We found out today that my 13 year old has a 4.8 cm cyst on her right ovary. She started having pain Saturday night and it got progressively worse since then. I took her to the doctors today thinking it was her appendix since that was WHERE the pain was. After blood and urine tests and a complete pelvic and abdominal ultrasound, they found that she has a cyst. They scheduled her tomorrow w/an OBGYN in the office. I am NOT thrilled with this doctor. I don't go to him. My OBGYN's have a pediatric gyn. They want to see her ultrasound pics of her cyst so they can see if she needs to be seen before they have any openings (June 21 is the earliest for them). I'm leery about taking her to the one she has an appt w/tomorrow, but I also don't want her to wait three weeks to be seen. She's in such pain. Her regular dr didn't give her any pain meds, told her to take tylenol or ibuprofen, which aren't helping.

I am not crazy about them doing an internal exam (for obvious reasons). Do you think they can do anything for her withOUT doing one? Also, what is the normal course of action for a cyst this size? I know they do remove them sometimes and sometimes they just watch them. I have NO first hand experience with this.

Any help, advice, info would be great.

Thanks!

Update below!

My hubby and I decided that we would not let this dr do an exam on her before hand. We did discuss the likely hood that she would need one and both agreed it wasn't going to be with him. We both agree that it may be necessary, but it would be done by a woman and by someone who specializes in peds. Anyway, he said there was no reason for her to have one since she was so young. He reviewed her ultrasound and pretty much said that this cyst she had ruptured and she will be fine. He gave her an RX for pain if she needs it. She goes for another ultrasound in three weeks to make sure it's gone.

She saw a specialist for her kidneys. Apparently she has something going on w/both of them. The name of it escapes me right now. She will have two tests done to check the flow of urine w/in the next month. It looks like she has some blockage and they need to find out severe and whether she will need it fixed or if it'll go away on it's own.

I know what it's like to have a pap test before you are sexually active. It's no walk in the park. I have 1st hand experience with that. My 13 year old does not need to go thru that, unless it is absolutely necessary. She's a "victim", (not wanting to disclose too much on here). So, it's not only important to us, but to HER also, to keep that "silly little piece of skin" intact. So, now maybe people will understand WHY we wanted to keep her from having that done for as long as possible.

In the end, everything worked out the way we needed it to (minus the kidney stuff, of course). She didn't have to do anything that she didn't want to.

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Amy
Mom to Lauren, Eryn, Naysa
and announcing......
Gavin Michael Chase, 9 lbs 10 ozs
and 21 3/4 inches long on 10/13/09!

Now mind you, in know way am I a physician....

I do know that women experience significant hormonal changes cysts can develop. I developed one when I got pregnant the first time. And my OB/GYN said it was from the sudden and huge amounts of hormones flooding my body. Now, I'm not saying that she's pregnant! I am saying that this could be caused from hormones.

If you don't like this OB/GYN for whatever reason, your daughter will pick up on that and it may make the experience even more uncomfortable than it would normally be. I would recommend seen an OB/GYN that you like and are comfortable with.

That said, if she's in that much pain--take her to the ER! She should not have to be in pain. My biggest fear for her would be that the cyst would rupture and then you have a whole new set of problems. I say take her to the ER. They may be able to provide you with a referral to another OB/GYN that you will be more comfortable with.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Speak to an reproductive Endo and ask them about insulin medication that is now being proven to dissolve Ovarian cysts...I have been on and off Glucophage for mine.

((hugs to your daughter))

Website that helped me tremendously was SoulCysters.com: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Treatment & Resources

They are now finding that ovarian cysts are caused by many different factors which can include too much carbs in your diet to being over weight...

Check out the website...Best of Luck and pray your daughter is not in too much pain!

I'm thinking the same thing. It doesn't seem like she should be in so much pain. I have a cyst on my ovary but it's benign and isn't growing anymore but they did say there is always a chance of rupture. I don't have any pain but if I did I'd get it checked out again. (I got vaginal ultrasounds 4x the first year and every 6 months for a few years afterwards and it's not growing so it's fine.)

I had a cyst when I was 20. It was very painful but then it was the size of a baseball. they put me into the hospital to remove it. I got medicated and put in the O.R. when the DR> did a pelvic it had shrank by itself. They did nothing but kept watching it. I also thought that they try to scrink it first with meds. I would try to get something for the pain because it is painful. Its a very bad pressure pain.

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When you don`t know what to do-Walk fast and look worried.

I don't have any experience with this, but I just want to let you know that you and your daughter are in my thoughts. I have a 13 year old daughter myself and it must be terrible to see her in pain. I hope she will be feeling better soon. ~Lisa

It's funny that you mentioned hormones. I've ALWAYS wondered if her hormones are out of whack. She has a LOT of excessive hair and dark hair to boot. She also has heavy, long periods. She's just started getting them pretty regularly so I wanted to wait to see if they'd get a little better for her once she got "regular."

I'm going to take her to the appt today ONLY to see if he'll give her something to relieve the pain AND because I am afraid of it rupturing. I'm getting ready to call my OBGYN's and plead my case and see if there is ANY way they can get her in today.

Thanks for all the responses!

One more question, Would you let them do an internal exam on a 13 year old who's a virgin?

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Amy
Mom to Lauren, Eryn, Naysa
and announcing......
Gavin Michael Chase, 9 lbs 10 ozs
and 21 3/4 inches long on 10/13/09!

Wow this is a tough one! I would definitely get a different doctor. If you are having doubts then definitely get her someone else.

About the exam, even though that is something I would not even want to think about with my DD right now and I don't know how tramatic that would be. What if they could find something else out from the exam? That would actually be to her benefit? I don't know. I hate to say yes I would let them and I hate to say no I wouldn't. Just go with your gut.


I think this is way too young for these kind of problems. That poor kid!!

Hope everything goes ok today...

Pelvic exams are going to be part of her life once she's 18 or sexually active, so I'm not sure there's any reason to avoid them now. Sometimes, being female just hurts a lot until we find help, and I wouldn't do anything to put her off finding help, or having a standard gyn exam in the future. Then again, there's a huge part of me that cringes at a girl that age having to go through so much, so I understand where you're coming from. I really hope you can find a solution.

Yes, I would. I would insist on a female doctor to do the exam, and of course I would be in the room. The reason I say yes is because they can feel the ovaries when they do an internal exam, and also I would assume, feel the cyst. I would definitely want to know what exactly is going on, and I would not want to send a message to my daughter of "if it scares you, don't do it" when it comes to your health. Hope that made sense.

Also, no one really knows WHAT they will do in ANY situation, unless they are IN that situation. Get as educated as possible, and go from there. Good Luck.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I second every thing allinaugust has said. Good luck with the appointments

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My daughter was 13 when she went through the same thing. Horrible pain in her lower right side. We thought it was her appendix and took her to the doctors. They immediately sent us to the hospital for further testing. All tests were inconclusive. After two days they went in laproscopically. She did have a large ovarian cyst that was ready to rupture as well as adhesions (they had no idea why she had these). Although her appendix was fine, they took it out. They had told us beforehand they would do this as there was a greater risk of her developing appendicitis from the operation. She is 23 now and doing just fine and has never had a reoccurance. And by the way, they did not need to do an internal exam on her although I would have let them if they felt it would have made a difference. I hope everything turns out fine for your daughter.

I have been living with recurring ovarian cysts for years. They didn't start until I was 27 though. They can rupture. My doctor prescribed me naproxen sodium before it became available over the counter as Aleve. That is the only thing that has ever helped the pain for me, so try that. Sometimes the pain gets so bad I have to have prescription pain meds. I had a 5cm ovarian cyst that was solid removed over a year ago along with my right ovary. This was my 3rd laporoscopy. I would check with your doctor. My bet would be they might want to do a laporoscopy on her. She may have endometriosis or PCOD. (polycystic ovarian disease). Whatever the case, she needs some pain management AT LEAST!!!!!! Good luck!!

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Would I let them do an internal on my daughter who is a virgin? You bet I would. This is her health you are talking about. If the Dr. told me that they had to do an internal, I would absolutely let them do it.

You are weighing your daughter's health over a silly little piece of skin. She will still be a virgin for goodness sakes! How can you even consider not letting them do a procedure that might tell them what is going on?? It would be like saying you wouldn't let them do a biopsy because she'll have a scar. This is your child. Let the doctors do what is best for HER not for you.

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I found Jesus! He was behind the couch!

This happened to my DD when she was 15, she had to be admitted to the hospital because of it. They do have to do a vaginal exam, they also had to do a vaginal Ultrasound. It was the only way to tell the exact size and type and whether it was close to rupturing. Hers was not good, and she was in so much pain she couldn't walk, they admitted her to the hospital, they gave her IV meds for the pain and something to try to dissolve they ovarian cyst. The doctor did let me stay in there with her when they did the exams. She spent about 3 days in the hospital because she also had a kidney infection at the same time and they would not release her until they were sure the cyst wasn't going to rupture and the meds were helping it. It did shrink on it's own and she did not require surgery. She is almost 22 now and has had nothing but continuous vaginal infections, cysts, etc. She was not sexually active until almost 19 years old.

You know what, I would NOT let that dr no way, no how touch my daughter. In the end it didn't matter since he didn't need to do one. I would, however, let MY GYNs do an exam on her, but ONLY a pediatric gyn and if it was absolutely necessary.

You know that "little piece of skin" actually means something to some people. I take offense to your post. Usually I let things slide and bite my tongue. I read your post to my 13 year old and this is what SHE said:
physically it's a "little piece of skin" but spiritually it means a lot more. It's sacred. That's what MY 13 year old had to say about "that little piece of skin."

I didn't post on here to be slammed because of a choice that my husband and I made, one that WE think is best for OUR daughter.

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Amy
Mom to Lauren, Eryn, Naysa
and announcing......
Gavin Michael Chase, 9 lbs 10 ozs
and 21 3/4 inches long on 10/13/09!

Amy, I'm glad things went ok for your dd today. I hope the kidney problem is a simple fix.
Let us know how the tests turn out. (for the kidneys)

Sometimes the doctors don't ALWAYS know what is best, that is why it is wise to get a 2nd opinion. I don't really think she is weighing her daughter's health over "a silly piece of skin" she is obviously truly concerned why else would she come here and post about it?

I think there are more then one issue to consider and I don't blame OP. I guess having a DD close to the same age I know how I would feel.

I am just amazed that your DD knows about the hymen and calls it 'sacred' ... wow, kids know so much these days -- maybe you have taught her a whole bunch more than my parents taught me before that age. Kudos to you. And yes, she needs to be listened to. It is her body.

I'd have to agree with getting a second opinion. There may be another way to run the tests that is noninvasive???

I agree, sometimes discussions get a bit heated, and perhaps judgemental, but, I don't think that anyone is judging the OP here. In her post she requests any info, help, advice. That is what was given here, IMO. When is this time you are speaking of that only support was offered??? If I'm remembering correctly, the Family board was taken away because some threads got downright hateful and meanspirited. I, OTOH, am a bit apprehensive to post "advice" for fear of it being taken the wrong way. I was not being judgemental of the OP, and while I can't speak for IMDizzy, I really doubt they were being judgemental either, but, merely implying that a person's health should be considered above all else. At least , that's what I think. Clearly this is a sensitive subject for the OP (as it would be for anyone, I'm sure) but, I don't think she was looking for everyone to say "no way would I allow that.....". But, I could be wrong

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Patients (or parents in this case) should ALWAYS ask questions, should ALWAYS get an explanation that they understand. YOU are your own best advocate (and in this case your child's best advocate).

I didn't take it so much as a worry over "a little flap of skin", but more a worry over a Dr. that the OP didn't like, didn't respect and didn't trust. I don't care how skillful a Dr is--if the patient doesn't like the Dr., doesn't trust the Dr., etc. it will make any procedure or illness 10X worse.

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS ask questions, if you don't understand, then ask for a referral for a second opinion. Any competent and confident and GOOD Dr. will not have an issue providing one!

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I just wanted to let you know that she could have an ultrasound to check for a cyst. Here is a website that might be of help to you Women's Health Advisor 2005.4: Ovarian Cysts

OK first let me say, I was not trying to be judgemental here. I was distressed to think that you might put the "virgin" thing before an important medical test.

I certainly applaud your daughter for wanting to remain a virgin, but we all know that the hymen can be broken in many ways, and not just from having sexual intercourse.
The fact that she may have needed an internal exam to determine important medical results does not change the fact that she would have remained a virgin.


vir·gin /ˈvɜrdʒɪn/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[vur-jin] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. a person who has never had sexual intercourse.
2. an unmarried girl or woman.
3. Ecclesiastical. an unmarried, religious woman, esp. a saint.


Any medical test, that the Dr's feel need to be done (in this case it appears not to have been needed) should not be put behind a wish to have her hymen intact. We are not living in the dark ages where the marital bed was inspected to determine a girl's virginity. Her virginity is intact based on the fact that she never has had sexual intercourse, not because of a hymen.

I hope that cleared up what I was trying to convey.

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I found Jesus! He was behind the couch!