Just found out I have a cyst

[katskradle22]

Hello!
   My name is Kat and I've struggled with PCOS since I was diagnosed at 16 (I'm now 28).  It seems like every dr I go to, refuses to accept the diagnosis and has to run new blood tests...
   Anyhow, my husband and I married in 2001 and have been trying to have a baby ever since. During that time, we've adopted two little girls who are the best things to ever happen to us (now ages 10 and 2)
    We decided to really hunker down on trying for a baby of our own...I am actually indifferent on it, but my husband feels very passionately on it, so I began provera to induce a period (as I don't menstruate on my own) and my pcp rx'd me clomid, while also setting me up with a specialist.
   My specialist decided to do a pap (even though I was menstruating at the time) on Friday when I went in. He felt an abnormal mass during the pelvic exam (which was unusually tender for me) and decided to set up an Ultra Sound for me for later that day. He said to still take the Clomid (which I was on schedule to start today) and he'd see me in 10 days for our next appointment.
    During the UltraSound, they decided they also needed a transvaginal camera thing done, too.  When I left, they said radiology would examine everything and pass things on to my dr, who would be in contact with me. (Figures this all happens on a friday afternoon)
     Within an  hour, my dr calls me and says that I have an MRI scheduled for Monday morning at 9am, to definitely NOT take the clomid, and that I have a cantaloupe sized mass above my (right?) ovary. She says the MRI will tell us what organs it is attached to and tell us a little more about it.
     I'm very nervous about it all. Since the pelvic exam and transvaginal, I have extreme discomfort and pain around my ovaries. Up until the pelvic exam, I had no other symptoms that something strange was going on, for the most part. I've been increasingly forgetful/absent minded, a little irratable, and gassy, but I figured it's all part of being a mom (and the slight change in diet from the holidays)
   Would the transvaginal cause this much discomfort? It's so bad I have difficulty sleeping. I have some hydrocodone from when I fell off a horse a few months ago, and even that doesn't take all the pain away. Is it probable that it just happens to start causing discomfort when we discover it, or could we have bothered it with the poking/prodding? What am I to expect? She  (My specialist's nurse) said we will be doing surgery, but said we'd know more about that when we come in for the MRI.  It's the weekend, I have no one to talk with. My family is very supportive, but I haven't told many people because I don't know WHAT to tell them. I've read up on the different cysts and fibroids and things are just causing more questions than answers.  What should I expect with the surgery?
   Thanks for taking the time to listen....it feels better just to vent it out, actually. :/

[katskradle22]

Thank you so much for responding.  I did my MRI yesterday, but haven't heard anything back. The tech made a comment as they were pulling out my IV that it was very "motion-y" and that they may have to make me do it again, but that she recorded on there that patient was in a lot of pain.  I haven't heard anything from the Dr's yet, they said sometime today....
    I DID read your story and I can't tell you how much it has HELPED ease my mind just knowing what is likely coming. I've been keeping a blog about how I feel and what I'm going through, but I haven't released it to any of my friends or family until I know more (hopefully today?)  I've already resolved that it is NOT cancer (It's just not)...but I have named the mass George...(I have a sick sense of humour like that...)  I'm looking forward to seeing the difference as you reported it--how you didn't realize how sick you were because all these things happened slowly.  The waiting is the worst part :/ (Or at least, I hope it is!) I've never had an over night stay in the hospital, stitch, broken bone, wisdom tooth, or surgery in my life.  This is all so new!

[MarieMichele]

I am so sorry they found such a large cyst.  It is possible they shifted things around for the exam which is why it hurts more now than previously.  Either that or you are now focusing on it more.  Any of those subtle symptoms could be associated with a cyst.

At that size it is more than likely going to mean laparotomy to remove it.  It does not matter if they remove just the cyst or more parts along with it, the surgery and the recovery are about the same.  There is a chance you may lose an ovary depending on what the cyst has done to it.

You can read my laparotomy story in the "about me" section of my profile.  I hope it helps.  This surgery is fairly common but it still is also fairly major.