worse in the late afternoon & into the evening.

With all due respect to the posters above who have mentioned ibuprofen, I'd pose that we are not talking about the same severity of pain. I get no relief from over the counter meds with this level of pain. It is honestly excruciating.

I have had tubes down my throat, an MRI, pelvic ultrasound (in which they found cysts but I don't have PCOS as I do not have the hormone), so many bloods etc.

I am finally going to a gyno tomorrow. 4 months of waiting for the NHS appointment to come round. I really hope to get some answers.

In answer to your question about coping: I have recently realised that I need to go easy on myself while this is going on. I love to really get into an exercise program but the pain & the nausea mean I can't keep a solid plan. I've found this so upsetting, being constantly derailed & feeling constantly well, that I respond by eating my feelings. Anger, frustration, stress - eat, eat, EAT.

This last time that this pain & illness has occurred, I've taken the approach of being kind to myself. OK, exercise may not be possible & that is frustrating but I can keep my diet on track and feel all the better for it.

I don't know if that is useful at all but that is the foundation of my tips:
- Be truly kind to yourself and your body by eating well, listening to its needs and keeping positive
- Control what is 'controlable' - i.e If you can't control the pain, that's ok but you can focus your efforts on controlling your reaction to it & trying to make that a positive one.
- Use an app like Clue or Ovia to track every symptom so you can help your doctor make a diagnosis using data

I really hope you get relief soon. In fact, I hope we both do! Keep us posted on how your appointment goes.

Love & hugs,
Liv

P.S other symptoms included changes in length of my cycle, spotting, difficulty concentrating, constant fatigue, extremely heavy periods, mid-cycle spotting, night sweats, enormous bloating (I can shoot up by 3.5-4kg at TOM), headaches and more. Fun! So much fun! I love being a woman! It is so great!

Talk to your gynocologist. I've had ovarian cysts since I was a teenager and the depo provera shot over the last five years has been a lifesaver for me.

Guess I can only say - different doctors, different remedies.

Also my wife's doctor jokingly said once that there's no "normal" when it comes to assessing these conditions. Everyone is different.