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Women's health

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Original poster

Constant left lower abdomen/pelvic burning sensation

20 replies

Dotyink · 14/10/2022 07:29

Has anyone experienced a constant burning sensation in your lower left abdomen/pelvic area? The sensation appears to be worse with PMS, periods and ovulation but also appears to be immediately worse after eating certain foods/drinking fizzy drinks and beer. Sometimes feels like it radiates to my back or leg. Periods are not terrible, cramps in the first 2 days but very regular. I have been to the GP many times in last year about it, still no diagnosis. UT scans come out clear with no cysts, fibroid etc. Just wondering if someone has experienced this!

OP posts:

TinaTotal · 14/10/2022 15:13

Yes! Exactly the same, all investigations came back nothing found. One doctor said he thought it was colon related rather than gynaecology related, but never had any investigation for that.

Depoisthedevil · 14/10/2022 20:18

Me too. Since having DD 9 month ago. It's just a constant pain. Not having periods as am breastfeeding. Been to Drs and they don't know what it is.
So I spend my life googling. Have you heard of pelvic congestion syndrome? Thought mine might be this but it worse at night.

Original poster

Dotyink · 15/10/2022 00:11

Same here, I plan to speak to my GP about investigating a colon related issue.

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Original poster

Dotyink · 15/10/2022 00:14

I had never heard of PCS, thanks for sharing. The symptoms do sound very similar. I also have polycyclic ovaries (although not pcos), and apparently that could increase chances of getting PCS. I'll speak my GP about this too.

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Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight · 15/10/2022 00:18

I had it. It took me ages to work out that I was lactose intolerant as I could manage some lactose without too much of a problem so it wasn’t an obvious connection.

TinaTotal · 15/10/2022 07:54

@Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight do you have any other symptoms of lactose intolerance?
This is interesting as my brother is lactose intolerant (he has crohns though) and my daughter has a cows milk allergy.

Original poster

Dotyink · 15/10/2022 08:30

@Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight @TinaTotal I did consider lactose intolerance too and cut out dairy. It didn't have too much of an effect for me. I find it immediately worse (after a few minutes) with spicy food and fizzy drinks. Almost feels like something is inflammed.

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Thethingswedoforlove · 15/10/2022 08:38

I have this too. It is definitely exacerbated by stress but not sure if that is the cause. It’s permanently there.

TinaTotal · 15/10/2022 08:56

@Dotyink I've not noticed any correlation with specific foods but recently I've noticed it's much worse while I'm menstruating. I don't have the common symptoms of lactose intolerance. The doctors I saw regarding the pain were very dismissive and basically made me feel like nothing was wrong and I should stop wasting their time. This was 5 plus years ago and there's been no improvement in pain but also it's not got worse or developed into anything else. I would love to find the cause.

LindyLou2020 · 15/10/2022 08:59

@Dotyink
You say certain foods/fizzy drinks/beer exacerbate your symptoms.
All of these are acidic.
Foods which fall into this category include citrus fruits, strawberries, chocolate, spicy meals like curries.......
And coffee and wine! All nice things!😩
I suffer from Interstitial Cystitis, or Painful Bladder Syndrome. The symptoms are like those of a UTI, but there's no infection. Acidic foods/drinks such as those I've mentioned can cause flare-ups.
Might be worth looking into.

Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight · 15/10/2022 09:19

@TinaTotal I did have other symptoms (whichI won’t bore you with) but the pain the OP described was what I was left with when I had started restricting dairy and a range of other foods when I was trying to work out the cause. At the time I hadn’t pinpointed lactose as the root cause but would have been restricting my intake. Over time the pain lessened and I haven’t had it for years, it was almost as if I had a sore spot caused by the intolerance which needed time to heal.

Original poster

Dotyink · 15/10/2022 09:23

@TinaTotal I have had mine for about 1.5 years and the doctors haven't really been helpful. My gp suspects it could be endometriosis and has put me on the pill which has had no impact(only started a few weeks ago though). Mine is definitely worse during pms and on my period, sometimes I feel like the sensation radiates through my upper thigh on the same side.

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Original poster

Dotyink · 15/10/2022 09:26

@LindyLou2020 I did initially think of it being a UTI and had several rounds of antibiotics which didn't help. Do you find your pain is one sided? Also is it worse around your period?

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Namechange600 · 15/10/2022 09:28

a few ideas

endometriosis, and specifically on the bladder
interstitial cystitis - worse with acidity also known as mast cell activation syndrome in some quarters as essentially your bladder has lots of mast cells that react to high histamine levels

could be both too. (In fortunate enough to have this and much more going on)

CherryogDog · 15/10/2022 09:33

I have the same symptoms, started about 14 years ago, always worse around ovulation (I'm 9 years post menopause now).
At one time the pain was so bad I could only stand up or lie down, if I bent over it was excruciating, like a red hot poker piercing me from front to back, that was when I went to A&E.
Initial investigations were gynae because of the timing of the pain.
Long story short it is diverticular disease. In bad flares I have antibiotics, but mainly manage through diet and keeping well hydrated.
I just get mild pain before I open my bowels and a stronger (but bearable) pain after eating.

LindyLou2020 · 15/10/2022 11:38

@Dotyink
I’m past the menopause so don’t have periods anymore!
And my interstitial cystitis started well after the menopause.
Antibiotics don’t work with IC - it mimics the symptoms of a uti but there is no infection. Mine was diagnosed by a cystoscopy.
Another poster mentioned endometriosis - I had this too, and it was certainly worse during a period. I was fobbed off for a long time with both these conditions - both are really debilitating so don’t give up

Original poster

Dotyink · 17/10/2022 06:31

@Namechange600 My gp did suspect it was endometriosis but I don't feel like my periods are particularly bad. Unfortunately i hear the only way to really diagnose endo is by surgery and i dont feel its bad enough for surgery. I will ask about internal cystitis.

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Original poster

Dotyink · 17/10/2022 06:33

@CherryogDog oh no, sorry it went on so long before your diagnosis, happy you have found a way to manage it now.

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Original poster

Dotyink · 17/10/2022 06:35

@LindyLou2020 thank you! I'll keep pushing.

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OnthePiste · 20/10/2022 16:15

I'm post meno but have had similar symptoms this year. Burning very low left hand pain which radiates into my hip and down my thigh. I've had ultrasound, bloods, FIT test, all came back clear. My GP referred me to a general surgeon as she was unable to establish what was going on but at this point it disappeared! I am sure mine was bowel related, I had a lot of gas going on at the same time so possibly an IBS type issue. If it returns I will ask for another referral but there didn't seem much point going to see them when the issue was no longer there

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