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alicegunther
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| Posted: Dec 04 2006 at 10:23pm | IP Logged
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A very dear friend of mine gave permission for me to pass along some questions to you wonderful friends. She is praying to conceive a new little one, but has been plagued by ovarian cysts. Here are excerpts from two separate emails. I ask you to prayerfully consider this situation and chime in with any and all advice and information you may have.
First message:
"Since my one and only round of clomid in August, I have developed an ovarian cyst each cycle. They resolve each month, and then a new one comes...some more painful than others. I can't go on Clomid again, and it seems my ovaries are "brittle" the same term used for me when I had my gestational diabetes. Ugh. There's no way Clomid is still in my body, but it triggered something that is causing this. I went on some large doses of progesterone this past week, and had to stop because I was having racing heart and palpitations. So I don't know what will happen next month...wait and see. The difficult part is that when I get these cysts (two have been about 3.5 cm) it requires pelvic rest, in case of rupture or torsion, so it's hard on [my husband] too."
Second message:
"I'm in a bit of a dilemma...nothing major. I think I told you about the cysts I keep getting. This is the fourth month, another cyst. It's always the same ovary (right). They tried progesterone in high doses last month to try and get my body out of this routine, but I had a reaction, like I told you."
"I laughingly told my doctor I'm ready for her to go in and just out that ovary, as it's causing such problems...she actually said she has done it for some patients. You can still get pregnant with one ovary. Right now I can't do anything and time is slipping. I see this doctor on Wednesday to discuss what to do."
Many, many thanks to all of you for what I know will be helpful, experienced advice. This Mommy is also interested in finding trustworthy and complete information on fertility herbs (kinds that might be good for her problem), vitamin supplements, and anything else she might want to consider.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!
St. Gerard Majella, pray for us!
__________________
Love, Alice
mother of seven!
      
Cottage Blessings
Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
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kjohnson
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| Posted: Dec 04 2006 at 10:42pm | IP Logged
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I have this same problem. I am plagued by these cysts and have suffered a great deal from them. They are horribly painful. The first time one burst I didn't know what was wrong and my husband called an ambulance. It was very scary!
My OB/GYN told me that I wouldn't be able to conceive again since I was developing cysts during ovulation instead of releasing an egg. He insisted that I go on Progesterone which I was hesitant to do. We were able to use NFP while I took the Progesterone because it's pretty much a birth control pill, but it made me feel horrible. I began having cysts on the Progesterone as well. So I didn't see a reason to keep using something I was uncomforable with if it wasn't helping anyway.
I had some internal bleeding from my last cyst and my doctor wanted to do a complete hystectomy. Now having your uterus removed is one thing, but having your ovaries removed is another. It's really forcing your body into menopause and for me that would have been menopause at 33! I got a 2nd opinion and in the meantime my doctor scheduled the surgery. It must have been Divine intervention because my husband has an aunt who is an OB/GYN in Nebraska. We are not close to her and it had never occured to me to phone her for advice. But my dear mil stepped in and called and I was able to talk to her about the problem.
She said that I had the option of getting on a higher dose of Progesterone or doing nothing at all and that a hysterectomy was a money-making scheme by my doctor. She said that ovarian cysts are a nuisance, but not a health threat and that no woman should remove her reproductive organs because of them.
I considered this an answer to prayers and decided to just put the matter in God's hands. We had long since given away our baby clothes, my maternity clothes, etc... and were sure that 4 children was the number that God had ultimately blessed us with.
Within one month off the medication I was pregnant! We couldn't believe it. And since I am pregnant and will nurse for the better part of 2 years, I will be cyst free for almost 3 years. I know that when this baby weans I will be back to square one, but the decision to put up with the pain resulted in the gift of a new life and I am so thankful that God blessed us so greatly from just a little act of faith.
I will keep your friend in my prayers, it's a hard situation to be in.
__________________
In Christ,
Katherine
Wife to Doug and Mother of 6
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Marybeth
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| Posted: Dec 04 2006 at 11:42pm | IP Logged
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I would talk to a homeopathich doctor. They can deal with the whole body and not just the ovary. Most often in Chinese medicine the reproductive organs are "out of whack" due to an imbalance of some sort. Would she consider accupunture? This has saved me from having to have a my ovaries removed.
Also, eating as much organically grown food as possible helps greatly. I know it is not economical to buy all foods organically if you live in the city. My sister and I try for soy or rice milk only, limit dairy, eggs and meats which are from free range farms and limit sweets and caffeine.
I just had Coke after not drinking it in November...I feel gross...so limit coffee,chocolate,etc.
This is getting long so my best advice is~
1. organic foods
2. accupunture
3. homeopathic doctor
4. limit sweets and caffeine
5. take yoga...I have some yoga positions which help my monthly pain...and reduce my stress levels
6. try to decrease stress
Hope something helps soon! I am so sorry for your friend and will pray.
God bless!
Mb
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Marybeth (Mb)
http://held-together.blogspot.com
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ALmom
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| Posted: Dec 05 2006 at 12:45am | IP Logged
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I just contacted someone about this trying to find out why I am feeling so bad- our relatives were talking and thought our symptoms were similiar. In any case, I don't think this was my problem as my symptoms matched thyroid issues more than pcos, but one tidbit shared with me in the conversation was that often blood sugar problems go hand in hand with this and that they have also found that diabetes medications often help pcos especially in patients who do not want bcp type medications and this is what they did with her physician. There is a ton of info on the web searching pcos.
Janet
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Dec 05 2006 at 7:56am | IP Logged
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Alice,
I did have an ovary removed due to recurring cysts. The worst one was 11-cm in diameter and it torsioned in the middle of the night when my dh was in the Persian Gulf on an aircraft carrier. (I was nursing dd at the time and also nursing her when the other cysts developed later.) The next year the cysts were back, but only the size of golf balls.
I finally told my doctor that I didn't want to have continual surgical adventures...we were getting ready to move back to MD (not this time, last time!) and I knew the nearest military hospital was an hour away at the best of times. It was always the same ovary with me, too...the doctor said it was most likely eggs that were trying to burst through in the normal ovulation process, but were partially suppressed by my breastfeeding, so they developed into cysts instead. So, now I have only one ovary.
Since then I've been tested for hormonal levels (at Walter Reed Army Hospital, which has a good OB/GYN dept.) and they're normal even though I have only one ovary. The docs said I could certainly conceive again.
I'd suggest giving this option some serious thought. In my case the cysts were a health threat (extreme pain and emergency surgery), so waiting things out wasn't an option.
I've been cyst-free since I did it, and haven't had to worry about breastfeeding vs. cysts or any other problems. I do occasionally miss a cycle, which is why I had the hormone tests, but I'm not in peri-menopause so far (and I am 44).
I hope this helps your friend. It's scary to feel as though you're tinkering with your reproductive future, I know.
__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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alicegunther
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| Posted: Dec 05 2006 at 8:10am | IP Logged
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I am back with one more fact I ought to have mentioned in my original post. It is not PCOS--she only has one cyst each month and still has regular cyles so far.
I can't thank you enough for the rapid feedback, by the way. You wonderful mothers can always be counted upon!
__________________
Love, Alice
mother of seven!
Cottage Blessings
Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
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kjohnson
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| Posted: Dec 05 2006 at 8:13am | IP Logged
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guitarnan wrote:
I'd suggest giving this option some serious thought. In my case the cysts were a health threat (extreme pain and emergency surgery), so waiting things out wasn't an option.
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I just want to clarify something from my previous post. The medical advice I received was for a very different situation and had I been in Nancy's postition, surgery would have been my path as well. In my situation my recurring and bursting cysts caused excrutiating pain and put me in bed, there was only a bit of internal bleeding and none of my ER doctors ever suggested emergency surgery.
So please don't think that I meant to imply that those in emergency surgery situations are receiving unnecessary medical care. That's between the individual and their heathcare provider.
I'm sorry that happened to you, Nancy, and am happy to hear that you are no longer suffering from these cysts. 
__________________
In Christ,
Katherine
Wife to Doug and Mother of 6
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Dec 05 2006 at 5:46pm | IP Logged
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Katherine,
I didn't think that at all! I just wanted to make sure that Alice's friend knows that the "danger" of torsion can be avoided by some people...but apparently I wasn't one of them!
Actually, as crisis occasions go, my situation turned out OK. A Marine Corps wife from our church had told me, when dh deployed, that if I needed emergency help I should call her, regardless of time. She's a saint. She took me to the hospital and stayed with me until I went into surgery (my parents were en route the day it happened...I'm sure that God was looking out for me). She took her daughter out of school to babysit while I was at the hospital. She's an amazing, wonderful person. Since that time, I have tried to tell other military families that I'll be their go-to person under similar circumstances. I hope some day I will have the chance to pass on this favor...I can certainly never repay it.
__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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ladybugs
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| Posted: Dec 05 2006 at 6:34pm | IP Logged
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Alice,
Your dear friend might be interested in Mannatech.
I have heard of these products helping and healing many people and I myself have used ambrotose, PLUS and Catalyst. When I am using these, I feel more balanced.
Anyway, I have several friends who have used these products as well and one of their dads was completely healed of cancer after he had been given very little time to live.
I'm not saying it will work but it might be a good place to start. These products use the science of glycobiology. Our bodies were need 8 essential sugars for proper functionality and proper cellular communication and because of how our foods are picked and shipped, we're only receiving 2 of the 8 sugars.
I hope this helps.
__________________
Love and God Bless,
Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
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Kristen in TN
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| Posted: Dec 17 2006 at 8:01pm | IP Logged
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I have heard about and read about Macrobiotics helping with ovarian cysts. Perhaps a macrobiotic practicioner could help?
Also, I had an ovarian cyst (dermoyd type and not sure if that is the correct spelling.) It was the size of a grapefruit and so the ovary was removed as well. That was before I was married and I now have 5 children.
I'll keep your friend in my prayers.
God bless,
Kristen
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alicegunther
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| Posted: Dec 17 2006 at 9:09pm | IP Logged
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Thank you so much, Kristen. That is a hopeful story if ever I heard one! A big thank you to everyone who has chimed in here so far.
Please keep the advice coming, dear friends. Even if you are just reading this and have only a word to say, sometimes a small anecdote or suggestion can be an enormous help.
__________________
Love, Alice
mother of seven!
Cottage Blessings
Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
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julia s.
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| Posted: Dec 20 2006 at 7:58am | IP Logged
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I haven't had a chance to read all the posts here, but I used to get ovarian cysts. My aunt said she used to get them and when I asked her what did she do to get rid of them she smiled and said Have another baby .
Well I took her advice  a couple of times now and it did work. After the second baby I didn't have the cysts any more.
I hope that gives a little bit of hope. They are very painful and I ended up in the emergency room a couple of times with them.
Blessings.
__________________
julia
married to love of her life
with ds12 ds8 ds3 and ds1
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: Ovarian Cysts--Advice Needed Please
