Lower pelvic pain

[Lynnly]

For about the past year or so I have been experiencing pain in my lower pelvis, kind of where my uterus is. The pain is very very sharp and stabbing and usually occurs when I need to have a bowel movement.  Because it is in my uterus area I am scared that it may keep me from getting pregnant since I have been trying.  3 years ago I also had my right ovary removed due to a very large tumor that was growing in it. I don't know if any of this is the cause, but you never know. I recently found out that my hormone levels are extremely low since I only have one ovary now.  My estrogen and progesterone levels are low, all other hormones are normal.  I have seen two primary care physicians, a gastroentimologist, and my gynocologist, they have all come up with different answers from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, to Stress, to scar tissue irritation. Nothing the doctors have done or given me has helped at all. I am at a loss, tired of being in pain and scared.  Does anyone have any clue what might be going on with me?????

[Lynnly]

My gyno advised against the laproscopy because she truely believes that it is scar tissue and she doesn't want to cause more scaring and hence more pain.  She suggested going to have a special test done where they inject dye directly into the female organs to check and make sure my remaining falopian tube is open and to see if there was any kind of damage done to the uterus while I was carrying around that huge 20 pound tumor that was removed. I would love to have this done but with the insurance issue and my husbands chest pain, I think he is more important right now.

[geminigirl1963]

It still could be scar tissue because scar tissue does not necessarily always occur or stay directly where the surgery or injury was, especially if it has involved any of the internal organs (or caused things to be "moved" out of thier normal position).  Has your gyno suggested doing a laprascope to see if he/she can determine for sure if it is scar tissue.  While it's true that this is anotehr "surgery", it's definitely less invasive than "regular" surgery and could show exactly what the problem is and where.

If you're having only pain and no constipation or diarrhea along with it, chances of IBS (In my opinion) are as you said, a bit of BS.  While IBS can definitely cause pain, there are usually other symptoms that go along with it.

[Lynnly]

I have had several ultra sounds, pelvic x-rays, a CT scan, multiple blood tests, I have seen a gastro, and a gyno.  The gastro said IBS, which I think is BS, and the gyno said scar tissue, which i'm not sure about, cause the pain is lower than where i had surgery.

[geminigirl1963]

What tests, if any, other than bloodwork, have you had done?  Any scans?  Xrays?  Ultrasounds?  My first inclination, based on your past history of the tumor (I'm presuming it was a fibroid and nothing that was cancerous?) and surgery, would be to think adhesions (scar tissue).  Adhesions can occur any time there has been injury or surgery and can sometimes really block things up.  Since you say the pain is worse when you need to have a bowel movement, I'm thinking that if it is adhesions, they could be at least partially blocking your intestines/colon or at least keeping it from working 100% properly.

I would suggest the first step would be to request to have, at the very minimun, an ultrasound to check for possible cysts, tumors, etc. and then perhaps either a CT or MRI - preferably with contrast.  Your primary care physician shoudl probably be able to order these tests for you and then send you to either the gastro or gyno doc, depending on the results.

I hope you start feeling better soon!