Cysts on my hips-PCOS?

psalm 91 · 08-13-2002, 12:55 AM

I am curious if anyone else has this problem. The last 6 months or so, halfway between periods, I get a single cyst/pimple one one hip or the other (alternating each month). It starts out looking like a 2 inch round sunburn, then a blister grows up in the center. It's very painful and leaves a scar, and I am wondering if my weird ovaries are shooting eggs/cysts out away from my uterus instead of toward it? If so is there anything that can be done about it?

I am already on Metformin 1600mg, for over 18 months now, periods were normal for about a year, (but still overweight and excess hair), but since January periods are more painful, more often, with frequent sharp lower abdo pain, cramps and tender breasts for no reason--between periods, and increasing frequency of having to urinate. When I do, I am hypersensitive to any toilet paper, and have had some huge sebaceous cysts "down there" that took forever to go away. I also had a polyp removed about 2 years ago that seemed to have sprung up overnight to the size of a quarter (don't know if this is small, average, or large).

So anyway, the whole system seems to be going haywire. I called the gyno to see if I needed to come in, and over the phone she said i needed to go back on the pill to regulate the periods, but that's it. Didn't need to come in. Maybe I am overly paranoid, but does this seem like the right answer since I was doing so well on the metformin?

I know I am overly obsessed with this problem right now, as my sister just had a baby, and my chances are slim of having my own as I am older (37), not dating anyone with serious hubby potential, and have PCOS. So maybe I am too emotional--maybe it's no big deal, but would one ordinarily expect to be diagnosed over the phone?

Anyway, back to the main question...anyone else get these bumps on their hips each month? Otherwise my skin is very clear, and the timing of it happening every month on alternating sides makes it seem like it's PCOS related, but since it's new for me I didn't know what to make of it. Thanks in advance for your help!

Eva34 · 08-13-2002, 07:34 PM

Hello

WElcolme to soul cysters, you'll love it here.

Sorry, I don't know about the cyst on your side, but I hope another cyster can help.

Eva

psalm 91 · 08-13-2002, 07:47 PM

Thanks! I did go to my family doc today. She said that the cysts are probably sebaceous cysts aggravated by the hormone fluctuations, and nothing to worry about. She also said that if it continues she wants me to come in when I have one so she can see it. So that made me feel a lot better.

And so does this website. Thanks to all of you who are helping me get rid of that all-alone feeling!

Bye for now!

Eva34 · 08-13-2002, 07:56 PM

Hi

Glad you're settling in well.

Eva

Oana · 08-14-2002, 11:37 AM

psalm ,

It sounds like you respond to the cyclic changes in your hormones, same way one would get more acne, for example.

It may help if you knew you ovulate, are you charting your temperature?

Have you been tested for insulin resistance and do you know how has metformin helped with this?

Good luck,
Oana

psalm 91 · 08-20-2002, 08:50 PM

Hi, Oana!

I did get tested before going on Met, by the famous Dr. Glueck himself (REALLY neat guy--his office bulletin boards are covered with pics of beautiful Met babies!). I have IR, and really wacked out hormones. Or I did until I started on Met. Dr Glueck sends you your blood test results in a chart form so you can compare how they change over time. All mine improved drastically within 4 months, but now that Dr G. is no longer covered on my insurance, I feel sort of adrift.

As for charting my temps, I 've never done that because I am single and not TTC. I guess it would help. They go way up and down all the time though, in a single day they range from 96.8 to 99.5. I don't check every day, but on days I don't feel right I might check twice in the same day.

Are they higher when you ovulate or lower?

Thanks in advance for your help!
Marla

Oana · 08-21-2002, 01:23 PM

Maria, how nice that you got to be treated by Dr. Glueck!

Temps will oscillate during the day for everyone, it's normal. That's why for ovulation detection you should chart only your basal temperature, the early morning one, before any other activity.

the temp will go up the day after ovulation and remain up until AF.

Good luck!
Oana

lanners · 08-22-2002, 12:23 AM

hey psalm,

i'm sorry to hear that you get the "cysts" too. i am currently having my period and my roommate and i counted 10 of them between both armpits and below my bra-line, not to mention the 6 others on my thighs. i only get them when i have my period, so i have deduced that they are hormonal thingys, and they hurt like heck. my armpits are so scarred that i hate to wear tank tops now.

i am going to ask my gyno about it the next time i see him, which will have to be soon. i was doing well with them for a little while, but now that my periods are so wacky and wonky again, i'm sensing that maybe i should go back on the bcp (which i really can't afford). i guess maybe they are a good thing, since they tip me off on when things are out of whack.

so, know that you aren't alone on this one. i feel your pain...literally!!!

best of luck!

USMCwife · 08-22-2002, 02:25 AM

Your "sebaceous cysts" are probably actually hidradenitis suppertiva, which is pretty common with PCOS. Do a search online and you'll find info. I get it "down there" and I have a friend who gets them in her armpits. My Dr. thought it was sebaceous cysts until I showed her the info on hidradenitis. It's actually something a dermatologist knows more about than most regular Drs do.
Ricki

psalm 91 · 08-25-2002, 01:53 AM

Thanks for the info about HS. I did a search and it sounds like it fits--most notably in that the cysts in my vaginal area are now connecting in a "channel" (one was about 1 and 1/2 inch long, lasted a few months and has since subsided). I'm not thrilled with the idea of HS, but at least I will have something to show my doctor if it gets any worse. From what I've read on the net, some people go years wondering what it is and what to do about it, and at least I have information to start with--maybe to rule it out, but time will tell!

jbaker321 · 08-27-2002, 01:34 AM

Hi.

I also get these cysts. I get them under my arms, on my waistline, and on my thighs and hips. They are extremely painful and leave scars. My doctor informed me they were due to a staph (sp?) infection. She prescribed Bactroban for me and it helps alot.

Hope this helps,

psalm 91 · 08-27-2002, 01:53 AM

thanks! my doc wanted me to come back if I got more cysts on my hips this month, so I'll also take the info about staph infections! I really appreciate it--and hope yours go away soon!!!

lanners · 09-07-2002, 03:43 PM

as i said in a previous post, i get the cysty things too. usually around my AF.

welllllllll...i am far from my AF and i have one on my side, just below my bra line that is the size of an orange now, spread out, black and purple and crusty (sorry for the graphic details). i know it's pretty ugly to look at, and frankly the whole thing is freaking me out. but i thought i might be overreacting, so i showed my best friend the other day. he gasped, turned white and told me to put it away, that it was one of the scariest things he had ever seen and that i should get it looked at.

should i get it looked at? i mean, i have had some pretty ugly ones, but this one takes the cake. i can't even begin to imagine the scar that it's going to leave. what should i do? should i bother my gp with it, or should i ask my gyno, who is my primary PCOS doctor (in fact, my gp doesn't even know yet...he's just treating me for panic disorder right now. he's new.)

ugh...does it ever end?
leanne

jbaker321 · 09-07-2002, 09:42 PM

Leanne -

I would definitely get that checked out if it's as big as an orange. Mine have never gotten that big - maybe as big as a silver dollar - and those scared me. So definitely get it looked at. It might need to be drained. It probably has nothing to do with your PCOS so you should probably go to your GP.

nunu · 09-10-2002, 03:34 PM

Leanne, you might want to go to a dermatologist if you can. They have more experience with skin problems and there might be less chance of scaring if you need to have it drained since they are more experienced. Good luck!