Cysts or Endometriosis with prolapses

Body: 

Hi Everyone,

I called my family doctor and the secretary said that my ultrasound showed that I have some cysts that seem to be dissolving (don't know what that means). She made an appointment for me to come in and discuss things with the doctor next week. She also mentioned it could be endometriosis. I am worried about how that will affect my prolapses (all three). I did some research and there all kinds of different types of cysts so I have no idea what I have at this point. My biggest fear is that they will want to get in there and mess around and I am scared that they will make my prolapses worse or suggest I get a hystorectomy. Has anyone had experiences with this. I know I need more information but I am worried because I don't want to have things go wrong and have to have surgery as a result. Is there anything I can do to monitor or be more aware of how to care for my body. I know that I need to lose some weight and I although I try to maintain the posture when I remember or catch myself slouching I know I should be strengthening my muscles by doing the excercises. I went to the doctor in the first place b/c I was feeling a mild ache on my lower reight abdominal area and I have had for months but it was so inconsistent and on and off I didn't think much about it but I know better now and have to take things that happen to my body more seriously without worrying about doctors thinking I am a hypochodriac and I should just go home and stop worrying about things. I pray that it's not serious and that I haven't let things go to far. I don't have any major abdominal pain just lately (last couple of weeks) I have been feeling more pressure or full in the lower abdominal area. Almost like you would feel if you were pregnant (which I am not). Do you have any advice or support you can offer me. I feel so hypervigilent in protecting my femal organs that it feels like it's me against the big guys. Thanks.

Hi Angel2me

1 I suggest you take a support person along to the doctor next time, to help you hear all the doctor has to say, and perhaps take notes. They can also help you to remember all the questions you need to ask. Start writing them down now.

2 Read, read and read more until you understand what is happening. Then you are in a good space to be able to think rationally and ask the right questions.

3 Yes, it is you vs the big boys, but that is OK. You have the power to say, "Let's slow this down a bit. What I have is not life-threating, is it? No, you cannot do anything to my body without my permission. Now, back off!" You can practise just thinking this. Then when you need to face up to them, just imagine them naked, except for shoes and socks. That makes you realise that they are only people, and they have no authority over you at all.

It is your body. It is your choice. Ask them all the questions you need to ask. You will be fine.

Louise

Went to doctor today. The tests results show a few cysts on the left ovary that are beginning to dissolve. SO good news there. Think I had one pop or burst because I felt a sharp pain on my lower left side that lasted for a few minutes. He thinks that is what may have happened. Ironically I went because of this dull pain that seemed to be on my mid to lower right side but there were no cysts there at all. So it could be ligament or something. No major pain really. Thank goodness nothing serious. Have to protect my uterus. I did find ou that my uterus is Dorsiflexed which he said means that it is tilted more towards my back is that a good thing or a bad thing when you have all three prolapses? He said women who have that are more prone to pelvic pain. Anybody ever heard of that before. A Dorsiflexed Uterus?

Hi Angel. I just googled it and came away with no hits for the phrase. The term dorsiflexion seems to relate specifically to the ankle bend where the toes move towards the shin. I couldn't even find any sites where uterus and dorsiflexion were anywhere near each other on the page.

I think the doctor might have meant retroflexed, ie the bend is in the body of the uterus, not at the cervix (when it is known as retroverted). The opposite, where the body of the uterus is bent forward is called anteflexed, as opposed to when the forward bend is at the cervix (which is known as anteverted).

Retroflexed is sometimes described as the dorsal surface of the fundus being convex. That might be where the 'dorsi' bit was mentioned.

Or maybe he is a confused little doctor?

Many websites say it doesn't make a lot of difference where your uterus is, but then admit that women who have a backward facing uterus often have more pelvic pain. It doesn't seem to stop conception. However retroflexion and retroversion are both strongly correlated with POP.

My uterus flipped literally overnight, a few years ago from retroverted (cervix pointing upwards on the back vaginal wall) to anteverted (cervix coming out of the front vaginal wall.) Oh, what relief that was! I was in perimenopause, and it meant a sudden end to night time flooding and painful periods. I can only put the repositioning down to Wholewoman techniques. WW posture simply puts the pelvic diaphragm vertical or close to it. I guess it eventually just decided to fall forwards once I adopted 24/7 posture which did not reinforce its'upside down / backwards' position.

BTW, I also used to have the same ovulation-type pain as you describe, one side up high, one side down low, and quite painful sex before I had babies. There is something to be said for hypermobile organs. They can get out of the way easily. ;-) I think the ovulation pain was probably ligament pain, or possibly nerve pain from nerves being stretched or squashed by intestines or something, with my weird configuration of organs. There is, as you have found quite a bit of inflammation at ovulation time. Anyways, all the pain and discomfort was normal for me, and it never did any real harm. I just wish WW had been around earlier!

That's all in the past for me now. Menopause nearly 3 years ago, but my uterus is still on my front wall. Yesss!!!

Hope this info is helpful.

Louise