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Original poster

Constant right abdominal/ovary pain lasted months now

28 replies

cookingmama02 · 04/04/2023 01:03

A few months back I would say January time I started getting a bad pain in my lower right abdomen, after multiple doctors trips and hospital visits I still have no answers as to what is going on. The pain radiates from the far side of my right lower abdomen into where I would say is my ovary and that is where it occurs the majority of the time, it is a sharp stinging pain whilst the area surrounding is a constant dull pain. It's causing me a great deal of anxiety, it is keeping me up at night. I'm scared to eat because that is starting to make the pain worse now, I'm even having to come home early when I leave the house. I'm booked in for a scan but I don't know how long I am going to be waiting, the area does not hurt to press only rarely for a split second. Has anyone experienced this or have any ideas what it could be? Thanks.

OP posts:
Nimbostratus100 · 04/04/2023 01:08

unlikely to be related to ovaries, which are low in your pelvis, and dont have nerves.

Have you done a pregnancy tests?

Original poster
cookingmama02 · 04/04/2023 01:09

I also forgot to mention I've being getting a constant shooting pain in my cervix, the only way I could describe it is like constant lighting crotch minus the fact I'm not pregnant.

OP posts:
ukholidayseeker · 04/04/2023 01:10

Gallstones?

Original poster
cookingmama02 · 04/04/2023 01:10

Nimbostratus100 · 04/04/2023 01:08

unlikely to be related to ovaries, which are low in your pelvis, and dont have nerves.

Have you done a pregnancy tests?

Hi, I've done pregnancy tests and they are all negative.

OP posts:
Original poster
cookingmama02 · 04/04/2023 01:11

ukholidayseeker · 04/04/2023 01:10

Gallstones?

Hi, the pain is lower that that I would say just above pubic bone.

OP posts:
TheLadyofShalott1 · 04/04/2023 02:15

@Nimbostratus100
Well when I still ovulated I would get an occassional sharp stabbing pain, so obviously my ovaries hadn't read the book that says we don't have any nerves there!

Hi @cookingmama02 I had an 8cm Cyst on one of my ovaries - post menopause, but they can happen anytime I think - anyway, the progression of my pain sounds very similar to yours, and they didn't discover it until I had an over the top, and an internal scan of my ovaries. If you do have to have an internal scan, please try not to worry about it, I did worry, but it didn't hurt at all, it was just slightly uncomfortable (but I had taken some pain killers about an hour beforehand, so maybe that would be a good idea, just incase).

TheLadyofShalott1 · 04/04/2023 02:21

@cookingmama02 Sorry, I forgot to add, that depending where any of my stools were in my bowels at the time, the pain in my ovary would get worse, I presume that on those occassions my bowel was pressing directly on to my ovary! 💐

Original poster
cookingmama02 · 04/04/2023 02:28

TheLadyofShalott1 · 04/04/2023 02:15

@Nimbostratus100
Well when I still ovulated I would get an occassional sharp stabbing pain, so obviously my ovaries hadn't read the book that says we don't have any nerves there!

Hi @cookingmama02 I had an 8cm Cyst on one of my ovaries - post menopause, but they can happen anytime I think - anyway, the progression of my pain sounds very similar to yours, and they didn't discover it until I had an over the top, and an internal scan of my ovaries. If you do have to have an internal scan, please try not to worry about it, I did worry, but it didn't hurt at all, it was just slightly uncomfortable (but I had taken some pain killers about an hour beforehand, so maybe that would be a good idea, just incase).

Hiya thank you for your reply, this sounds like what I may be experiencing, as when I have a stool in my bowels the pain seems to get increasingly worse and when I have researched a lot of my symptoms it always leads to ovarian cyst, may I ask how long it took you to get a scan and what happened once they found the cyst, Thank you.

OP posts:
miraveille · 04/04/2023 04:56

Agree, cysts - you need an ultrasound. Often they resolve on their own, depends on size.

Toastandmarmiteandtea · 04/04/2023 05:38

Sounds like ovary pain to me too. I’ve had a large ovarian cyst which was removed. The pain used to wake me at night and would move about too, I think depending on bowel and bladder as the cyst takes up room.

Nimbostratus100 · 04/04/2023 06:38

TheLadyofShalott1 · 04/04/2023 02:15

@Nimbostratus100
Well when I still ovulated I would get an occassional sharp stabbing pain, so obviously my ovaries hadn't read the book that says we don't have any nerves there!

Hi @cookingmama02 I had an 8cm Cyst on one of my ovaries - post menopause, but they can happen anytime I think - anyway, the progression of my pain sounds very similar to yours, and they didn't discover it until I had an over the top, and an internal scan of my ovaries. If you do have to have an internal scan, please try not to worry about it, I did worry, but it didn't hurt at all, it was just slightly uncomfortable (but I had taken some pain killers about an hour beforehand, so maybe that would be a good idea, just incase).

it isnt a "book to read" it is a medical fact - no nerves , they dont exist. Why would they?

unless you are a different species maybe? from a different planet?

Nimbostratus100 · 04/04/2023 06:39

ovaries are "silent"

AnImaginaryCat · 04/04/2023 06:51

What have the doctor and hospital visits ruled out? Or if they haven't ruled out anything what did they check for?

There's so much in the abdomen it's difficult to diagnosis from the outside. Could be ovarian cysts, (small) kidney stones or gallstones or diverticulitis

Apocalypticdays · 04/04/2023 07:11

I has similar stabbing pains in what felt like my left ovary (yes I know where my ovaries are!), turned out to be a polyp at the entrance to my left fallopian tube. A scan didn't find it though, only a hysteroscopy did (it was removed there and then).

snapple21 · 04/04/2023 07:16

@Nimbostratus100

I'm not quite sure what you're asserting here? That people can't ever feel pain in their ovaries?
What about when they have an ovarian cyst, or if they suffer from 'mittelschmerz'?

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 04/04/2023 07:20

It sounds like my ovary pain from a cyst. I'm about to go in for surgery on it.

MintJulia · 04/04/2023 07:37

Nimbostratus100 · 04/04/2023 06:39

ovaries are "silent"

@Nimbostratus100 Pain can be caused by a cyst on an ovary pulling the ovary down under gravity, or causing it to twist, leading to the blood supply being cut off. When this happens, the ovary and tube (and the cyst) die and can become necrotic. It can also lead to a more general abdo infection.

Having experienced it for seven months, trust me, the pain is agonising. A fact my idiot GP decided (like you) to ignore. Then followed by A&E admission at 3am, an emergency 5 hour op, a week in general surgical, six weeks off work and a hip to hip scar.

OP, you need an ultrasound on ovaries and tubes. Stand your ground and insist. I hope it is dealt with quickly and you feel better soon.

TheLadyofShalott1 · 05/04/2023 03:25

Hi again @cookingmama02 sorry it has taken me so long to answer, this sort of time tends to be my most wide awake time!

I had steadily getting worse niggles for a few months, then suddenly I was in agony. It was during one of the lockdowns and my husband rang the GP surgery for me, and a female dr there asked me to come in and see the nurse immediately, which of course I did.

The nurse asked me to get partially undressed (obviously!), and to lie on her couch, then the dr came in (I was amazed to actually get to see a GP), she gave me an internal examination and wanted me to go straight into hospital, without going via A&E, but as I already had very strong painkillers for other conditions, and as it was already nearly 6.00pm on a Friday evening, we both agreed that I should go in the next morning.

Sorry OP, but they gave me a scan the next morning - yes, on a Saturday, which was my second shock at the NHS actually working! They found I had an 8cm cyst on my ovary - I guess I must have been very lucky with my GP, and with the hospital, or maybe they acted so quickly because of my other (serious) conditions, but please OP, you must get more insistant that you need the scan now, not some unknown time in the future! I'm wishing you lots of luck in getting a diagnosis very soon now 💐💐💐

ps. When having an internal scan a few months ago for a different condition, they found my cyst had just disappeared - I had had one more very sharp pain a while beforehand, so I don't know if it just burst, or leaked and shrivelled away...

GarlicGrace · 05/04/2023 03:49

Are you sure it isn't appendicitis?

Constant right abdominal/ovary pain lasted months now
TheLadyofShalott1 · 05/04/2023 04:01

Nimbostratus100 · 04/04/2023 06:38

it isnt a "book to read" it is a medical fact - no nerves , they dont exist. Why would they?

unless you are a different species maybe? from a different planet?

Show quote history

LoL, @Nimbostratus100, you really made me giggle there! I was joking about the book, I don't think my ovaries ever took the time to learn how to read...

By the way, from my very rusty medical knowledge, the reason (and probably the only reason) we have sensory nerves - Nociceptors, both somatic and visceral - is so that we know when there is something wrong in our bodies eg we don't put our hand in a fire, because the closer we get to the fire, the more painful the situation is, so the initial pain stops us from going on and hurting ourselves.

If we accidentally spill boiling water on our hand, we withdraw it very quickly because it hurts, and then if we can just as quickly put the hurt hand under cold running water (because we know it was burned), then hopefully we would limit the damage done to our hand.

Or in cases such as childbirth, where there are quite a few things we need to do to make sure that we give birth in the safest and healthiest way possible, the gradual intensity of the contractions/pains, help us to know when and what help we need. This also helps to ensure that the baby is born in the most appropriate environment.

I do hope Nimbo, that you have been able to understand my answer to your question about why sensory nerves should exist in our different body parts. I think that the question should really be "why don't nerves exist in our ovaries", if as you stated, they don't!

endofthelinefinally · 05/04/2023 04:03

An ovarian cyst presses on all kinds of nerves in the bowel and the pelvis. A large cyst can cause lots of pain.
OP could you afford a private scan?
If you go on to your local hospital's website you can look up all the gynaecologists.
Then google each one separately to find out which ones do private appts near you.
You can ring the private hospital and find out the process and costs.
If you need urgent surgery you stand a good chance of being moved back into the NHS for treatment.

endofthelinefinally · 05/04/2023 04:06

Of course it could be grumbling appendix, but you gp should be able to figure out which is more likely.

TheLadyofShalott1 · 05/04/2023 04:21

I have never tried this adding an image malarky, and if I have managed it, I am sorry it is in American, but I don't suppose an American's ovary is that different to a British woman's one! 🤣

Constant right abdominal/ovary pain lasted months now
TheLadyofShalott1 · 05/04/2023 04:23

Sorry, I forgot to add your name @Nimbostratus100 to the above post with my added screenshot about ovaries!

Nimbostratus100 · 05/04/2023 07:30

snapple21 · 04/04/2023 07:16

@Nimbostratus100

I'm not quite sure what you're asserting here? That people can't ever feel pain in their ovaries?
What about when they have an ovarian cyst, or if they suffer from 'mittelschmerz'?

ovaries are "silent" - they are not capable of sending pain signals as they have no nervous connection.

Most people who imagine these things actually have no idea where their ovaries are and point to wildly inaccurate places

Ovaries are low down inside your pelvis around the top corners of the pubic hair

I have no medical training , just a family history or ovarian cancer, and the information from specialists in how to spot the signs, NOT by pain, or thinking you know where they are when you dont