SOOOO glad to have found this site! Hello, I'll be 42 on Friday and have all my girl parts. I have had an IUD since Oct '04 and was doing okay until about 10 mos ago, when I started having 8-12 day periods with only about a 3 wk interval between them as the norm. I asked to be checked out because of this last November and they checked my abdomen & gave me another pap, which came out normal. Said - let's wait & see what happens.. Okay, so as the months have gone on, I've also had tons of other symptoms occur; severe acne on neck, chest & back, HUGE, pufft bags under my eyes, vision changes (spots/blurry) numbness in feet & hands, extreme sleep issues, low energy & fatigue, no libido, foggy-minded, weight gain around middle & thighs, excessive bloating - not just prior to period, dry skin, craving sugar/starch, night sweats, heart racing, more cramping than usual & just in the last month, I'm had some weird detachment feelings & feel somewhat "disconnected" from everybody (thankfully that only lasts for a day or two at a time - but SO STRANGE) I've had some minor discomfort during sex just lately, and the last 4 or 5 times we've had sex, I cannot acheive an orgasm - at all - by myself, with BOB or with my wonderful, sexy, patient, hubby.

I really suspected issues with my IUD or maybe a little bit of hormonal imbalance, so I did some research & signed up with a different GYN who would possibly go along with Bio-Identicals as I had already decided to go that route IF any imbalance was found. Gave her the above list of symptoms plus a couple others, & after recording everything & asking a few questions, she immediately prescribed 100 mg Progesterone (by mouth or vaginally) starting on the 12th day of my cycle. She then ordered bloodwork & a sonogram. Sonagram Tech found a problem so they did a second, vaginal sonogram & found a tennis-ball sized, "matter-filled" cyst completely filling up my right ovary & few fibroid cysts on my left ovary. As the bloodwork request was drawn up BEFORE they knew I had a cyst, they didn't test for the C-125 or whatever to check for posb of cancer, but my other blood results & blood hormone levels, thyroid, sugars, etc. have come back normal. She said to take the Progesterone for two cycles, then make another appt to see her again. No further info. I think I was a little stunned since this was the last thing I suspected and I didn't ask many questions.

What I would like to know is; a) Are the cyst & these little fibroids causing ALL of these crazy sypmtoms? I have a hard time believing this... If so, will the progesterone (natural) relieve any of them? c) Is it normal to wait 2-3 months to see if a 'dense' cyst shrinks? d) Any point in running Saliva Hormone Tests while I have these cysts present or should I just wait it out? In other words - could I do Bio-Identical treatment if my levels are off while waiting to see if the big cyst needs to be removed? - I hate to think that it could be several months before I can "acheive" again, especially while dealing with all the other sypmtoms...

Any & all responses are greatly appreciated!! Thank you!
Jen

hippiecow,

It sounds to me like you are in full blown peri and that is the reason for all of those crazy symptoms!!! It is doubtful that the cyst is causing anything except the change in periods and cramping....I had those cysts in peri and mine luckily did shrink and eventually go away..so yes it is wiser to wait and see....

The progesterone may help the rest of the symptoms but it may take time...this a a crazy ride...

nothing you have described has not been heard hear before! Hang in there....