Oh, yeah.
**groan.**


About a year ago I was diagnosed with a cyst.. but as a cyst near a uterine fibroid.

then, recently, I had an mri for the back... to find out how into the Degenerative Disc Disease bit I was.


Well, I called to find out results for the mri... and the doctor I spoke to over the phone mentioned that my spinal/pain doctor would help me with that... but, she asked, "did I know I had a cyst on my left ovary?" Um... well, I know I had a cyst in the uterus.. but not in the ovary.


I figure I CAN'T have been the first person on here to have a cyst riding in an ovary. I just wish I knew more about them... and how they're treated, from other people's experiences.


For those of you who did, could you help me find out the following?

what did you have done?

How long was recovery time?

Was the procedure an outpatient or inpatient?

Any restrictions on recovery, lifting, bending, coughing, laughing, etc.?

any alternative treatments suggested?

and, as I'm kinda the wuss in certain ways.. how much pain is/was involved?


**sigh.**


Shadow.

Ugh, I had a few cysts...one of which was bigger than the ovary it was attacking. It sucked!

The doctor did an ultrasound, confirmed the cysts, and told me that going on birth control could shrink them down...otherwise, I'd need to have surgery to remove them since it was causing me so much pain.

Luckily the BC shrank them away to nothingness and they haven't been back.

Hopefully you won't have to resort to surgery right away!

Oh wow. I had a cyst from my ovary removed 2 weeks ago.
Cysts are very common, almost all women get them, but throughout their cycle they come and go. Some times, though, they cause pain and difficulties. If the cyst is relatively big (4 cm or more), surgery is recommended. If it's causing yo problems, opt for an ultrasound.

Other than that, it will probably go away on it's own. I was put on birth control for mine, but it didn't help, it may help for you.

I had a large (as in, largest my doctor's ever dealt with) dermoid cyst removed when I was 19.

It was coming from one of my ovaries, so I had the ovary removed as well. The surgery was typical - I had an IV, cathedor, and stayed in the hospital drugged up on morphine for a few days. After the surgery, I layed on the couch for two weeks. After that, I was able to return to work (with minimal physical activity) and I was back to normal life after a month or two. Obviously I wasn't running marathons or anything, and I didn't do anything that required the use of my abs (vacuuming is a no-no), but I was able to work, hang out with friends, etc.

If you end up having to go for surgery and you want more details, send me a PM. I am also a wuss when it comes to pain, but I survived.

*Gina*

^^ all of your advice was wonderful.. But Gina.. I think you really hit it... I must admit to being a wuss as well So, I really don't know what's going to happen.

I went on the hormone/birth control therapy.. went through about six different kinds of pills.. which my body took exception to in various ways... so we shall see.

I don't know how big the sucker is... Shall I name him/her/it? could be a hair follicle trapped into an egg.. who knows.. I know that I'm symptomatic.. I know that I've since gained one heck of a lot of weight.

Oh, this is groovy! I mention, at lunch time, to my parents that I'm pregnant. Dad continues to eat lunch, no problem. Mum.. hjee heeh eheheheheheheheheeh -- her eyes go big, she just about swallows her tongue... I see the startlement coming up...

"With a cyst." I say. I see her rollling her eyeballs, shaking her head, etc.

Well, as I said to them, mri that I had last Wednesday picked up the cyst.. so, I don't know whether it's gotten larger, etc. Will have to call up my ob/gyn and find out where we go from here. I was thinking that that "mm mmm extraddiol" would help it find the exit gates -- give it it's walking ticket.


Gina.. I think I WOULD like to send you a pm. I have no idea how long it will take me to recover, etc. Planning, as they say, is the best part of getting things done....?????

heh -- so what do we call this? a "virtual birth"? **sigh.**


If anyone can add anything....

My father mentioned to me that his sister, when she was 19, had an ovarian cyst.. while they were on a bike trip from Holland to Switzerland.. made her get very sick.. they had to stop at a hospital while I think she had her ovary taken out.. but this was back in the late 1930's.

Mummum (my mother) had something similar.. had a bikini-cut hysterectomy.... which they put back together.. with staples (?!).


so, if any of you hear anything, please pass it on... forewarned is forearmed!




ShadowdeLuna

I found out a couple of weeks ago that I also have one. Mine's pretty big (3cm), and I still haven't taken care of it yet because I found out from a katscan which I took for a different problem which is being taken cared of by my docters now. So, the cyst is next.

I'm a little worried now! I hope I won't need surgery! I heard they were very common though and that they can go away on their own. I know someone who had one and it went away with birth control. I personally don't want to go on birth control It's not causing me any pain or anything though. So I guess as soon as I go to the docter and find out what I'm gonna be doing I can come back here & let you know.

^
As long as it's not twisting your ovary or causing you pain, you shouldn't need surgery. And if you do, it's not bad at all!

My friend just had a cyst removed along with her ovary and fallopian tube.

here's the kicker- it weight 35 pounds

It was THe biggest cyst her surgeon has ever seen it's going in his book!

She is not sexually active and heavy set so she thought she was just gaining weight.


She got it out about a week ago yesterday and is home now. It was so big that it pushed all her organs around- including lungs and kidneys

They drained 7 liters of fluid from it before they took it out, and it was still a foot an a half long, and a foot wide- half the size.

So get it taken care of right away! Cuz they can grow fast in spurts.

She's ok now- but still can't use her stomach muscles very well right now.


If yours is big, and you have surgery it might help getting a girdle- type belt that they give people who have had C sections- helps keep your stomach in and recover faster, and there is less stress on your tummy.

I hope yours isn't as big as my friend's

ShadowLunaCat wrote:


Oh, this is groovy! I mention, at lunch time, to my parents that I'm pregnant. Dad continues to eat lunch, no problem. Mum.. hjee heeh eheheheheheheheheeh -- her eyes go big, she just about swallows her tongue... I see the startlement coming up...

"With a cyst." I say. I see her rollling her eyeballs, shaking her head, etc.

Hahaha.. that reminds me of when I first found out about my "creature". (That's what we named mine!)

I went to the doctor for a routine pap and pelvic exam. She feels my tummy and says, "Gee, you're belly's a little swollen. Is there a possibility you could be pregnant?"

I was sexually active at the time, so I just about had a heart attack, even though my period was regular.

The doctor gets one of those ultrasound thingies to see if we can hear a heartbeat. (Again, I'm panicking.) Then, OH MY GOD, WE HEAR A HEARTBEAT!! (At this point, I actually have a heart attack.)

She says, "Okay, that's your heartbeat. I can't hear a fetal heartbeat."

Right... MY heartbeat. PHEW!

After that came a myriad of medical exams - bloodwork, ultrasounds, x-rays, pelvic exams.

Do you know if you're for sure having surgery?

Definitely send me a PM. I remember not knowing what was going on with my body and it's scary!

*Gina*

EDIT - As for the recovery time, I took about 2-3 weeks off of work, I think, but it's been a while so I can't remember exactly. Once you know more information about your cyst and the surgery, your doctor will probably be more help.

Reidfidlier (sp? sorry! )
goes,

"cyst removed along with her ovary and fallopian tube.

here's the kicker- it weight 35 pounds -- !!"/q]

Nah, not that bad.. I'll just sit here quietly with my little 3cm friend.....

Shoot! Reid?! That WAS a baby! Oh My God!

Interesting that they saw it on the mri. I'm gonna go for an ultrasound on the 9th.... and then, a doctor follow up on the 11th.

Oh, What Fun.


Gina -- PM coming up!

I looked at my ob/gyn's website.. apparently there are only about fifteen-some ovarian cysts.... pick one from column A?

**rolls eyeballs.**


Shadow.

All righta... I had the things taken out, via D & C....


They went in, hooked up the "industrial vacuum" -- Vrrrrroop!" and it's all over....

addition: The hospital called me up, to go through the pre-reg business.. bip, bap, all that stuff. They go, "Religious Preference?" I go "Chocolate." It got her laughing.


they gave me a general anesthesia.. so, I was pretty much out of it.... and, they're talking to me in Recovery...

I'm saying, "I want to go on my side, I really want to go on my side!"

And, a nurse is saying, "Well... I don't think that's such a good idea at this point."

I hear this thin voice ask, "Strange. Why?"

"Because you're still hooked up with an iv."

"Oh. I'm still on a line?" and I roll towards it, and promptly put tension on it... NOT too bright, eh?


But, we did things nice and easy... I had had an ultrasound.. where they both went in, and checked things on top...

so, we got two little fibroidies in the U, and TWO cysts in the L ovary.

They got them all.

and now, comes the tough part:

-- NO exercise;
-- NO lifting, straining, etc.
-- NO baths.... -- only showers. (???) until follow-up appointemnt.
-- NO driving. (So, HOW am I supposed to get around....????)

THANK HEAVEN they didn't say "No laughing!" I think I would have completely decked someone if they had. As in, pass me the nearest pillow....


I have a bit of cramping. my stomach is bloated, and a bit distended... and, I was peppering the poor post-op nurse with all these questions.... And, she was doing her absolute best to answer them....

so, I will call my ob/gyn's office.. find out some more about stuff.


good thing: The cysts were quite simple ones.. they weren't complicated, they weren't chocolate.. which has its' pros.. and cons.

I bled quite a bit... wearing them dumb hospital maternity WEB panties.. with the hospital pads.. that don't stick to the previous.... and, got up to use the bathroom.. and got up to do all sorts of things.. and this volunteer is going to take me downstairs to where Mum is waiting with the car. And she's going to take me.. in a wheelchair. Whaaaaaaat?

No man, I feel FINE. I walked IN here on my own power, I've had the thing, and walked around since, so I'm gonna walk OUT. You all have been great.. I couldn't have had any better treatment.. but, I think as I am somewhat lucid and mobile, I'm going to walk me out. And I did.

I think I only started feeling stuff when I began encountering stairs and steps, and the like. And the light foods tasted a TREAT.

I discussed post-op foods, and if I wanted to follow any food restrictions.. and she said, "Nah, just eat per normal."

Which somewhat surprised me.. seems to me one would want to follow a more light diet. She mentioned some people going right out, having a cheeseburger, etc. and being able to eat it.. well, within munch #3.. they sorta, um, taper off....

And, in the instructions, they mention going on as much fiber rich and hydrating foods as possible.. because Phys activity will be reduced.

Argh.

And now, I get to call up my doctor's office, and ask for some bits of advice.

I had named my two little cysts "Reggae" and "Soca" for the two kinds of music that I'm currently "studying." However, as those two have since vacated.. I might have to think of some different stuff.

Oh! Note! According to my ob/gyn one can grow cysts MONTHLY depending on where they are in their cycle. Most cysts WILL vacate all by themselves.



****** Dancer_All_Day -- How are YOU doing? From what you'd written.. I can see you have some stuff going on. Have you had any tests done? Have you found anything more out? Please fill me in on how you're doing!



Now, I'm sitting here.. getting caught up to date with stuff... and listening to the slow movement into the scherzo of Beethoven opus 127... which is actually similar to a reggae instrument line.


I just wish I knew what the hospital staff sees/hears/witnesses when the patient has gone under general anesthesia.. does the patient just lie there? Do they say anything? Do they react in any way while the procedure is going on?

Does the phys say anything that can be memorable?

Does the patient say anything coming out of anesthesia, while they're in recovery?


Yeah, whole buncha questions.


Hugs, and thanks for everything!


Shadow.

ER hospital visit. I felt queasy, faint, like my life's energy was leaving.

Went in.. sat and waited and waited in the waiting room.

Felt queasy.. so, put my head in my hands.. tried to put my head between my knees.

Dude came out to escort me back... couldn't move.. body felt as if it was full of ginger ale.. felt numbness in the skin of my chin.

Started to get up, and COMPLETELY lost my dyhedral... Room starts wobbling back and forth.. horizons are NOT steady.. more like quavering on the verticle.


Dude goes, "Why don't I put you in a wheelchair."

I respond, "I don't wanna go in no wheelchair, that's SO embarrassing!"

He goes, "Let's get you in the wheel chair."


I start to walk, and just STUMBLE into the wheelchair.

Once we get the foot pedals sorted out, he wheels me, and I just about collapse into the seat.


He takes me to a treatment room.. and I walk the two paces worth over to the stretcher.... using the pillow as a support.


They promptly stick me into a johnnie.

My stuff gets put on the other bed... I'm feeling hot, and then chills, hot, and then chills.. I feel SOO numb....


They sink an iv... after staring at the big black bruise from the one left from the actual Operation on Friday.

I mention numbness, I mention that the flow hasn't stopped.

I mention the whole issue of queasyness, fainting, "Post" -- Post operative sore throat", and how I tried to rehydrate... the water, the 1/2 and 1/2 water and apple juice.. the whole bit.. and what I'd drank after the procedure.


I get checked.. get a pelvic exam.. warm blankets get layered on top of me....

By then, my body is drinking hungrily at the iv... getting as much as it can...

They do an "inner." they do bloodwork.

Trying not to reveal too many of my inner feelings, I hold onto the female Motherlylike volunteer's hand while the male phys, oh-so-gently, goes in to make sure all is well.

I start to cry.. and she warmly encloses my hand in both of hers.


I sit there.. and wait, and wait.... I hear the phone ringing in the distance.

My ob/gyn is paged... after I'd called her, and she said,

"What?!" And I had told her....

And I'd driven myself down....


The bloodwork is cool. The inner reveals some activity going on.. but the major apertures have closed.

I finish one iv, and am about ready to ask for another one.

Then, I think to ask what it is.

"Oh, saline." the nurse tells me, nodding and smiling.

Well, too late to think of the sodium sensitivity, right?

Still, I feel myself starting to rise up, becoming more lucid, more awake.

I can FEEL my eyes regaining their sparkle. I can tell that my sense of humor has returned.

We talk about music, dance, fiddling.

We talk about the Irish music and dance celebrations to be held on Tuesday (today.)

I ask her if she has any plans to attend anything.

I joke and giggle with my attending nurse.. causing her to laugh whole-heartedly...

I have proved it. I am rising from just being a patient, to being someone who can share in the humor.. to be a positive and appreciative recipient of their care.


I feel grounded, ready for the drive back.

She pulls the iv... and covers it up... a little mishap.. when the vein hasn't closed.. which she deals with quickly.


I drive home.. listening to positive tunes. I go straight home.. in spite of interesting delays.. and maybe getting things from a 24 hour store.

I come home.. and Missy is ready to PLAY. I play with her for awhile.. we play, "light fixture chain", and a little bit of "thing scurrying underneath the seat cushion."

Then, she sits, head resting against me, purring loudly.

I give her some "late night" kibble...

Stroke her into a sleeping position on her chair.

Then, I go upstairs, write a note -- summarizing what happened.

Bed is wonderful. Nuff said.


Now, I'm somewhat better.. still weak. Have TWO symmetrical iv bruises to boast about.

"blame it on the manufacturers." I had told the nurse.


Positive Reggae.. No Woman no cry... great healing experience.

www.youtube.com . . .


They helped a lost cat in the middle of the night.



Shadow de Luna.