Well, period finally came about eight weeks after the last one, lasted four days [a little shorter than normal], but for about the past five days, I have had on again/off again stabs of left ovarian pain and dullish pelvic cramping.

I also experienced this back in October between two regular periods and the dr. said it was likely a cyst that had ruptured. I'm not so sure, as I don't recall ever having this before then. Although, while taking five days of Provera last spring, I did have a few minutes of ovarian pain, and I believe another very brief spell a few weeks before then.

Is this peri, too? This is so confusing.

Thx!

Hi DianaR:

I too get ovarian pain after my period is done. I also get it when I ovulate. The doctors can't seem to find anything with exams so they think it is because of a cyste popping too. Have you had an exam by your doctor to see if you have a cyst? I suppose if it popped, there will be nothing to find (like mine).

Hi Mopsy! This is perplexing. Well, I am scheduled for a biopsy next week, so perhaps more answers will be forthcoming.

Be well -- Diana

HI DIANAR -

I TOO, NOT EVERY MONTH, HAVE OVARIAN PAIN SOMETIMES IN BOTH OVARIES USUALLY AROUND OVULATION TIME WHICH THESE DAYS IS GOD KNOWS WHEN. ALSO, I EXPERIENCING CRAMPING DURING THE MONTH - NOT WHEN I HAVE A PERIOD. I THOUGH IN THE PAST THAT OVARIES WERE PAINING ME DURING OVULATION BECAUSE I WAS ON FERTILITY DRUGS YEARS AGO - AND EVER SINCE THE I HAD EXPERIENCED EVERY MONTH TERRIBLE OVARIAN PRESSURE DURING OVULATION. HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN 8 YEARS SINCE I WAS ON FERTILITY DRUGS WHY WOULD I GET THIS STILL ? I'M NOT SURE - BUT IT ALL STARTED RIGHT AFTER STARTING THOSE DRUGS. BE WELL AND KEEP READING THE BOARD REPLYS - THIS INFORMATION AND SUPPORT IS SO HELPFUL. TAKE CARE.

CATHY (CAT - E)

I have it all times of the month. Sometimes achy/crampy , sometimes stabbing. Right now it's crampy. I'm just soooo tired of it!

Hey everyone! Thanks for the feedback. During my biopsy procedure yesterday, the dr. thought he saw a very small dermoid cyst on my left ovary, especially because of its shadowy effect which is often reflective of its density which can be hair and/or bone. How weird is that?!

He said it's the cause of the mild discomfort I'm having and that sometimes, even the normal cyst that ovulation releases might brush up against it and cause discomfort.

Anyway, he isn't concerned, but to stay proactive, we will do another sonogram in three months to see how it's doing because they do grow ever so slowly and if it were to bother me too much, I could elect to have it removed which, knowing me, I will do.

Be well -- Diana

Me too! I had it off and on each day for an entire cycle (and only on one side, later both sides; and I've had many, many cysts and it didn't feel like that). My doctor REFUSED to give me an ultrasound (I guess she's sick of me wanting them, LOL) and said, "It's just the ovaries shutting down. If it gets worse or changes, call me."

I'll probably switch doctors, but I guess she might be right.

I Just found out on Tuesday that I have a cyst on my one & only ovary that is about 3 cm.
I also missed my period this month.
Has anyone missed their period due to the cyst?
I am so confused with all of this
What causes the cyst anyways, does anyone know?
Is it lack of 1 or both hormones?
If you have any info I would appreciate it.


Nancy

Nancy0531 -
I too have had cysts. I think they are more prevalent in perimenopause. I had several that the OB-GYN tracked via ultrasound for about 9 months, when they finally disappeared! My understanding is, that a cyst most commonly is an ovarian follicle that instead of normally "bursting" and releasing an egg (when you ovulate), remains intact and continues to secrete hormones. This can cause heavy bleeding, pain etc. If the OB-GYN has checked it with ultrasound, where they can see its physical characteristics, they can pretty much tell what kind of a cyst it is, ie. whether it is nothing to worry about or something that should be investigated more fully.

Surprisingly, the cystic pain was becoming more noticeable when I began to experience a light amount of a brownish discharge for a few days, and now the pain is completely gone. I am thinking the cyst may have dissolved on its own. But if it "was" a dermoid cyst, this seems unlikely.

Hmmm ... well, the repeat sonogram will show if it's still there in September.

Be well!

I have been having those cramps and pains , too... but also feeling a burning sensation sometimes....and have ocassional diahrrea and back pain.. I went to the ob-gyn and he did an ultrasound but told me he can not see the ovaries.. so he ordered a pelvic and abdominal ct scan, which I can not have it until next week... right now I had a burst of diahrrea with the burning sensation and some sweat... I wonder if that could happen on perimenopause... i am 50. I also get worried because I read that ovary cancer have those same symptoms... I have had so many other symptoms before as I posted , but these ones are really bothering me.... the doctor ordered a fsh an estradiol test... and the ctscan. and he performed an PAP in the office.. hope everything comes out okay...

Dear Chavela,
I'm sure everything will be fine. I too have had diarrhea for the past 6 weeks. It seems to be triggered by my continual stress but am totally freaked out that it might be something awful. I'm going to the Dr Friday. I want her to run thyroid and diabetes since I recently found out these run in my birth family. My periods have been irregular for about 6-7 months, and even if I don't have a period, I get funny cramping. For me the anxiety if the worst. Hang in there and try not to worry yourself into a frazzle. The info available on the internet can be a double edged sword. I read too much bad stuff and I'm convinced I have it all.
alyce

HI

alyce07 thanks for your advise.. it is true...I was searching through Internet, but I realized that every situation is different although we could have same symptoms... I had the pelvic and abdominal ctscans yesterday... appointment with the gyn is for the 16 but theyare giving me ctscan results tomorrow, so I will go to the gyn on monday, I could see him without appointment... I am trying not to freak out because of the symptoms... although I have had many others as I posted, these ones are bothering too much... right now I am having that sharp pain on both ovaries and then feel the burning sensation on the back, and also having stomach discomfort feeling like burning too ... like reflux symptoms and also itching...also I have inexpected rash and bruises... well, lets see what gyn tells me... thanks God, symptom is not steady, it comes and goes , but I am having them daily(this is what really confused me because when I told the doctor and did my pelvic exam I wasn't having the symtoms). Thanks God I found this site... I didn't tell anyone except in here, to the doc and my husband because some people thinks you are getting crazy if you tell all those symptoms... I come everyday and feel better knowing I am not alone on this... that are many other women sending positive thoughts and advises... thanks again...

I have always had a lot of pelvic and ovarian pain. AND of course it has been more pronounce since peri-meno. Two years ago it was unbearable, I was diagnosed with a hemorrhagic cyst. The cyst fills with blood and is very painful. I went through all kinds of testing, sonogram-uterine biopsy. My gyn put me on bc for three months and it heal. I heard they are common and go away on their own. I went a year without pain, guess I wasn't ovulating. Now the last few months I'm getting the pain all month long again.

I too have been getting pretty bad pain in the vacinity of my right ovary and cramping and back pain pain that has nothing to do with my period. It often lasts for four or five days. This has been going on for months. I just saw my gynecologist and she said it could be endometriosis, which can set in during peri, or a minor ovarian cyst. She didn't seem real concerned. Said to wait it out and that it would all disappear with menopause. Only five more years until age 51 and the average onset of menopause...

I to have an ovarian cyst on my left ovary.



Another sonogram showed left ovary 2 simple cysts and 1 complex mass (possible hemorrhagic cyst). This was when I had a horrible period with alot of cramping and rectal pain.

One sonogram shows simple left ovarian cyst 2 cm. and mild enlargement of the uterus with 2 small fibroids. This was after the horrible period.

Got 2 opinions. Local doctor said hysterectomy is necessary. Went to a teaching university and the associate professor said "No way...your symptoms do not warrant a hysterectomy and we'll just keep an eye on it and if I wanted he would treat it with birth control pills, (only for a little while) something called Yasmin.

I'm very glad I got a second opinion. My grandmother always told me that unless it's something that is very dangerous to your health ,keep your body parts. They're there for a reason.

I agree with grandma, particularly since it is estimated that at least 80% of hysterectomies are UNNECESSARY!

I cannot even imagine simply nodding my head and following any doctor's orders. It is just ludicrous to me. I'd probably get five opinions, and then not follow any of them.

Hi Nancy:

I missed a period when I had a cyst. This was back when I was 33 and I thought maybe I was pregnant but when I went in for an exam, I had a chocolate cyst (one filled with blood) My doctor did end up doing surgery on it as they were worried about it but once I got the surgery done, my period came when I was in the hospital still. I think you can miss a period. My cyst was all twisted and tangled in my ovary so I am wondering if that is why I missed my period. I never did ask and that was 12 years ago.

Nancy...Why did they insist on surgery for a blood filled cyst?

HI girls..... just wanted to say I have been having pelvic twinges and pain down the front of my legs fora few months now. My gyno is not concerned, BUT I AM!!!! It kind of feels like cramps ,but it happens around days 10 thru 26. I like this thread ,it has calmed me down a little...... Linda (45)

G'day from Down Under! I'm new to this forum & boy I'm glad I found it since I'm freaking out.......it is midnight here in Australia way past my bed time, I'm feeling scared & anxious thinking I have ovarian cancer but i don't want to tell my family & friends since I don't want to stress them out & maybe for nothing....but i really need to talk about it.........but like I said maybe there's nothing wrong with me at all.......it all happened when i started to have a dull pain on my left hip, (never had this pain before) comes & goes, it started 6 months ago, straight away I thought of ovarian cancer! I really don't know why I thought this way since my hip has nothing to do with my ovaries. Went to the doctor & told her my concern she said if it was ovarian cancer the pain would not be on my hip.....so I left it at that.....with ovarian cancer still in the back of my mind. Now after 6 months I'm starting to get a sharp little pain that comes & goes every 5 or so minutes on the left side of my lower abdomin I'm sure it's my ovary....the pain lasts for 1 second.......it started 3 days ago, yesterday I started to feel very gassy & bloated hopefully it's a bug going around & it will go away tomorrow......I have been feeling quizzy don't know if it's coz I'm making myself worried sick. I made an appointment for next Wednesday to get a viginal ultrasound done. I'm 37 years old, married with two young children, my grandma died a horrible death, she had ovarian cancer, I have polycistic ovaries......please should I be worried....!

Ozzy Gal.

Dear Ozzy,

Welcome, welcome, welcome! You have come to the right place.

1. Try to calm down. My understanding is that ovarian cancer does not present with pain. Try to factor your grandmother out of your own medical picture. Just because she was afflicted does not mean that you will be also.

2. Put off worrying until after the ultrasound. It is a piece of cake--painless ad quick.

3. Please post often. Let us know how you are. You are among friends.

Marcy

Marcy thankyou so much for your warm welcome it makes me feel like I have come to just the right place.

I do need to calm down & I appreciate you helping me, I know my grandmother has a lot to do with why I'm feeling so
paranoid.....it wasn't the best experience to see someone you love go through what she went through but i know,
like you said, I do need to factor my grandmother "out" of my own medical picture.....thanks for that advice I will
try to be more positive!!

Once I get my ultra sound results I will definately keep you posted.....!!

Karina.

I too have been getting what I call ovulation cramps, right after my period. I started getting ovulation cramps about a few years ago, my dr told me very normal. I too use to get the cramps, and the pain that would go to the front of my legs. I finally decided it had to do w/all that bloating. The funny thing is that now that I get the "ovulation cramps" right after my period, I don't get the mid-month ovulation cramps. I honestly feel that my ovaries are just shooting dudes, so that's what is causing. Am way do for annual, so going to set an appointment soon and take care of, BUT TRUST ME, I totally get the freaking out thing. I can tell that my period will be coming on a couple weeks, cause my anxiety levels keep going up as each day passes. I have noticed for me it is a for sure pattern w/my cycle.....

Ah, the joys of being 40.....

Good news though, I did go to my eye doctor, and all is good. My mom was dx w/glaucoma in her early 30's, and so far so good. So at least part of my body is doing all right.... Dont even need to increase my eye glasses either, well at least for this year......

I too have been getting what I call ovulation cramps, right after my period. I started getting ovulation cramps about a few years ago, my dr told me very normal. I too use to get the cramps, and the pain that would go to the front of my legs. I finally decided it had to do w/all that bloating. The funny thing is that now that I get the "ovulation cramps" right after my period, I don't get the mid-month ovulation cramps. I honestly feel that my ovaries are just shooting dudes, so that's what is causing. Am way do for annual, so going to set an appointment soon and take care of, BUT TRUST ME, I totally get the freaking out thing. I can tell that my period will be coming on a couple weeks, cause my anxiety levels keep going up as each day passes. I have noticed for me it is a for sure pattern w/my cycle.....

Ah, the joys of being 40.....

Good news though, I did go to my eye doctor, and all is good. My mom was dx w/glaucoma in her early 30's, and so far so good. So at least part of my body is doing all right.... Dont even need to increase my eye glasses either, well at least for this year......

Aahh the wonders of being woman! Will find out Tuesday what my ultrasound sound results are. Wll keep everyone informed!

Girls i feel your nerves & anxieties you're not alone! Remember this, we are all the same!!

Love

Ozzy Gal!

thanks for this discussion topic . i thought i had previously noted it, so it was reassuring to find it last night as i was looking for reassurance as to why i was cramping etc like i was going to start my period - which i had just finished after 5 days... i still don't really understand it, but i had other pms symptoms as well (ok, worse pms than the monthly ongoing stuff). so now its premenstrual syndrome & postmenstrual syndrome? like pesistantmenstrual syndrome?

ellen

Well ladies....... Here is more info on ovarian pain and pain down the front of my right thigh...... a happy story girls......


As I wrote in July, my gyno ( who I have seen for 25 years ,I am 45 ) said my wierd symptoms must be in my head. The man has been increasingly dissmissive and cruel since I was around 40. At that time all he complained about was malpractice insurance. You would have" thunk "I would have figured it out then. Anyway I am a loyal sort so just put up with his insults that my peri symptoms were in my head because I was "too young "and anyway " I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF WOMEN HAVING TOO BAD OF A TIME WITH PERIMENOPAUSE" How does this man have a lisience!!!!!
I have had.....palpitations, anxiety, hip and joint pain, hot flashes, vertigo, nausea, slight short periods, anger and frustration, ovarian pain AFTER my period!!!!,(that one he really poo poo-ed! ) weight gain,vision changes, gastritis, ect.... all starting around five years ago, at forty. Now he knew I had a dermoid cyst found on a ct scan eight months ago....but no.... all still in my head! So I had another ct scan in Sept and the cyst had grown a little so he said" well I could take it out lapro- style if you want. Well I wanted everything out NOW!!!!! And I went ahead and schedualed a full hyster- including ovaries. I am pro active and I got a second opinion with a nice doctor near my house...who seemed more clued in and worked out of the Ritz carlton of hospitals (Huntington Memorial in Pasadena CA)
So I did one of the most mature things I am most proud of in my life....... I dumped my old doctor ( felt like breaking up with a boyfriend of 25 years) and re-schedualed with the new doctor. I am lucky and blessed to have excellent health insurance or none of this would hace been possible.
I had a full hysterectomy on Nov 12th and I am not kidding two days later I felt better than I have in eight years!!! NO sharp ovarian pain ( they took out a benign teritoma the size of a tennis ball on my left ovary ( YUP ALL IN MY HEAD!!!!) and all the rest of my reproductive system and I say Good riddance!!
I ve read many books on hormone replacement and have decided to go with natural bio- identical cream estrogen and progresterone cycled just like I was still having a period. ( Natural hormone replacement by Uzzi Reiss is a good book)
So far, one month on, I have post meno -zest, no anxiety, mild hot flashes no worse than before and a flatter stomach than I have had in three years. NO Bloating and no horrible cycle that was taking over my life! I feel great. I know total hysterectomys are not for everyone ,but I feel this had changed my life wonderfully.
This site has been a god send and I bless you all for listening. I write this hoping I can help someone , because all your posts have kept me going through the past two years when I felt I could not go on. I do not know if I will be in such contact as much since most of my symptoms are gone ( even my lovely preocupation with death and disease!!) but THANK YOU all for your support and beleive me there is hope............... Linda

linda - i am so happy for you! i know how you have struggled & my gosh what a jerk that gyn was. after seeing you for so many years & then treating you like that. good for you for trusting your instincts, walking out the door, & taking charge. you must feel vindicated & empowered.

as you note, you understand that total hysterectomies are not for everyone (i don't know enough to comment at all), but i am thrilled that you are doing so well. meno-zest even! your story does give hope to those of us who are waking up each day wondering how to get through the next half hour. i've been so scared that this is causing changes that are permanent & that will create huge problems in years to come. that may or may not be the case, but your post made my morning.

all the best as you reclaim life/health,
ellen

Greetings Linda all the way from Australia!! So glad you listened to your body coz at the end of the day that doctor packs his bags goes home to his own little pompest world not thinking that people have just put their lives in his hands to the point where some of them literally loose their lives because they did just that.....that probably could have been you, but you needed to show attitude which is why you dumped your doctor.....it's your life that we are talking about..... you knew something wasn't right you listened to your body, loved yourself enough to do something about it....the loyalty was to you not to a doctor who didn't give a hoot so you moved on & now look your life has changed to the better, you chose hysterectomy GOOD ON YA i would have too!
When I posted the first time i was reallly stressed thinking i had something seriously wrong with me so for people like me who need some positive feedback we need positive and happy ending stories like yours so don't stop contacting this site your story will help!

Karina.

Thanks Karina....... for your kind words. I do feel better and am so gratefull for this site ...it is like a boost in the arm of confidence and love, which we all need! I will keep everyone posted on how it is to be post- menopause ( wow ..It is hard to beleive it until I write it) I created my "post meno- pause" and so far so good.
The report.... I am on cream bi-est and for a week out of the month natural progesterone. I still have the same hot flashes I did before the total hysterectomy, so no change there. I do wake up at 3'am weirdly, it must be hormonal, did not have it before. BUt here is the wierdest thing...... I am hornier than normal, and that was alot, also very aggressive and angry... must be some testosterone convergence? just reporting from the trenches... over and out... LInda

Hmmm....maybe I should definately concider a hysterectomy if it's going to help me get hornier my husband will have nothing to complain about then...LOL!!

Hi Ladies, I too have been experiencing pelvic problems - twinges on both sides, but mainly on the left, lower backache, bladder irritation, and post period this month I've had four days (so far) of a kind of heavy, achy sensation in my lower abdomen.
Wondering if I may have ovarian cysts, and of course fearing something worse. I've just started taking a progesterone only pill and will wait until it's had a chance to get into my system and see if this makes any difference. Would be interested to hear from anyone experiencing similar symptoms. As ever, looking to PS for reassurance! Thanks, Jessie

hi ladies,

I have to thank Jessie xx for recommending this thread! I've recently posted on the same topic, basically. I didn't know this thread existed. But, I' m so glad to know I'm not alone with this. I mean, this month, my period came as usual, right on time, no problems....I still haven't skipped any yet. It lasted it's usual time, nothing out of the ordinary. But about 10 days before i got my period, i had developed such a lousy lower backache! I HAD been doing a lot of house cleaning, and re-arranging things around the house, so I figured it was from that. But, it lasted and lasted. OK, I still thought, no biggie,,,although the pain was bad. (for which i took Aleve, which didn't help all that much). BUT THEN, I got my period, as i said, right on time. GOODIE! I noticed that on the first day of my period, the backache stopped. BUT, IT SHORTLY RETURNED. Now, I went through my period, nothing outstanding. UNTIL, 2 days AFTER my period was completley over, I started in with this weird pre-period feeling down there, this sort of heavy, hanging, churning, in the lower abdomen, which I've always gotten BEFORE my period, in fact, that's usually how i know, that my period is any day. BUT THIS WAS AFTER IT WAS OVER! This had NEVER happened to me before. Then, on day two of this feeling, I notice on the toilet tissue, some blood...sort of brownish color. I knwo that means old blood. At that point, i freaked. This being due to the fact that my mother died at only 57 yrs. old of ovarian cancer.! So, now, I started to think the worst, and had horrible panic attacks, I am living in terror! The blood was there only for one or two bathroom trips that night, and is now gone, and I've spoken to many of my friends, who have told me that they too, have gotten that many times. Well, that made me feel somewhat better.
But, this is day 3, and i STILL have that pre-period feeling down there, it's SORT OF crampy, but not really, more like a "churning"....now, i know that right around there, are the intestines too. I do have IBS, but not badly. But, when it decides to kick in, it's not nice! So, what we've got going here, is this pre-period feeling (STILL!), this IBS problem, where I'm having a lot of "soft" poop (pardon the frankness), and slight nausea and lack of appetite. I know from IBS, you can feel nauseas, and you don't feel like eating. Anyone else here have this?

Like i said, it is now day 3 .... there is no more blood, thank God. The blood was brownish, so I think it was left over stuff, there was no odor. But, today, I started in with this weird sort of "pain"/ache to the left of my belly button, about an inch over...then, another pain, down about an inch frm that. I really couldn't lay on my back, it bothered me to much, I had to turn over to my left side...and even then, it bothered me, but i was able to fall asleep. When i woke up, i had LOTS of gas, and that soft poop. I noticed , that those pains seemed to diminish a lot, but not totally gone. Then, during the day, they disappeared. UNTIL about an hour ago, when, here we go again. This time though, no gas. I notice when this happens, I become exceptionally anxious, it's as if it shoots adrenaline up through my body! It makes you feel like you want to start screaming and running, i guess, to get the anxiety off. As far as OVULATION goes....ok, that 's another one.
Because, they say ovulation takes place 2 weeks after thefirst day of your period. But, I know other women here, who've said, that they are ovulating any old time right now, during peri. Up till NOW, I 've been ovulating pretty regularly, mid cycle....but I have a feeling this is ovulation, and it's only 3 days after my period stopped....well, that would make it then, 7 days after the first day of the period. But, this is nuts! Today, I noticed, that on the tissue paper, there was a lot of that clear, mucousy, "stuff" that comes out when you ovulate. I knwo i'm being very frank here, but I"m trying to describe this the best I can. Anyway, that was on the TP....so, i figured, it must be OVULATION time, but so darn soon? There was a smidge of blood on it, but barely noticeable.

My ovaries THEMSELVES don't hurt or ache. But, all along that lower "sling" (I call it that, because it's that lower abdominal muscle that "slings" along the bottom of the abdomen?), ok, it still feels pre-period...heavy, churning, etc.....also, someone here mentioned, a burning feeling in there, yep...i had that today too. WHAT THE HECK IS THIS....IS THIS PERI? I really hope so! When i had called the dr.'s office today, i got the nurse, she said to me that, if this were ovarian cancer, the pain in the abdomen would be worse, and wouldn't come and go. Also, my bloated belly seems to bloat, then flatten again. But, the lack of appetite scares me....she said, it's not unusual for IBS ... ok, so, after all this .... what do you guys think?

thank you all so much! sincerely, MyDarling

Hi, I'm a new member here. My name is Dameon. -goes around and shakes hands with everyone-

I am about 21, but I have had irregular periods since about the start of high school. At times, I don't have my period for months at a time. My doctor says that was caused by high level stress, gave me provera to check that it wasn't hormonal (although one of my aunts has shown to have thyorid disorder), and it wasn't. Thus, I have it on again, off for several months, then it randomly returns.

I woke up this morning and suddenly felt intense painful ovarian cramps. Right where they were, it hurt. I quickly gulped down some advil, not having any other pain medication in the house. I do feel somewhat better after lying down and taking the medication, but it's still kinda there, and I'm not sure what's going on. The pain is minimal now, but it feel like there is something there in the ovaries, a full feeling. Should I be worried?