Update: My Ovarian Cyst – Bean

Almost a year ago, I shared with you all the horrible GP (General Practitioner) appointment I had. Which subsequently led to finding out that I had a cyst on my left ovary.

I named the cyst ‘Bean,’ as it was the size of a baked bean when I first found out about him. He grew in size and caused me the most unbearable pain throughout my daily life, which worsened during menstruation.

I was offered an acid: Mefenamic acid to be exact!

I asked about the side effects and was told the following:

• May cause stomach bleeding
• May cause peptic ulcers
• Increase the chances of blood clots in and around and my heart.
• May cause heart failure.
• May cause a stroke.
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Rashes
• Dizziness
• Tinnitus
• Constipation
• Heart Attack

I remember thinking what is the point of taking this medication if I could end up experiencing even more complications? I ultimately felt stuck between constant pain and the outlook of additional issues to contend with.

Living with a cyst is awful! I often daydreamed being able to take it out. Mixed with nightmares of the cyst bursting and causing me even more pain.

Bean would bite into me when; I was out doing grocery shopping, running outside for 20 minutes, in the middle of the night when I was deep in sleep, in the bath when I’m soaking in salts and essential oils, during dates with potential partners. All-day every day!

Honestly, there’s only so many times that I could take painkillers and go a short time with mild pinches from Bean. I felt faulty…

Like my body was giving up! I felt like no one is going to want a woman with issues with her reproductive organs. I thought it was impossible to speak to friends/family about this because I find that when you share a problem with someone, they need to drown you in their opinions and push you into doing what they believe will benefit you. There’s also that niggling feeling at the back of my mind that reminds me, the same people may view you as faulty.

Aside from the minimal posts, I shared on my blog, I only confided in 4 people about my cyst Bean. Out of those 4, only 1 (my sister) truly stood by me and always provided me with comfort and a safe space to express myself freely. She was also an advocate for looking into natural alternatives, as I had explained that I’ll never accept the acid and its side effects as a possible solution for the pain.

Her support led me to Holland & Barrett, they sell Vegan Supplements

I started taking one a day…

After three days, the pain subsided drastically. I could not believe that it was because of these supplements so I stopped taking them and after a day, the pain returned full force. I never took them for a week, as I thought this is too good to be true.

I then started taking them again and the excruciating pain was now reduced to a less aggressive mini bolt of lightning zapping on my left ovary.

 After avoiding two scans, as I was afraid to hear more bad news. I eventually agreed an appointment date/time and in my mind agreed to attend.

During my journey there, I was anxious. I kept on thinking that maybe my mind was replaying a weird placebo effect where maybe the Vegan supplements weren’t working but my mind had convinced me that they were?

Once I had arrived at my scan destination, I considered turning around and walking away…again. But like anyone who hasn’t started a family yet, but does want to have children. I had to know exactly what was going on and if anything less crazy than acid can help?

The internal scan is slightly uncomfortable and lasts only a few minutes. I highly recommend that if you’ve experienced similar issues:

• Heavy periods
• Pain in your abdomen
• Longer periods

That you have an internal scan – Doctors can understand what’s going on better with a scan.

Nevertheless, it lasted a few minutes and as I was redressing, I asked the Nurse, ‘How big is the cyst now?’ She smiled and said, ‘Your cyst has gone completely!’

How Do I Feel Today?

Wonderful!

Lessons Learned?

Not to ignore my body. I had waited a few months after I first started getting the symptoms because I felt like I was being silly, wasting the Doctors time and I thought as many do with medical symptoms it will go away.

What Will I Take Away From This Experience?

How wonderful my sister is, how important it is to understand my body and to listen to it.

I’m also continuing with the Vegan supplements. While I don’t have any scientific proof that they helped with getting rid of Bean, I have my understanding of how I felt and the results after only a few months.

Writing this post wasn’t easy and I have been pushing it back. Sharing personal aspects of my life online is scary, as the internet invaders will sometimes go militant and highlight things, they hate about something someone has posted.

However, I set up my blog to share my health journey with everyone. I hope that if only one person reads something and feels inspired, empowered or something positive – then that is the biggest reward I can have.

Thank you to all my existing followers and welcome to my new followers.

Love

Unique Fatso