5 posts shown.
Chris Chase4 said:I've been diagnosed with a clear cyst on my left ovary, about 4x3.5 cm. I'm currently waiting on further tests to figure out what we're dealing with. My PAPA and CA 125 markers came back normal, but the cyst hasn't disappeared or even shrunk since my last period. For about a month now, I've been feeling this sharp, stabbing sensation in my lower left abdomen specifically when I go to the bathroom, even though my urine cultures are sterile. I've also noticed I have to pee much more frequently lately; my gynecologist suggested this might be caused by the cyst itself since I don't have the typical symptoms of a bladder infection. I don't know... I've had cysts before, but I've never experienced this specific abdominal pain, so I'm really not sure what to make of it. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of stinging or stabbing pain during urination because of a cyst? There's no pain when I apply pressure and I generally feel healthy, but the moment I start urinating, there's always this uncomfortable pain on that exact same side. 😢Thanks for any advice or information you can share
I noticed nobody replied, so I figured I'd post an update for any other women dealing with this later on. In my case, it turned out to be a cyst that just resolved itself within two months—no surgery or anything needed—and all those urinary issues vanished right along with it. After my last post, I went to see a urologist for an ultrasound, and he confirmed my suspicions. He explained that because of where the cyst was located and its size, my pelvic muscles were basically tugging on the ovary during urination, which caused that sharp pain. He also noted that frequent urination can happen if a cyst presses against the bladder or kidney, creating that constant urge, and sometimes the bladder doesn't even empty fully, which can actually lead to a real infection (usually E. coli). Wishing everyone the best of luck if you're going through something similar. If anyone needs more details, feel free to reach out.👍
I've been diagnosed with a clear cyst on my left ovary, about 4x3.5 cm. I'm currently waiting on further tests to figure out what we're dealing with. My PAPA and CA 125 markers came back normal, but the cyst hasn't disappeared or even shrunk since my last period. For about a month now, I've been feeling this sharp, stabbing sensation in my lower left abdomen specifically when I go to the bathroom, even though my urine cultures are sterile. I've also noticed I have to pee much more frequently lately; my gynecologist suggested this might be caused by the cyst itself since I don't have the typical symptoms of a bladder infection. I don't know... I've had cysts before, but I've never experienced this specific abdominal pain, so I'm really not sure what to make of it. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of stinging or stabbing pain during urination because of a cyst? There's no pain when I apply pressure and I generally feel healthy, but the moment I start urinating, there's always this uncomfortable pain on that exact same side. 😢Thanks for any advice or information you can share
Maria Fisher46 said:Dear ma'am,
Since your hemoglobin and platelet counts are normal, the MCH and MPV values in your report don't really matter—though, for what it's worth, they actually fall within the normal range anyway. I can't say for sure whether you overdid it with the Vitamin B12 supplements, but I don't think that's likely the case.
Regarding how Vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids affect MCH and MPV levels, here is the breakdown. In people without anemia (which, based on these results, you don't have), the impact of B12 levels on the MCH parameter (the average hemoglobin in an erythrocyte) is minimal, and there is a positive correlation—meaning as B12 levels go up, MCH goes up too. However, even if B12 concentrations rise by several hundred pg/ml, the MCH would only increase by about 1 pg. Theoretically, in someone without anemia who has high B12 concentrations, you'd expect a higher MCH, not a lower one. So, having an MCH value at the lower limit doesn't really support the idea of high B12 levels.
As for how B12 concentration affects the MPV parameter (platelet volume), the effect is similar: higher B12 levels should lead to an increased MPV. Again, that is the exact opposite of what your results show. A lower MPV indicates smaller platelets, which can sometimes be seen in various inflammatory conditions. But honestly, that isn't significant unless there is also an issue with the actual platelet count, which isn't the case here.
If we look at the impact of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil capsules, they don't significantly affect MCH, nor do they influence MPV in otherwise healthy individuals—though they might lower MPV in diabetics.
Based on all of this, I would conclude that the MCH and MPV parameters you mentioned aren't deviating significantly from normal, and in your specific situation, they probably shouldn't be linked to taking Vitamin B12 or fish oil supplements.
Everything makes sense to me now. Thank you so much for such a professional and detailed response. 🙏
I was hoping someone who actually understands blood work could explain why my MCH and MPV levels are low when everything else seems fine.
Here are the main results along with the reference ranges in parentheses:
WBC 8.4 ( 3.4 - 9.7 )
RBC 4.88 ( 3.86 - 5.08 )
Hemoglobin 133 ( 119 - 157 )
Hematocrit 0.410 ( 0.356 - 0.470 )
MCV 83.5 ( 83.0 - 97.2 )
MCH 27.3 L ( 27.4 - 33.9 )
MCHC 327 ( 320 - 345 )
RDW 12.6 ( 9.0 - 15.0 )
Platelets 245 ( 158 - 424 )
MPV 6.2 L ( 6.8 - 10.4 )
Lymphocytes 40.7 ( 20 - 46 )
Monocytes 7.1 ( 2 - 12 )
For some context, I went through a bit of a "B12 toxicity" phase back when I had a broken arm—I ended up with tingling in my arm and face, plus some chest discomfort because I was slamming B-complex vitamins every single day on top of a regular diet. That tingling still pops up occasionally in a milder form, and I suspect it happens whenever I consume B12 through multivitamins or just food that's particularly high in it. As for my heart, I think it’s fine since I've already had an echocardiogram and a Holter monitor test.
I suppose these numbers are barely outside the normal range, but I guess I'm wondering if this could be a lingering effect from that B12 issue or perhaps from taking fish oil capsules daily for the last two years?
Hey everyone. This might belong in the "brown discharge" thread, but I'm not really sure—this has always just been part of my "normal" period, so maybe some of you can relate.
For the last 7 or 8 years (and honestly, probably longer, since I'm 30), my cycle has stayed pretty consistent at about 25-27 days. I’ve never used birth control or dealt with any major gynecological issues, aside from dealing with frequent bladder infections.
Lately, though, I’ve started wondering: is it actually normal to have brown discharge for 2 or 3 days right before my actual bleeding starts (which is usually bright red for 5 days), followed by another couple of days of brown or even blackish blood at the end? I guess I just got used to it and assumed it was fine, so I never thought to ask my doctor about getting my hormone levels checked. My mom never had cycles like this, and I don't have sisters to check if this is just something genetic for us. I did read somewhere that brown discharge could be an indicator of certain hormone deficiencies or a lack of ovulation, so I'm curious if any of you experience the same thing. Is this actually common for some women?🤔