Ovarian? Pain, can anybody help identify what could be going on please?

[Singinglove36]

Hello, I'm 36 with 2 children aged 7 and 9. For the last four or five years I've had pain when I ovulate. Bear with me, as it's not that straightforward.
Each month, when I ovulate, I get intense pain. I have found myself limping when walking, bracing myself on the back of chairs as it sort of feels like the beginning of labour pains. I think it's the right side only but not sure. It feels like inflammation or like soreness on the fallopian tube, but also swollen inside. I get a heavy feeling down below that feels like a bowling ball pulling down, which I'm guessing could be the cervix? It has recently affected my bowels in that it makes me feel like I need a poo, but then I actually don't.
A couple of years ago I went to the doc, they did blood tests and an external ultrasound and found nothing so very unhelpfully told me it was 'just normal ovulation pain' on account of it coming on that day and being gone the next.
I feel very frustrated as I know what's normal ovulation pain for me and this is NOT normal, but without them seeing anything on screen, I don't think I can be surprised at their response!
I've recently gone back to the doc as it's now lasting longer, they are going to do bloods again and I've an appointment at a gynaecologist a month later, although they've not told me what will happen then.

I can't find anything like this when I've looked online about it. I feel like I'm going mad. I feel like I'm being a hypochondriac, but I really feel like this pain is not normal.

Has anybody else had anything similar?
Thank you

Endometriosis, brown cyst?

Doesn’t show up on ultrasound

Firstly, yet again a doctor saying it is "normal period pain" is not listening to you. The severity of your pain isn't normal at all when it impacts you like this. It is not something anyone can guess at until you have further tests, but endo wouldn't show up on an ultrasound scan. The gyno appointment will most likely involve a pelvic exam and dear lord, that instrument to do an internal exam hurt me I couldn't have it done, but I was in agony and after an ultrasound, mct and mri scans, they found cysts on my ovaries. Could a cyst have developed is what I am wondering due to the pain you describe. If it is endo you would need a laparoscopy done for that. I hope you find some answers after your gyno appointment in a few weeks. Don't let them fob you off though when the pain is causing you such agony.

Thank you, yes I'm not happy with being told it's normal when I can feel it's not. Don't get me wrong, I respect that doctors know more than me, but they can't feel what I'm feeling. There in lies the problem, I can't really describe it any clearer!

Then you need to make it clear that it’s severely impacting life/work. It’s been going on too long, it’s not normal for you, you felt dismissed last time, and that you need further tests

Yes I will definitely push more this time. I was hoping somebody might have had similar and been able to shed some light before I go to the appointment x

I'm having similar issues. Scans don't show endometriosis but can show indications, such as haemorrhagic cysts(blood cysts or 'chocolate cysts'). They'll try and talk to you into being on a contraceptive pill or some form of contraceptive to stop your period and to stop any possible endometriosis from getting worse. Progesterone based ones, like desogestrel, stop ovulation, which might particularly help you. The only proper way to confirm endometriosis is a laprascopy, which is investigative surgery through small holes (usually). Try to push for this, as they might be able to remove scarring that is causing pain. It might also help identify anything more. I've had ultrasounds that pick up one cyst at a time but the last one I had a CT scan days after which showed 'a significant amount' of cysts so things do get missed.

I also thought chocolate cysts, as that's what i had. Did you have any of you DCs via C-section? In my case, the endo happened on the internal scars, and outside the uterus. Incredibly painful. Similar to you, it came and went as if nothing.

Thank you draft lovely and mum on bus, it's helpful to hear similar situations. I honestly do not care about getting investigations done, I understand they can be unpleasant but I'm the kind of person who hates not knowing so I'd be happy to push for it. See I thought endometriosis but when I looked online it didn't seem to fit the bill. I'm sore tonight and definitely in the fertile window. Had never heard of brown or chocolate cysts before tonight so that's been useful! No, both children were vaginally delivered and without complications, although was pushing with first born for 3 hours which I didn't realise was wrong at the time!

Mine is massive ovarian cysts (found through scan) and adenomyosis (found through MRI). I have pain but not the other symptoms you describe, and pain is manageable with ibuprofen. Only just diagnosed - I'm 50.

Yours sounds really horrible and I hope you find the cause soon.

I’ve had endometriosis removed via wide excision surgery that never showed on any scan, MRI, trans vaginal, CT etc I was scanned and scanned but nothing. When my surgeon did the surgery he removed it from pretty much every pelvic organ including my diaphragm, that my GP had prescribed gavaisgon for and my bladder with my GP had helpfully asked me to drink barley water for.

I was just coming on say that dragging, limping, steady on a chair pain really sounds like endo, maybe on your ovary’s or a cyst, but please be fiesty!

mIf they do decide to take you seriously and look don’t let them go near you with ablation, it’s useless surgery and will keep coming back, you need wide excision surgery.

That's very useful, thank you

Any pain that is cyclical in nature and or gets worse up to and including menses should be checked for endometriosis. Endometriosis is a distinct possibility here and again it’s not picked up on blood tests or external ultrasound scans ( a waste if time in your case).

Excision surgery is preferable. Ablation has its place and does work but it’s more for our of control bleeding.