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My question is pretty much in the subject line: could there be a connection between ovarian cysts and MC, LC, or IBS? I'm just asking because whenever someone has D, bloating, etc, a test for ovarian cancer is recommended. I don't think I have cancer, but I know I have a cyst that was the size of a walnut 5-6 years ago.
Weird question, I know . . . Marsha
question about cysts and MC connection
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artteacher
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Hi Marsha,
Polycystic disease of the ovary is very definitely related -- it's one of the autoimmune diseases in that list that's floating around somewhere on this site as well as Sally's former site where most of us began if you can find it, maybe in the Links Room over there.
Ovarian cysts are fairly common anyway.
I had what is called a teratoma which is a tumor, not a cyst, that was the size of a cantelope, but the way it was finally discovered was that I had a cyst rupture, and was sent to the ER, and then after a WBC, the ER doc had to rule out appendicitis, but upon external exam, discovered what felt like a huge tumor. (I was VERY bloated at the time.) Anyway, I was a mess inside from the tumor, and all the stuff that was stuck to it (ruptured cysts, adhesions, etc.). Funny, but guess I'd ignored any previous ruptures. Perhaps the tumor was responsible for all the other stuff going on inside of me -- who knows??
I'm definitely a tumor former, and also, have fibrocystic disease of the breasts in my history. The tumor on my leg was one that can be very invasive if it occurs in a large open space such as the shoulder in which it can grow a long time before being detected.
I was just lucky that mine was on my lower leg so that I found it quickly, and had it removed and it's still being followed at M.D.Anderson Cancer and Tumor hospital just in case it were to grow back which it doesn't appear it's going to. I've read that these are also autoimmune.
I've also had a goiter from autoimmune thyroid disease related to the M.C. and gluten issue which lead to diagnosis of my M.C. in a sort of chain of events from which I'll spare you at this time. Ha! Had to have the whole thyroid out as a result.
In other words, there's sort of a cluster of diseases if one has this autoimmune stuff, but it's different in every person which ones one gets if one is going to get another.
Hope this helps. Yours, Luce
Polycystic disease of the ovary is very definitely related -- it's one of the autoimmune diseases in that list that's floating around somewhere on this site as well as Sally's former site where most of us began if you can find it, maybe in the Links Room over there.
Ovarian cysts are fairly common anyway.
I had what is called a teratoma which is a tumor, not a cyst, that was the size of a cantelope, but the way it was finally discovered was that I had a cyst rupture, and was sent to the ER, and then after a WBC, the ER doc had to rule out appendicitis, but upon external exam, discovered what felt like a huge tumor. (I was VERY bloated at the time.) Anyway, I was a mess inside from the tumor, and all the stuff that was stuck to it (ruptured cysts, adhesions, etc.). Funny, but guess I'd ignored any previous ruptures. Perhaps the tumor was responsible for all the other stuff going on inside of me -- who knows??
I'm definitely a tumor former, and also, have fibrocystic disease of the breasts in my history. The tumor on my leg was one that can be very invasive if it occurs in a large open space such as the shoulder in which it can grow a long time before being detected.
I was just lucky that mine was on my lower leg so that I found it quickly, and had it removed and it's still being followed at M.D.Anderson Cancer and Tumor hospital just in case it were to grow back which it doesn't appear it's going to. I've read that these are also autoimmune.
I've also had a goiter from autoimmune thyroid disease related to the M.C. and gluten issue which lead to diagnosis of my M.C. in a sort of chain of events from which I'll spare you at this time. Ha! Had to have the whole thyroid out as a result.
In other words, there's sort of a cluster of diseases if one has this autoimmune stuff, but it's different in every person which ones one gets if one is going to get another.
Hope this helps. Yours, Luce
Shirley-
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Hi Marsha,
To answer your question - sure, there could be a connection between cysts and inflammatory bowel diseases, and, in fact, there most likely is a link.
However, the reason that tests for ovarian cancer are recommended for females prsentng symptoms of bloating, abdominal pain, and D, is because those are all symptoms of ovarian cysts/cancer, and NOT because the whitecoats recognize any existing link between cysts and IBDs.
Remember, cysts and ovarian problems are much more widespread in the general population, than IBDs. It's just a coincidience that the symptoms are similar. Virtually any problems within the abdominal cavity are going to result in very similar symptoms, so the docs are going to test for the most likely scenarios, and they will naturally especially want to screen for cancer.
Tex
To answer your question - sure, there could be a connection between cysts and inflammatory bowel diseases, and, in fact, there most likely is a link.
However, the reason that tests for ovarian cancer are recommended for females prsentng symptoms of bloating, abdominal pain, and D, is because those are all symptoms of ovarian cysts/cancer, and NOT because the whitecoats recognize any existing link between cysts and IBDs.
Remember, cysts and ovarian problems are much more widespread in the general population, than IBDs. It's just a coincidience that the symptoms are similar. Virtually any problems within the abdominal cavity are going to result in very similar symptoms, so the docs are going to test for the most likely scenarios, and they will naturally especially want to screen for cancer.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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kate_ce1995
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This will be short because I just had a hysterectomy this week and can't sit in a chair for long, but I have endometriosis, including chocolate cysts, and MC. Among other lovely GYN problems. Doc said after surgery there was no way the uterus would have supported a child, even if he could have harvested an egg for implantation. I was a mess. Very likely all autoimmune related.
Katy
Katy
Yep, the "relationship" between all these autoimmune things at this point is mainly statistical. In other words, the incidence of the other ones in persons with the one who has the one in question is significantly higher than the incidence in the general population. This is not proof of a direct or indirect connection, but is raises the index of suspicion once one has one of these, so that a knowledgible person will look for the others once it's discovered that a person has one autommune disease.
It will be fascinating once all the actual physical connections are figured out to whatever extent they are in our lifetimes.
Yours, Luce
It will be fascinating once all the actual physical connections are figured out to whatever extent they are in our lifetimes.
Yours, Luce
HI!
I just popped in for a minute to lurk, saw this and had to chime in.
I had recurring endometriosis and large ovarian cysts - also recurring.
After 3 laparoscopies to remove the cysts and drugs for the endometriosis, I finally required an emergency hysterectomy during the last laparoscopy because of uncontrollable bleeding during that procedure.
I was also a mess in there and had a very low chance of producing a viable egg because my ovaries were so diseased.
Katie - take it easy and feel better fast! I remember how painful it was after the surgery.
Love,
Alice
I just popped in for a minute to lurk, saw this and had to chime in.
I had recurring endometriosis and large ovarian cysts - also recurring.
After 3 laparoscopies to remove the cysts and drugs for the endometriosis, I finally required an emergency hysterectomy during the last laparoscopy because of uncontrollable bleeding during that procedure.
I was also a mess in there and had a very low chance of producing a viable egg because my ovaries were so diseased.
Katie - take it easy and feel better fast! I remember how painful it was after the surgery.
Love,
Alice
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artteacher
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So I guess the logical deduction is that removing a cyst doesn't improve IBS, or MC or that type of disfunction . . that's what I was wondering. Bummer.
Wow, now I see what you were getting at in the first place. Ha! What you said is what I have to believe since I had all those parts removed and still had the M.C. for years.
What I don't know is whether the teratoma tumor CAUSED the cysts, or whether I would've had em anyway. I think I read back then that teratomas are there from birth, and it just takes time for them to grow big enough to be a problem, or in our advanced medical world more recently, be discovered on routine diagnostic screening.
I remember once actually seeing a picture of a woman who had an ovarian tumor so large, that once it was removed, it actually weighed MORE than the woman who now was detached from it. Talk about before and after pictures. It's a wonder the thing hadn't killed her! The thing looked like a road map to me!
Dr. Applewhite was the surgeon's name, and he was teaching at a large teaching institution in the U.S. during his year of furlough from his mission hospital in Indonesia. He was a fascinating teacher, especially since he'd seen things that it's almost impossible to see here in the U.S. You NEVER see an ovarian tumor get that large in the USA due to the availability of medical care. Funny, but my sister was in another lecture, and saw the very same pictures -- a total coincidence. I happened to be telling her about it one day, and she told me she'd seen them also, and remembered the name of that surgeon.
Wow, do I get off on tangents or what!!
Hope everyone finds solutions to all these things. Guess I'll always wonder if I'd discovered the immune food problems and removed them early and thoroughly enough
if I could've prevented the destruction of so many body parts.
Yours, Luce
What I don't know is whether the teratoma tumor CAUSED the cysts, or whether I would've had em anyway. I think I read back then that teratomas are there from birth, and it just takes time for them to grow big enough to be a problem, or in our advanced medical world more recently, be discovered on routine diagnostic screening.
I remember once actually seeing a picture of a woman who had an ovarian tumor so large, that once it was removed, it actually weighed MORE than the woman who now was detached from it. Talk about before and after pictures. It's a wonder the thing hadn't killed her! The thing looked like a road map to me!
Dr. Applewhite was the surgeon's name, and he was teaching at a large teaching institution in the U.S. during his year of furlough from his mission hospital in Indonesia. He was a fascinating teacher, especially since he'd seen things that it's almost impossible to see here in the U.S. You NEVER see an ovarian tumor get that large in the USA due to the availability of medical care. Funny, but my sister was in another lecture, and saw the very same pictures -- a total coincidence. I happened to be telling her about it one day, and she told me she'd seen them also, and remembered the name of that surgeon.
Wow, do I get off on tangents or what!!
Hope everyone finds solutions to all these things. Guess I'll always wonder if I'd discovered the immune food problems and removed them early and thoroughly enough
if I could've prevented the destruction of so many body parts.
Yours, Luce
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artteacher
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