Hi all!

Just wanted to jump on and provide some info and hopefully reassurance to others. I had a dermois cyst on my right ovary removed last Wednesday. Unfortunately due to its position my ovary was removed too. The surgery took 2.5 hrs keyhole and it would have been quicker but i had adhesions on my bowel and a portion was attached to my abdominal wall and i also had a polyp on my womb. My pain beforehand was intense..some days my hip would giveway and my bleeding was horrendous. Similar symptoms to all above. Recovery wise its been slower than i thought...I've been bleeding since, although my period was amongst it and I've also had the coil fitted, the pain is quite sore, although painkillers help and i just feel so bloated and absolutely shattered..but my body is healing so its to be expected...advice to you all--- get a heat pack..i got mine at boots for £10 and its a god send! As soon as you wake up get your shoulders moving, it will help with the shoulder blade pain that you will experience because of the air in your stomach, shrug your shoulders every 10 minutes or so...make sure you get stool softeners...if you are like me and have dealt with constipation for years this is different level...do not makes plans for a good few weeks...today is the first day I've had enough energy to do a small amount of make up..and i usually wear it everyday! Make sure you have plenty of help around you..you get beautiful surgical socks but cant bend to take them off and put them on..be patient and relax..let your body heal..whats keeping me going is knowing once I've healed there will be no daily pain!

If you have any questions feel free to ask, take care everyone. Oh I'm 38 and a mum of 2 with no further plans to have anymore just for reference 

Xx

Grateful to have found this thread started a few years ago. Thanks to everyone who has posted on it.

My experience of dermoid cysts is that one day, when I was 28, I suddenly started being sick and had a dull ache on my right side when I moved around. I thought it was an appendicitis and went to A+E.

24 hours later I had open surgery to remove a dermoid cyst (12cm) and my right ovary removed with it.

Four weeks later I was informed that the dermoid had malignant tissue (it was an immature teratoma stage 1). And I started (BEP) chemotherapy about a month later.

That was 17 years ago! I'm alive and well, have run a couple of marathons and climbed many mountains.

When they did the initial surgery they also discovered a dermoid on my left ovary as well, took a biopsy and it was benign. It was left in place through my childbearing years. I've had regular scans and blood tests across the years.

Sadly I didn't meet anyone to try to start a family with until my late 30s and despite IVF we didn't manage to conceive. (I hadn't been advised or didn't think to ask about egg freezing before chemotherapy and despite retrieving a high number of eggs during IVF there were only 2 found to be viable for fertilisation and transfer and neither of them took.)

I'm now 45 and have to decide whether or not to have surgery to remove my remaining dermoid and left ovary and most likely both fallopian tubes as well. This is entirely my decision, my consultant is not putting any pressure on me to do so but he also cannot rule out the possibility that the dermoid won't become malignant at some point in the future. (The chance of malignancy at any stage is really, really low)

I've been researching medical journals this afternoon and have found a number of case studies where dermoids have turned malignant in postmenopausal women. One case where it was at an advanced stage and resulted in death.

Even as I write this out it seems like a no-brainer to have the dermoid, ovary and tubes removed given it removes the risk of malignancy. And yet I've got tears rolling down my cheeks as I type since it feels like such a final step.

I know that my fertile years are pretty much over but it's knowing that I'll have immediate menopausal symptoms and subsequent risk to My heart, mental and bone health that seem to be what is holding me back from going ahead with surgery. I feel so healthy and well and hate the thought of disrupting that..I also realise I can investigate getting HRT but having heard the struggles of some friends to get the HRT they need from their GPs I really don't fancy taking on that struggle any sooner than I have to.

On the other hand I wonder if I might feel even better after surgery, not realising what my body has been tolerating all these years

I think I am edging closer to going ahead and even writing this all out here is part of that process - thank you again for starting and sharing on this thread. Reading every story has helped me on my way. Best wishes to you all. 

Hi there really looking to find out if anyone on here if anyone else has had similar symptoms as me during the times of having a dermoid cyst. 
so back in December I paid for a private scan because I had excruciating pain in my ovary area and could barely move or even speak because the pain was that bad. I have had this on going for the past 3 months and seems to happen after my cycle finishes. I have other side effects like my whole body has a weird sensation through it ny head is all blurry. Just really don't feel good within myself and very emotional to say the least and seems to last for at least 2 weeks after I finish my period. 
I am still waiting on a gynaecologist appointment to see what plan they will come up for me. 
 

thank you in advance for any replies!! 

Hi I am due to have a ca125 test next week as having a bad period cramps and some bloating. Started around 3 weeks ago. Had a scan in august but they only found nornal cysts. I always get scared it's ovarian cancer but I think these kind of cysts you have can also cause same symtoms as me. Due to see doctor also next week for an review to maybe go for a scan.

Hi Lwibr91 and welcome to the forum.

I just wanted to let you know that Pip15 hasn't been on the forum since 2021 so I don't think you will get a reply from them I'm afraid.

Also, hospital names are not allowed to be mentioned on the forum, but I hope these two websites - Go Private and The Private Healthcare Information Network - will help you get started with exploring your options if you do decide to go private. 

Kind regards,

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi,

I just wanted to reply because I was reading this thread as I lie in bed recovering - I've just come out of my surgery a few days ago. I was with NHS and although last summer they discovered a large dermoid cyst that would need removing, I had a very long wait (7 months) to see the specialist / gynocologist. However, when I was referred by my GP to have the appointment, I did get to choose out of 2 hospitals- one was a large mainstream NHS hospital and had zero appointments available at all, and one had a couple available after 7 months or so. I was very lucky because the one that had availability was a private hospital where overspill NHS patients can be seen sometimes. I know it may be unlikely, but i'd definitely try to see if this is an option, or check if you have a few hospitals to choose from and research to see if any private ones are available to you on NHS... I ended up having a senior consultant do my surgery and he did keyhole surgery to remove a 10cm cyst and he saved my ovary - there was a chance that it would have to be removed. I am so grateful i got to experience this with private treatment as the whole experience was much calmer, and i felt more reassured and well looked after. I had my own room and the staff were incredible.
Wishing you best of luck Xxx 

I saw my GP last Thursday about a lump in my right groin which we thought was a hernia.. The nurse scanned my pelvis and found my demoid cyst. Since then I've been rapid-referred and have a hospital appointment next Friday - the day before I go on holiday! I'm so grateful it's being dealt with quickly, but am spending lots of time looking online. Reading your experiences has definitely made me feel not so alone, or so stupid for feeling nervous..so thankyou for sharing! 
From what I've read the chances of the cyst being cancerous increases after menopause, and at 52 and recently started on HRT I'm anxious about that. 
I hope all of you that've been through surgery are well and recovered.