Hi I have an ovarian cyst that is bleeding a little bit. Doctors have told me to just let it go away on tis won and scheduled a follow up in two months... However, they did not give me any medication. Is that normal? If you have had to treat one, did you get any treatment for it or just let shrink on its own...?
Posted by desertwind (Member # 25256) on :
I had the same thing a couple months ago. Ended up in the ER cuz the pain was so bad and I did not know what it was!
One had ruptured and the other one was too small for any sort of surgery so they sent me on my merry way and told me to see my Gyno.
I have to get a follow up ultrasound to see if it has gotten smaller - I assume it has because I no longer have pain on that side.
I was told uless they are bigger then 5cm. there is really no tx and it should shrink or rupture on its own. But you should have another look at in to make sure it is going in right direction.
Posted by Shahbah (Member # 28735) on :
yeah, well mine is 5 cm that's what worries me..
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
When I got ovarian cysts (had them a number of times), I was put on birth control pills to shut the ovaries down.
I would have to take them for 6 months each occurrence. It worked.
Cysts are normal for ovaries to have. Each egg forms in a cyst and then it bursts and you ovulate. But, if an ovary gets blood in it, then it is painful. Mine would become very, very painful.
The birth control pills always took care of it.
I had one cyst that gave me all the symptoms of pregnancy. Then, when it broke, everything went back to normal. That one lasted for 5 months, and it was tough on me because of how it affected my appearance. People thought I was pregnant.
So, if you are in pain, why not ask for birth control pills for 6 months.
Posted by Shahbah (Member # 28735) on :
Thanks a lot TF, I actually suspect I may have very strong oestrogen dominance too and I am worried about birth control pills as i do not know their effects, do they increase oestrogens?
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
It is my understanding that birth control pills actually stop your ovaries from working. The ovaries make estrogen.
So, on birth control pills, you will not make any estrogen. You will not ovulate. That is how the pills "rest" the ovaries and the cyst can go away. (That is also how they stop you from being able to get pregnant.)
As long as the ovaries are trying to do their job, they will be producing estrogen and ripening eggs in little cysts and trying to burst one cyst per month. So, it pays to "shut them off" for a while when you have cyst problems.
Posted by Shahbah (Member # 28735) on :
Thanks a lot TF. I have one more question that you may know the answer for, though i am still researching i with no luck: do you know when (or if at some age) the pituitary gland start to stop producing oestrogen in the brain?
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
You can also use the "mini" pill which progesterone only. It is used for women over 40 who are less likely to get pregnant:
Similar to the pill, the mini pill is a month-long series of progestin-only pills that must be taken every day (the regular pill has both progestin and estrogen).
The progestin-only pills prevent ovulation is taken for more than one cycle, and also provide pregnancy protection by: Thickening the cervical mucus, which prevents the sperm and egg from joining.
Preventing the uterine lining from thickening, which makes it more difficult for a fertilized egg to implant in the uterus and develop.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
It is my understanding that at menopause (including a lyme-induced false menopause) the ovaries stop or greatly reduce the amount of estrongen they are producing.
That is often difficult on the brain because a certain section of the brain is rich in estrogen-receptor cells--showing that this section of the brain is in need of estrogen to function.
So, that's why everyone has heard about how crabby, etc. women can get at menopause. The brain has to adjust to the lower level of estrogen that occurs during menopause.
I had a lyme-induced false menopause and had to take estrogen and progesterone to keep my sanity. My brain could not handle the drop in hormone. I took this hormone replacement for about 6 years. Then, when I got to my great lyme doctor who cured me, I started coming out of my "menopause" and eventually returned to normal and didn't need hormone replacement anymore. I was then declared pre-menopausal again. Had to wait a few more years for the real menopause.
During that time of false menopause, my gyn said my estrogen production was essentially zero. That was what blood tests showed. My ovaries shrunk to very small. Everything stopped. Shows you the power of lyme disease.
Regarding menopause, as I understand it, a woman goes into menopause when she has no futher eggs that can ripen in her ovaries. We are all born with a certain number of undeveloped eggs in our ovaries. When they are used up, you go into menopause. So, the age at which this happens will vary with each person.
However, please do not assume that you just happened to go into menopause once you find out that you have lyme disease. You can have all the signs and symptoms of menopause, but it can be lyme attacking you gynecologically.
If you have a "coincidence" like that happen to you, it pays to be skeptical.
I know a woman in her 30s who stopped menstruating and was declared menopausal. Good lyme treatment had her menstruating again.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
This site mentions the pituitary's role and may be of interest to you:
"The menopause occurs when the ovaries no longer respond to the controlling hormones released by the pituitary gland of the brain. As a result, the ovaries fail to release an egg each month and to produce the female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone."
Posted by chiquita incognita (Member # 30381) on :
I used to get ovarian cysts recurrently and frequently, sometimes with the kind of pain where I could not roll over in bed.
Zero events now for 25 years since healing from Candida. In fact I rarely even get PMS and often can't tell the difference whether I am having my period or any other day....i'ts all the same.
What helped me:
Castor oil hot packs (use old towels, will stain) this got rid of the pain usually within an hour or two. Keep the pack hot with a heating pad or hot water bottle. Cover with plastic wrap to protect from staining et al.
Candida diet and Candida herbs
Hormone balancing. Ask your doctor about adrenal gland involvement too, this affects sex hormones. And the thyroid governs the adrenals, the pituitary affects sex hormones and other hormones....so it's all an inter-connected loop. If even one of those glands is off, the whole stack can fall down like a domino effect. A good endocrinological tuneup is key.
The Pill can cause Candida, caution. Can also have other side effects, check into it carefully. Cancer too if I am not mistaken.
A good natural hormone modulation support herb:
Vitex or chaste berry, along with black cohosh
Wise Changes by WishGarden herbs is very well formulated for hormone transitions/menopause if that is the issue. Includes mugwort for liver support, good idea. The liver screens excess hormones from the blood. I always suggest liver support in any hormone balancing program.
Mugwort is one of the artemesias and though it is more mild than the ones used in lyme treatment, there is a chance it could contribute somewhat to herxing. Most likely not but some chance so I am mentioning it just in case. Again not as strong as the other artemesias though.