Should I Be Worried?

[pianoronni37]

Just to start, I'm going to let you know that this is going to contain a LOT of "TMI" moments!!

Okay, back when I was 12 years old (I'm now 26) I was having extremely painful periods. I passed out. My OB/GYN put me on birth control - this helped, and also helped my migraines (yes, I also have migraines).

About 5 years ago I was put on a continuous birth control - I don't get a period at all. I was starting to have breakthrough bleeding and stuff like that, so he put me on the continuous. That helped!

About 4 years ago I started getting horrible stomach cramps. I went to a gastroenterologist and got a colonoscopy. Fun. Nothing showed up. I have lower left abdominal pain. He told me it might be gynecological, although it seemed to connect with diarrhea/constipation. He also said I have IBS.

About a year ago I got a kidney infection. Ever since then I haven't felt quite "right." I've been having horrible stomach cramps through to my back (it seems to pertain to bowel habits, but I'm not sure). My OB/GYN did an internal and external ultrasound and nothing showed. I was put on a different birth control, and I felt much better. I started bleeding heavily while taking this, and my OB/GYN said this sometimes happens when one is on the pill continuously. Then, that birth control was discontinued. This was about 2 weeks ago.

My OB/GYN put me on another birth control due to this one being discontinued. I've been on it about 2 1/2 weeks and have had HORRIBLE cramping from my stomach through to my back.

I look up what this could be, and it says 3 main things:

Endometriosis
Pregnancy
Ovarian Cancer

Would Endometriosis or Ovarian Cancer have shown up on an ultrasound within the past year? I doubt I'm pregnant, as I've been on BC for 15 years and it just doesn't seem like this pain would have lasted a year off and on... lol... I know biology well enough to know that!!

Basically the pain comes in waves - it starts in my lower left side and radiates through to my back. It feels as though I'm pregnant, like I have to push something out (yuck, I know!) but nothing is happening.

I also have a gallbladder with a low ejection rate and I also have a fatty liver (awesome). Also I've been extremely dizzy since about 16 years old, had an MRI - showed nothing... still dizzy, went to ENT and had an EEG and nothing... not really dizzy but "heavy-headed" and tingling/shaky arms and legs... they said it might be BPPV but no real diagnosis with that. But I suppose that's a whole different thread... lol

I'm worried about Endometriosis or Ovarian Cancer... should I be?? Or is this just a hormonal change due to the change in BC pills? My mom has breast cancer, but other than that absolutely zero cancer has been in my family... and my mom's was caused by Vitamin D deficiency and it has been determined it's non-genetic (through her oncologist).

I know this isn't quite the forum to ask on, but I don't belong to any others and I feel most comfortable with Disney folk.

 

[Libbyt]

I'm definitely NOT an expert, but I've had several friends who have had endometriosis, and I'm thinking they've had to have specialized testing (like maybe a something-oscopy, thru the belly button) to determine if that's what it is. I think the problem with it is that it's not actually IN your organs, which they could determine more easily, but in the connecting tissues between everything in your abdomen. I would check and see if you can find an OB-GYN in your area who specializes in treatment of endometriosis, maybe even go to or ask for a referral to a teaching hospital near you. Ask your women friends - it's probably like a lot of things, you don't know other people who have experienced a particular thing until you ask about it.

Good luck! My dd is dealing with a mysterious ailment so we've been going through a similar experience and it is stressful.

 

[honugirl]

Just to start, I'm going to let you know that this is going to contain a LOT of "TMI" moments!!

Okay, back when I was 12 years old (I'm now 26) I was having extremely painful periods. I passed out. My OB/GYN put me on birth control - this helped, and also helped my migraines (yes, I also have migraines).

About 5 years ago I was put on a continuous birth control - I don't get a period at all. I was starting to have breakthrough bleeding and stuff like that, so he put me on the continuous. That helped!

About 4 years ago I started getting horrible stomach cramps. I went to a gastroenterologist and got a colonoscopy. Fun. Nothing showed up. I have lower left abdominal pain. He told me it might be gynecological, although it seemed to connect with diarrhea/constipation. He also said I have IBS.

About a year ago I got a kidney infection. Ever since then I haven't felt quite "right." I've been having horrible stomach cramps through to my back (it seems to pertain to bowel habits, but I'm not sure). My OB/GYN did an internal and external ultrasound and nothing showed. I was put on a different birth control, and I felt much better. I started bleeding heavily while taking this, and my OB/GYN said this sometimes happens when one is on the pill continuously. Then, that birth control was discontinued. This was about 2 weeks ago.

My OB/GYN put me on another birth control due to this one being discontinued. I've been on it about 2 1/2 weeks and have had HORRIBLE cramping from my stomach through to my back.

I look up what this could be, and it says 3 main things:

Endometriosis
Pregnancy
Ovarian Cancer

Would Endometriosis or Ovarian Cancer have shown up on an ultrasound within the past year? I doubt I'm pregnant, as I've been on BC for 15 years and it just doesn't seem like this pain would have lasted a year off and on... lol... I know biology well enough to know that!!

Basically the pain comes in waves - it starts in my lower left side and radiates through to my back. It feels as though I'm pregnant, like I have to push something out (yuck, I know!) but nothing is happening.

I also have a gallbladder with a low ejection rate and I also have a fatty liver (awesome). Also I've been extremely dizzy since about 16 years old, had an MRI - showed nothing... still dizzy, went to ENT and had an EEG and nothing... not really dizzy but "heavy-headed" and tingling/shaky arms and legs... they said it might be BPPV but no real diagnosis with that. But I suppose that's a whole different thread... lol

I'm worried about Endometriosis or Ovarian Cancer... should I be?? Or is this just a hormonal change due to the change in BC pills? My mom has breast cancer, but other than that absolutely zero cancer has been in my family... and my mom's was caused by Vitamin D deficiency and it has been determined it's non-genetic (through her oncologist).

I know this isn't quite the forum to ask on, but I don't belong to any others and I feel most comfortable with Disney folk.

Have you had your hormone levels tested? Testosterone, Estrogen, Progesterone, etc.

I went through a bunch of that same kind of stuff, turns out my hormones were whacked out due to a problem with my pituitary gland.

I've got the fatty liver, the dizziness, the shaky arms/legs, heavy periods, migraines, told I had IBS, Vitamin deficiencies (mainly vitamin D), and what we call "brain fog".

Probably worth checking out. Also try to get IGF-1, which is somewhat a measure of how much growth hormone the body is producing, and a prolactin, which is the milk producing hormone. Oh, and probably check the thryoid: TSH, T3 and T4. That can contribute to some of those symptoms.

Good luck!

 

[crazed'boutmaryP]

Definitely sounds like it could be endometriosis which can only be diagnosed by a laparoscopy(minor surgery where they make small incisions and can view the pelvic/abdominal organs. Very important to make sure it is done by a reproductive endocrinologist or an OB/Gyn who is very experienced in identifying endo. Please get a second opinion as with your symptoms this should have been recommended. Endo can cause infertility and affect the bladder and bowels but can be treated and managed with certain medications.
Hormonal testing should also be done for your other symptoms.
Good Luck, I know it is very frustrating to live with these symptoms and not know what is going on.

 

[LMC]

I am surprised none of your OB/GYN's have suggested a laporoscopy for endo yet. I had a light case of it 13 years ago. Pain on the left at ovulation and every cycle. the doctor went in and burned it out. No problems until the last few years and I just had a repeat laporo last year. NO endometriosis this time, BUT the ovary had adhered to my abdominal wall with scar tissue. The endometriosis can adhere to your organs and cause all kinds of problems so you need to get it checked soon.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

Sometimes gall bladder symptoms give you gas pains, stomach cramps and back pain- I know mine did until I had it out! I had bad periods too as a teen, but as I got into my 20s they lessened a lot. Would you ever consider getting off BC pills to see if that is the problem?