Ruptured Ovarian Cyst

I recently had a ruptured ovarian cyst. And like you, it was extremely painful!! The doctor said it is one of the most painful experiences you will ever have. Personally, the enema CT scan they did in the ER was (if you can believe it!!) more painful, or at least it caused the ruptured cyst to be even more painful! Luckily they had already given me morphine, unfortunately they had to give me more after that procedure (which they did to rule out appendicitis, since it was on my right side).

Neither one of my docs were worried either. And from the research I did on my own, having cyst is normal part of life for a woman and though them rupturing is not as common. They also found another cyst on my left ovary, but again, they were not worried, said it would go away on its own. I am having my ob/gyn doc pay more close attention, since female problems run in my family, include PCOD.

I believe my pain lingered for several days afterward, kept taking Ibuprofen until it subsided. If I remember right from the research I did, the lingering pain is from all the crud that the cyst released into your abdomen when it ruptured. It takes time for you body to reabsorb all that and then expel it. I don't remember getting headaches though.

L.,
I had a ruptured ovarian cyst about a year ago. I was in excrutiating pain one night but refused to go to the ER. I can't pin point the exact location..it felt like my whole lower abdomen was being twisted and torn. After the rupture the pain went from a 10 to about a 6/7..I had a hard time walking and finally 2 days later went to my obgyn...they admitted me for 3 days because I had bled into my abdomen...They wanted to make sure the bleeding stopped. It took about a month for the pain and my belly to subside. I would just recommend a follow up and make sure you don't have any fluid hanging around...in the next couple of weeks you should be fine, it just takes time. It shouldn't affect you long term.

I have had many of them because of PCOD. I also have passed out from the pain- glad to hear I am not the only one! lol

It takes about a week for the pain to completely subside. If you have heat packs that helps as well as Aleve (Naproxen Sodium)if they did not prescribe anything, make sure you eat before you take them though!

I would have cramping and back pain for days up until it would rupture. When they would rupture it would feel like what I would assume it would feel like to have a hot knife plunged into me! At that point I would pass out and then go to the ER.

As for the headaches... I am not sure if the ones I had are the same as yours is but I used to get migraines around the time of my period and they were mostly hormonal. After they removed my ovary (it was twisted severely and adhered to my uterus from scar tissue) I have not had as many nor have they been as severe. When I get them now I do what my gyne office suggested...
1 Excederin
1 Chlortrimeton
1 bottle of Mountain Dew
Not sure why it works but it beats going to the ER for Morphine!

I sure hope you feel better! If you have any questions please feel free to ask... I sure wish I would have had this site to come to when I was going through this month after month!

Blessings to you and yours!

Hi, I thought I was the only one. Happened in March and the pain would come in waves every 2 minutes in abdomin area. I though I was dying. Went to my Dr. and she sent me for a pelvic ultra sound and cat scan. UGH! The woman performing the pelvic ultra sound said I had a cyst on my ovaries and it looked as if one ruptured, which causes the extreme pain. Unfortunately they were more concerned with a darkened area on my colon and ignored the cyst problem. Their response was not to worry about ovarian cysts they are normal in aging ovaries. I am 47 and I sure hope it doesn't happen again.

I have experienced the exact same thing. It was awful. I didn't pass out from the pain but I turned pale as a ghost and almost fainted. The pain was abdominal/pelvic area. The severe pain lasted a few hours but, I had minor pain for about 1-2 days. This has happened several times. It was an ovarian cyst rupture, the DR. in the ER did a pelvic ultrasound and saw all the fluid from it rupturing. My DR. wasn't concerned because it does happen to a lot of women but, we tried changing my birth control. I have since changed my birth control twice and it has not happened in several years.

Hi L.,
I am responding to this because my sister just had this happen to her the first part of January. She has severe pain in her ovary, and back. The pain was so bad she could hardly move. She went to the ER on a Saturday they did the normal tests, x-ray, sonogram on top of the stomach and vaginally. The vaginal sonogram showed inflamation in her fallopian tubes....she was sent home w/ pain meds, and went to her OB/gyny on Monday. He had her scheduled for surgery on Thursday of that week. The fluid that was omitted by her cyst had went up into her fallopian tube, and gotten infected.
I am telling you all this because her pain too had gotten better, she could tolerate it, and she did not expect to have surgery.....but her body could not re-absorb the fluid once it had gotten into her tube/s. I would definately get a second opinion and make sure that a sonogram on top of the stomach and vaginally is performed.
My sister had to have a complete hystorectomy. I am not saying this is the case with you, but I would make sure that you know exactly what is going on in there.

I had a ruptured ovarian cyst in 1999. I went to the ER because of the pain at 2am and they sent me for a CT scan, I think just to make it look good but I got the vibe that they thought I was some kind of a drug seeker. Directly before I went for the CT, I made a trip to the restroom and on the way back I passed out in the ER. THey believed me then. The CT showed a 10cm mass in my abdomen that turned out to be free blood in my abdomen, because I am on blood thinners. They then transferred me to a larger hospital were I was there for 3 days and ended up having to have 2 units of blood transfused. In the end, the free blood was reabsorbed back into my body and I ended up having my ovaries removed in 2004 due to repeated cysts. Sorry for my horror story. I know that most don't have that much trouble, but because of my previous health problems, it was a nightmare.

Yes, what you're feeling is technically "normal" although I always feel as if there ought to be something that can be done to avoid these. I have only had one that actually dropped me to the floor - I remember having growing pain in my lower abdomen, especially on one side, and then all of a sudden as I was walking down the hall on the way back from the bathroom, I found myself on the floor instead and was shaking and had that general "unwell" feeling as well as having worse pain in my abdomen. I thought I might be in serious trouble and staggered my way to the bed and phone where I called my husband to come home from work and get me to the ER. By the time we were there, however, the worst of the pain had gone. They did an ultrasound and a blood test and said that it was likely I'd had a cyst burst.

I'd been told I had cysts on a couple of prior ultrasounds, but the doctors have generally never been concerned about them. It's apparently just something we women have to "deal with". That sentiment makes me cranky every time. I believe I've been having some more trouble with them again recently, although I've never had another instance like the one I've described, which was about 8 or 9 years ago. I recently had some pain two mornings in a row, however, that the doctor said could be me experiencing pain due to ovulation... OR more ovarian cysts. This pain was in a band across my lower abdomen and instead of the ultrasound I expected, I ended up having a colonoscopy instead (which came back fairly normal). If it happens again next month, I'll know it's ovulation. If not, it was likely cysts.

If you are still having pain 3-4 days afterwards, you may have more, smaller cysts, still waiting to burst.

If they did not to an ultrasound - that can usually see the cysts. If you are still having pain you might ask your doctor if they could check to make sure that is all that you are dealing with.

I don't know if any of this will help, but hope you feel better soon!

YES!!!! It hurts sooooo bad. I was pregnant with my 2nd and I thought I was having a miscarriage. They had to give me shots of mophine at the er. Finally they kept me overnight because I was pregnant. It was sore for about a week. I KNOW THE PAIN!

Same as you had, only now I have to fight an insurance company because they think my visit ti ER was unwarranted. But yes, a lot of pain across lower abd, more to the r side and when the cyst ruptured it was like stabbing pain, took my breath away.3 days before and 1 or so day later.

I had one a long time ago, fresh year in college. the pain will dissipate as does the fluid that is slowly absorbed by your body. i had severe pain also and was taken to the ER. i cant exactly remember where and all of those details, but i do remember being still in a little bit of pain. it is something foreign to your body, the fluid, and sometimes it can be painful. your body will absorb the fluid and you should return to normal in a week or so. i think that is how long it took me. good luck and hope you heal soon!

I experienced lower abdominal pain for a few months before my ovary ruptured. It especially hurt when I sat down. When the ovary ruptured, I had some sort of fluid that leaked out and I had no idea why. At that time, I had what seemed like flu-like symptoms (i.e. nausea, didn't feel good, pain, etc). My doctor finally ordered a pelvic sonogram to see what might be going on. I remember I vomitted the water I had to drink prior to the sonogram and I passed out while waiting for my dad to take me to the appointment. I was so sick and in so much pain, I was laying on the floor in the waiting room. It turns out that I had a cyst the width of a Nerf football that had ruptured the ovary. I had an emergency surgery to remove the cyst and it turned out to be a rare type of cancer (Endodermal Sinus Tumor). If you have had pain that persists, I would insist that your doctor order a sonogram to make sure everything is okay. If they would've let me go much longer, I would've ended up dead. The pain started in September and by the end of December, the fluid leaked out and I began to get sick (felt like the flu). I can't remember if I had headaches but I remember I didn't feel good at all and the pain was still there. I think January 9th was when they completed the emergency surgery. Best of luck to you. Remember, don't ignore persistent pain --- it's your body's way of saying something's wrong. If your doctor isn't helping - I would get a second opinion.

when I was 19 I had one and it felt terrible to say the least. Everyone thought I had apendicitis, even the doctors at the ER. I had a super high fever and was doubled over in pain from my side. I was in the hospital for a week, on high dosage IV antibiotics cause of it. They did a laproscopy to see if I needed surgery, but I didn't. I had been sick for about a month prior and just didn't know that it was an infected cyst. Actually it was bilateral cysts, both the size of a grapefruit. OUCH. The pain was a sharp, shooting pain at the same time it was all over.

I was at home from college for another 3 weeks. Not fun!

I am not able to say it was the same for sure, but I did have an ovarian cyst over twenty years ago that was removed about the size of a grapefruit. I also went to the emergency room and they had to do an awful lot of work to find out what it was so I was in pain for days. I had something similar to a c section to get it removed.So of course that would be painful. You haven't described what they did then perhaps I could say more. How did they know it was a ruptured ovarian cyst? Was there blood loss? Only asking because I had what I think could have been something like that later down the line, but didn't go to the doctor and lost huge clots. I am fine now, but it was pretty scarey and I wondered before I even read your post if it was something like that. Ok I am probably not helping but what sort of aftercare if any did they require of you? If it was ruptured did they take all of it out? Anyway, the next point I have is that of course if there is still some really bad pain you might check out another doctor or if it's just too soon bone up on the tylenol until you see someone. Some doctors are very insensitive.
If you had blood loss or are having blood loss now, the headaches could be from dizziness from the loss. Well, I will be interested to see what the other moms have to say.
Oh and I forgot to say that the pain came from the same location you are describing. And now once in awhile I do get a twinge of the old pain. But that's it.

L., I had a ruptured ovarian cyst about 7 years ago. I started with sharp cramp like pain which evolved to something akin to a knife being twisted in my lower abdomen/ovarian area. Very painful. I was curled up in the fetal position and had difficulty moving. The entire course of event took maybe 10-12 hours. I don't recall having ongoing pain after that period.

I recall being told by my OB/Gyn that there are different kinds of cyst and that they can reside either inside or outside the ovary. I think she said that if a cyst inside the ovary ruptured and it was big enough it could damage the ovary. Since my visit with her seemed normal and I had no more symptoms, she wasn't concerned and assumed that all was ok.

Also, I've been told by OB/GYN's that it's very typical to have ovarian cysts which may cause some discomfort ( often during ovulation) but they resolve on their own by shrinking and disappearing entirely.

Lastly, in the late 80's I had an ovarian cyst removed surgically. It was the size of a baseball and was outside/ on the ovary, not inside. I felt something was there because when I lay on my stomach it was tender. The ob/Gyn found it immediately upon exam.

I hope this helps. If you still have discomfort and are concerned it may be helpful to get a second opinion or request a test to provide a definitive diagnosis. For me this has also brought piece of mind which is as valuable for me. Good luck. Be well....

B.

Yes, I have been through that twice. The pain was unbelievable. Not much is done after it ruptures. My abdomen swelled, I felt lousy and had headaches. I think the headaches are hormone related. Try to find a sympathetic doctor. I have found some ob/gyns to not be so nice. The ER ob/gyn doctor wanted to put me on birth control pills and I refused. He got very angry with me. I want somewhere else. Eventually I ended up having a hysterectomy but not without serious thinking. A good doctor will help you through this.

Hi L.,

I am sorry you have gone through this - I know it is a bit scary to say the least. I had a cyst burst a couple years ago and it was painful enough to send me to the ER. By the time I was actually seen by a doctor in the ER I was feeling better. If you are still not feeling well please call your Gyn or PCD. A burst cyst usually isn't something to be concerned about, but it seems that you should be feeling better by now. Regarding what it felt like - it was a burning kind of pain in my lower abdomen, kind of tucked in under my hip bone. It was almost the same kind of pain I have when I am ovulating, just very very intense.

Hope you are well soon.

I had a ruptured cyst a few years ago. The pain was VERY bad and it made me vomit and I also passed out. I went to the ER and the pain gradually lessened as I was there. I had pain for about a week after it. They gave me some Vicodin which I used for about 2 days and then I used Tylenol. My pain was on the right lower abdominal area. It will go away, just give it a little time.

I had a ruptured cyst in highschool. It was unbelievably painful as well. I was taken to the ER also(where I recived my first ever pelvic exam- Ahhh!).

My doctor did give me a Rx for a high dose of naproxin sodium, which is basically Aleve (and the equivilant of about 4-5 store bought pills). The doc also said I should take aleve for any pain afterward or associated with menstral cramps.

If you are in need of relief, I would try taking Aleve. You probably should not take as many as I did (4-5) with out a doctor's consent. You may want to call your OB about a dosage for your body type and weight.

Good luck. I hope you find some relief soon!

L.,

So sorry to hear that you had to go through the ruptured ovarian cyst. I too had one and wen to the ER because I had no idea what was going on. I was in extreme pain and couldn't even have my underpants touch my stomach, because that pressure hurt too much. They really didn't do anything just told me not to drink caffine and stay away from spicy foods. I had one surgery to remove a ovarin cyst and I still get them, never had another one burst. If you are not happy with what your doctors are saying to you, maybe you could look to another doctor or call your dr's and let them know that you are concered. This is your one and only body and if you need the comfort and care from your doctors you should get them to talk with you about it.

Good luck.

K.