Welcome to the community. Did the ER doctor tell you the size of the ovarian mass/cyst? If not, it would be a good idea to call the hospital's medical records department and tell them you want a copy of the records from that visit (as well as the visit from a year ago if it was at the same hospital). The imaging report should tell you the size of the mass along with its characteristics which is helpful in determining the next step. You can then take these records to a doctor and thereby possibly save the costs of more imaging tests. Have you checked for a clinic in your area that will see patients without insurance?
Best of luck in getting the help you need. Please keep us posted.
I just posted on another thread. But will report to give you something history on what I am going though at the moment. To start all of the pains you are describing match what I have been feeling.
I’m about three weeks into an episode: six appointments, four doctors, countless tests and frustrations.
I went in to the doctor after having serve pain in my mid back/abdomen for about two weeks. It started small but had progressed to where it was hard to bend over to pick anything up off the ground, sharp pain when I would tilt my chin to my chest, difficulty sitting up in bed, throbbing/cramping pain on my side, pelvic area and mid-back. Sometimes a twisting or pushing feelings.
They did a dipstick pee test which revealed traces of blood. So, they diagnosed me with a kidney stone, gave me Flomax, ibuprofen and nausea medicine and sent me home. Said that I might have already passed a stone or could be passing one soon. I got home and started researching kidney stones.
First, the the doctor was very nonchalant in my diagnosis, stating that it was super common to have kidney stones and to just come back in 7 days if I didn’t feel better. Second, they didn’t give me strainer for my urine. Turns out it’s just a little plastic strainer with a filter inside it and I was able to buy one at a local medical supply store for $7.00. But, if I was in fact in the process of passing a stone it’s important to catch it so they can run tests on it. Lesson learned on that.
I spent the weekend in bed, with a heating pad. Super painful cramping in my mid back area, threw up a few times and just felt exhausted. They pain was also moving to my side, and then my pelvic area. Then would almost explode in my mid back on the right side.
After four days of taking medicine for a kidney stone I made another appointment with my primary care physician. Now my lab results had came back from the first urine test, which revealed no traces of blood. The doctor ordered another urinalysis just to confirm, but was sure that I didn’t have a kidney stone. We also completed my annual PAP to have additional information.
I really had to push that I knew my body and that I was worried, didn’t feel like myself and in extreme pain. The doctor then ordered a CT scan. Just saying that so anyone here doesn’t feel like you’re crazy or too demanding to want to know what’s going on with your body.
The next day I had a CT scan, and the following day my results came back.
Pelvic structures remarkable for 2.7 cm cystic change of the right ovary with free fluid tracking from the right adnexa with posterior cul-de-sac. Finding likely represent rupture of a physiologic right ovarian cyst with fluid tracking into the posterior cul-de-sac. Further evaluation could be accomplished with dedicated pelvic ultrasound. But, again they told me that this was something “common” and not to worry, that I basically just needed to ride it out, but they could give me pain meds.
At this point, I was relieved to have more questions answered and to hopefully be on the track to recovery. But, I still wanted more answers, was in constant pain and worried that I wasn’t feeling “better”.
There’s a history of endometriosis in my family. Generations have had problems with infertility, cysts and have required a laparoscopy to remove the endometriosis. I realize I’m not a doctor, but I felt this possible ruptured cyst need to be addressed so that I could be sure there was nothing more serious going on.
Next step: made an appointment to see a urologist to review my CT scan and to completely rule out a kidney stone. His findings matched: no kidney stone, but suggested that since I was still feeling so much pain to see my OBGYN and to also have a pelvic and abdominal ultrasound. He said it could be something related to my gull bladder or appendix.
Now I had two referrals to have a pelvic ultrasound. At this point I started taking pain meds. But was feeling like the pain was actually getting worse. I could still feel the cramping, twisting and sometimes sharp pain through the meds! I was so close to going to the ER, but I had an appt scheduled with my OBGYN the next morning.
OBGYN doctored listened to my symptoms, did some push tests on my abdomen & pelvic area, reviewed the CT scan results and tested by urine again to rule of an ectopic pregnancy.
She then gave me a referral to have an abdominal, pelvic and transvaginal ultrasound. The first two were typical ultrasounds where they put the goo on your belly and rub the little scanner across your body. But, the last was not fun. They stick a huge rod up your vagina, but it allows them to see what’s exactly going on.
My results should come in on Monday. But, the ultrasound did confirm that I do have cyst on my right ovary, it could be remnants of a ruptured cyst or still live (if that’s the correct term).
So, I'm not sure if that is helpful to you at all. But, all of the doctors have been consistent in saying that if the pain so severe that I should go to the ER.