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489228 tn?1291531454

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

I was recently diagnosed with Pelvic Congestion Syndrome! Does anyone else have this or know of some good resources of information on this.

Since I have had several children, and have also have interstitial cysitits, along with Meduallary Sponge kidney disease, with multiple stones and infection, I spend a lot of time in research to find answers. I am also an IC support group leader and work with other Pelvic Pain organizations, yet find little to nothing about this condition
even there.

When this new diagnosis was made, based on a CT scan which unusually showed the blood backed up in the left ovary, then I was sent sent to a GYN specialist, and a Pelvic Pain Physical therapist, all confirmed the PCS diagnosis, I was shocked at the last of information or support I could find on this condition!  The GYN here just wanted to do a hysterectomy but the specialist suggested this may or may not solve the problem.

My Pelvic Pain PT was the best, and taught me to move the blood flow using my lymph system.  This usually helps a lot, however had a bad bout of constipation that has flared it badly again and I am having trouble getting the pain back under control.  I would really appreciate any information or insight on this that I could find.  Not only for me but to help get the information out to others!!

Thanks for any input or advice!

Shelly

34 Responses
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489228 tn?1291531454
I am soo sorry,  I was diagnosed after having my children. I would think that like vericose veins pregnancy could increase symptoms BUT i can tell you they are worth it. I know that doesnt help much.  I can tell you the greatest help I found was my pelvic pain PT.  I could pelvic pain PT maybe be able to help answer your questions, train you to move the blood flow and also help you deal with the pain during and after the pregnancy.  I hope and pray you get a clean direction... so sorry I could be more helpful.

Shelly
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hi, i had PCS since a teen but was diagnosed in my late 20s only. i want to have a baby now but very scared of the consequences and of not being able to deal with pain or have it worse post partum. my menstrual pain recently got worse, intercorse is almost always painful. all GYN suggest me to have a kid saying that it will heal extreme painful menstrual symptoms but not saying anything on what to do with PCS. please help. i wanna know if i should have a kid or get treated first.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was just diagnosed in Aug with PCS and I have yet to find a dr who knows enough about to help me. I am in constant pain every day and people around me think I am a hypochondriac. i have dealt with constant cysts, endometrosis and no pcs I feel so alone about this and no one seems to understand.. I feel so depressed about it. How did you find the dr that helped you?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hi, i was also diagnosed with pcs in 2009 after suffering since i was 17. i am now 35. basically i have been told there is nothing that can be done. they cant guarantee that surgery will work and no medication has worked. just have to try and live with it which really isnt fun
Helpful - 0
3940465 tn?1348691627
Hello ladies,
I have had my treatment for pelvic congestion. I am now worse than ever before. I have been hospitalised twice and I cant even carry washing up my stairs for fainting. My children can't even sit on my lap because that gives me chest pains now and makes me want to faint.My case was so severe he didn't need me to stand up when scanning me as I actually was diagnosed in 2002 but no one told me after my first child. So went on to have a further 3 am now crippled as didn't know it was that. My advice would be ask and ask again just because they talk the do (radiologists) doesn't mean he will be able to position the catheter in your femoral vein in you leg to feed the platinum coils around your vein system all the way to the left and continuing to feed several (I lost count at 40)  whilst your awake. Don't take the sedation as then you can tell them they are damaging your nerves in your leg like they have mine. I went with a severe case and came out with a big mother of a case. So just be careful try anything before this please because once you do there is no going back x x x good luck x
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi to you all i have PCS and after i was diagnosed with it i was told "have a baby" that is the best thing to correct, but now i read and pregnancy seems to possibly make it worse, i have a 4 and a half year old already and dont think it is right to just have a baby to fix something. I have anotther appointment on the 6th of Feb 2012 and i am demanding something be done about it it is affecting every par of my life and as alot of u have said sex is verypainful. I havent been given given any pain releif so i was wondering if anyone out there can help me with what i can take in the mean time?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you i will check it out. i have had the symptoms since i was 15 but they just found out it was pcs about 2 months ago i also have polys-cystic ovaries which dose not help the situation out. it seems my best bet is a full hysterectomy but im just so nervous about that.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
check out the FB page pelvic congestion. Lots of ideas on there. Good luck! I'd had pcs since age 26 at least and finally ended with coil embolization and hysterectomy. I had lots of other things going on with my pelvic organs tho...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
im glad this is on here i have not found anyone thant knows what im going through i have pcs and am trying to figure out what by best option is im only 24 but the pain is so intense it affects my whole life i sometimes just dont want to be here anymore and i hate taking pain pills but without them i cant function i dont know what to do every doc ive saw pretty much said to deal with it. I CANT DEAL WITH it..... grr
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
my story started when i was a teen i always would had havey periods n it would make me nauseated n i would vomit n the presure was so bad.then when i was 20 i had my son n the pain just got wrose n i had gone to the ob so many times my folder looks bigger then a encylopedia. i got told so many different things. i was told the pain may be because i had a sexually transmitted desease but i didnt have it. i then thought it was in my head n i didnt tell anyone that i was in pain so i kept it my secret but the pain never went away so i had to go back they tried birthcontrol n nothing helped. then got pregnant while trying the pill when i was 22 i had so many pains wit that pregnancy that i ended up haveing her at 8 months they thought i had a ugr pregnancy. so for a few years after i had my second kid the pain was so bad i wouldnt want to have sex n it was puttin stress on my marriage. i went back to the doctor to get help telling them all my symptoms they tried another birth conrol cus they thought that i had endometrois.i first went and the patch.that didnt work  so they   told me i was young n i could try to revese it by having another child so i opt for that i only had two so y not one more so i thought this was my answer to fix my pain so i tried to get pregnant by this time my 2 older kids were 5 n 3 so for 5 yrs no right answers. i got pregnant n i thought this it going to fix me well i was wrong my pains did not go away they just got wrose n i was so bad after i had my 3rd kid that i couldnt sleep in my bed n i couldnt lay flat n i could move.i had 2 todllers n a new born n i was in so much pain that i had to go back to get help. they put me on the depo shot for 6 months and that didnt help wit the pain. it took them 3 more yrs before they realized that i may need to go another rout. in oct 27 2010 i went to the new ob n they gave me a script to go get a mri n i did  in dec of 2010 i got it done. at this time i was off the depo shot for6 months n i hadnt bleed yet but the next month i stared bleeding n i never stoped i would bleed so bad that i wouldnt bleed for only14 days out the month.  the doctors looked at my mri n seen that i had plevic conjestion syndrom. when they told me that they said there was different ways to treat it. i looked into it n read alot about, it well what there was on it anyway. and seen there was a few different ways to help. now my baby is 4 n i was wrose then ever i was fallin from the pain n i couldnt stand n i had to take pain pills to function. so i saw another ob due to the fact that my other doc wasnt on call this guy answered n i told him my pains n i was in tears at this point i needed someone to help me and he said he could help i asked him if he can take it out i felt like my insides were tearing apart inside n it was buring n i couldnt wear jeans or anything tight. he told me he would help to come in and see him. so i did just that. he did a exam n seen that my cevix was low and in the past i was having abnormal  cells called displaysia on my cevix. so he said they can take out my cevex n uterus leave my ovaries so i dont go through menopause. i did that on april18 2011. my recovery is still ongoing its been 8 weeks since i hady sugeryi had some infections after my sugery though.i still have faint pain but no where near the pain i was in. i get up n function better now. the hysterectomy worked i dont have pain wit sex i did it for the fisrt time a few nights ago it it felt good no pain. some dissconfurt still but i can deal with it. i m still healing so i hope in a few more weeks i can be better then i m now.

Helpful - 0
1639236 tn?1300495817
I understand what you are going threw. I just found out i had it three days ago after being in pain for  years theY found mines out threw ultra sound. I am still waiting on to see what my options are it affecting everything from my belly button down. I am a stylist I stand all day and its getting harder and harder. Back pains leg pains bladder problems, its hurting me sexually it hurts. So if you find out more can you email me ***@**** and if I find out more I could let you no I understand how you feel
vercell
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,
Wow, glad I found you all and reading your stories has been supportive.I got the PCS diagnosis this week and had never heard of it, neither had my doctor. I have not had children, 57 yrs old, "DES daughter" (lots of moms took this drug DES espec. in the 50's); I've always had painful and irregular periods. All kinds of things are flying thru my mind now like whether there is a connection between PCS and  the DES designation. I only had one ovary that ever functioned. I've had pelvic and back pain for 2 years now and no one could figure out what it was; they looked at me like I was crazy, a few suggested therapy for depression.I kept going, trying to find answers rather than live with pain meds. It was a neurologist who ordered the MRI that found the PCS condition. I plan to get a 2nd opinion of course but now I'm relieved and NOW depressed at the same time. Has anyone had relief from weight loss and/or diet change?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was Diagnosed with PCS last week after 10 plus years of symptoms.
My complaints were pain, bleeding, nausea, faintness, fatigue, very enlarged abdomen, And the latest was slow pulse and heart palpitations.  I have been going to my Dr. for years and he told me I had a "bug". So I went to a specialist and my options were at this point, Hysterectomy. That's it! I am 35 and have 3 children and want no more, so it's not a big deal to have one. But I wish all of you the best of luck, and don't just be passified like I was, Go see ten Dr's if you have to.
I have missed out on a lot in the last few years due to not being able to function with the pain, Don't let it happen to you! Good luck and best wishes!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i was diagnosed with pcs in july this year and was so elieved to finally put a name to the pain i have been suffering since my little boy was born. i have three kids ages 9,5,4 and had v bad vv durning the second and third pregnancies. the viens are mainly from the vulva down the back of my left leg. having gone to a vien specialist with preg. 3 he told me he  had never seen such a bad case! the pain i experienced was horrific and sex was completely off the bboks - although occ. i gave on but my husband was in charge of house and kids the whole of the next day! after giving birth though the veins became less prominent and although still there are not as bad.

about a year ago i started getting v bad back pain on my left side esp. when i was menstruating. but i also got severe ovulating pains and ym viens would swell durning both times. i also have nausea when i ovulate - i noted someone else on the forum did.  having had an mri recently i was diagnosed with pcs with prominent varicose viens on my left ovary.

i have been told about the coil procedure and that this would be my best option. my question is whether any of you have had a successful go of the procedure and then went onto have another baby? pregnancy for me is terribly painful but when someone tells me its not such a good idea it make me want to have another!
Helpful - 0
1132657 tn?1260554069
I would assume youre meaning PT  as Physical Therapist...?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
HI,

I may have pcs, what is a PT?

Thank you,

Shaunon
Helpful - 0
1132657 tn?1260554069
I was diagnosed with PCS as previously posted,  BUT  when I had my hysterectomy on Aug 12th,  my doc told me I didnt have it, but had Adenenmyosis.

I was also told that you really cannot see PCS on an MRI/Ultrasound.  They have to visually see it.

I took antidepressants for nothing!!  All my symptoms are now GONE!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
HI Everyone,

My pain started July 16th, 2010. I ran to obgyn who told me my pap was clear and I had infection. A week later I had my period and was extreme pain. On my 36th birthday, August 15th, 2010 I was in the ER with the pain. The Dr. there finally did a CT. I was cleared and sent home. The next day I got call that I had PCS. I was referred to my OBGYN again who told me there was no such thing. I went to my regular for help who said he didnt think it was vascular without seeing the report. I finally did research on my own ask my regular doc to refer to an Interventional Radiologist and he wouldnt do it. I finally had to contact the Radiologist myself and ask to look at my CT and give me his opinion. The man is hero, he called my regular got my referral. I am now just waiting for the Embolism he said would help. If not, I read having a bilateral oopherectemy helps 56% of women with the condition. The past few months have been a nightmare to me. My doctors told me it was stress and would correct itself and put me on antidepressants. I wish they would have known more and had helped in the beginning. In end, I think we have to be our own advocates and find someone who will listen!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i was told 3 years ago when i was pregnant with my second child that i have msk and they left it at that. well just about two months ago i got kidney stones and ever since ive passed the stone my kindneys still hurt and im constantly neaseated again i went for a ct scan and it showed i still have stones in my kidney but they say there is no reason to why i still hurt im having a hard time with the pain and no help from the doctors and everything ive read on msk so far has said nothing to why my kidneys still hurt
Helpful - 0
489228 tn?1291531454
I thought my nausea was related to my MSK and kidney issues never connected it to
PCS.

Glad your doing so much better Jess!  What is up with the kidneys?

Shelly
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i was finally diagnosed with pcs in december after suffering for almost 6 years of doctors telling me i was crazy.my doctor when she finally figured it out because of and ultra sound didnt know a thing about it so i had to do my own research and find my own spcialist which i did and hes awsome.in march i just had to of my upper veins embolized and it has made a significant change i still have to lower ones to be done but i dont know if i need it as of yet since there has been such a change and yes i did have nausea and the constipation and it was doing a lot better until my recent kidney problems i wish u the best of luck
Helpful - 0
1132657 tn?1260554069
I have been diagnosed with PCS and scheduled to do a hystorctomy next month.  I am trying to get a 2nd opinion before I do.

My main complaint is: NAUSEA!   I do have pain in the groin but not as bad as most people do.

May '09 I had my gall bladder removed because of the nausea and showed it wasnt working anyway.

I have been nautious ever since.  I seem to connect nausea and periods.  I am alway sick, and constipated right before I start.

Does any have NAUSEA with PCS?
Helpful - 0
489228 tn?1291531454
Well for me the only time one popped, my husband that I am now separated from jammed the breaks on HARD, several times to get the attention of the kids. This resulted in a lot of pain and 3 weeks of constant bleeding for me.  I would assume if the veins are so filled with blood that they can not handle it they will pop too.  I would imagine you would be a good candidate for a hysterectomy, with embolization.  My understanding is getting a hysterectomy does not always take care of the pain issues, unless the veins going into the uterus are treated at the same time.

What has everyone else heard or experience on this?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am 24 I have two kids. I've been going through 3 and a half years of bleeding for months at a time up to 6 months be exact. I had laproscopic surgery and found out I had a bad case of congestive pelvic sydrome. I can't take the pain and havnt found a good treatmen. I've felt a pop were most my pain has been and it started burning the pain was so bad it had me screaming and made me fall out in the floor. Would that mean a swollen vessel popped? I'm sao confused n need help.
Helpful - 0
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