chronic pain - uterus and ovaries (X-Post)

[barose]

I wouldn’t say its "chronic" but I am in some sort of pain about 60% of the time in my cycle. From about 3 days before ovulation though the end of my period. Right now during this period of time between ovulation and my period, my uterus is contracting giving me lower back pain. I have constant ovarian pain as well (both sides).

I recently had a ultrasound and had no cysts or any sign that things are not normal. My GYN pretty much threw her hands up, gave me a prescription to Vicodin and sent me on my way. I don’t take pain meds so it cant be a rebound effect either.

My diet is pretty clean including the fact I don’t drink coffee, eat sugar, soy, gluten, or dairy. I take magnesium, B-Vitamin, zinc, E, flax seed oil, drink needle, red raspberry leaf tea and oat straw (loose tea).

Does anyone have any ideas to pass on?

[bug2003]

You could very well have endometriosis. The only way to really diagnose it is through a laparacopic surgery. Tell your doc that it may be that and that you want the surgery to know for sure. In most cases it cannot be seen on u/s unless you have "chocolate" cysts from it on your ovaries. If your doc still doesn't want to do the surgery, go to a different doc.

[barose]

I actually had a LAP 4 years ago when I was in worse pain and she found nothing. I have the large photos of in insides to prove it. I’m not sure how things look now, but I’m more reluctant to have it done again.

I had been screened for Endo, STDs (though I never had one), large cysts, fibroids, etc and they cannot find anything.

[bug2003]

If the endo is in the early stages, the lesions look like clear bubbles. Many doctors are not trained in looking for the early stage endo and can miss it completely. They are only trained to look for the lesions that are in the latter stages that are red.

If they do know about the clear bubble like lesions in the early stages, then they may pass off any that they see as bubbles from the air that they pump in for the lap.

Another thing to consider is that since you have had a lap, the pain you are experiencing now may be due to adhesions caused by the lap. If you have adhesions on your ovaries, then any changes in them from the hormonal changes could cause tugging on the adhesions which in turn causes pain. Have you had any other type of surgery as any time you have surgery you risk more scar tissue forming in the form of adhesions.

[barose]

Originally Posted by bug2003

Another thing to consider is that since you have had a lap, the pain you are experiencing now may be due to adhesions caused by the lap. If you have adhesions on your ovaries, then any changes in them from the hormonal changes could cause tugging on the adhesions which in turn causes pain. Have you had any other type of surgery as any time you have surgery you risk more scar tissue forming in the form of adhesions.

When I had my stillbirth (30 weeks) the hospital gave me a D&C after delivery "to make sure I'm all clear". I wasn’t sure if that was standard procedure or not at the time; I wasn’t told that was going to happen and I didn’t have any support at the hospital to speak up - I was alone. My guess is the placenta broke apart.

I was so upset I never went to my OB for any follow-up appointment and never went to one (different doctor) for my pap for a year and a half later. I had regular periods start at 6 weeks PP and no pain.

Though I haven’t had any pain until recently, it wouldn’t be out of the question to consider the DC may have done something. I also have a tipped uterus.

[Hoping4sumBBdust]

Hi Barose,

I had so called "chronic" pelvic pain, and the first thing they thought given my age, at 21 was an STD. I have however been married for 2 years, and knew it couldnt be it. The pain was so bad that visiting my in-laws (8 hours away from my primary doc) I was curled up in a ball from the pain, and DH took me to the ER (April 06) I had an u/s, was given vicodin, and was sent home. After getting to my regular doc, they gave me a pelvic exam, a pelvic u/s, and some bloodwork. The only thing that they could come up was a "possible ruptured ovarian cyst" that could have happened a month or so before that and just wasnt showing up. I had a lot of frustration, that kind of pain wasnt fun, but the docs never gave me an answer as to where it came from, or what to do about it. So, I stopped seeing her for the pain, and it subsided in about August (4 months of pain) I never noticed it on my sides (ovarian area) just more or less like uterine pain (in the middle) I was happy when it went away, and didnt come back.

How long have you been dealing with the pain? I would say give it a little time (a couple of months or so) and then if it doesnt go away, then push for some tests (i am not sure what kind because I never continued on with it)

I, too had a D&C after a miscarriage, and a cervical cone biopsy, which left a lot of scarring. How long ago have you had your D&C? I know its not really fun to get a lot of tests done, but if it helps to find the root of your pain, then i think its important. The doctors were ready to give up on me, and send me to a gastro-interologist (or however you spell it) to get me a colonoscopy to see if maybe it wasnt gyno related after all..... at that point, I gave up on them

I am not sure as to what you can take if you arent comfortable taking the pain pills (i dont blame you) but I do wish you the best of luck. And always remember, there are other doctors out there, so if you arent happy, try to switch. I am so fed up with my doctors, I just made an appointment with a ob/gyn in my home state, which IS 6 hours away!

Sorry I dont have any great advice to give you. DH seems to think that the thought of the colonoscopy sent me right out of my pain

Feel better soon, and try to give it some time. Maybe the pain will go away on its own, but I would say if it doesnt, go back for another exam. Like the PP said, it might be the very early stages of something, if not endo, then maybe something else. Good Luck

[Pookietooth]

to you mama. That sounds like a terrible experience with the D & C. Have you read "Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom"? She talks a lot about how physical symptoms can be caused by emotional issues. Also, have you tried homeopathy? It and Chinese medicine both seem to deal with chronic issues a lot better than Western medicine. Pain killers obviously don't get at the root cause, and given your IF history, there must be something more to it.