I am a 58 year old woman. I have always been into health and fitness, without being obsessive. Ten years ago I had a hysterectomy and my ovaries were left. I recovered well from my hysterectomy which was performed vaginally. After discussion with my wonderful gynaecologist, I decided to start using Oestrogen HRT patches. The benefits have been amazing for me over the past ten years. I use the lowest dose that will still offer protection to my bones (I have a very small frame). In November 2018, I started to get lower pelvic pain/aching. Felt very like period pains of the past. ( I'd had this discomfort for some time prior, but it was so rare that I didn't feel there was a concern).
By November I had other symptoms of lower back pain, abdominal swelling, exhaustion, breathlessness when going upstairs, constipation that is only helped by taking laxatives, a feeling of fullness after eating only a small amount, and silent reflux coughing.
I had a scan in November that showed a cyst of 6cms. I was told by the radiographer that it was a simple cyst. My GP did a CA-125 blood test which came back as only 7 (had recent one in March which was 8). I had a follow up scan 6 weeks after the first one. I was told that the cyst was the same size... I wish I'd asked to see the scan now, because my symptoms are so much worse that I feel sure it's grown.
I was referred to a gynaecologist and had a 4 months wait. I saw him this week. He was terrific... He said that he felt it was best to remove the cyst and ovary, even though he was sure it wouldn't be cancerous. He also suggested he removes the other one, based on my age and the chance that I may get another one in the future. I forgot to ask him more questions that I know my GP would not be able to answer and I haven't been able to find out on medical sites online.
It confuses me that, considering my age, I have a simple cyst, as I thought they were only found in younger women. In addition, I have read that a CA-125 result can be misleading and not definitive as ruling out cancer.
I did have a bowel screening test which was very useful. That came back negative so I'm sure that the awful bowel problems I'm having are all to do with the cyst pressing on things... ?
I have agreed to surgery and don't have a date yet, but he said it could be another few months. I live alone and have always been independent. I have no family other than my grown up daughter and son in law. They don't live anywhere near me though and they also both work full time and have a toddler. I'm not a martyr by any stretch of the imagination but I am really finding it difficult to summon up the energy to even go for the odd bit of food shopping. Online shopping for food is no good for me and it's usually just the odd bits that you need.
Anyway, thats' frustrating practical stuff (no helpful neighbours sadly, even though I've always offered help). I guess I've started to have a concern that there is something suspicious going on, and that it might be too late by the time I have my operation.
I'd love to hear from someone who really knows more about this. Whilst I don't want to be falsely reassured (I always prefer to know the truth), I also don't want to worry myself sick if my symptoms are ubiquitous of a benign large ovarian cyst.
