Am I letting my health anxiety get the better of me or should I be concerned?

[BRYAS]

I have been going to the doctors for on and off pelvic pain for around two years now. The pain is a dull ache usually on my left side.

I have had every test under the sun (expect a lap) and everything came back normal expect one of the ultrasounds I had. This was my second ultrasound; the first came back clear and healthy, the second showed I had a cyst on my right ovary. The nurse said it was a simple cyst, nothing to worry about and to go back in 6 weeks to get it checked again. She said it was causing the pain but pushing everything slightly to the left.

I mentioned my worry on endo and she said while she cannot rule it out 100% as a lap is the only way to officially diagnose, she said my symptoms don’t match and to not worry it is probably not endo.

However, due to my health anxiety I can’t help but fear she may be wrong. What if I have endo has she didn’t realise? What is she mistook a chocolate cyst for a simple one?

Should I trust my gyno and try to calm myself down or should I be worried?

[UnicornKisses]

Hi there,

I would trust your gyno for the most part. I’ve had an endometrioma removed and subsequently formed 4 more. I work in imaging at the hospital I’ve had all my tests done so I’ve been able to see all of my ultrasounds & talk to the radiologists about them. I do know that endometriomas look wayyyyy different from simple cysts on ultrasound and it’s unlikely they would have misdiagnosed it. However, since you are having left sided pain and the cyst is on the right, your simple cyst could be quite large. I would try not to worry & go for the repeat ultrasound they are recommending. One thing you can try to do is request a copy of your ultrasound report so you can see exactly what it says. If your pain lasts long-term and they continue to maintain that “nothing is wrong” you may want to ask more questions about a lap & see if they think it is a good option for you. My endo was actually first clearly seen on an MRI.

Hope this is helpful and not information overload, good luck to you ❤️

[BRYAS in reply to UnicornKisses]

Okay thank you for this this advice.

The pain usually only lasts a couple of days around my ovulation.

I also never got the pain before I went on the contraceptive implant so I have a feeling that may be playing a part in this.

You have really taken some of my anxiety for this away, thank you

[I3obstar]

I was dismissed for years and it is only when i got a cyst and repeatedly ended up in a&e that i was referred to a gyno who suspected endo and started me on provera...then i had lapy & they founc it was stage 4 bowel endo. Dull pain in pelvis and it being constant is not just a cyst is what i was told...if this is same for you then insist on ct/mri scan at the least or drug treatment that can help to assess if you have endo. I would hate for you to discover this years down the line & it to be at a high stage. I wish you well.

[BRYAS in reply to I3obstar]

I’m so sorry that you’ve had to go through all of that! Must’ve been such a traumatic experience for you.

They have found a cyst but she said it was a simple cyst and was really unconcerned about it. I am going back to try it double checked though so I definitely mention what you have said to me to the doctor I see then

[I3obstar in reply to BRYAS]

Mine was too...just a water filled cyst but the consistent pelvis pain led me to see a gyno. Until that point my symptons have been ignored and im now stage 4 with my organs twisted & at the back and i eat 2 small porrions of food a day & some days nothing. Keep pushing & i really hope its nothing.

[BRYAS in reply to I3obstar]

Oh god that must’ve been so frustrating for you.

Yes I will 100% push for them after hearing this. Did you get any other endo symptoms at all?

[I3obstar in reply to BRYAS]

Long heavy periods...17 day cycles & now its 24-29 days despite being on drugs to shut system down...meaning the endo has progressed.

[BRYAS in reply to I3obstar]

Oh god, I’m so sorry to hear about that. I hope you honestly get the help you need to manage this, no one deserve it x

[Moon_maiden]

Maybe a second opinion, as they have said lap is the only way to really tell endo. MRI will show if it’s deeper, ultrasound won’t show it.

Keep a diary of what’s occurring and when, don’t rely on memory, you’ll build up a better picture.

Is your gynaecologist experienced with endo, it can make a difference.

[BRYAS in reply to Moon_maiden]

I am going back anyway to see how the cyst is and hopefully it’ll be gone, I will asked the doctor again then. In total I have spoken to three doctors about the possibility of this being endo and they all said the same thing.

I will definitely get another opinion though, thank you for your advice