[Oldgraymare]

I have been on quite the roller coaster ride since January.

Beginning of January, possibly even end of December, I started feeling unwell. Nothing alarming, it almost felt like period symptoms, like the day before my period starts where I am in discomfort but not doing badly (my periods are heavy and rough when they get going) but I was feeling these symptoms every day.

I started university in January, and I have had severe health anxiety and been diagnosed with IBS in the past so I figured my symptoms were just related to the stress of starting school again at 32. However the symptoms got progressively more and more uncomfortable until beginning of February I was suddenly hit with severe abdominal pain under my rib cage that landed me in the ER.

Since then it has been a whirlwind of confusion. The first night I had blood tests done and xrays of my abdomen. I was told my red blood cell count was low, that I might have some sort of infection and I would need to come in for a cat scan the next day for what the doctor suspected could be diverticulitis. For whatever reason they didn't admit me or give me pain killers so after a course of IV antibiotics I went home that night to my parents house still in excruciating pain.

Came back the next day and got the cat scan done and more blood drawn and was told I had an infected abscess on my right ovary and I would need to be on antibiotics and might need the abscess drained or removed so I would be in hospital for a few days. I was handed over to a gynecologist who said that, given certain things regarding my health and life history, an abscess made no sense. So I received an ultrasound, more blood tests and was told I definitely had a mass on my ovary and they thought maybe I had an infection stemming from somewhere else like my gallbladder or appendix but they also weren't sure if I even had an infection. General consensus seemed to be that it was a cyst, possibly ruptured, and possible endometriosis. All they knew was that there was inflammation in my abdomen, specifically a spot in my intestines that they weren't sure why it was there.

I was admitted to hospital and continued on the IV antibiotics and a couple of days after that got a follow up ultrasound to see what the condition of the mass was. I could swear on my life and confirmed with my dad who was with me that the doctor who discharged me from there said that the mass was no longer seen on the second ultrasound and that everything else was normal and I should would still be uncomfortable for a bit but would recover just fine. She did say that I still had cysts on that ovary and very likely endometriosis so I would need to see a gynecologist to get that sorted but otherwise I thought I was on the mend.

I followed up with my own doctor for the referral, gave him the hospital records and he came to roughly the same conclusion that the cyst had burst and I would recover in time and he would refer me to a gyno though it might take some time.

Meanwhile I continued to feel really not well so I went to my old family doctor for a second opinion. He freaked me out, being very grave and serious about the whole thing saying according to the records the cyst was still there and it was large and "complex" which he said meant it could be an endometrioma (which is what both ultrasounds said was most likely) or it could be something "more serious". There was also the risk of the cyst rupturing. He has referred me to a gynecologist with urgency but that gyno wants me to have an MRI done before I see him, who knows how long that will take...

In the mean time I am uncomfortable 24/7, feeling fortunately no major pain but constant fullness, pressure, like the worst gas or constipation of my life, some nausea. I also find it difficult to go to the washroom, again like constipation, yet I am able to go varying anywhere from normal stool to diarrhea and back again. I also go a ridiculous number of times in a day, sometimes up to 5 times in an hour or so. I can't sleep, work, even eating is a struggle. I've had to drop out of school because I missed so much while in hospital and the idea of trying to catch up while feeling this way is just insurmountable.

Thank you if you've made it to the end of this and if anyone with female reproductive organs can relate do let me know. I am freaking out needless to say and welcome any support or ideas.

Thank you

[rainbow8]

I don't find too many people posting here so I wanted to let you know that I read your post and I am so sorry you're in pain and suffering!! Do you have the MRI scheduled yet? I hope that will give you some answers, and that you will have competent doctors whom you trust. Your old family doctor seems like one of the good ones. Please get the MRI as soon as you can.

I am a woman, have had my share of gynecological problems, and also have IBS. I also have been on my own roller coaster since November! You can read my thread about sciatica. I'm still in pain and feel like my life is on hold. I'm more than twice your age, but I'm not ready for this constant pain! I will pray, if that's okay, for both of us to heal. Please keep posting with updates.

What do your parents think? Have you told your family doctor how uncomfortable you are? Maybe you can take something for your stomach. I do think they should be able to schedule the MRI right away!! Hugs from rainbow.

[unaluna]

Yeah but its canada, sometimes you wait. How close are you to the US? Any chance of hopping across the border for that MRI? How do they test for ovarian cancer? Like hormones?

[*Laurie*]

oldgreymare, please update us on your situation. I don't know how it works in Canada, but here in the U.S. I would go into the emergency room and let them know how poorly I feel. Hopefully, that would expedite the MRI.

[rainbow8]

Yes, please update us on your condition. I hope you're feeling better.

[technigal]

I hope you are doing better. I have ovarian cysts from polycystic ovaries. I was first diagnosed at 16. Because of my PCOS issues whenever I had problems it was always attributed it that. When I was I was 39 I stated having severe pelvic pain but no cysts were showing on ultrasounds. My OB/GYN refused to believe that I could have endo because it does not show up so late. Thankfully I got a second opinion and the GYN did day surgery. There was endo everywhere including adhesions on my scar from when I had my appendix out (my scar from that was from my belly button down). When they removed the endo I felt so good.

I know here in Edmonton you can get a private MRI done. I had one on my hip and the next day got called for an appointment at the hospital. My mother-in-law had paid for it, I never told her I got the call.