[KAT1981]

Hi, I'm new here and would just really like a bit of advice.....

I have been referred to a gynaecologist through my GP and have been diagnosed with having an ovarian cyst, as well as possible endometriosis. I have an operation booked for 22nd December to have a laparoscopy, where they will remove the cyst and check if I have endometriosis, if they find it they will remove it. I am concerned and wanting information as I am not sure that having the operation is the right thing to do.

If anyone can give me any advice I would be so grateful, here is some background info and history on my problems:

I am 29 years old, I am 169cm tall and weigh 52kgs

For around a year I have been suffering with adult acne, which I believe it hormonal as it's mostly around my jawline. I've never had perfect skin but it hasn't been this bad since my teen years. My skin has also been very oily, and strangely I have suffered from oily patches in my hair (which don't go even after washing) My hairdresser thinks it's linked to the same problem as my skin, i am just producing too much oil.

I also had a coil put in around a year ago, I chose a hormone-free copper coil. I've tried various pills in the past and never got on well with them suffering mood swings, and weight gain. I was really pleased with myself for braving the pain of having a coil inserted as I thought I was doing the right thing choosing a safe hormone free contraceptive method.

Around six months ago I started having very irregular periods, in one month I had three, and then they continued quite frequently, with spotting in between, some would be painful, some would be very light, and I would have hormonal mood swings and feel constantly pre-menstural, bloated and tired. My skin got worse, I felt discomfort during sex and felt I needed to urinate more often than usual, waking up in the night when before I would manage to sleep though.

After this went on for a few months and my GP just put it down to stress, i began to worry that it was my coil that was causing the problems, and one day became so desperate and fed up I booked to see a private gynaecologist to have it removed. I told her my symptoms and she said that she was pretty sure it wasn't the coil causing the problems since my coil was hormone-free. I still asked her to remove it as I at least wanted to rule out the possibility. she also gave me an internal examination, and i was very sensitive on my left side, she said she thought she felt something and suggested I have a scan.

I had a scan which showed a simple (fluid filled) ovarian cyst on my left ovary, which was at the time 4.8cm in size.

As I have been going through the NHS I then had to wait a month before I saw a specialist gynaecolgist. During that time I did a lot of research on cysts, and was almost relieved to know that this could be what was causing my problems, I went to see the specialist planning to really convince them that I needed and wanted the operation, as I know on NHS they sometimes just plan to "monitor" you and re-scan in a few months time hoping it would have shrunk by then.

He agreed that i could have the operation after explaining my symptoms but said that he suspected I might have endometriosis as well, he said that a simple cyst never causes hormonal problems or imbalances. He said that a laparoscopy would mean they can go in with keyhole surgery, remove the cyst, check for endometriosis and remove it if it is there.

Looking back on the last two months I've realised that my last two periods have been quite normal, with no spotting in between. I still have bad skin (even though I've been taking antibiotics to treat it) but I haven't been having really hormonal mood swings or anything so bad as it was.

My thought now is this : if the cyst isn't what is causing the problems, it might shrink, or may have already done so (it has been a month since the scan which showed it as 5cm, and they will not be doing another scan before the op), and may therefore not need to be removed. If this is the case, then maybe I can deal with the endometriosis without having the operation. (If I even have endo)

I would like to know more about endometriosis, wether the laparoscopy is a good idea at this stage, wether taking the pill could treat it (I would be happy to try the pill in this case and maybe experiment with one that suits me) and perhaps do this before the operation is due, and then cancel it. I really don't want to have the op if I don't need it because of possible complications.. But if it's definitely the right thing then I will go ahead. I also don't know how important it is considered to be removing a cyst of 5cm, am I in real danger of it twisting or rupturing? I need to decide all this within the next month and make a decision..

I am really concerned about my fertility as well, plan to have children in around two years time.

If anyone has had similar experiences, or ANY advice I would really appreciate it!!

Thanks for reading...

[CGR]

Hi, I hope you are well! Im new too! I am also waiting for a laparoscopy (1st Dec 2010) I am really really nervous and I hope that I have chosen the right option.

As a teenager I had heavy periods which were painful and decided to g onto the pill. microgynon. this made my periods regular but were still very heavy. didn't think anything of it, I was told its normal. after having my first baby in 2003 i bled for three months non stop. I was given pills to stop bleeding which worked but once pills had run out the bleeding started up again. the doctor did blood tests to check for anemia and thyroid problems which came back all clear. I was sent for a scan which also came back clear. it was diagnosed as hormonal. eventually after the three months it stopped, and again didnt think anything of it. I went back on the same pill and peiods were pretty much the same. we decided to have another baby a couple of years later. I got pregnant but it ended in miscarrige at 7 weeks. tried again, and i was diagnosed with a blighted ovum at 8 weeks which I had to have removed at 13 weeks by a D&C. tried again and had one more early miscarrige. the cause of the miscarriges were investigated and I was told i had borderline aggresive natural killer cells. we finally had our second child who was born in 2007.

After my second child I was not allowed back on the pill due to a history of migraines so I decided to try the coil. I had the mirena. the pain was terrible having it put in, but like you I was proud of myself and it was to be hassle free! I returned to the doctor after 6 months as i seemed to always be bleeding which wasn't what i was expecting. friends of mine had light or no periods at all. doctor told me to bear with it so i did. after just over a year i was having terrible strong period pains and was worried my coil had slipped so I was sent for an internal scan. having the scan was painful (deep pain) whic is what I also experience sometimes during sex. the scan showed the coil in place. the constant cramps carried on so i was reffered to a gyn. I answered some of his questions and he told me he would like to book me in for a laparoscopy as he thinks I may have endometriosis. I told him that i was really worried about waking up after the lap and them telling me they found nothing. he told me that in 50% of cases they don't find anything but reassured me he had put other women forward for a lap on less symptoms than me. he explained that I have tried all the other options that he would have recomended (pill, coil) and that the next step would be to look! so I agreed.

my symptoms include.
heavy periods in my teenage years.
deep pain during sex (not all the time)
irregular bleeding with the coil.
period pain, cramping pain quite often swometimes every other day.
when my bladder is full and i go to the toilet i get period pain when my bladder is emptying.
i tend to get loose stools when on my period which also gives me cramping as my bowel emties (thought this was normal!)
I wee all the time, constantly - no stinging or burning
I get alot of headaches and find myself tired and lacking in energy compared to everyone else.
(I have spots also, never seem to have grown out of them. i still get them on my back and chest aswell. I have to wash my hair every day)

I don't want to tell you what to do but i hope my info gives you a better idea. I would love to keep in contact and if you don't mind i will let you know the results of my lap.

Do you think my symptoms sound like endo?

C xx
I

[shweedart]

The point of the Laparoscopy is to see if you have or you havn't got it. I doubt the people checking will be hoping to find something wrong with you. It's never a waste of time when it comes to your health. So what if they don't find any problems, you know your healthy, you have peace of mind and at the end of the day its their job.

I'm desperately trying to get my doctor to refer me to a gynocologist but he refuses to believe how bad my periods are (my symptoms are exactly the same as my sister, who has endo) and has simply put it down as PMS end of story. I'd give anything to have the same oppertunity as you.

[Katie35801]

Personally, if everything has been normal for the last 2 months, why have surgery? Sounds like the problem solved itself?

[CGR]

hi,

maybe i didn't explain things properly. I am really nervous about them not finding something because i know there is something not right. I have ignored symptoms for years and let it get to the point where i cant go on with the irregular bleeding and constant cramps. I should never of just thought all my symptoms were normal and so many people get told they are normal. i dont know what i will do if they say they havent found anything because it wont mean i am healthy. I believe a woman knows there own body, just like you know there is sommething wrong.
have you tried changing doctors? you sound really fed up. dont give up and dont put up with it for years like i did to the point where things have got bad.
keep adiary of all the pain you experience on a day to day basis and present it to a new doctor.
good luck

[shweedart]

Well they're looking in the right direction So that's a start! Good luck to you too

[typroctor]

I have been dealing with many of the same issues. I suspect I have endo., and I have had problems with cysts, oily skin, etc. I have appts. scheduled for this week, and if they tell me I need surgery, I am going to check with alternative treatments first. Try doing a search on alternative treatments for this. I found several local facilities that treat this using acupuncture, massage, and herbal remedies. Hope this helps