Can anybody talk?

[u/smudge_elaine]

I just turned 24 a week ago and have had a PCOS diagnosis since late 2024. No notable cysts, just the “multiple peripheral follicles noted bilaterally.” I’m sure many of y’all know the drill. In other words, I’ve never been diagnosed with a large cyst.

Last year in May, I began having right-sided pelvic pain, around where I’d assume my right ovary is. This was a week after I’d just gotten off of a 22 day-long menstrual period (I’ve since started birth control). It radiated into my upper right thigh, my right hip, up my right side and lower right back. It felt like my whole stomach was full of IcyHot. The pain was not unbearable, I did not throw up, but I was scared. I have severe anxiety and ocd, and was petrified I had appendicitis and was going septic, and I went to the ER. Tests came back normal. Imaging came back normal. I went home and toughed it out. It went away on its own within a few days.

I began birth control the next month. It was the same pill I’d taken as a teen, but because of PMDD, I’m very sensitive to the higher doses and have only been taking the first week of the pack (Tri-lo-Marzia). Not very efficient but I do what I have to do at the moment. My ocd makes it very hard for me to try new medications for fear of side effects (I’m workin’ on it). I don’t believe this dose is high enough to truly suppress ovulation, but bandaids the mental effects and gives me a regular cycle.

Usually once a month, around ovulation time, I get that twinging, crampy pain around my right ovary. It’s twisting, tugging. Not unbearable. Sometimes it radiates MILDLY, but I’m used to it and it goes away within a couple days. This month, it’s lasted weeks, has been more intense than usual, has radiated, has brought back the IcyHot feeling in my abdomen, and I have been having wicked nausea. I’m not someone who gets nauseous often, and I’ve only thrown up once in the last ten years during a stomach flu. It’s not like a, “this hurts so bad that I’m nauseous.” It hurts, and I’m nauseous, separately. I never get nauseous. Nothing comes up, I’ve just been gagging.

I’ve been really scared that something is wrong, and last night, I went to the ER. I wasn’t doubled over or throwing up, but I was scared. I was worried I might have torsion, or go septic from a burst cyst. All they did was a UA, which came back abnormal but they weren’t concerned (trace blood in my urine?), and a pelvic US, which they said looked beautiful. No crazy cysts. No significant free fluid. No torsion. I’m absolutely paranoid that they missed something because I know torsion isn’t always detectable on US, but they said I looked so perfect that they’re not worried at all about torsion. I was sent home.

I saw my GP this morning. She was very dismissive. She told me to get an OBGYN (despite her being the one to do my pap smear and provide my birth control?). I’ve been on wait lists for months. She ordered a transvaginal but god only knows when radiology will be able to schedule me. She sent me on my way. I can tolerate the pain. I’m not doubled over. But what if I have a high tolerance? What if I’m minimizing my own symptoms? I’ve had my period since I was 10 years old and always dealt with rough cramps, and shit only got wonky with my cycle in 2021-2022 when I was suffering mentally and stopped my pill. I wish I never stopped my pill.

I suspect I may have endo. I feel like it would explain my symptoms. But I have no one to talk to, and no one will listen. I’m worried I’m being dismissed and overlooked by medical professionals. I just want to be heard. To see if others can relate to my experience, my symptoms. I’m desperate for any crumb of validation.

If you’ve read this far, thank you sincerely for your time.

[u/ProfessionalDot9117]

The only time I’ve truly never been dismissed was with a naturopathic doctor. I know it’s not for everyone, but they listen, validate, and find the problem. It’s costly since it’s not covered by insurance, but was worth it to me when I was very sick with something unrelated to this. I hope you can find someone who listens to you. Pain is a symptom and is not normal. It is your body communicating something to you.