Aa
What is wrong with me?
37yr old female. No health problems (just hypothyroid). 5' 10" and 160lbs.
Symptoms:
No menstrual cycle 4 months
Menstrual like cramps
Urethra discomfort (spasms)?
No freguency/urgency
Pelvic bone pain (hurts upon waking and walking)
Slow pubic hair growth
Migraines
Bladder pain (noticed increase with coffee or spicey foods. Also when I smoked a cigarette. Rarely ever smoke. Maybe once a month if that)
Vaginal atrophy, dryness and burning
Yeast infections
Acne at times
Lower back pain (has been the most consistant)
Painful intercourse (deep pelvic pain one time; other times discomfort around the urethra area upon penetration (penis or fingers))
Emotional and fatigued
Tests done:
Complete gynocological workup (ultrasound, std's, etc). All normal.
CT scan of pelvic/abdomen with and without contrast. Normal
Cystoscopy in doctors office. Was told bladder looked good and ruled out cancer, stones, tumors, etc...
Had about 4 urine cultures done. All negative.
Was told this could be all due to the hormonal imblance and to stop birth control pill to see how I felt. Ran bloodwork last week for hormone levels. Waiting on results. I stopped the pill on Sunday. My urologist agrees this could be hormonal or that I might have Interstitial Cystitis. Said she would treat for IC but wanted to wait and see if I felt better off the pill.
My questions:
Does this sound like hormonal imbalance or IC? I can understand alot of the symptoms I have being hormonal but the bladder and urethra pain/discomfort?
If hormonal, is it reversible?
If IC, could the hormone problems have brought it on?
And is IC treatable? I have read alot of horror stories about it since being told I may have it. Will I ever be pain-free?
Thank you in advance for any advice or suggestions you can give.
Sincerely,
Dana from New York
Symptoms:
No menstrual cycle 4 months
Menstrual like cramps
Urethra discomfort (spasms)?
No freguency/urgency
Pelvic bone pain (hurts upon waking and walking)
Slow pubic hair growth
Migraines
Bladder pain (noticed increase with coffee or spicey foods. Also when I smoked a cigarette. Rarely ever smoke. Maybe once a month if that)
Vaginal atrophy, dryness and burning
Yeast infections
Acne at times
Lower back pain (has been the most consistant)
Painful intercourse (deep pelvic pain one time; other times discomfort around the urethra area upon penetration (penis or fingers))
Emotional and fatigued
Tests done:
Complete gynocological workup (ultrasound, std's, etc). All normal.
CT scan of pelvic/abdomen with and without contrast. Normal
Cystoscopy in doctors office. Was told bladder looked good and ruled out cancer, stones, tumors, etc...
Had about 4 urine cultures done. All negative.
Was told this could be all due to the hormonal imblance and to stop birth control pill to see how I felt. Ran bloodwork last week for hormone levels. Waiting on results. I stopped the pill on Sunday. My urologist agrees this could be hormonal or that I might have Interstitial Cystitis. Said she would treat for IC but wanted to wait and see if I felt better off the pill.
My questions:
Does this sound like hormonal imbalance or IC? I can understand alot of the symptoms I have being hormonal but the bladder and urethra pain/discomfort?
If hormonal, is it reversible?
If IC, could the hormone problems have brought it on?
And is IC treatable? I have read alot of horror stories about it since being told I may have it. Will I ever be pain-free?
Thank you in advance for any advice or suggestions you can give.
Sincerely,
Dana from New York
A related discussion, Could it be Cushing's? was started.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Agree, If the gyn workup is normal, then get an evaluation by a qualified pelvic floor physical therapist. They can be very helpful in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal pain issues.
Find a good physical therapist that deals with pelvic pain. They look at the whole skeletal/muscle structure. You wouldn't believe the weird places that pain can show up from other distant muscles and facia being tight.
Not all hormone tests are the same. Vaginal atrophy screams lack of estrogen to me. Look into the yahoo groups vulvar disorders and happy pelvis. The first one deals alot with hormones, yeast issues and the second one deals with physical therapy. The women there may also have some other ideas that might help you.
Start doing your own research and find a doc who will really start taking you seriously. Chronic pain and discomfort leads to more chronic pain. Best of luck.
Not all hormone tests are the same. Vaginal atrophy screams lack of estrogen to me. Look into the yahoo groups vulvar disorders and happy pelvis. The first one deals alot with hormones, yeast issues and the second one deals with physical therapy. The women there may also have some other ideas that might help you.
Start doing your own research and find a doc who will really start taking you seriously. Chronic pain and discomfort leads to more chronic pain. Best of luck.
Just got back bloodwork results and gyno said all is normal (including hormones). Although he does want to run bloodwork again in two months since I stopped the pill now and he wants to see what my hormone levels look like then. Right now...both gyno and uro are unsure what is going on with me. The sharp pains along the pelvic bone and ovaries seem to be getting more frequent. Back pain always intensifies as I go about my day. I get severe menstrual cramp like pains upon orgasm or pelvic pressure (by the way pregnancy has also been ruled out). I still don't have the urgency or frequency (just what I call these urethra spasm sensations that come and go and are rare). I never have to wake up at night to urinate. I actually wake up feeling okay and then the day goes by and I start having the pain. The back pain is waiste level..usually immediately to the left or right of the spinal cord. I can go on and on about how I feel.
I am at a loss as to why all my bloodwork came back normal since my body seems to be so out of whack. I was sure my hormone levels would be off and now that they are not...I am even more afrair I have Interstitial Cystitis. Though my docs are still not convinced I have that. I am a complete mess and totally confused, concerned and scared.
PLEASE GIVE YOUR INPUT TO MY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS!
Sincerely,
Dana M. from New York
I am at a loss as to why all my bloodwork came back normal since my body seems to be so out of whack. I was sure my hormone levels would be off and now that they are not...I am even more afrair I have Interstitial Cystitis. Though my docs are still not convinced I have that. I am a complete mess and totally confused, concerned and scared.
PLEASE GIVE YOUR INPUT TO MY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS!
Sincerely,
Dana M. from New York
I wanted to list these additional symptoms. I did not have enough space in my first post to fit them all. I hope this is okay.
additional symptoms:
excess hair growth on face (chin) and breasts (nipples)
bladder pain when pelvic is compressed (weight on it, sitting)
pain on the left side that seems to be near the ovary
back pain often feels like "heat" and when touched it is very tender
suprapubic pain and tenderness
vaginal burning and overall discomfort increases with sitting long periods of time
only pain I have with urination is AFTER and that happens very rarely
sometimes feel a sharp pain along the pelvic bone/ovary areas
headaches seem to occur around the time I should be having my menstruation and ovulation
My entire pelvic region is in total chaos and it is taking its toll on me physically, mentally and emotionally.
I hope you read my two posts of symptoms. Any input you could give would be greatly appreciated.
additional symptoms:
excess hair growth on face (chin) and breasts (nipples)
bladder pain when pelvic is compressed (weight on it, sitting)
pain on the left side that seems to be near the ovary
back pain often feels like "heat" and when touched it is very tender
suprapubic pain and tenderness
vaginal burning and overall discomfort increases with sitting long periods of time
only pain I have with urination is AFTER and that happens very rarely
sometimes feel a sharp pain along the pelvic bone/ovary areas
headaches seem to occur around the time I should be having my menstruation and ovulation
My entire pelvic region is in total chaos and it is taking its toll on me physically, mentally and emotionally.
I hope you read my two posts of symptoms. Any input you could give would be greatly appreciated.
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