Bowel/gynae issues and nervous awaiting results

[Somethingtoask]

Hi all,

I already started a thread last week when I'm hospital but wanted to do a more specific one relating to the health issues.
Firstly, I know nobody can diagnose me, I don't expect that. I'm waiting on tests and feeling anxious.

Brief history incase my issues are related...

Since my c section 3 years ago I have had some gynae/bowel issues. Often get bloated, really sore and tender pelvic area, more specifically get pain in my lower right area. I always thought I may have adhesions from surgery because I get pulling pain in this area, if I sneeze, twist or get up too quick I get stabbing and pulling pain.

Bowel-wise I feel pressure in my bum,. sometimes feel I can't open my bowels properly and feel like I have to really push to pass wind. I also have a very noisy, gurgling/bubbling tummy. I only use the toilet once a day (apart from occasional diarrhoea) but my bowel movement is always very loose. I put it down to gynae.
I also have periods where I need to wee a lot more (no UTI).

Anyway, went into hospital with severe pain last week. Started above my belly button, it would come in waves of intense pain where I couldn't stand and felt sick. Pain the moved to lower right side where it was extremely sore when examined.
Bloods showed slightly raised inflammatory marker and had a temp.

Had a CT scan and apparently I have some issues with my small bowel. 3 drs said slightly different things. I was told I have inflammation, kept getting asked about history of bowel disease. I had to see the consultant in the morning who kept on about Crohn's, apparently my bowel is in a position indicative of Crohn's, he was talking about steroids and said I don't need surgery yet. Then before discharge I was told the radiologist wasn't convinced it is Crohn's. I have to go back for an MRI, colonoscopy and stool sample. I know this is the only way I'll know but I'm so scared in case I have cancer.

I also had a bulky womb and fluid in my womb but they don't seem bothered about that.

I was sent home with antibiotics. Nearly finished them. The severe pain waves have gone but still tender and getting the occasional sharp pain in the lower right, lacking energy and constantly feel sick.

I just wondered if anyone has had similar experiences and what the outcome was?

Thank you.

A bulky womb is suggestive of adenomyosis.
If you have adenomyosis then it's probable that you also have endometriosis.
If you have endometriosis on your bowel then it may be causing some of the bowel symptoms.

The colonoscopy and the level of calprotectin in the stool sample will show whether or not you have Crohn's.

Hope you get some answers soon.

(A bulky womb could also be caused by fibroids, but presumably if they noticed a huge fibroid on the CT then they would have mentioned that).

I went to the doctors after suffering some diarrhoea last year and have had stool tests, colonoscopy, MRI and been diagnosed with Crohns. The pain in lower right hand side sounds similar. My symptoms are not too bad at all at the moment. The first thing they ruled out was cancer, if they were concerned about that they would have moved quickly to a scan. I think that was the doctor's concern when I first went but that seemed to be ruled out with a blood test. Was the inflammation picked up from a blood test? I've been asked to take a course of steroids and am worried about the side effects of that. Hope you get answers very quickly

@Ashemark when researching, I did think about the possibility of adenomyosis but they don't seem interested in my womb. Hopefully the scan of my bowel will capture the pelvic area and may show something. I just want to know what's going on and am hoping I don't have to wait months for an MRI/Colonoscopy.

@Onlyhadonejob I'm glad you're symptoms are under control. All the said after the blood test is that my inflammatory markers were slightly raised. It was after the CT scan that they were discussing IBD and then the next Consultant mentioned Crohn's. It was when I was discharged that I was told the Consultant Radiographer wasn't convinced it was Crohn's but they didn't say anything else, except I'd have more tests.

Very interested to see this thread as I could have written it myself only every time I've been seen at the Drs/hospital they go a different route from the last so I've not actually got anywhere. They were adamant that it was gynae related and i've had multiple scans, ultrasounds and even a laparoscopy which showed no endo but they couldnt see round my bowel area at the time. They wrote it off as painful menstration even though I keep telling them it's the weeks between periods that are the worst. I have IBS so when I bring up bowel issues they put it down to that even though we have a strong family history of Chrons.

I am so sore all week from it. It's a tugging/pulling type pain like yours and yes to the stabbing when you turn too quickly. I would love to get to the bottom of it but unfortunately I've been on a waiting list of 4 years to see my bowel consultant (who last time said because it's lower right that it doesn't sound like bowel related issues??) so dont seem to be getting any further. I've decided to get back to my GP about it though as it's driving me mad not knowing.

Good luck OP, please keep us updated if you can, I hope they get to the bottom of it for you soon.

The symptoms sound very much like endometriosis and adenomyosis. Have you had a CA-125 test? This is often elevated in women with endometriosis.

Unfortunately, many doctors aren’t well versed/interested in endometriosis and adenomyosis and it’s common for women to have to undergo all sorts of tests before the conditions are considered, despite them being very common.

They really should be interested in your bulky womb/fluid. Sadly you may have to advocate for yourself to receive investigations into this by way of a gynaecologist. An MRI of your pelvis interpreted by a specialist can potentially show endometriosis, particularly if it’s extensive enough that it’s penetrating your bowel. As you’re having an MRI anyway you could suggest the possibility of endometriosis and request it is looked at by a specialist radiographer who is familiar with the disease.

Endometriosis UK is a great source of information:

www.endometriosis-uk.org/what-endometriosis

specialist radiologist that should say, not radiographer!