Shooting pain through vagina and anus

[johil72]

Wow. I read all of this thread and am really suprised that there is no answer from a medical person. My problem is similar.

About 8 years ago, I began having these horrible shooting pains from my lower abdomen down through the vaginal area and up through the anal area (feels like really painful constipation but all the way around my lower abdomen area). This only happened to me at the end of my period. I should mention I have been on birth control pills since 1994 (Ortho-Lo). I was complaining to a friend about my problem and told her that it only happens at the end of my period. Let me tell you, those two days following my period when I have this HORRIFIC pain, I cannot even get up and walk around the house, I have to sit on a heating pad to numb my lower abdominal/butt area. The pain makes me dizzy and I just feel intense pressure/shooting pains in the entire lower abd/vag/anal area. Anyway, my friend, who was a dancer/gymnast suggested that I talk to my OBGYN about taking the birth control pills straight through and skipping the placebo pills--get it? Just starting a new pack on the Sunday in which the placebo pills should start, therefore, skipping my period all-together. I tried it and it worked, no period-no pain (for me anyways). Last year when I went for my yearly, my OB and I talked about this pain associated with my period. Other than scheduling a vaginal ultrasound, he pretty much blew me off. Well, I had the vaginal ultrasound--they were looking for endometriosis--and found nothing. Since he said that taking the pill straight through worked and I was on a "lo" form of the pill that we'd keep doing that. I am 36 and do not want children so I am fine with being on the pill. But am I going to have to be on it forever?

I find it really interesting in many of the posts on this thread that the women who suffer from the same pain, many seem to get it around their period time as well. Mine comes specifically at the end. But just NOT having a period and taking the BC year-round has saved me. I know many people may not want to take the pill every daybut that's what worked for me and I just wanted to share that. You HAVE to get permission from your OB to do so, b/c he has to write a year-round BC prescription, which according to a friend of mine who is a pharmacist, is a lot more common than you'd think.

Best of luck to us all in finding peace with our bodies.

[GlowMommy]

I just wanted to add that I too have experienced all of these symptoms & continue to
It all began in 1999 -
so for 10 YEARS I have been a victim to this pain

The first symptoms were the Sharp Stabbing burning pain in my right side (sometimes in my left side)
Then months later I started experiencing the pain in my Vagina & sometimes my Anus - it was the SAME identical pain I I felt in my sides also another symptom I would experience is Frequent Urinary Tract Infections (UTI's) I remember one year in particular that I got 9 UTI's on top of experiencing this Excruciating CHRONIC PAIN !!
I thought I was going to loose my mind

At first the pain was unbearable - I thought I was dying - so I did what most of you have done - I sought after medical help
I thought I was getting somewhere - The Dr. ordered to have an Endoscopy done- well the test results showed I did have ulcers (which I believe was a misdiagnosis cause NOW I get told that I DONT have ulcers & never did ) so WHY I would be having the same pain in my Vagina - needless to say my Insurance cancelled on me due to the Dr.'s ERROR and I went for years with out insurance & without hope

Now girls most of you are talking about PID's well get this - I learned the hard way that PID is code for " They dont know Sh*t"
Every time I went to the ER I was diagnosed as having a PID for YEARS and the Medications they would give me would ONLY make the PAIN WORSE - so I KNEW that it couldn't be a PID !!!!!
I finally started asking more questions & demanding information and found out that a PID is what ER doctors will diagnose a Female who has an UNIDENTIFIED female problem or illness - one ER doctor smarted off to me and told me that it wasn't his fault that I dont have Insurance and that he can only GUESS that its a PID & treat me for that because that is ALL he is equiped to do

So after seeing tons of ER doctors & physicians I had to pay hard earned CASH for who ran countless of Ultra-sounds , xrays , cathaders, miscellanious tests ( so many I cant remember them all)
NONE of them found anything - other than the closest I got to a diagnosis was ONE doctor who took me seriously told me he thought I had
Interstitial Cystitis - but I still have not received a proper diagnosis
and not all the symptoms match but most of them do


So for the last 6 years I have given up - I have just LIVED with the pain - I have grown into adapting a HIGH tolerance for it and learned tricks to deal with
Actually during my entire Pregnancy 3 years ago - I didn't experience ANY pain until after my daughter was born - then it returned - so I lived 9 months pain free - so That alone lets me know that SOMETHING can be done to eventually make it stop - but NO I'm not going to get pregnant & have another kid just to relieve the pain - LOL


Recently however I started experiencing a Different kind of symptom - I started having attacks that felt like my stomach was going to explode - I then learned that this was severe gas - or I was TOLD that that was all it was - turns out months later - I get ANOTHER ultra-sound and it seems my Gallbladder was completely diseased and full of gallstones - my Surgeon believed that this was the Culprit of my Chronic Pain all of these years - but after the Gallbladder has been removed I was NOT surprised to STILL be experiencing the PAIN and NOW its became STRONGER than ever - So now I have to go back to see my surgeon and start all over from scratch
So Now I'm back in the FIGHT to figuring this out
Still dont have insurance but I'm about to get it soon


NO this is NOT PERIOD related but being on your cycle can aggrivate it NO its NOT just GAS - GAS is a symptom - as well as frequent urination that accompany this PAIN
NO it is not just in ONE location - it can Move from the right side to the left side and to the Vagina & Anus - but for me it dominates in my Right side as I have met several women with this same complaint - this usually happens after you have had it for YEARS - as I have
NO you are not alone - as you can see tons of us have this


Now here are my Theories
1. its Gastro-intestinal & Vaginally related
2. Its MORE than one Illness/ Ailment  combined
3. Its possibly caused or atleast WORSENED by processed foods, especially Carbonated sodas - also Avoid coffee
I experience the WORST pain & the MOST Flares of pain whenever I slip up & drink a sodas - so DONT drink sodas & you will notice a huge decrease in the flairs - Try going a Year with only drinking Water and you will also notice a HUGE decrease in Flairs
4. Kegel excercises do help a great deal - I experience less flairs
5. Do not lay down while eating , seems to aggrivate it more
6. The more sleep you get the less it seems to happen
7. Dr's dont know Sh*t - so dont let them treat you like its all in your head - keep fighting for a Diagnosis - together - we will eventually figure this out - Dont give up like I did in the past
8. The less I THINK about it - the Less it seems to happen - I believe in mind over matter and that we have the ability as humans to heal ourselves especially when Doctors aren't even coming close to even helping us or even caring - I believe I will be Pain free one day

[Js_pain]

I have had these same pains in my abdomen and rectum since I was 14 years old. My doctors put me through all types of embarassing and painful procedures for 2 years to try and find the reason and after all of it my doctor told me I have Irratable bowel syndrome, which I believe is code for (I have no clue whats wrong with your butt, literally speaking). I am now 28 and experience the pain approximately twice a month, it is brought on by orgasm from sex or erotic dreams and also after I have a bowel movement. No other women in my family have had this particular problem, but we all do experience cysts on our ovaries. I only had the pain once during pregnancy. It was a nice break. The pain feels like it is in my rectum and spreads throughout my lower abdomen, up my spine and down my legs. I have often vomited and passed out from the intensity of the throbbing ache. Of course no medicine could work by the time it is over, I have a small dull ache for awhile but after about an hour I am completely recovered. I avoid sex and bowel movements for about a day or two because it will reoccur with further activity. I will be discussing the idea of Proctalgia Fugax with a doctor soon although they say there is no cure, it will be nice for us to have something to call this thing. Thank you to all of you women who had the guts to come write out something so personal. Maybe we all can sleep a little better soon when one of us has a real answer that we can share with our new friends.