Thank you for the motivation

Rynleigh

I feel like I Have renewed strength and confidence today, after some of the conversations on the boards yesterday, regarding my cysts.

I've started doing a lot of reading on theca lutein cysts (the cysts that typically appear with OHSS, but that can also occur without the other symptoms or causes of OHSS - symptoms and causes that I don't have).

The similarities are still there - they are typically bilateral, they are aggravated (or caused) by hCG, they are a rare occurrence, etc... some of the differences are that the theca lutein cysts without OHSS don't usually lead to abdominal fluid retention (which I don't have), they appear seemingly "out of no where" around weeks 8-10 (there weren't any signs of major cyst growth in either of the two ultrasounds I had in June), they are most common in molar and multiple pregnancies, and they usually subside over a course of 4-12 weeks after developing (often peak around 10 weeks, and leave no trace by 20 weeks). 

My perinatologist understands the position I'm in, and kept reminding me that whatever happens is my choice, that they're not going to make me have the surgery if I don't want to. She seems to feel very strongly, like the gyn oncologist, that doing surgery before they have a chance to twist or rupture is still the safest and best option for the pregnancy, but she also understands the permanent repercussions of removing both of my ovaries. She agreed that I have a very difficult choice to make, with what she believes are an equal number of serious pros and cons, either way. 

I'm not going to cancel the surgery just yet - I have my follow up ultrasound scheduled for the 22nd of August, and I'm going to wait until I see what my measurements are then before I really make a solid decision. I think, that this point, that if my ovaries and cysts appear to be growing, it would be most responsible for me to go ahead and have them removed. If one or both are significantly shrinking, I will refuse the surgery and "wait and see". If there is little or no change, I am going to call the gyn oncologist and advise that I would truly prefer to have a few of the cysts drained or removed while leaving the ovarian tissue in place until after the pregnancy. They don't want to do that because it makes the surgery take longer and could mean more risk to the babies... but I feel like removing both ovaries without evidence that they are cancerous or growing would be an unjustified risk to my own health and the financial future of my family.

So, that's quite a lot to rant on about... but again, the support is very, very much appreciated and needed, right now. Thank you all.  

ShopperKristi

I am SO glad you are researching and advocating for yourself!  I'm sure it seems really hard to decide what to do with all the different information and opinions you are getting but your plan sounds totally logical to me.  I would think if your research says that a lot of times they subside by 20 weeks you would be starting to see a difference soon!  I'll be praying that that is the case for you!  Good luck hun!  Stay strong!