Anyone???

[stepawayfromthefridge]

Hi,

I'm desperate and so worried :(

In July, I started having some pelvic pain by my left hip. It eased off and appeared by my right hip. It generally came and went, got worse after exercise and became more persistant. I found that the pain was worse in the two weeks before my period after which it would ease but not go completely. I also found, for the first time ever, that using tampons became painful and I also started to have nausea and incomplete BM. I also lost my appetite. I saw the GP (several times) who said groin strain, trapped wind, IBS etc I then got complete blood works done, including markers for ovarian and bowel cancer, and a pelvic ultrasound. All fine. Had a smear test, painful to have it done ( for the first time) but all clear.

My GP then referred me to urogyae who said I had a slight pelvic prolapse but it wasn't that bad and that my problems weren't gynae related. He referred me physio as he thought it was muscular. Had four sessions of physio ( who said my core muscles were weak). She gave me strengthening exercises which really helped but made my thighs and bum ache. She then referred me to an Orthropedic consultant. He said it sounded like groin strain and did an MRI scan of my pelvis. Everything fine, muscles fine, joints fine etc. He said it was gynae after all. So saw another gynae for a second opinion. She did another ultrasound. She all looked ok but my Fallopian tube looked dilated and perhaps it was endometriosis (my periods were incredibly painful when i was younger) so she suggested laparoscopy and posterior repair. So I had that done. No endometriosis found, Fallopian tube removed as full of cysts, another ovarian cyst drained, posterior repair done. Everything else fine. But all my symptoms remain. Still have pelvic pain by my right hip, still have aching thighs, bum etc still have incomplete BM but drs keeps saying nothing is wrong.

Does anyone have any ideas? Since starting physio I am having muscle twitches too, all over, anxiety? My periods are regular, ever 30 days but have started to be less regular, sometimes 25 days plus pre menstral spotting so I only get about two weeks between periods. I cannot begin to say how worried I am :( I feel like I'm going mad. I'm 41 with two dcs. Sorry for the long post, thanx for reading x

I'm no medic, but....my first thought was that it sounds as though, originally, you had more than one thing going on. Hence the confusion. Every specialist looks at their own area (gynae, physio, etc etc) but no one is looking at the whole picture?

The tube cysts sound as though they played a part, IBS may well have played/play another (and would account for pain and incomplete bowel movements), and IME backs and muscles and general lopsidedness can account for a huge range of extra aches, pains and twinges!

For me, the main thing would be knowing that I've been checked for all possible nasties - which it sounds as though you have. Yes, twitching could easily - even probably - be anxiety, which can also, IME again, account for extraordinary amount of pain, twinges, bowel shananigans.

Is there anything you are specifically anxious about, that you could have checked out for peace of mind? Period changes at your age is fairly normal...

ps I actually have very achy right hip, which sometimes creates pain inside of hip bone, in pelvic area - and its all down to too-tight hip extensors - massage is the only thing that helps.

Thanks for replying. Can't think what else to do and I'm starting to wonder if its in my head :(. I am very worried about cancer as my mum died 7 years ago from cancer, brain tumour, it was horrendous. So scared of leaving my dcs as they're still so small :(

To be honest, I've become a complete hypochondriac, so anxious about my health! Never used to be like this, only since I lost my mum x

Well that makes total sense ((stepaway)). I'm so sorry for your loss...no wonder you worry about leaving your dc. I do too, as I am an older mum, though my own mum is 85 and well - so can only imagine the impact of losing your mum through cancer at a relatively young age.

Personally, I would look for some counselling I think...I do know, from experience, that health anxiety can actually cause an awful lot of painful body symptoms. So can grief. Its not in your head - the feelings are real, and none of it is your fault or anything you should blame yourself for. But if you can at least have a safe place to process your fears, and your loss, I find it helps hugely xxx

It also puts the focus in the right place - you were wise to get medically checked out, you have done that, now perhaps you can turn to underlying painful places of a different sort? Please ignore if not helpful, by the way - would hate to add to the stress

Elibean, thanx so much for taking the time to read and respond to my long winded post. For what it's worth you have echoed much of what my lovely supportive DH had been saying about this all along. As I said this aching all started in July, which incidentally coincided with the anniversary of the death of my beloved mum :( perhaps there was/is something going on but perhaps it's been magnified by my anxieties :(. You'd think after seven years I'd be coping but I still think of my mum every day, she was my best friend and the pain, even after all this time, is unbearable. My dad and sister seem to have moved on but I'm still overwhelmed. My ds was a baby when she died and I had my dd after she died so my dcs were distraction. Now they're older and not as needy I have more time to think.....

Anyway, thanx much for your advice. What you said made a lot of sense xx

Glad to hear you have a lovely supportive dh, Step.

And, as he agrees with me, clearly a superior being

FWIW, there is something about 7 year anniversaries...I can't remember why, but I definitely remember its a known thing in bereavement processes that the 7 year mark is an important one. I don't think 'getting over it' is it, really....more just figuring out what each re-surgence of loss is about, and honouring it? I'm sure you will.

Wish you the very best, xx

ps come to think of it....did your dd maybe start nursery, or school this autumn? If so, that kind of milestone would be bound to trigger your loss - I think you've already figured it out. Impossible to grieve fully with teeny ones around, perhaps its just time to now. xxx

Yeah she did start nursery, end of an era for me as a stay at home mum. A lot more time to think. Mum and I were very close and went through a lot together. Thankfully my DH is fab, he knew and loved my mum very much and knew how badly i was affected by her loss. He's had to put up with a lot from me over all this but his support is invaluable :)