: Ovarian cysts and pancreatitis

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

My cysts are the non-recurring kind. At least, it is very, very rare

that they come back. I think that there is only one reported case

in the literature.........

I had bilateral dermoid cysts. Which are known as teratomas or

products of fetal growth gone bad. These are the type of cysts

that have oil, hair, teeth, eyes, thyroids, etc in them. Mine had

teeth and hair in them. They are the type that can grow and grow

and grow all your life until they do like mine did.....cause the ovary

to twist on the pedicle and then burst. In my case, I had

everything that could go wrong with them go wrong. I had them

bilaterally, which is relatively rare, then I had one burst, which is

rare, they were relatively huge (as big as an adults head I was

told), which is rare, and then they caused, supposedly, the

massive post-op infection (although I am convinced that this was

more a product of having a bad gyn surgeon), which again, is

rare. So you see, I do not put much stock in being told that I can't

have something because it is rare! Also in my case, I had no

symptoms of anything being wrong except for vague discomfort a

few months prior to the one bursting (I had a 6 months pregnant

figure though....I always thought I was just packing on the weight

as I got older, never suspecting that I had a growth in my pelvis).

Once it burst, I got real sick within three days, with fever, nausea,

vomitting, diarrhea, high white counts and extreme pain in my

abdomen. In fact one of the tentative diagnoses was a burst

appendix. Similar location, similar pain, similar lab values. The

cysts were found on a plain film x-ray because of the teeth anda

subsequent vaginal ultrasound showed that it was twisted. I was

in surgery two hours later. An altogether horrible, horrible

experience.

I cannot imagine what you must be going through with recurring

cysts. Hemorrhagic ones are also a little scary as when they

burst, there is always a chance that they will be bleeders. Then it

a real emergency.......as you could go into shock. I hope that

there is something that your gyn can do about them...maybe

regulate your hormones or something (?). I cannot imagine

having to deal with " woman's problems " as an ongoing thing.

Since my surgery five years ago I have been fortunate to have

very light, very irregular periods. They usually occur out of the

blue. I was hoping that I would have one only every other month,

seeing that I only have one ovary, but unfortunately the remaining

one took up the slack......although not as hard working as it

should be I guess. But I am happy about it!

I hope your new cyst will not deter your doctors from evaluating

your other symptoms. Although it is very common for ovary

problems to induce non-specific GI symptoms. The association

with my ovaries and my pancreatitis is just coincidental I guess.

My CP is directly related to the bad skills of my first surgeon who

performed the ovary surgery. If she had done things right, I would

never have needed the second surgery...then I wouldn't have

gotten my first case of AP, which wouldn't have pushed my

pancreas divisum over the edge and caused me to have

CP.......but while I believe that this is the chain of events that lead

me to where I am today, I see it as futile to do the " what if " or

" only if this wouldn't have happened " game because you have no

way of knowing the alternative scenarios nor can you change

things once they happen. I guess I am partly responsible

because my intense dislike and distrust of doctors prevented me

from seeing anyone in all of my adult years until I had the ovary

burst ( I was forty).....and it would be easy for the doctor to say

that if I had yearly physical exams the dermoids would have been

caught at a very small stage and I would have had laparoscopic

surgery with no chance of rupture and sepsis.......But that is not

who I am......so that is not the way it happened. I cannot imagine

my behaviour to have been any different, even in hindsight. But I

still consider my first surgeon the biggest culprit in all of my

health problems today........How I long to punch her face out

when I run into her in the hallways....especially on days like today

when I feel so awful I wish I were dead, well not dead, but home

in bed, sleeping.........

I guess this is cathartic for me right now....sorry for taking

advantage of you. I hope that you find an answer for your cysts

and your pancreas-like symptoms! And patience is a double

edged sword.....a patient must have patience, especially when

dealing with symptom evaluation of chronic diseases!

Laurie