When Kayla visited the doctors with her pains and unexplained weight gain, she was told she just needed to lose weight. However, months later, the pain became unbearable and she had to be taken to A & E.
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There, tests revealed that Kayla had an enormous ovarian cyst growing inside her which needed to be removed urgently.
Kayla was operated on and is now expected to make a full recovery.
What is an ovarian cyst?
Ovarian cysts are fairly common. However, they are usually only 5cm in diameter. They are most common in women between 30 and 60 years old and usually don't present any symptoms and will go away naturally. In cases where the cyst is very large or splits, symptoms can include swelling of the abdomen, pain in the abdomen or pelvis, vomiting, fatigue, indigestion, constipation, and urinary incontinence.
Know your body
Whilst Kayla's case was highly unusual, her story shows that it is always important to persist in seeking medical treatment when you know something is wrong with your body. Her surgeon said: 'You have to be your own advocate for your medical care, if something’s wrong, keep bringing it up with your physician.'
