Hi [@mel97]‍ 

Thank you for sharing your experience - I'm also 23!

I think I will definitely have to push for another gynaey appointment.. it's seriously frustrating having a small dermoid cyst because the doctors/GP that I have spoken to are so adamament that it can't possibly be causing me these problems; even though I've recently had blood tests and sent off stool samples which have all come back clear.  Everyone's pain thresholds are different and I think I'm just (unfortunately) sensitive to pain.

I also want to have children when I'm older and it does scare me that if this cyst isn't growing quickly (which I fail to believe due to my persistent and evergrowing pain as years go on) then how will this affect my ability to conceive.  

Thank you again for sharing your journey and I wish you all the best with the surgery!!

Hi all, 

I had my 14 cm dermoid cyst removed nearly 3 weeks ago now and am currently recovering. Wanted to share my experience, as, up till the date of my operation, I was constantly googling to find out more about it and it's affect on my fertility. However, it's all been a really positive experience and I'm so happy I was able to have it removed. My dermoid (who I named Dermot) was discovered entirely by accident. I'm 38, want to have kids, but have never met the right person, so decided to get my fertility checked out in order to make some important decisions. Whilst being scanned at the clinic they discovered this mass and suggested I was fast tracked straight to  hospital to find out what it was.

Anyway, a month later I was operated on to have it removed (privately, I might add. Unfortunatley the wait would have been over a year with the NHS). My surgeon was amazing and managed to do the surgery laprascopically even thought Dermot was 14 cm. It took nearly 3 hours and he also managed to save most of my left ovary too. I believe my cyst had affected my fertility, as the fertility clinic have diagnosed me with low ovarian reserve and were unable to find any follicles on my left ovary. My surgeon also checked my fallopian tubes and my right one is blocked. Despite this, I hope there are always options, including adoption. 

The reason I wanted to add this, is to help provide some calm anyone who is worried about their surgery. It's amazing what modern medicine can do now! I'm eternally grateful to my doctor for his incredible skills. Please, stay positive, if you are worried about what will happen. 

Hey, 

I just had two 11cm dermoid cysts removed from both ovaries on Friday; and currently recovering. However I'm still very bloated, and haven't lost any weight; I thought I would've lost at least a few kgs after the removal of the large dermoid cysts. While in hospital I was not bleeding, but now I've started bleeding; no foul smell or anything; I'm confused as I'm not sure if this is all normal? 

How long will it take for the bleeding to stop? & when will the bloating reduce? 
 

xx

Hi! 

I bled a little bit a few days afterwards and they said it was normal, obviously if you are concerned just contact the hospital they should have given details. I believe its not a concern unless its a lot and they check your blood pressure whilst there to check for no internal bleeding, I doubt you'd have been released if it was a risk. Could it be your period perhaps?

You will have a lot of water retention whilst you heal and you will be immobile so don't worry about the weight loss just yet, it will be more of a fullness you are relieved from when you've healed :)

Hi Kate,

can you please advise if you got your dermoid cyst removed ? I hope everything went well. I am in exactly same position as you so woudl really appreciate your response. 
i to have dermoid cyst on my right overy 5.1cm and I booked for the surgery next week. I am so scared .

my Ca 125 is also slightly elevated. I have ready thank Ca 125 is not normally elevated with dermoid cyst. I am scared that maybe it's a cancerous dermoid cyst. 
how much was level of your Ca125? Did they do key hole surgery to remove yours? 
 

thank you in advance for your response 

Hi There,

Yes I got keyhole surgery and as it turned out it was actually a large chocolate cyst (teratoma), sadly it had twisted all my right ovary so I got my ovary and Fallopian tube removed as well as some endometriosis that was lurking about in there too. I'm not sure what my CA125 levels were they just told me they were elevated and I think that's why I got my scans and surgery so promptly. They do say that cysts and endometriosis  can elevate these levels though.
I was really nervous too about the surgery as I had a bad experience as a child, but it went very well and I was only in surgery for an hour and I was was home and in my own bed for 7pm. What I will say is I found recovery is tough, I read many articles saying you will be up and about in a couple of days. Now everyone is different but I struggled to get out of bed myself for about 4 days and I also found it uncomfortable sitting for long periods. I also had really bad bloating which caused pain in my shoulder tip and constipation so get some peppermint tea and califig in lol. I didn't feel back to my old self for about 3-4 weeks as I did get an infection in my belly button wound. However I'm now fully recovered and all is well.

So please take it easy and allow yourself time to recover at your own pace. If there is anything else I can help with please let me know as I felt lost before my surgery too. Keep me posted on how you go and take care x 

Hi Kate,

thank you so much for responding. I don't feel so alone anymore... I am so worried... and scare and lost... 

I feel better knowing that Ca 125 could be elevated do to tratomas. I think they are same as dermoid cyst. I have been told to wait and monitor it I wanted but I just want it out.

I am not looking forward to my surgery. I have been told I woudl need to stay overnight as my surgery is at 3pm. So I guess they need to keep me in.

rhabks again so much for your prompt response thanks to you I would sleep well tonight. 

I forgot to ask did they notice your endometriosis on scan or only during surgery? 

Hi,

No it's never been anything I ever had symptoms of before, the pain just started out of no where and nobody mentioned it from either of the scans.