Seeking advice: Large endometrioma
I (31F) am in need of advice after finding out I have an endometrioma thats 8x5 cm's. The doctor sent me home with barely any information. (TLDR at the bottom)
Hi ladies,
I've always had terrible pain during my period but in the last 2 years it has become more frequent and the last few months it became daily and unbearable. At first I thought my copper IUD must have moved positions, because whenever I went to the doctor (since I was 15) about my pain they could never find anything and I was told it was normal for a girl/woman to have pain around the time of your period. Well this time they did find something but they couldn't tell me exactly what it was.
I got referred to a gynecologist at the hospital, this was about 2 months ago. She told me I have an endometrioma that's 8x5 cm's on my left ovary and that removing it could be risky because I want to have children in the near future but there was also a chance that it could burst and my body would clean it up. She said it like that was a good thing. She recommended hormonal birth control, I denied as I don't have a good experience with them. She told me to log my symptoms everyday and to come back after 3 months for a check up and if I have a lot of pain I can call to come in sooner. That's all!!
I started looking for more information online and found some posts here on reddit that were really helpful. In hindsight I have been having symptoms for years which had always been brushed off by doctors. I saw some comments mentioning that large endometrioma's can mean there's stage 3 or stage 4 endo in the body. The gyno never mentioned anything about that and also didn't speak to me about any treatment options what so ever. I've learnt more from reading your experiences than from the doctor..
2 weeks ago, while at work, I suddenly felt really unwell. I became lightheaded, nauseous, very warm, sweaty and was in a lot of pain. I called my fiance, he picked me up, called the hospital and we were able to go right away. Arrived there almost an hour later. Spoke to the doctor she did an ultrasound to look at the endometrioma, it hadn't changed in size. She also pushed against it, the endometrioma wasn't causing my pain so I asked her if it was possible if I have endometriosis on other places and perhaps that was causing my pain? She said my symptoms match that but it wasn't likely because my period hadn't started yet.. Mind you I was 7 days late, she had me do a pregnancy test and it came back negative. I also told her my symptoms had gotten worse since my first visit 2 months ago. I was sent home because there was nothing she could do and said I should keep logging my symptoms daily. Guess what happened later that day, my period started!
A few days later I spoke to someone who had gone through pretty much the same thing with a different hospital. She asked to get referred for a second opinion elsewhere. The second place she went to told her that her endometrioma had to be removed right away because it was too large. Hers was 3x5 cm. So 5 cm's smaller than mine. She was shocked to hear that my gyno sent me home twice.
I have my check up appointment on the 29th of July, my past 2 experiences at this hospital haven't been great. They haven't really helped me at all. In the meantime my symptoms keep getting worse and I'm very worried. I could really use some advice. Should I push for surgery. Also try to get a second opinion elsewhere? Anything else you recommend?
TLDR: Gyno sent me home after discovering 8x5 cm endometrioma with barely any info. Wants to monitor it for 3 months in stead of removing it because I want to conceive in near future. Never mentioned the possibility of there being more endo in my body.. Only recommended birth control as form of treatment, which I declined because of bad experience in past. Meanwhile symptoms are getting worse, went to hospital because of it 2 weeks ago. Pain wasn't caused by endometrioma. Asked if pain could be caused by endo in other places and was told that wasn't likely. Have my next check up in a few weeks. Now seeking advice.