Back and stomach pain. Any ideas?

[IDemosthenes]

I have a 6 month old and I am, until last week i was exclusively breastfeeding (i have started to wean, breakfast only) I am on the mini pill, but often forget to take it. More often than not tbh. Not sure if it is relevant.

I have had what I had though felt like period pains, probably for about 2-3weeks? mild back ache, bordering on back pain but not really. And that mild ache in the base of my belly. It felt like i would probably have a period.

Nothing much happened. I did a pregnancy test last week and was given a negative result (vague possibility, but v unlikely anyway, however, if i was it would have been 4wks minimum, i will be doing another one tomorrow just in case).

Over the last couple of days the backache has worsened. Increasing in severity, eminating into my lower abdomen. I cannot really fathom out if the pain from my abdomen is causing the back pain, or vice versa, it seems linked, the pain goes sort of 'through' me. It is not really a dull ache any more. It is not on one side only, it is across the whole of my back, and the whole of my lower abdomen, just above my pelvic bone. The pain makes me feel a little queazy.

It is worse when I sit. Lying eases it, in that kind 'it hurts but in a good way' type of pain you get when stretching out an aching back muscle. Standing up eases it too, but leaves a dull ache there. Bending down makes it worse and then from time to time, no matter what I am doing, it will hurt.

That time to time is increasing in frequency, slowly, not dramatically, but now enough for me to wonder what is going on. No longer feels like a period, but I wonder if it is.

Could it be a period starting? Have only had one in 4 years, and that was 17 months ago or so. Anything else it could be? a pulled muscle from picking up my baby incorrectly?

lisa i will go to gp, i was more using about it last night, you know, when you cannot get to a gp, when it hurts and when your kids are asleep beside you and google is to hand! I think i will do a pg test first, just to be absolutely certain i am not pg before i go in.

thats fine, i have done that in the past, but last time i did it i was quite poorly, and really should have gone sooner. Doesnt sound like gallstones to me (having had them) but could be linked to coil removal?

I have been experiencing very similar symptoms recently. I thought my coil had been dislodged, but it wasn't that. Also been for an ultrasound to check for ovarian cysts - this was clear. I am not pregnant, my urine test came all clear for infections, and am currently awaiting results of blood tests for about 6 different things, to see if we can pinpoint what it might be.

Otherwise, may just be an irritable bowel.... but ruling everything else nasty out first.

My back ache may be nothing to do with my current discomfort as I have had bad back things before. Could be a red herring with me, but it has definitely got worse again, along with this low abdominal burning/pulling sensation, so my instinct tells me it is related.

Go and get checked out, at least to get some things ruled out.

Sorry can't be more definitive, but have every sympathy with how you feel.

getthewineinthefridge,

Read your message with interest along with that of the original poster.

Endometriosis cannot be ruled out; if your blood tests come back here I would ask for a referral to a gynae for further evaluation. Also endometriosis is not detectable on an ultrasound scan. Any symptoms that are cyclical in nature and get worse up till the time of menstruation may be linked to this particular problem.

Pelvic pain and stomach pain should always be checked out thoroughly to ascertain the underlying cause. Its not within a GPs remit generally speaking.

Can you develop endometriosis at 40??
I am not in huge pain, just nagging aches like someone is pulling and pushing things around, IYSWIM... Just quickly read the wikipedia run down on it, and endo could be a serious contender for my symptoms...

Thanks very much Attila for the advice, going to pursue this one for sure.

It's all too easy (well, it has been for me in the past) to kind of take a GP's word for it and just go away quietly, but I have a good friend who is a GP who says that not enough patients challenge or push back when no clear diagnosis is made and said that we should all ALWAYS shout a little bit louder (in the nicest possible way!).

I tend to shout very loudly when i go to the gp. That is why I guess I am cautious. Due to a horrendous pg, and DS being poorly after he was born with asthma type symptoms I have spent an awful lot of time at the gp. they now know my name on the telephone without me saying who i am so while I shall go with every intention of it being looked at properly, I am cautious for fear of being seen as a hypcondriac.

On and posted too soon!

I meant to also say, that while it is there in the background, it is currently not too bad. It gets worse after being on my feet too long i think? or at the end of the day/afternoon at the very least. No gp appts today, missed the drop in, will go in the morning.

getthewineinthefridge

Endo is often described as a disease of the 4th decade (30-40 years) of life. The peak incidence seems to occur between the ages of 35 and 44, although it can occur at any age after menstruation has started. This may reflect a delay in diagnosis.

IDemosthenes,

Sciatic pain down my legs is something I used to get; this type of pain in my case was due to endometriosis as well.

Good luck with the GP, do not be fobbed off!.

IDemosthenes check with GP about paramol incase it goes into breast milk.