Bloating and pelvic pain (with pic) anyone else?

[Lan2020]

Hello, firstly.i know this may not be the best place to post but I'm not getting any responses on the health board.

Firstly before anyone states it, I have seen my GP numerous times about this and will be seeing my GP again shortly. I know random individuals online cannot diagnose me. I have attached a picture of my current bloating, not overly clear to see my size due to the angle but I'm.a slim 6/8.

I just wondered really if anyone had similar symptoms and what the outcome was.

For around 2 years I have on and off had bloating that makes me look around 5 months pregnant (I'm a size 6/8) which seems to then cause more frequent urination. I also have a lot of pelvic pain and tenderness lower tummy area.

Swabs were normal and urine test also normal. I had a pelvic and transvaginal scan which revealed a 3cm ovarian cyst. I had a repeat scan 3 months later to check the cyst and when calling for the results was told by the receptionist 'no action required' so I assume the cyst has gone.

The symptoms started around 3 months after the birth of my ds (c section) and not long after the mirena coil. Although this may be completed unrelated.

Ovulation seems to be a trigger as during this time I get very sore breasts (like pregnancy sore) and an onset of bloating and pain. However at present it is pretty much every day. I did take antibiotics last year for a UTI and noticed that my bloating and pelvic pain seemed to cease after. However it is now back and almost daily.

I'm fed up of being sore, uncomfortable and bloated. I don't want to do anything when I feel like this. It doesn't seem to be related to what I eat and no issues with bowels.

Anyone else had similar? Or had similar issues following a c section?

I think your cyst has got a lot bigger - go back to gp and make sure they get to the bottom of it x

I've had 3 c sections and had IBS ever since.

@Cinni23 thank you for your reply. I've had these symptoms.on and off for 2 years and was told it was a cyclical cyst, so will have only been there a month or 2. I also had a repeat scan on the cyst and was told it was satisfactory, so I assume the cyst reduced in size or disappeared.

@Justwingingit2005 if you don't mind me asking, do you have bowel issues? Or pelvic pain?

I don't think I have bowel issues as I have no symptoms and food doesn't seem to be a trigger.

All I know is this started after my second c section and that I also had the coil inserted around the same time.

My second section took a few hours because I haemorrhaged and they struggled to get him out (said I was petite and he was long). They also mentioned having to make extra cuts, something to do with my bladder position after my first section. However I don't know if this is related, nobody tells you anything!

I have the same and no diagnosis. Been like it for over two years. I've also had a number of cysts, some of which ruptured but no cysts now and look 5 months pregnant.

I was diagnosed with food intolerances, cutting out these foods has helped with the pain but I can't wear anything tight around my waist.

A clearer pic

@2020nymph so sorry to hear you've been going through similar. It's awful isn't it. I feel rubbish and huge and uncomfortable. Also need to wee more during the bloating periods. Do you think yours is down to just intolerances?

I had similar but not so much bloating. My urinary frequency and urgency was the worst symptom, at one point this extended from just the time around my period to more than two weeks in the month. I'm a size 8 too.

Mine was thought to be endometriosis connected, which I had confirmed with a laparoscopy. Personally the thing that's made the biggest difference for me is exercise - 30-40 minutes daily and healthy eating. My only vice is coffee and I never did drink alcohol anyway.

I did have a c section, but that was many years ago. The urination symptom had begun to be quite painful also.

@PrunusAmy that's good to hear you've found something that helps. Although slim, I'm not much of a conscious exerciser so maybe I should give it a go. I like coffee and can go months without alcohol. It does at times seem to be cyclical but recently I've had days of the symptoms, maybe 2 days off (which reminds me I'm not as fat as I think I am, it's just I'm generally bloated).

I did get in touch with my surgery and will hear from them Monday. My partner is a GP and is pushing for me to get referred to gynae.

Endometriosis came to mind. The only way it can be ruled out is through a laparoscopy. Don’t let them fob you off saying it would show up on an ultrasound.

I find the urination symptom only comes when I get the bloating. It hasn't been overly painful as such but very uncomfortable and not just the normal 'i need a wee'. I don't want to go out when I experience these symptoms because I'm so uncomfortable.

Do you think (or know) if endometriosis can be triggered by surgery, such as c section? Or for those of you who have it, what symptoms do you have? I've looked at the symptoms but I don't have any bowel issues or pain (although sometimes feel pressure), I also don't have pain after sex, or painful periods (although I only have occasional mild bleeding as I have the mirena coil).

According to my gynae, links are now starting to appear between endenetriosis and ceoliac/intolerances.
I went through much of last year with a pregnant belly, but I wasn't pregnant. Talking starting under boobs and all the way down to pelvis. I was huge.
Many, many investigations later... Still none the wiser.
The things that have worked:

1. diet. I'm now 100% gluten and wheat free, working on dairy. This has been huge in terms of reducing bloat, fatigue and back pain.
2. cutting down caffeine and sugar. Hard to do when you're feeling rubbish. I'm not great at this but can really feel when I've overdone it.
3. oestrogen and progesterone combo.
4. serrapeptase supplements. 250iu a day. Really recommend reading up. I feel they've been really helpful in relieving the pain caused by my endo scarring.

The problem is that gynae say its digestive and the dgestuve consultant says its gynae. In reality, its a combo of the two and managing symptoms is likely the only solution.

My endo used to be super contraction type pain prior to having kids. Now, its low down constant pressure. I can't bear anyone touching my stomach as the pressure really hurts. I manage find day to day but if there's too much pressure placed on bellybutton down, I puff up like a ball. It's agony.
I get frequent UTIs too, but not with burning. Just a real need to pee, pressure and a bit of leaking.

Like a pp explore endometriosis - during a flare my stomach swells up a lot.
Ovulation also a trigger for pain.
I was advised by one consultant to give up gluten as it causes inflammation and endo is basically inflammatory tissue.
Endo can get worse over time and I believe with a c section too.
Laparoscopy is the diagnosis tool you want - although severe enough it will show on an MRI. Ultrasound is useless for this.
Best of luck x

@TedDansononmyown thank you for the advice, I shall definitely look up our suggestions.

I have similar pressure pain. My tummy is hard and tight and the need to wee is pressure and uncomfortable but not sore like UTI ( I've had many UTI's in the past).
I also started worrying about ovarian cancer but the symptoms have been going on 2 years and my scan only showed one cyst which has since resolved.

@Namechange600 thank you for the info. Do you have periods of no symptoms? I recently went a few months feeling (mostly) ok but then the last month it's been awful.

Yes, would recommend the exercise. I started with just a few minutes a day of pilates then increased that. Though I'd read exercise is good for endo.

Ovarian cancer was my worry when I first had the symptoms too. Symptoms of endo for me were occasional bloating, pelvic pain, lower back pain occasionally, and the urinary frequency, pain, and urgency - initially during my period only. No bowel problems or pain after sex. I thought it might be a UTI when the symptoms first appeared, but medication from the GP had no impact at all.

Ovarian cysts can occur regularly.
Could also be fibroids.

Know this is an old thread, but did you ever work out what the problem was? I’m the same - 4 months post c section and the bloating is awful.

Hello,
Do you have any improvement as I look the same way only that my bloating was not triggered by c section?
Already for more than a year I haven't had even the slightest improvement, I've been to 10 gynecologists and like 5 gastroenterologists where they told me I might have Crohn's disease, which is BS and later it was confirmed that I have IBS but after all diets, excercise and medication there's no improvement.
I just made the connection with UTI as I had it every 6 months or so and they just give me antibiotics which just removes the symptoms but doesn't cure the problem. I truly think that it can be UTI, I wanted to double check how is your progress going I hope everything is good now?