Intro from a lurker

BKAlyssa · October 2014

Hi there,
I have been lurking on this board for a couple months. I wanted to wait until my first RE appointment to post so I would have more info, however I feel like I have more questions now after my visit today. I'm sure many of you ladies felt the same way.

Here's a little background. I'm 27 and a music teacher. My DH is 29. We have been married 5 years. In May 2013 we were NTNP, and we decided to officially start TTC last August in hopes of an EDD in April or May so I could minimize maternity leave and have more time with a LO before returning to school. I should have known better, but I was hopeful of everything taking only a few cycles... and 18 months later I have started the process to get some answers.

Below is my experience today- feel free to skip if you'd like, but if you have had an ovarian cyst or something similar, I would love any advice/tips/help.

During my appointment today my RE said she didn't see any concerning things during my ultrasound. I did mention to her that I have had pain in my lower right abdomen for 3+ months. It is a short stabbing pain that only lasts for a few minutes and then is gone. It occurs at all different times and positions, and out of nowhere. I can't seem to nail down a trigger for the pain. When I first experienced it, it only happened once every 4 days or so, but now it is becoming more frequent, as in a few times a day. In early August I had sharp intense pain for about 20 minutes, turned into a dull pain for the next 2 hours, and then went away. I have never had an experience like that again. So, my RE did a little more investigating and found a pocket of fluid behind my right ovary. She said there was no evidence of a cyst and with as much fluid as there was she didn't think it was a ruptured cyst since it would have reabsorbed in the two and a half months since my longer pain episode. She said it looked like clotting blood/hemorrhagic fluid and that I should look into seeing my PCP if the pain gets worse or even more frequent and that she'll check it at our appointment next month. I had a hard time swallowing the whole "wait and see" idea since my pain is more frequent than when it started. I realize that probably sounds weird since I didn't see a PCP as it became more frequent, but I had my appt. with the RE set, and I figured she would discover something that would explain my pain.... and she did not.
After talking with my DH, we decided to see if my PCP might have an answer. I was able to get in this afternoon, and he thought it could be fluid that still hasn't been reabsorbed after a ruptured cyst. My RE didn't think that was the case. He had a few other ideas of what it could be, but I have not had any symptoms that match those issues (most of which were nausea, severe pain that would send you to an ER, pain only during my period or intercourse, and fever). My PCP said he would be willing to put in a referral for a CT scan to be sure there isn't anything else going on, but I am not sure if I want to spend that kind of money if it is indeed just fluid that still has not reabsorbed from a ruptured cyst.
I just don't quite know what to do. Have any of you ever dealt with anything like this?
I will also mention that I will be getting an HSG in the next week and a half or so (CD1 is due any minute now), and my DH will be getting an SA early next week.

I have learned so much from you ladies from lurking, but I am glad to be out in the open now. Please let me know if I need to improve anything on this post... I have lurked, but I'm still a newb at posting.

TIA for your help.

BKAlyssa · October 2014

I just realized how long my post was. I apologize for writing a novel.

@BlueFairy5 I have been just going to my PCP for my annual exams and paps, plus we moved a year ago and I haven't found a gyn here yet.

meredithcarole · October 2014

If neither provider seems really concerned and you are not ready to shell out for a CT scan why don't you monitor it (symptom-wise) over the next couple of weeks. If the fluid is still there at your next ultrasound it might be worth taking a deeper look.

BunnyBerry · October 2014

Welcome. I'm so sorry for all those teachers out there whom IF has thwarted of their first summer with newborn LO!

I would get a CT scan - pain from the same cyst shouldn't be there bothering you 2+ months later when there's no cyst in sight, as the RE explained. With constant pain, I'd feel my body was telling me there's something wrong. And getting started with seeking help for TTC sounds like the perfect time to get on top of any potential issues. But then, this is coming from someone who has lots of abdominal pains related to Crohn's and, a couple years ago, some really big cysts, one of which ruptured and put me in the hospital, and endo which was finally discovered after what was probably over a decade of having it.

dancerspose · October 2014

Welcome. I don't have any advice beyond what PPs have already said about the pain, but I just wanted to say good luck!

BKAlyssa · October 2014

Thanks ladies. After sleeping on it for a night , I think I'll wait to see if things get better or not. Since neither Dr seemed super concerned, I probably don't need to either, especially since I know I have an appointment in a couple weeks and we can check it then.

AnonymousNurse · October 2014

As an ICU nurse, I tend to be way overly cautious with anything abdominal. Problems that start out as minor annoyances can become major issues if ignored for long enough. There aren't any huge red flags here to me, except for the length of time this has been going on. Three months is just too long, especially if it seems to be escalating a bit. If this was me or my family member, I would absolutely get the CT scan.

I feel your pain on having to shell out for testing, but I think this is important.

Good luck with whatever you decide - I hope it turns out to be nothing!

Hollowvic · October 2014

Welcome and good luck.

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