Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group ER visit last night -Yikes

Over the past couple of weeks, I had some intermittent gut pain, right at the navel. Never had a pain like that. Lasts an hour or so, then gradually goes away.

First time, thought it might be because I was hungry, since it went away after I took my dinner break at work.

Next time, thought it might be constipation since it had been 'a couple of days' despite my usual fiber intake. I pushed the fiber that night so it wouldn't happen again.

Next time, it wasn't either of those possibilities but it went away eventually. Seemed like it happened at work more often, so I thought maybe it was from being on my feet too long. I'm off Humira so not on anything right now but MTX and Mobic. No other changes to meds or diet. Decided to check 'Dr Google' for some ideas. Chief amongst the choices was appendicitis. Decided to wait and see if it came back.

Wednesday at work, it did and hurt a lot longer and more intensely than usual, but I toughed it out and went home at normal time. It hurt on the way home (my car has a clutch) and it hurt while I got ready for bed. Mentioned it to hubby and he said I needed to get to the doctor.

Thursday morning I called to see if I could get a PCP appt for Friday, but nothing open till Monday. Bummer. Hurt before work and thought about calling in sick, but it was less than 2 hrs before my start time and I tossed that idea, due to respect of my coworkers. Got to work and it was a struggle all the way. At dinner break I was nauseated and far from hungry despite not having eaten anything for 6 hrs. Ate 3 slices of cucumber and drank 3 swallows to take a Percocet. Decided this was a bad sign and called manager to tell her I needed to go home. It was ok'd. Had to cover while the last person went to dinner before I went home...1 more hour. Speed bumps in the parking garage hurt, potholes were painful, too. Got home and hubby wanted to know if we should head to the ER. Wasn't too sure, but after reading another list of the 7 most popular signs of appendicitis and I had most of them, decided sooner rather than later.

Took about 5 hrs total: vitals (BP was 190/90 initially, then down to 125/64 on discharge with pain controlled) blood work, CT with/without contrast (not pleasant), bag of IV fluid, Zofran, Benadryl, and Dilaudad. ER doc was a little surprised the Dilaudad didn't relieve the pain immediately--it took nearly 30-45 minutes to feel better. Then results were back: It was likely due to a ruptured ovarian cyst. CT shows cysts on both ovaries and free fluid in lower pelvis. Incidentally, there were stones in both kidneys. ER doc was also a little surprised that I didn't have an appy that wanted out.

I've got the followup with PCP on Monday and get the cysts evaluated by ultrasound and then decide what to do. Relieved it isn't surgical (yet) and pain is much lower today. Took me about 30 minutes to start noticing it feeling better. I'm off tonight and tomorrow night, then off for my normal weekend Sunday and Monday. Hoping these are benign ovarian cysts and not something yukky. Happy to be feeling better today. Manager texted me that she's sending me FMLA paperwork for this. <sigh> Oh, goody goody. Could have FMLA from 2 different doctors for 2 different things.

Any other postmenopausal ladies here that have had ovarian cysts (or know someone who has)? I know it's not related to PsA or AS but curious to know more. Thanks in advance.

Hi rumble - Yes from over here. Have had several ovarian cysts. Remove cyst and then they would come back again ! In the end nobbled em for good and all as the last one went into a torsion - not fun. Emergency situation. They can prob do the surgery by keyhole, in my time, mid 70s, it was cut and come again... Just got to take it easy after surgery.

So sorry to hear of the pain…..

I thought for sure as I was reading the story that it was an ulcer, glad it isn't that.

I think most ovarian cysts are benign but it will be good to have them evaluated.

One of my students, her sister, in her early 20s had a huge cyst that just kept getting bigger and bigger, pressing on things, lots of pain, surgically removed, but even that was benign and behind her now.

I apparently get them (post menopause). The first were seen on a CT scan done of my SI. After that, they wanted to evaluate them by internal ultrasound. Other than the procedure being very painful for me (even GYN exams are painful for me, as I've never had children, and think my muscle spasms don't help), found out that they were benign, and they come and go and come and go. Had them on one side, then the other, then the other, back and forth, finally they didn't show on internal US and so they stopped doing US on them; thank goodness.

Never noticed any symptoms from them coming or going. But maybe cause mine were so small. Or maybe I had some pain that I just chalked up to something like GI issues or something. Though of course if anything, nothing enough to realize.

Hope all is well soon.

Apparently ovarian cysts are pretty common and come and go a lot more than we realize because I guess usually they are asymptomatic.

Anyway, good thoughts being sent your way.

This site provides some helpful info http://www.uptodate.com/contents/ovarian...mp;anchor=H4#H4

I would ask your doctor to run a CA125 blood test. When I was 17 I had an ovarian cyst that had twisted one and a half times before it was discovered. My parents brought me to the ER as well as my primary and they could not find the cause of my severe pain....I was completely doubled over and couldnt walk . Finally a visit to a gyn yielded the cause. By that point my pelvis was enlarged to the point that the gyn initially suspected pregnancy and checked for a heart beat. An ultrasound showed an extremely large mass. My gyn said it was the largest cyst he had ever removed.

In my case the pathology came back showing it was in fact a rare malignant tumor.

Insist on another ultrasound if possible at a facility that specializes in pelvic disorders and be sure a CA 125 is run as well. I'm not trying to scare you, just want to make sure you get the best care.

I had the blood test done for peace of mind; glad I did.

Since I work in a medical lab, I've run that test on myself a couple of times in past 9 yrs, but might be time to get it ordered by doc for reference purposes. That and the ultrasound. Seems like I had symptoms of one in early 90s, but the pain I was having then never returned. Doc said it was likely just a fluke that one egg released that month caused more pain than usual, or it was a cyst. Medical stuff doesn't scare me, it just makes me learn more about it so I can be a partner in my care. Push when I need to push, and so on. And working in the business means I've seen a lot and know it's not worth worrying about till it's time to worry.

This site provides some helpful info http://www.uptodate.com/contents/ovarian...mp;anchor=H4#H4

That's a good site lulu. My first cyst was a big as a grapefruit. Removed, then inflammation set in - right flippin mess. Glad it is all behind me !

Rumble hopt gynae probs are resolved soon. Wretched condition to suffer from (all too vivid memories of).

Take care -

Night visits to the ER are no fun. Hope you get feeling better.

Just sending you a big, but gentle, hug. What a time you've had. I'm glad you know what's going on and can work toward feeling better again.

Love and Warm Hugs,

((Rumble)) I have been thinking of you. I am sorry you had to make the dread ER trip. Here in the city, it seems we have to wait so long. My daughter went to work the other night and said there were 6 ambulances lined up in the bay and the waiting room was full.

I have had the cysts and they can be very painful. I never had to have anything done with them. I ended up with a complete hysterectomy from tumors later.

I hope you feel better soon.

Are you having ice and snow? We didn't have church today because of the weather.

Hugs.