Desperate for an answer, has anyone experienced this ‘twinge’

[Reallykaty]

I didn’t know where to post really so hope this forum is ok.

I was treated for pelvic inflammatory as a precaution over summer. It followed a miscarriage where I had to take medical management, it was pretty grim and I was in pain in general so they said to take the course of antibiotics in case, which I did in full. The swabs came back negative for infections except for bacterial vaginosis.

Since then, on and off, I’ve had pain in my left side. I have been for scans three times, the only thing picked up on was a functional cyst which they monitored. They couldn’t see any other reason for the pain and it’s basically been dismissed now.

I’m panicking. I’m no longer with my ex so I feel like if something is wrong then it could have horrible consequences. However what more can they do other than scan and check? Which they’ve done. I also wonder if it’s in my head a bit..there is definitely a twinge there for sure, but it’s not like it is stopping me sleeping or I notice it when I’m distracted. I just wonder what it is?! My periods are normal.

I know going back to a doctor is the best thing rather than a forum, but if anyone has experienced anything similar I would be really grateful to hear. I’m here alone and wondering if some horrible damage is going on.

I have had pain like that from a cyst. I think it couldn't hurt to have it checked out to see if it has got bigger.

Thanks @TheBlueStocking it’s making me so stressed like I’ve got major damage. I have another scan in 3 weeks to check it but it was all said to be ok last time. Feeling so worried as I’m single again now so all seems very daunting thinking I might have something awful going on.

I can imagine it's really stressful. I remember I was the same as you. It really bothered me.

In the end, I had a little surgery to sort it out. The twinging, like you said, was just too annoying.

You can hardly see any marks at all and I was back to normal in not too long. So try not to worry too much because even that bit wasn't too bad.

I still have occasional pain like this and it's from a cyst removal (left ovary) from over 20 years ago! So just the aftermath. I think this area can be very sensitive and can leave long standing twinges. If I turn suddenly in bed it can leave me shocked with the level of pain, but mostly twinges. I've certainly found it to be so anyway. I have had additional gynaecological check ups due to this as well.

I would never say "it's fine, it will be nothing", but just to reassure you that twinges aren't always a sign of something wrong. Go to your appointment, and keep looking for reassurance if it's concerning you.

@User878856488

I still have occasional pain like this and it's from a cyst removal (left ovary) from over 20 years ago! So just the aftermath. I think this area can be very sensitive and can leave long standing twinges. If I turn suddenly in bed it can leave me shocked with the level of pain, but mostly twinges. I've certainly found it to be so anyway. I have had additional gynaecological check ups due to this as well.

I would never say "it's fine, it will be nothing", but just to reassure you that twinges aren't always a sign of something wrong. Go to your appointment, and keep looking for reassurance if it's concerning you.

Yeah, unfortunately you sometimes have to insist with gynaecological issues and pain.

Thanks. I’ve persisted with having checks and paid for some myself. I’ve been reassured medically but I guess now im scared because I’m not even with anyone so can’t just try again and see what happens. Every time I feel it I think that’s it there’s a problem.

Are you worried it's going to cause permanent damage? I'm sure that's not the case. Even when I had mine out, they only did it because it was bothering me. They said it was pretty much harmless otherwise.

They would have whipped it out by now if it was anything that might hurt you.

Yeah exactly it @TheBlueStocking I’m worried it will mean something terrible and I will never be pregnant. I’m so sad about having to start over and realistically it could be a long long time if ever I meet someone again. The idea that this is some awful thing going on inside as time goes on really worries me. I don’t know what more to do other than have the scans. They said I could have the dye thing that checks further but there are risks with that and they said it was unnecessary.

Do you have health anxiety by any chance?

My teen has had a dermoid cyst before that caused immense pain, it was removed and now she has another cyst that’s also causing twinges of pain that are horrible. It’s probably the cyst, her surgeon said the cyst won’t cause any infertility or anything

I thought this was about romantic twinges of the heart and fanny gallops.

Please do get it checked out. I agree with the above that sometimes doctors (especially male ones) can be dismissive about gynaecological issues so if you need to push for tests/checks then make sure you do so for your own peace of mind.

I have done that @Rybvita over the last few months. That’s why I have had lots of checks and scans, I pushed for them. Even paying privately I’ve been told that it’s all ok, no eagerness to take my money, I’ve even been told that having the dye test done is silly because it’s a risk in itself that doesn’t need to be done. It’s just odd as the twinge is there from all of what happened and yes it could be the cyst I suppose. I don’t have health anxiety as a general thing but certainly anxious about that area in general.

I totally get that it's bothering you. I felt exactly like you did, even worrying about having a baby. But it didn't cause any trouble at all and I needn't have worried.

Does it help to have paracetamol or does it still hurt?

@TheBlueStocking it’s never been bad enough to need paracetamol. It’s more like random twinge for maybe a second at a time, or if I move in a certain way in bed. I sound silly I know. Just worrying loads that I have some huge infection that’s destroyed my insides

It feels almost tight in a way. With the odd twinge. Not needing paracetamol though.

By the dye test, do you mean a HSG (hysterosalpingogram)? If so, I'm surprised - when I was having fertility investigations it was the first procedure I had, and I was not told of any risks at all! It takes about 15 minutes and you will probably get period-like cramps afterwards.

I was told its very common for women to fall pregnant after a HSG because it can sometimes clear a minor blockage.

That was nearly 20 years ago though so perhaps things have changed.

@EvenMoreFuriousVexation yes that’s the one. Should I be pushing to have it done then? They said that I wouldn’t feel a blockage and that therefore this wouldn’t be that. They said that it was unnecessary as I haven’t proven I can’t get preg (I’m not currently in a relationship so can’t know for sure which is why I am panicking). What if I wait and then a blockage gets worse? I don’t know. They’ve not said they won’t do it, they’ve said it’s not necessary.

How often are the twinges? Could it be ovulation? I know I get pain in one side around the time of ovulation

No not ovulation it’s a different sort of twinge. It’s minor and doesn’t need paracetamol and when I’m busy I don’t notice it. I did notice I had worse period pain on that side this month compared usual but then once period stopped so did the pain and again didn’t take anything for it.

@CoronaIsADick sorry, they don’t happen daily, maybe a few times a day on the days it does happen. But for instance before today I hadn’t noticed it at all in the last week.

Could possibly be the cyst you mentioned. I had a few cysts a few years back and they caused me havoc. When they eventually burst the pain was excruciating.
Might be worth mentioning to your GP if you could be investigated for endometriosis. I have that and it causes all sorts of weird twinges and pains.
Hope you get it sorted

Thanks @CoronaIsADick they’ve said there’s no endometriosis based on the scans and the fact I have no random bleeding. Is that how they would investigate that or have they maybe missed it?!

They can't diagnose endometriosis without doing a laparoscopy, it wouldn't show on a scan.
Theres a thing called silent endometriosis. I didn't have many of the usual symptoms of endo. No random bleeding, no excruciating period pains (which is the most common symptom). I only queried it because we had been struggling to conceive for 5 years, had failed IVF cycles and there was no explanation as to why. I had tests, scans, all kinds but there was no reason. So I asked my doctor to refer me to be tested for endometriosis and thankfully she did. I had a laparoscopy and it was confirmed I had severe endo. They removed as much as they could and our next IVF cycle worked (we have 19 month old twins)
I'm not saying you have endo but it is worth ruling it out.

I don't know if a HSG would necessarily do you any good, but if you can push for it, then I would - on the basis that I'd have any gynae diagnostic possible.

Have you had a full battery of STI tests? I believe chlamydia can cause pelvic pain if untreated (and it can often be asymptomatic for years.)

Have you looked at interstitial cystitis? It's not an infection so wouldn't be picked up on a test. My sister has this (along with ME and FM) and its taken over 15 years to get a diagnosis and that was after going private.

Women's reproductive health is shockingly badly investigated in this country. It makes me spitting mad the way we get fobbed off.

I'm guessing you've ruled out any possibility of muscle strain, etc? I damaged my sacroiliac tendon once which caused a tearing pain in my lower left abdomen. I thought it was internal at first and really panicked. But that would be responsive to change in posture etc.

Look up Pelvic Congestion Syndrome and Nutcracker Syndrome, I saw a twitter thread about it, sounded v similar to your problem (esp the pain on the left hand side) but apparently it’s not well-known so often gets missed or misdiagnosed.