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Pain and discomfort in lower right abdomen

Hello,
I am 21 years old and for as long as I can remember I have never had a regular (in terms of timing) menstrual cycle. This never appeared a reason for worry as I was told that periods are irregular within the first few years.
However, Three years ago I began experiencing additional symptoms and complications. In 2007, I began experiencing slight discomfort in my lower right abdomen. Upon having an ultrasound done, I was found to have a cyst. A few weeks after my period (late again) came and it was more painful than ever.
For the months that followed, some months I missed my period and when it did come it was more painful than the last time. For two years, before and during each period I had discomfort in my lower right abdomen.
With these irrregularities I began growing hair in my chest area and the hair cover that was on places such as my legs, arms and  face became thicker. With each year the hair situation becomes more and more visable.
Last year the discomfort in my lower right abdomen became so terrible that I could not walk. The discomfort had spread to my back with cramps down my leg.Upon having another utrasound done, my right ovary was found to be enlarged with no cystic change.
The doctor told me I should get checked for endometriosis and have laparoscopy done. He prescribed Ketoprofen. I took it for two months and my menstrual cycles for once were regular and I had little or no pain. This drug was no longer supplied at the pharmacy so I had no access to the ketoprofen and my periods after being off the drug were increasingly painful and then I missed my period for 2 months and then the cramps, pain and discomfort in my lower right abdomen returned. I began taking Dicoflex 50mg and this reduced the pain a bit but not entirely. I also had blood test done to check my hormone levels and these came back normal. Within a month of taking this drug my period came.

With that said, my quuestions are:

1.  Could there be some thing seriously wrong with my right ovary since all the problems seem to stem from there?

2.  Do I show symptoms of any other conditions other than endometriosis?

3. Can endometriosis be life treatening or cause complications other than infertility?

4. Should I be in a hurry to do the laparoscopy?
7 Responses
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Avatar universal
I also forgot to mention dioxins. Dioxins are linked to a number of different diseases. Here is a short, informative You tube video on the link between dioxins and endometreosis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50E0eGwqPv4

On a positive note~  Many natural therapies have proven beautifully effective at relieving pain and ultimately healing endometriosis. Some of these therapies include: detoxification, acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, herbalism, aromatherapy, chiropractic care, massage, energy healing, healing visualizations,pelvic floor physiotherapy ,etc..... There are numerous practitioners that specialize in discovering the causes of the imbalances and helping to create a lifestyle and experience of optimal health.

Alternative treatments do cost money and are not usually covered by medi care or medi-cal.But the money is well worth it and OUR HEALTH IS TRULY PRICELESS*

The pain and suffering you will go through with prescription drugs and multiple laparoscopies as your treatment could be a long and hard road. The toxicity of these drugs in our system prohibits our bodies from ever healing themselves. Instead of fighting disease, we can learn to love and appreciate the bodies we do have. We can begin to Honor our Bodies by the actions we take and the choices we make. This automatically creates a healing response throughout the body.
Western medicine, is based on the idea of causation. It is an analytical science that views the body as a machine, that can be dismantled and reduced into its constituent parts.In a mechanical system, parts are standardized and uniform. That way, their actions become predictable from person to person; diseases are standardized and develop from established causes, and protocols of treatment are fixed.

Because only a single cause was sought, the multitude of contributing factors occurring simultaneously were ignored. This narrow view has limited the scope and effectiveness of modern medicine, which often equated the control of symptoms with the cure of the disease.

People as patients began giving away the responsibility to care for their own health. The body loses its intelligence and the mind loses its power to actualize. Not only is self understanding undermined, but people are led to believe that the power to cure comes from outside themselves.

Here is A POWERFULLY TRANS FORMATIVE VIDEO ON HEALING AND THE POWER OF BELIEF+ Please watch this one:) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8DeBePK3Wg

Many Women have even been told that they need a full hysterectomy in order to live pain and symptom free.(Hysterectomy- The surgical removal of the uterus.Depending on the type of hysterectomy, other pelvic organs or tissues also may also be removed.) Doctors have told these women that endometriosis will not return. In many cases, soon after the procedure, the endo returns. It is so important to educate ourselves about ALL OF OUR OPTIONS during this process. And not just conform to what a doctor tells us. Ultimately~ your inner intuition and wisdom will guide you. Listen. And it will tell you all that you wish to know~

I had a laparoscopy about 2 years ago _ and if I knew then what I know now+ I would have given these natural therapies my best effort before taking that route.

There is a book by Carolyn Everett on Aid in the Healing of Endometreosis. I definitely recommend buying it ASAP. There is an abundance of information that will be incredibly valuable on your journey towards healing. If you want to get a feel for the author, she has a free information website endo-resolved.com _

I will be following up with questions 2-4 as well.


Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
                                               Causes of Autoimmune Disease
________________________________________
Autoimmune diseases do not have one specific cause; rather, there seems to be a combination of factors involved. Some following factors have been implicated:
Toxic Metal Exposure

Most people have some form of heavy metal poisoning. Studies have shown that exposure to toxic metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead, arsenic, aluminum, nickel and other heavy metals can be linked to the autoimmune process: The heavy metals induce autoantibodies, which then create autoimmune diseases.

Toxic Chemical Exposure
Toxins such as pesticides, solvents, industrial chemicals, household cleaners, hair dyes are being implicated in autoimmune diseases. Most shampoos, body washes, lotions, toothpastes, make- up etc…. even Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo and bath soap has toxic chemicals and known carcinogens. These toxins are everywhere, and they greatly increase the risk of all diseases in general.

Vaccinations/Immunizations
Scientists have found a connection between some autoimmune diseases and vaccinations. In the February 2000 issue of Autoimmunity, ten research articles evaluate the causal link between vaccinations and autoimmune disease. For instance, the controversial anthrax vaccine has been causally linked to the development of autoimmune diseases.

Stress and Trauma
Many people have noticed a direct link between a major stressful life event and the development of an autoimmune disease six to twelve months later. Unmanaged stress is a risk factor for the developemnt of all major diseases, including heart disease and cancer. I myself noticed that I always got much worse symptom-wise during any stressful situations.

Our thoughts and feelings have a direct impact on our immune system. Loneliness is now recognized as the number one predictor of disease due to its immune suppressing action. Laughter and feelings of happiness, on the other hand, increase and enhance the actions of our immune cells.

Smoking
Smoking increases the risk of several autoimmune diseases, primarily because of the chemicals in cigarettes.

Nutritional Deficiencies
Poor diet is an important factor in autoimmunity because poor nutrition compromises the immune system. Processed foods are loaded with chemicals, hormones, steroids, trans-fats and sugars, which promote the creation of free radicals in the body, which in turn damage the cells.
________________________________________

The solution to healing autoimmune diseases lies in addressing the root causes of autoimmunity, as well as strengthening and balancing the immune  system. Ideally this can happen without the side effects associated with any pharmaceutical substances such as interferon, prednisone or methotrexate.]
For the most rate – these drugs are unsuccessful in there relief of pain for long term.

Here is an excellent link to some tips on how to boost your immune system  
http://www.healthyreader.com/2008/11/23/best-immune-system-boosters/
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
In response to question 1~

1.  Could there be some thing seriously wrong with my right ovary since all the problems seem to stem from there?

Pain and symtoms ~ are our bodies way of communicating with us ~ that there is internal im-balance.

Beneath that symptom is the cause, which is usually multifaceted.

Chinese medicine relates the human body to a tree. The symptoms are the branches, visible and apparent~ The cause are the roots_ deep and hidden.

Too often, Western medicine puts focus on the symptom. Analgesics are prescribed for pain, anti-inflammatories suppress the immune system, “heartburn” medicines shut down the digestive process. By treating only symptoms, it often gives the patient temporary relief. By suppressing the symptoms_ it drives the disease deeper into the body, as well as subjecting the body to the toxicity of the drugs.

Research strongly suggests that endometriosis is an auto-immune disease. Our body's immune system protects us from disease and infection. But if you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake. Autoimmune diseases can affect many parts of the body. Normally the immune system's army of white blood cells helps protect the body from harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include bacteria, viruses, toxins, cancer cells, and blood or tissues from another person or species. The immune system producues antibodies that destroy these harmful substances.

But in patients with an autoimmune disorder, the immune system can't tell the difference between healthy body tissue and antigens. The result is an immune response that destroys normal body tissues. In allergies, the immune system reacts to an external substance that it normally would ignore. With autoimmune disorders, the immune system reacts to normal body tissues.

What causes the immune system to no longer tell the difference between healthy body tissues and antigens is unknown. One theory is that some microorganisms (such as bacteria) and drugs may trigger some of these changes, especially in people who have genes that make them more likely to get autoimmune disorders.

An autoimmune disorder may result in:
• The destruction of one or more types of body tissue
• Abnormal growth of an organ
• Changes in organ function

An autoimmune disorder may affect one or more organ or tissue types. Organs and tissues commonly affected by autoimmune disorders include:
• Red blood cells
• Blood vessels
• Connective tissues
• Endocrine glands such as the thyroid or pancreas
• Muscles
• Joints
• Skin

A person may have more than one autoimmune disorder at the same time. The symptoms of autoimmune disease vary depending on the disease as well as the person’s immune system. Common symptoms include:
Inflammation, fatigue, dizziness, malaise, elevated fever and high body temperature, extreme sensitivity to cold in the hands and feet, weakness and stiffness in muscles and joints, weight changes, digestive or gastrointestinal problems, low or high blood pressure, irritability, anxiety, or depression, infertility or reduced sex drive (low libido), blood sugar changes, and depending on the type of autoimmune disease, an increase in the size of an organ or tissue or, the destruction of an organ or tissue can result.
Helpful - 0
1077636 tn?1309125687
I had lap done last September. I didn't have much pain with it..just sore from the procedure. I had a little difficulty walking for a few days after, but was able to go back to work about a week later. The procedure DID help with the endo symptoms, but they did return after a couple of months. Unfortunately, this is only a temporary fix as endo keeps coming back with each cycle. I am having another lap done in the next month or so. I'll let you know how the 2nd time goes. =/
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Avatar universal
Thanks for your replies guys....I thought PCOS to be a possible cause due to frequent cyst problems and the irregular growth of hair but Hormone checks were done and it was found to be normal...so I guess that rules that out?? I have to return to work in a few weeks ...
Nimo08 , was the laparoscopy very painful for you and how soon were u able to get back to normal??
Are all your symptoms gone now??

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm not sure about the hair growth, but I had laparoscopy done to remove my endo. a couple of months ago, and this sure sounds like most of the symtomps I had. You should definitely have it checked out. Yes do keep us posted, all the best!
Helpful - 0
1077636 tn?1309125687
This sounds like PCOS, with the hair growth. The pain in the right side sounds like it could possibly be endometriosis along with the increasing pain with each cycle. Endometriosis usually just causing infertility problems, which is how most people find out they have it. You should probably look into laparoscopy to find out for sure if it is endo. Keep us posted on what you find out.
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