Severe mid-month pain

[happinessis]

I'm 46 and for the past few months I have been experiencing severe mid-cycle pain. It's so bad I can't sleep. It's a sharp pain, not crampy and everything feels bloated. It's just agony. Is this normal? No sure if I need to go to GP or not but for 2-3 days each month it's driving me crazy. Any advice appreciated.
Just been for a walk and every step was painful. My abdomen feels very sore and bloated. Is this normal?

[napoleonsnose]

Could be mittelschmerz. I'm 42 and have been suffering from this on and off for about 3-4 years. Its excruciating and I get the bloating thing too. When I get it, I struggle to move at all. I have spent a couple of hours just lying on the bathroom floor before now because I couldn't physically get up. I actually passed out from the pain during one particularly bad attack. I went to my GP who reckoned it was ovulation pain and advised ibuprofen when you feel it coming on. It does help a bit, or at least it takes the edge off the pain. Mine only seems to last a maximum of about 4 hours though. Maybe a trip to the docs just to check it out?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I had the same symptoms (I'm 48 now) but every 2 months on my left side. Pain like labour pains. ( I had read the symptoms for ovarian cysts and it fitted. Bloated, felt like a 'kicking' movement and the sharp stabbing pain)

I had a scan, found out I have a gallstone so waiting now to see the surgeon.

But I still get the pain on the left and just above my naval (not sure if that due to the stone)

Worth checking though, even if it's to check for ovarian cysts?

[happinessis]

Hmm it's always on the left side. My Gp's aren't great, there's no well woman clinic anymore and it's hit & miss who you get to see but think I'll try & make an appointment anyway. Thanks for the advice

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Have your periods in the past been very painful as well?. Mid cycle pain like this always should be investigated.

If GP is uncertain (and from what you write it may be worth now changing GP practice) I would ask there and then for a referral to a gynaecologist. Many GPs are simply not up to speed on such issues.

In the meantime as well I would keep a pain/symptom diary as this can give clues.

[happinessis]

Periods used to be very painful and heavy but had endometrial ablation a few years ago and no problems since. Never had this mid-cycle pain then though. Appointment made with Gp for Monday

[ouryve]

I get mittelschmertz, (why does my spell check think I mean "neurotransmitter"?) but I've had it since I was about 13. It's a very low pain that transmits down the inside front of my thigh. It's always accompanied by EWCM. If anything, I get it less often now I'm perimenopausal and my cycle is more erratic.

If it's a fairly new pain, you need to get it checked out.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Painful and heavy periods can be due to endometriosis, were you properly assessed previously to see if you had endometriosis?.

[happinessis]

Went to my GP yesterday, got a new doctor who I haven't seen before and she was very understanding and helpful. My abdomen was very tender on the left hand side when she examined me so she is sending me for a scan at the hospital. Might have to wait a few weeks to be seen but if nothing else it will set my mind at rest that there isn't anything sinister going on.