Talk to me about Cysts

[housecarder]

So I've had cysts in the past but only knew what it was after it ruptured. I am currently experiencing similar pain to my last cyst.
My question to those who experience them regularly, when should I be concerned and talk to my doctor? I know they can go down or rupture on their own. Does letting one rupture cause a lot of damage?

[Deleted]

Hi, So the answer to all of those questions is dependent upon what type of cyst you have.

Do you know what type it is?

[samanthasays]

Boo! I hope you are not in too much pain and it goes away soon.

I have had 3, all monitored by my RE. She said mine would go away by shrinking, not rupturing, so I am not sure about any damage rupturing might cause. If it is a recurring problem potassium supposedly helps prevent them, so I have a banana every morning now. I also drink a glass of warm water with a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar every day if I have a cyst, that is supposed to help them shrink.

I had trans-vaginal ultrasounds for all 3 of mine, so I knew they were nothing to worry about.

My sister had a dermoid cyst, those are the dangerous ones, she had to have surgery to have it removed. I would say if you want to call your doctor it is a totally appropriate instance to do so. Then they can decide if it something worth bringing you in for.

[chocolate]

I don't really have any wisdom to share here, but I'm curious to see what others have to say. I have had 3 ruptures (I think) and they have been pretty painful.

I don't think they generally cause any problems (rupturing). I had one rupture when I was pregnant with DS, it was my first rupture so I had no idea what was going on. I had a couple ultrasounds to monitor what was happening (I was only 5ish weeks) and basically I had a lot of fluid and it mostly absorbed by the next day so they just ruled it a ruptured cyst.

Sorry if that offers you no help! I have found that for myself, I need to stay away from caffeine to keep them at bay. If I'm drinking a bunch of coffee, soda, and eating a bunch of sugary foods (which I try not to make a habit of anyway) then they seem to flare up and cause pain. But I don't know if there's a legitimate correlation there.

[pinkcat]

What are the symptoms of cysts?

Last year I went to my OB because I was having pain right where my left ovary is, and it was most extreme the two weeks before my period (or likely the two weeks after I ovulated, but I wasn't temping or anything then so I can't say for sure) It was especially painful if I sneezed or stretched the wrong way- I would feel a really sharp pain then.

My OB brushed it off somewhat, saying she didn't feel any cysts but if "I really wanted" I could go back for an Ultrasound. I planned on scheduling one, but the pain went away the next month for the most part and has been pretty mild up until the past two months.

I'm noticing these symptoms coming back, but it's hard to know if it is "normal" or something you should have looked at? I'm of course not expecting a diagnosis here because I know everyone's cycles are different and none of you can see in my ute! I guess I'm mostly just curious what symptoms those who do have cysts experience.

[housecarder]

I have no idea what kind it is. About three years ago I had some severe pain and then while having sex I felt a sharp pain and almost blacked out and vomited. Went to the ER and they said it was probably a ruptured cyst and sent me home. I went to my OB the next day and they did an ultrasound. He said because there was fluid there that it confirmed a ruptured cyst and said it was pretty common. I've not really had problems since, except occasional pain. At my last ultrasound they didn't see any overly large follicles, so I don't know if I should be concerned, I don't really know how quickly cysts develop.
Sorry if this is a vague question, I just don't really know what to ask or where to start and Google is not helping.

[samanthasays]

May 8, 2015 14:05:24 GMT -5 housecarder said:

I have no idea what kind it is. About three years ago I had some severe pain and then while having sex I felt a sharp pain and almost blacked out and vomited. Went to the ER and they said it was probably a ruptured cyst and sent me home. I went to my OB the next day and they did an ultrasound. He said because there was fluid there that it confirmed a ruptured cyst and said it was pretty common. I've not really had problems since, except occasional pain. At my last ultrasound they didn't see any overly large follicles, so I don't know if I should be concerned, I don't really know how quickly cysts develop.
Sorry if this is a vague question, I just don't really know what to ask or where to start and Google is not helping.

If you are having severe pain call your Dr. With my first cyst I had severe pain during sex, that's why I called. Some Dr's can do a pelvic exam, some do an U/S, but I don't think you are going to get any answers unless you call your Dr.

As for how quickly cysts develop: If it happens around O it COULD be a follicular cyst, if you have pain later in the 2WW or early your next cycle it COULD be a corpus luteum cyst, but I am not a Dr. and can't see into your ute, those are just the most common functional cysts. 

Dermoid cysts and cystodenomas are less common, but can be dangerous.

To my knowledge there is really no way to know which it is without an U/S. A benign cyst will be an empty black blob, like a lake. It might have blood streaks, but it will be mainly empty looking because it is just filled with fluid. Your Dr. will be able to tell right away from an image if it is benign or something to worry about. 

If it is a functional cyst your Dr. may just tell you to wait it out. I know some Dr's will put you on birth control to help it shrink by stopping the hormone infusion from your natural cycle. 

[Deleted]

I agree with samanthasays ^^^^^^

I have had multiple larger sized cysts, both follicular and corpus luteum. I had a cystectomy in 2002 when I was 18 for a cyst that burst, but none of the my other cysts have required surgery since.

Most people benefit from birth control to reduce cyst growth and reoccurence; however, when you are TTCing using birth control creates a slight issue as it prevents pregnancy.

I have never used any natural remedies. Mostly, heating pads and pain relievers. I would try to get more information from your gyn as to the size and type of cyst. Also it's good to know which side it is on. My cysts seem to occur more often on my right side, but I always feel the pain on the left.

It's good to have the information as a reference if you develop symptoms in the future.

[housecarder]

Yeah I'm CD7, I've been on clomid and femara recently which I know clomid can add to the chance of cysts. I put in a call to my doctor and left a message with her nurse. I can deal with the pain if it will resolve itself, I just didn't want to cause more problems by trying to tough it out. Thank you all for the info.

[samanthasays]

May 8, 2015 14:47:14 GMT -5 housecarder said:

Yeah I'm CD7, I've been on clomid and femara recently which I know clomid can add to the chance of cysts. I put in a call to my doctor and left a message with her nurse. I can deal with the pain if it will resolve itself, I just didn't want to cause more problems by trying to tough it out. Thank you all for the info.

Did you go in for a baseline U/S on cycle day 1-3? Clomid is infamous for causing cysts. If the doctor that is prescribing it is not bringing you in for regular trans-vaginal ultrasounds DEMAND that they start. You need at lease 2 a cycle, a baseline on days 1-3, and at least one to monitor your follicle growth, normally around day 12. Cysts can prevent follicles with actual eggs in them from maturing, so if you are not being properly monitored and are getting clomid and femera with existing cysts you might not be increasing your chances of pregnancy at all. 

[Deleted]

May 8, 2015 14:47:14 GMT -5 housecarder said:

Yeah I'm CD7, I've been on clomid and femara recently which I know clomid can add to the chance of cysts. I put in a call to my doctor and left a message with her nurse. I can deal with the pain if it will resolve itself, I just didn't want to cause more problems by trying to tough it out. Thank you all for the info.

*****Not medical advice*****

Based on where you are in your cycle it's most likely a follicular cyst, but you should definitely confirm with your doctor. Here's a helpful link for some info on cysts in the mean time.

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cysts/basics/causes/con-20019937

[housecarder]

May 8, 2015 14:51:22 GMT -5 samanthasays said:

May 8, 2015 14:47:14 GMT -5 housecarder said:

Yeah I'm CD7, I've been on clomid and femara recently which I know clomid can add to the chance of cysts. I put in a call to my doctor and left a message with her nurse. I can deal with the pain if it will resolve itself, I just didn't want to cause more problems by trying to tough it out. Thank you all for the info.

Did you go in for a baseline U/S on cycle day 1-3? Clomid is infamous for causing cysts. If the doctor that is prescribing it is not bringing you in for regular trans-vaginal ultrasounds DEMAND that they start. You need at lease 2 a cycle, a baseline on days 1-3, and at least one to monitor your follicle growth, normally around day 12. Cysts can prevent follicles with actual eggs in them from maturing, so if you are not being properly monitored and are getting clomid and femera with existing cysts you might not be increasing your chances of pregnancy at all. 

Yes we are doing monitoring but I am not taking anything this cycle so we didn't do a baseline. We saw two mature follicles on the right on CD 14 last cycle and I confirmed ovulation with BBT.

[meerkatmillie]

Dermoid cyst here. I can tell you about my experience in case it helps.

Last July, during intercourse I felt an intense stabby-like crampy pain when my DH penetrated me. I was in so much pain afterwards I was unable to do anything but lie there motionless for several hours curled up in a ball. But I couldn't sleep. I vomited and had diarrhea overnight. By the next morning I was having hot flashes, starting to black out, and still vomiting so I went to my OBGYN. She initially thought it was a regular ruptured cyst. She sent me immediately for a vaginal ultrasound and they found an unruptured 8cm dermoid (which later was removed via laparotomy).

If you're ever having intense pain like this, get checked out immediately. If the dermoid had ruptured it would've leaked all its icky goo in my ute and been a mess. Also they didn't know it then, but in hindsight my RE said its likely the pain I was experiencing was from ovarian torsion. Ovarian torsion can be dangerous if untreated (when the ovary twists, the blood supply can be compromised and the ovary can die). Fortunately my ovary un-torted itself on its own while I waited (in pain) for surgery a couple weeks later.

[twocents6708]

I have had one rupture in the last and had one again recently that went down on it's own. The pain I has this second time was not as severe as the ruptured one but it was bad enough that I could barely stand. I treated with heat and OTC pain relief and called dr the next morning. I already had an appt scheduled for the next week and she told me that if pain was not severe, I was fine to wait (it was gone by morning) but if it returned and was severe pain, I needed to be seen. They checked it out at my appointment and dr thought it had likely been a CL cyst based on my cycle.