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Endometriosis or ovarian cancer

About a year ago I was experiencing some abdominal pain and lower back pain. figuring it was a uti I paid no mine then one morning... I woke up feeling like my panties were plum soaked. I stood up and automatically started pouring blood very scary. My period wasnt expected for another 2 weeks and this was'nt a period at all...it was alot of blood. Anyways scheduled an appointment with the gyno and found out I had 2 small 2.5 centimeter cyst on both ovaries, Being that cyst are common and normal the Doctor of course wanted to the do watch and wait, especially considering im only in my 20's. He put me on high dose BC and figured they would disolve after 1 to 3 mentruations. Well its been a year and the cyst have never went away. One cyst has grown a bit. Ive been horribly sick. I have frequent urination and trouble holding my urine. Once I feel the urge I have to run to the bathroom. I, having loads of symptoms including constipation, diarhea, abdominal swelling im no longer able to wear jeans because the pressure of them bothers my abdomen, oh and the sweating....deoderant never helps. Im getting worse and worse by day now. I cant go out in public because I get really sick when I start walking around. I have fainted once and was rushed to the hospital. My immunity is shot. Well anyways being that the cysts havent gone away and are causing abnormal bleeding weird stringy and watery discharge the Doctor has decided to do Laproscopic surgery. He thinks I have endometriosis but says Ovarian cancer is in the back of his mind. The thing is my cyst are quite small but my symptoms are proven to be severe. One cyst is growing a little however. Anyways is it possible to have cancer with such small cyst, I guess considering the doctor said it was in the back of his mind. Im really worried because I literally feel like im dying. Im getting worse day by day. Anyone with some expertise on ovarian cancer please give me some imput. I have researched both endo and ovarian cancer, I need someone personal story with dealing with endo or ovarian cancer with such small cyst? Im in extreme pain from lower back both sides of my abdomen and pain radiating down my thighs. I have horrible gas that will not pass on its own and cannot be relieved by over the counter or prescription meds. My moodiness horrible.
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I have send you a personal message on this.
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I wanted to clear something up the horrible abusive ex hubby isnt the man of the relationhip I just ended. The husband I had arrested and charged back in 2006. The man Ive been with the past 3 years is the father of my 2 year old. He is extremely screwed in the head. He hates woman its obvious and has always emotionally abused me and went behind my back making me look bad to his friends and family to cover his own butt. Why do I keep picking these wonderful (ahem being sarcastic) men for? No need to go all into that lol I know its because of my low self esteem.
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Wow, you really made me think....your right I spent 4 years in with a psychotic man  as a husband who strangled me and would do some of the most horrible toturess things you could come up with. Well at 13 years old I contracted mono from then on my body has never been the same. I went from being a healthy muscularly strong confident individual head cheerleader mind you to someone who is physically and emotionally ill all the time. You are not out of line, you are a psychological therapist who obviously can read between the lines.
    Ill be honest I do have hypochondriactic (I know that word is oncorrect lol) tendencies. After I became ill and felt so bad not just physically but even more so internally I wanted to have an illness as an excuse to escape the world. I am a much stronger person in some areas and I want to start my life and be the best mom I can be to my son. I have let go a lot of those hypochondria thoughts but its still there a bit and now that I am really physically sick I feel like the boy who is crying wolf. I believe my stress has contributed to my real illness. Like I said before my gallbladder just stop functioning on its own. How did that happen and why? Im a very sensitive person who is sensitive to pain and to my surrounding world. Not that my symptoms arent real they are...but would I have gotten this sick if I wasnt such a stressor with depression and hypochondria? I would probably still be the healthy person I once was if I didnt let all that fear take over. I weigh 105lbs on the outside I appear healthy. Im only 24 but I feel like im 70. My legs hurt so bad sometimes honestly that I cant walk the way I should be. I've crippled myself mentally and now its turning physical. Right now Im focusing on getting healthy both mentally and physically through the Lord Jesus Christ because I now know without him I am nothing. But it took me a long time to get to this awarness of needing him and understanding the way the mind works. I realize now my thoughts play a big role on how I appear to others and how I feel physically. I hope I dont sound like a rambling fool....lol yep theres my lack of confidence shining through. Thank you. I would love to hear back from you. This doctor is'nt a good doctor though every person Ive talk to that has dealt with him can't stand him either. I do feel he isnt taking this seriously. I shouldnt have to suffer like this for this long.
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Avatar universal
Dear Cystie,

I am not a doctor. I am a psychological therapist though and as such, I strongly urge you to not go back to your old gynaecologist. The fact that you say:"if I feel like im being abused I will just leave" indicates that you have felt 'abused' before. The fact that you say: "if that jerk treats me with the "What do you want me to do about it attitude" im goin to go off" indicates that you have felt treated with that attitute from that jerk before. The fact that you say: "my gynocologist with a horrible bedside manner to look at me or treat me like im putting on" indicates that have felt treated like you're putting on before.

So.
I don't know the man, but who he is, is not important. How he makes you feel, is your only criterium. You obviously feel like he's a jerk with a horrible badside manner who treats you like you're putting on and looks at you with a 'what do you want me to do about it'-attitude and makes you feel abused.
Don't go back to this man.
Now that you've had the experience of getting out of one stressful relationship, you sure can get out of this one too ;)

Make an appointment with a gyn/onc in a hospital in a larger city. Put all you but's and if's aside and don't prospone the decision. Time to take care of yourself.

...

(If you feel I'm out of line here, my apologies. But I feel for you after reading your story. Having cysts/endo is bad enough as it is and I have been so happy with my caring and sensitive and superskilled gynaecologist. Everyone should feel cared for by their doctor.)
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Thank you so much. Im sorry for being ill with you earlier. I always preach compassion and understanding and I basically bit your head off. There is no excuse for that. I needed that venting though.  Much appreciation to all of you. You all seem like good smart women, something thats very hard to come across this day in age or on my side of the "tracts" at least.
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You've been through a lot and I feel for you!  A more compassionate, competent and attentive doctor would be worth seeking. And you can always vent here, too!
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Yea I really dont think I have Ovarian Cancer. My Great Grandmother died of cervical cancer at 35 but thats totally different. Different types of cancer run in my family but not Ovarian that I know of. Cancer I think is partly caused by stress and I have been stressed for the past 10 years. I think all illnesses for that matter are partly caused by stress. I just got out of a stressful relationship for that matter. Ive been so noticeably sick and I kept an immaculately clean house took care of 2 kids one  mine one not, the other kid mom is not around so very stressfull all for this guy to come home and sit on his butt at the computer and mock me for being sick. I did all this while puking everyday an feeling horrible and he expected me to get a night job, what a jerk. I told him ovarian cancer was a possibility (never can get sympathy from him) Guess what he said....Well my mother had cervical cancer and she lived (in a very rude tone) I told him this so he would stop stressing me out. Yea thats what ive been dealing with :(
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You are right too hummingbirdmoth (got a lil mixed up) I should seek a different doctor
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Your absolutely right Marie I should have went to a different gyno, Ive always disliked him. I live in a cramped town and everyone so busy.  The birth control shouldnt be causing the symptoms because I have been on this birth control for years and only went off of it a few months prior to getting diagnosed with cysts. Ive was feeling sick before then though. Especially after having my son everything just changed. I was induced which was very painful...all the drugs in the world couldnt stop that pain, I also bled a lot and the doctor told me either I let him go up inside me with his very fat arm so he could pull the liver size of a blood clot out or surgery. Believe it or not I didnt tear at all. They induced me due to high blood pressure. Im going to go to my next appointment with him and if I feel like im being abused I will just leave and get referred to someone else. I really do believe its endometriosis though, it just makes sence. But I want to be sure.  Also I started my period at 9 years old very young. I ve always had horrible painful periods with a lot of blood flow. I heard that having your period very young could also contribute to the cause of endo....not sure of that though. Thank you for your help.
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Just giving my two cents. Laproscopic surgery is the only way to sure of the diagnosis. From my u/s, my doc, a gyn/onc, is quite certain its endo, but also said it could be cancer. So I had a cyst/ovary/tube removed. Fortunately the pathology confirmed its endo. Endo is quite common and is benign. Ovarian cancer at your age is extremely rare. My cyst also looked small in the u/s, but turned out to be larger and quite extensive. Endo can cause severe symptoms, such as period pains and cramps, bladder or gastro problems, and of course pms. If your doc suspected it could be cancer, make sure your surgeon is a gyn/onc.
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Avatar universal
Hi Cystie,

First of all: If you don't feel comfortable with your gynaecologist...GO TO AN OTHER. Any doctor you don't feel comfortable with, you shouldn't stick with. It is important you can trust him/her and feel confident about their professional skills. Hey, if you don't feel ok with your hairdresser, you go to someone else, right? This concerns your health and your intimicy. Just switch.

I have the feeling you're going mad from your symptoms not being taken seriously and from feeling desperate to find out what's going on; something isn't right. Don't go mad though, don't start panicing, take yourself seriously and be pro-active:
Don't let them send you away just because They Don't Know. (And don't let them perform something based on not-knowing...) Not every doctor is able to know everything, of course. If yours just can't figure out what is causing your symptoms, go to someone who can. Go for a second opinion. Search the internet for a specialized hospital, ask your general doctor advice on what specialist to go to other than the one(s) you have now.

I recognise some things you mention, so my very very un-expert thoughts on the matter:
Some symptoms you mention above from after your diagnose can very well be a result of the bithcontrol-pills you are on (to keep the cysts down). The "constipation, diarhea, abdominal swelling im no longer able to wear jeans because the pressure of them bothers my abdomen, oh and the sweating" are very familiar to me indeed! Horrible progesterone... Check the patients-manual for side-effects. (I myself get totally messed up from progesterone, but at least I know it is due to that, so it doesn't freak me out anymore.)
You could consult with your/a gynaecologist on trying a different kind of oral contraceptive. Especialy if you have a progesteron-only pill (a 'mini-pill'), changing it into a combined pill might sort out the digestive / blown-belly / sweat etc. problems.

Having to go to the toilet all the time can be the result of a lot of different things, drawing your own conclusions is not wise; good you went to an urologist. But if one doctor doesn't know, go to an other. Don't take 'don't-know' for an answer. Have you seen an internist yet? (Is that what you call it in English aswell?) An internist is trained to combine it all and take it all into consideration as a whole.

The bloodloss and discharge should have a cause and you want to know it. My advise would be to go to an other gynaecologist (make the call tomorrow) for a second opinion. Best one working in a hospital, not a small clinic. If you find one you want to consult, and they don't have room for an appointment for the next months, consider walking into the emergency of the hospital; they will have to see you then. A second opinion doctor might tell you the same as your current one, might not. At least you will know more.

Good luck!
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Ive been telling the doctors about my severe urgency to urinate and having to go all the time so they sent me to the urologists well the urologists did this test where they stick a catheter in you and test your bladder and put some kind of fluid or something in you and ask you questions. I couldnt complete the test because when that catheter went in me I turned literally albino started pouring sweat and puked. Anyways He did do a cat scan of my kidneys and said they look great but its like the doctors are waiting for me to die before they find out whats wrong with me. Im only 24 and cancer is so unlikely but I did'nt realize these little tumors could make you feel this bad. Ive had both the urologists and Gyno say to me well you have these cysts but they are small and shouldnt be causing these symptoms. Well I know what I feel and they are causing these symptoms. I hate when Doctors treat you like a Hypochondriac. Im a mother who has plans, I DONT WANT TO BE SICK!! I look very young so they treat me very young but I finally spoke up and had my mom come with me and his atitude (attitude) totally changed. The visit before that he was saying well these cyst arent causing these symptoms and now he is like these cyst should be gone we need to either do the surgery or start Lupron. Im taking the surgery because why wait another 6 months treating myself with injections for a disease im not even sure I have. Thanks for letting me unload.
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Thank you, I feel like a B**** now lol. Dont feel bad my mom has had to put up with my moodiness too. I dont know its like all doctors are fed up with everyone now and everybody is sick and has ailments. I've been complaining with pain and all these crazy symptoms for over a year only for my gynocologist with a horrible bedside manner to look at me or treat me like im putting on. I cant sleep on neither sides, my back, or my stomach because of the cysts, im getting up 6 or more times a night to urine. I get literally 4 to 5 hours of sleep a night. I have to use pillows to prop me up. It ***** and im tired of dealing with it. Maybe I should get a second opinion. He is finally now starting to take me serious. Maybe I dont know...next appointment is nov 5, if that jerk treats me with the "What do you want me to do about it attitude" im goin to go off.
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Avatar universal
Just a few more thoughts.  If you doctor even slightly suspects ovarian cancer, he needs to be acting very quickly to get you scheduled for surgery.  If not, you really need a better doctor.  It should be a gynecologist/oncologist, too.

And yes, it is possible for a small cyst to be malignant.  Often the larger cysts are the benign ones (not always).

You'll be in my prayers.
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Honestly I am trying to help, and as co-community leader of the forum I try to give some type of answer to everyone even if it doesn't really solve everything.  Nobody on this forum is a doctor and we only support based upon our own experiences as patients and from others' stories.  I pay attention to a lot of stories and outcomes, and have a good memory for others' stories that have appeared here in recent months, but in no way will it ever make me a doctor.  

We only try to support each other while we wait for doctors to get it right for us, but nobody here has all the answers.  Cysts are a confusing problem and everyone's situation can be unique.

Most of the knowledge base on this particular forum is on cysts that turn out to be benign and most of that is based on cysts that formed on the ovary.  It is possible to get cysts on the ovary that started with endometriosis (from the uterus) and it is an entirely different medical condition.  Even doctors sometimes misdiagnose one type of cyst from another and don't get all the answers themselves until surgery.  Many ladies with ovarian cancer had no significant symptoms when diagnosed, so even that is hard to predict.

I am so sorry you feel so unwell and I truly hope your doctors solve the health problem for you soon.
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Well I have ovarian cysts so I was mainly looking for answers about ovarian cysts...my cysts wont go away. So from what I read that means they can be endo, or ovarian cancer, or dermoid. I know that small cysts can cause a bunch of symptoms. I've done a lot of research, maybe since you have no experience with endo or ovarian cancer you should not of answered my question. Sorry if I sound ill but I am......Maybe I shouldnt have come here. Was'nt looking to made feel like an idiot. I would never ask anyone but a doctor to say if I had one or the other. I guess ill move my happy butt into the endometriosis forum being that ovarian cancer is very unlikely for me.
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Avatar universal
We mainly help with questions regarding ovarian cysts on this forum.  I myself do not know enough about endometriosis or ovarian cancer to say if you have one or the other or neither.  Clearly you do have some strong symptoms.  

As for cysts, even small ones can cause a whole menu of symptoms, pain, systematic and hormonal disturbances that can mimic more serious illnesses while some cysts cause no noticeable symptoms at all.  It varies from woman to woman.  

Uterus problems such as endo and/or fibroids can cause sudden heavy bleeding (less likely with a typical ovarian cyst).

There are two additional forums on MedHelp you may want to investigate.  One is the Endometriosis forum and the other is the Ovarian Cancer forum.

I do hope your doctor finds and resolves your health problems for you!
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