IBS PAIN

[RunningMum11]

Hi, so I have endometriosis on my bowel. Also I have chocolates cysts on my left side alongside a hitched up bowel that’s stuck with adhesions. I was diagnosed with IBS as a result of the endo on my bowel. The Ibs behaves the same way every month. At the end of my period the bad pain begins on my left side and I become constipated. This alleviates after about 10 days. I get about 10 days break and then the whole cycle begins again. I’m also perimenopausal so everything is very reactive to hormones or lack of🤣 Anyine else suffer this way?😊xx

[Linley]

Yes, that sounds like me before the menopause but I didn't have constipation but diahorrea. Very messy and embarrassing at times. Us ladies have been designed with all our bits in the same area which doesn't help when diagnosising our symptoms. I had a diagnostic colonoscopy which was clear but the Gastro said he could not rule out that the adhesions on my ascending colon were causing bowel disturbances. All I can say is you know your own body and if you feel there is something not right go back to your GP. Good luck🍀

[RunningMum11 in reply to Linley]

Awww thank you for replying. I’ve had all this going on for 10yrs😩 My GP is fab and is definitely on the case. It all follows a pattern each cycle and I recognise the pain on the left side. However, It’s just it got increasingly stronger the past 2 months and has made me feel nauseous.

With regards to the working anatomy, us women definitely have got the short straw.

Hope you are well. Xx

[Beanmcg]

Ah the joys. My bladder was fused to the front of my uterus and bowels fused to the back of it. Been a recurring nightmare for 20+ years and still no light at the end of the tunnel. Just an enormous amount of juggling pills, diet, heat pads, laxatives, exercise, water intake, surgeries......blah blah blah. Am sure your monthly management regime is similar. One thing I can say is that about 6 month plus ago I noticed my normal hell seemed to get worse. it then progressed to unbearable. Was fobbed off by a rather unhelpful gp but then insisted something was worse. He said it sounded like it was "just constipation". Funny I have suffered "just constipation" for so long I feel like a professional athlete in the toilet olympics. Anyhoo, moving along, or not in our case....(sorry, I have a terrible sense of humour), I left it a few more days until the pains were so unbearable I was going to break lockdown and do an impromptu face to face. Sent for ultrasound and low and behold it wasn't my normal "just constipation", it was a rather large cyst on my left ovary. Seeing as like you bowel pain is mostly on left side I had put it all down to things getting worse again. Just wanted to share just in case you may be over looking something too. Really hope you get some/any relief and if you find any magic fixes even for mild relief please do share. Think a lot of us suffer bowel issues to some degree. Best of luck and take care of yourself.

[RunningMum11 in reply to Beanmcg]

Bless you thank you so much for your reply. It did make me smile. It’s so important to have a sense of humour.

I too have had endo for 20yrs😩, but the whole bowel/constipation thing for 10yrs. It’s a bloody nightmare and all getting very boring now🤣 Thank the lord for laxido and paracetamol, oh and hot water bottles!! You saying about your cyst being the problem in the end is very interesting. Like I said in my post, I too suffer with cysts and on my left side. My Gp has literally just referred me for a ultrasound to see what is happening there. She keeps a close eye on it all. Have to say she is wonderful. She did mention HRT🥴 as the perimenopaise is most likely playing a part in the change of things. Suddenly I felt very old😂😩🤦🏼‍♀️

Hope you’re ok. Take care. Xx

[MA2627]

Hello, I get extreme left side pain and also constipation. No one can seem to get anywhere with it, I also have endometriosis with my recent lap in feb, but I still get the sharp pains in the left side after my operation! Can I please ask, what are chocolate cysts? I have never been made aware of these before.. are they visible via internal ultrasounds? Sorry for the massive message, this is the first time I’ve seen someone mentioning the left side pain and only so much laxido I can take and pretend it’s normality :(. Thank you in advance xx

[RunningMum11 in reply to MA2627]

Hello😊 so sorry to hear you’re suffering too.

Chocolate cysts are noncancerous, fluid-filled cysts that typically form deep within the ovaries. They get their name from their brown, tar-like appearance, looking something like melted chocolate. They're also called ovarian endometriomas. Basically they are as a result of endometriosis. Yes they can be seen on a ultrasound as I have mine regularly checked this way. I’m guessing if you had them they would have seen during your laparoscopy.

My left side pain gets affected after food when it’s active. Does yours??xx