Mysterious pelvic pain without diagnosis

[pianoteacher]

I am 35 years old, and have been dealing with pelvic pain for over 5 years.  Initially, my PPO blew it off as irritable bowels....ran no tests, whatsoever, though.  Finally, after repeated complaints, referred me to my gynecologist.  My gyn was absolutely convinced that it was endometriosis.  He performed laproscopy and found nothing but an ovarian cyst, which he drained.  That was is Jan, 2001.  Problems have continued.  Pain is in the center of my lower abdomen, is there pretty much all the time, but worsens as I near menstruation (and sometimes at the time of ovulation).  Bowel movements are extremely painful, and I will tend to become constipated as I near menstruation as well.  Intercourse is also painful, and will sometimes leave me in so much pain the next day that it's difficult to even walk.  Tampons are not an option anymore, because they are so painful.  Menstrual cramps are so painful that it sometimes frightens my husband.  I do urinate more frequently than anyone else in my family, but I was never concerned about that until I began digging around trying to get answers about this pain.  I've had pelvic ultrasounds, transvaginal sonograms, and a colonoscopy, as well as several blood tests (couldn't tell you what they were at this point).  So far, everything comes back normal,except for a little bit of fluid in my abdomen.  I do have a retroverted uterus, but the doc doesn't seem to think that is causing all of this.  I don't know where to turn next on this.  Is it my bladder? My uterus? My small intestine? Or maybe something totally different?  Please Help!!

[Pum]

Have you had any surgury.  If so it could be adhesions.  It sounds like endometriosis but sometimes pelvic pain is unexplained. Are you on the pill? that might help.

Good luck.

[pianoteacher]

The only surgery I've ever had is the laproscopy, which was done in an attempt to find the cause of the pain.  I am not on the pill.  I took it for a few months when we were first married, in 1993.  The side effects caused me to quit taking it (weight gain & abdominal cramping).  I was on Depo-Provera for a year and a half (1997-early 1999).  No other birth control since then.

[Jakataer]

Pianoteacher, when you find out what's wrong with you, I would like to know myself because I just posted a comment almost the same.  I should have strolled through.  I am suffering from nausea, general ill feeling, pain during and after sex (it got so bad one time I was in bed groaning and moaning.  No matter which way I laid in bed, I was still in pain.  The only thing that helped me was to soak in a hot tub of water.  I had sex the next day, and I cramped like crazy), I have excruciating back pain (really bad when I'm sitting), my periods are painful and my back is really on fire then, I have a sharp throbbing pain in my bladder area.  They found fluid in my cul-de-sac, and I have a retroverted uterus, too.  Yet the doctor said what may have happened was that I had a cyst that burst, and that's why I had that fluid.  Other than that, she says I'm completely fine.  Well I'm not fine!  I feel like **** 90% of the time.  My pains occur mostly on my left side.  It's stressful feeling this way, and the doctors tell you that you're fine.

[2miserable]

OKAY, BOTH OF YOU LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS!! I TOO HAVE PELVIC PAIN, FLUID, AND A RETROVERTED UTERUS. I AM GOING FOR THE TRANSVAGINAL ULTRASOUND TOMORROW..I HOPE THEY FINALLY FIND THE PROBLEM!

[pianoteacher]

Guess it took me a while to check back on this.  Sorry.  I have no new information, though.  I'm supposed to go for a follow-up to the GI doc in a couple of weeks.  I'm guessing they'll say they can't help me since there's nothing wrong with my colon.  Will post again when I know more.

[Piano3play]

The fact that so many of us have these symptoms shocks me and frightens me.  I am only 20 years old and ever since March have had noticeable throbs of pain in my uterus and ovaries.  This pain is never constant, instead it comes and goes.  For a while I wasn't having my period and so I attributed it to that.  But once I did have my period, after six months mind you, the pains still continued.  I'm treating another problem in my stomach and thus my doctor and I haven't given much focus to this problem.  I would be interested to know what pianoteacher finds out also, for maybe it will give me something to look for.

[cllamonica]

I am currently suffering from pelvic pain as well, and I had a pelviscopy on last week. My doctor said that I should be better in 3 to 4 days, and if he couldn't find anythig during the proceedure, we would have to look at pain management. Of, course he didn't find anything and I am still in to much pain to return to work. Has anyone been able to get an update on their condidtion? Please help!  

[paininthers]

Add another case of pelvic pain, retroverted uterus, and being rubbished by doctors to the list.  I had a laparoscopy two years ago and had deep endometriosis removed from sacro-iliac ligaments and ovary.  Gyn then discharged me with no follow up, saying the problem was sorted.  Since then the pain has got unbelivably worse, and some days I can barely walk.  I also cannot urinate properly and now have to sef-catheterise daily or I get infections.  Last year spent a week in hospital with urinary retention.  From being super fit and a regular at the gym, I am now very weak in the hips, abdomen and legs, and nothing I do strengthens them.  Gyn only wants to see me if I agree to more surgery, which I will never do.  It only worsened my problems.  Can't tolerate hormones as had bad reaction to them in the past.  Seems I am just another hysterical uninteresting woman groaning about something or other in the opinions of doctors.  So many of us, such similar variations of the same problem.  Are we all just clinically irrelevant?  We are just supposed to carry on like nothing is wrong whilst incapacitated with pain and other issues?  I suppose I'm one of the luckier ones, they found the endometriosis, but it got me nowhere.  Seems I'm all better now, apparently.  Sorry for the rant, just needed to join in on this one.

[UNNOTICED]

I HAVE CONSTANT BLOATING, RLQ PAIN OVER 5 YRS OR MORE, BUT GETTING MORE INTENSE. SENT ER 4 TIMES ? APPENDIX. TESTS ARE NORMAL STILL PAIN CURRENT 24/7, IT MAKES ME FEEL FATIGUE, MY INSIDES FEEL LIKE THEY HARDEN, THROBBING, BURNING SENSATION FROM PELVICE TO LOWER BACK, TO UPPER BACK ALL ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AND NOW STARTING MORE PAIN