CAN ANYONE HELP ME?!!!? PLEASE!!!!

[dazedandconfused12]

For starters I'm young (20) and healthy with no obvious major health problems. But, For two years now I've been suffering with what I thought was a gastrointestinal issue. Nausea, vomiting, loss of apetite, bloated feeling, gas and pain in my abdomen, and cramping. With no honest attempt on my part ( I didn't intesify my exercise routine or anything, I was happy with my body) I lost about 20 or 30 pounds in about 5 months. So, I've been seeing a family doctor and a gastroenterologist trying to figure out my problem. Adventually they couldn't find anything in my blood work, etc. so they chalked it up to IBS. My only problem is that with treatment I was getting worse. I'm now to the point that EVERYTHING is exercise. Walking up a flight of stairs exhausts me to the point that I take an hour nap. Well low and behold, during a routine GYN exam she felt some growths on my ovaries and ordered an ultrasound. She asked me if I've ever had any gynecological symptoms...and I never really thought about it because my abdomen was in such pain (and now my lower back, too). So then I realized yes! I have painful intercourse with my husband, painful menstration (and very heavy as well) and irregular menses. Sometimes, I would bleed for about 15 days. When the ultra sound came back it showed two cysts one on each side, and also some fluid in my pelvic/abdomen. My family physician felt that it may be PID. I assured her that I NEVER had any symptoms of any kind of STD but also let her check me for them anyways. I came back with an abnormal pap smear, but no STDs. They treated me for PID anyways. When I went back to my gynecologist for these results she order some blood work to see if it could be PCOS. All that blood work came back negative so she diagnosed me with POSSIBLE endometriosis and POSSIBLE pcos....nothing concrete, since she only had clinical findings and no diagnostic findings. She put me on birth contorl for both and ordered me to repeat the ultrasound in a couple months. My symptoms have worsened...I've lost another 5 pounds and my close are loser everywhere except my abdomen, which seems to be growing. And now like I've mentioned I'm more exhausted then ever before, I no longer am able to work out and I cant eat because of the emense pressure on my stomach. I went in for the repeat and the cysts are still there (slightly larger) and the fluid is still there (despite treatmens for PID). I was told that 4 months of birth control should of cleared everything up. I was taking birth control so that I wouldn't have a period, but low and behold I had one (in for months) that lasted 22 days and was so heavy I bled through the extra absorbancy pad in 45 minutes.
So, with all that said...I guess my question is. Could this be ovarian cancer?
I know I'm young, but things happen and I don't want to just let it go and lose my life for being "too young."

[ChrisP2236]

Please give us an update after your dr. visit.  I am so sorry you are going through this at such a young age. I would specifically ask your gyn to rule out ovca - if she has any question that should get a referral to a gyn/onc. I had many of the symprtoms you had (except the periods - I was past menopause) and was treated for IBS for 18 mos.  My CA 125 was 6. Cysts can also cause these symptoms, but you are wise to listen to your body and keep going until you get an answer.  I did and was caught earlier than I would have been if I kept on relying on my dr to find out what was wrong. Your symptoms are an indication that something is wrong and you need to get to the cause.  Good luck.  Chris P

[dazedandconfused12]

Thank you so much for all of your answers.

Just to clear some things up, I have been seeing a gynecologist...my writing may have made that confusing, but I think I will ask her for a referal to a gyn/onc as well.

Also, all my blood work came back fine, no anemia. Some slightly low potassium and sodium though. A little over a year ago I had a CA-125 drawn because I have a family history of OVCA, but that came back normal. Then when I switched doctors due to insurance stuff and mentioned that she said she doesn't think that the CA-125 is reliable and only uses to track progress after a cancer diagnosis is made.

I see my gynecologist on the 3rd to go over my 2nd ultrasound. I have had 2 abdominal and 2 transvaginal ultra sounds.

It's just the 3rd of September is so far away, I wish i could find out right now!!

[gma718]

I forgot to add you also may be anemic from all that heavy bleeding..that could be the cause of your weakness and tiredness.

[gma718]

I am so sorry to here what you are going through..FIRST Find another DR! Your intuition is telling you that something is not right...I was an endometriosis sufferer for many years..but never lost weight because of it..my symptoms were pain, pressure, bad PMS, heavy heavy periods and bad cramps..I feel you need to look into this further..much further. I did not have abnormal paps from endo..ask your gyn for a ct-scan or mri...also a referral to a gyn/onc just to rule everything else out..it will give you peace of mind.  Good Luck and please let us know how things are going..Gia

[Jan214]

Judy, most gynoncs won't see you without a gynecological referral so I think that should be her first step.  She should get a referral from her family doc for a really good gyn and take it from there.

Have you been having abdominal ultrasounds or transvaginal ultrasounds? If only the former you should definitely insist on the transvaginal ultrasound. Also, I don't think it is unreasonable to have a look see since it is not going away.  First though you should have a gynecologist treating you and not your family Dr.  As soon as my GP felt my cysts she sent me to a gyn who did the TVUS, a CA125 and than she referred me to the gynonc.

If your pap came back irregular what did your family dr determine from that?  That it was PID?  Has she checked for cervical cancer?  That is far more common in girls your age than ovca.  

Good luck to you and you are right to not let people put you off because of your age.  
Jan

[JC145]

Cover all the bases, contact a GYN/ONC asap.  Don't bother waiting any longer to find out exactly what it is.  Like Joanne said, 95% are benign, but you might as well get the answers from the best possible source .. a GYN/ONC.  Hopefully, you won't need him when all is said and done.  Judy

[jlock]

It is possible that it could be ovca and it also could be endometriosis.  I think you might want to ask for a laproscopy to see if it is endo.  I never had pains in my gyn area ezcept for pain with sex.  My pains were exactly like you descibed as well as lower back pain.  Have you asked for a ct scan??  Please keep in mnd that most masses and cysts are 95% benign..so that is a good thing.  You might have to try a new Gyn for a second opinion.  Good luck....also there is a ovarian cyst forum on here,you might want to post there as well~~~~Joanne