Twenty years ago i had a total hysterectomy with removal of ovaries, at the time i had extensive endometriosis. Sixteen years ago all the symptoms i had prior to surgery returned (except the bleeding) I continued to have lower left sided pain, problems with bowels and bladder, back pain and indegestion. I saw numerous consultants including the Gynaecologist who did the hysterectomy and they all indicated the pain was "not real",because the pain i had previous was so severe, i was now suffering from pain that was "all in my mind", i also despite having my ovaries removed, didn't have any menopausal symptoms, (when i told one Dr this they replied "arn't you lucky", None of the doctors i saw did any further investigations after their relevent investigations proved negative for example the bladder consultant did a cystoscopy and found nothing and discharged me, likewise the bowel doctor etc. I ended up at the pain clinic and have been on morphine for 12 + years. I was very upset by the way i was treated by the Gynaecologist, as i suggested at the time what it could be and he dismissed it. In July 2014 i began to suffer very bad indegestion, i was refered to a Gastroenterologist and had an appointment for January 2015, i was refered for a MRI scan, which i had in March 2015, all was ok with mystomach and bowels but a "cyst on the left ovary" was noted
But i havn't got any ovaries!! A further MRI scan and a Trans-vaginal Ulra sound scan indicated i had an 8cm cyst on an ovarian remnant,?
The Gynaecologist had left a tiny fragment of ovary at the time of the hysterectomy and this had regenerated and was producing hormones. During the last 16 years i have had episodes of acute abdominal pain and vommiting and although the doctors have suggested that it could be various things, i now know that these episodes were ovarian cysts bursting
On Wednesday 1st July 2015 i had a laparoscopy/laparotomy to remove the cyst and ovary, the operation proved very difficult as the remnant was stuck to my bowel and bladder and the Gynea surgeon had to get help from a general surgeon, i was in theatre nearly 3 hours, when i returned to the ward (on my own bed) i had a wound drain, a catheter, a morpine infusion and as i am a diabetic a insulin infusion, also i had an oxygen mask on I had 8 sutures removed from a "bikini cut" and 2 sutures removed from my belly button area on Monday 06th July, and then discharged home, 5 days after surgery (which i think is too soon as since then my wound has opened up and is very red and sore and oozing)
I am very disapointed with all the various doctors i have seen over the years, and if anyone is still in pain after a hysterectomy, don't let the doctors dismiss you. Ovarian Remnant Syndrome is rare, but it can and does occur. Sorry for the very long story, but am not feeling too good at the moment and i just wanted to get my story "out there"