Pelvic pain, pain on urination, tender ovaries

[Zogster]

Hi everyone!

Starting a new thread on this topic. Background is: Post c section, five months ago. Second c section. Previous abdominal surgeries for cysts and adhesions.

So ever since the second c section I've had really bad pain on the left side, lower abdomen. Around the hip bone at the front of that makes sense where the tummy is soft not on the actual hip bone.
It was Excruciating in this area post c section but it got fobbed off with it as cesareans do hurt (no shit)!

The last week or two I've noticed when I wee that I have to bear down to void my bladder completely. It also hurts in my side. No stinging or urgency like you get with cystitis though. The pain continues all day but seems to be exacerbated by urination.

When to gp today who did a pelvic exam and noted a lot of tenderness around the lower abdo, particularly on the left. She said the structures there are ovary, fallopian tube and bowel. It could also be referred pain from adhesions. (I have a bad ropey type adhesion that was detected two surgeries ago, very close to the bladder so it cannot be removed with risk of bladder perforation) .

Urine test was normal so it's not a urine infection.

I'm awaiting an internal exam and ultrasound and am currently using hot water bottles and paracetamol to ease the discomfort.

I've also had very watery clear vaginal discharge which I treated with BV pessaries (no change in symptoms) and my last two periods have been very watery thin bright red blood.

My concerns are uterine or ovarian cancer, or fibroids.

Can anyone share any similar experiences and what your diagnoses were? I'm looking for a bit of comfort and reassurance while I wait for my appointments.

Thank you so much xx

Sorry, OP, not had this experience nor am I an expert.
I would have thought uterine cancer would have been picked up during the c-section possibly....
I'm more inclined to think you have post-surgical complications...inflammation, infection or they nicked something.
Are you on a 2 week cancer pathway for ultrasound/investigations?

For me, it's that adhesions and scar tissue is severe which is pushing on my bladder. Apparently what feels like a full bladder to me is only about half full. Also, I have recurring complex cysts which can burst, and I seem to really feel pain around ovulation as another egg joins the collection of cysts. I think a nurse told me that adhesions can recur as well.

Upshot is it's just my new normal to have pain exactly where you're describing at certain times of my cycle.

Can you ask your GP to do a CA125 blood test? It's a marker for ovarian cancer.

Have you got any bloating?

@DamnedUserName21 thanks for your reply :) nothing noted during the c section except I'd need a bladder surgeon next time around at the c section and I might need a colostomy bag. Tons of adhesions though... Surgeon cut himself cutting through them which was a whole other drama I won't go into!

I'm not on any pathway just waiting for the ultrasound. I guess if they find something then they'd do that.

@twointhemorning I will ask gp to do that when I go in for internal exam... Thank you, I hadn't heard of that! And yes I have bloating so back in my maternity trousers as I can't stand anything pushing on my tummy.

@NCforThis2022 I suspect the adhesions are a big element of my pain however the pain on the left started straight after the c section so I do wonder that they nicked something.

I think I'm ovulating at the mo so what you said totally hit home... It would make perfect sense fit the pain to increase at this stage. I've had poly cystic ovaries in the past and a large dermoid cyst removed after my first c section so again what you are saying makes sense.

How do you accept it? I would rather have it all removed than live in pain and discomfort!! :(

@Zogster you're telling my story. I have a colostomy because the adhesions were on my bowel. My period is now all over the place so some months aren't as bad as others. I had a second surgery to try to reduce the pain, but it didn't really work out that well. Ibuprofen, melfen or solpadeine help.

@NCforThis2022 oh lady... I'm so sorry and I feel your pain through your message! Is having a hysterectomy an option (not for you specifically, I appreciate I don't know your family circumstances etc) but in general with this type of thing would it help? I know surgery causes adhesions and surgery to remove adhesions can cause more! Just wondering as we have two children and are done xxx

@Zogster Please, please get your GP to do the CA125 test and flag up the fact you have bloating.

I don't want to scare you but it could be ascites (fluid in your abdomen). I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer last year aged 44. Hopefully it's not but best to get it checked asap.

I’ve had exactly the same issues as you. In my case it’s adhesions, endometriosis and prolapse.
Im having a hysterectomy next week. It’s miserable.

Did you have a follow up appointment OP?

@SquarePeggyLeggy I'm sorry for the delay. We have had power cuts with the storm, school was closed for dd and our baby is regressing on sleep. I'm a bit ruined!

I need to call the doctors on Monday to organise my follow ups.

Interesting the pain has really receeded as has the bloating so I'm wondering if @NCforThis2022 was right about ovulation aggravating the adhesions.

@twointhemorning I'm so sorry to hear about your experience. Are you cancer free now?

@SquarePeggyLeggy what day next week is your op? Would you check in with us afterwards to let us know how you are?

@Zogster Thank you. Not exactly - I'm still having treatment. I had major abdominal surgery in the summer of 2021 and then chemo. I'm now on maintenance therapy and still being monitored. My symptoms were put down to IBS.

Hi everyone, just an update that I have an ultrasound appointment next Friday so I'll keep updating this thread in case useful now or in the future for anyone x

Ultrasound didn't show any cysts or issues. Due a smear test to rule anything else out.
So far we are thinking it's pelvic adhesions, aggravated by ovulation x

Just a final update on this post. Smear test came back normal. Pelvic pain has been better in the last month so some of it might be settling down after the c section seven months ago. The bloating is gone. Thanks all for the support.
Conclusion... Pelvic adhesions, worse during ovulation.

@Zogster Can I ask, did they do an internal ultrasound or just abdominal of the pelvis?

Internal and external