Sharp pelvic pain

[Paraiso]

Hi, I am new in this community. I have been diagnosed with endometriosis in July 2016 after a laparoscopic procedure. Prior to that I had a ruptured ovarian cyst which led me to rush to A&E because of a sudden sharp and excruciating pain that woke me up from my sleep around 5am. And that ladies, is how my journey with endo started.

After years of trying to get pregnant, my husband and I struggled and finally last year we decided to go through IVF. It is then that I found out my endo is back with endometrioma. The fertility clinic advise me not to deal with it at that time as it will significantly decrease my ovarian reserve even more. Despite that my cycle has failed.

Now more than a year later, I found myself again back in hospital after I have experienced the same pain I had back in 2015. It was a sharp excruciating pain again on my right side. The sonographer initially thought I have an ovarian torsion on the left, which actually wasn’t my main area of complaint. The gynae team had a look at my previous scan to compare and concluded that it might be a severe ovulation pain on my right ovary. Two weeks after I was lucky to have an endo scan performed by one of the endo consultants and confirmed that I have a deep infiltrating endometriosis and was put on the waiting list for another laparoscopy.

My concern now is 3 weeks on, after the A&E saga I am still experiencing sharp pain on my right pelvic area. It does comes and goes, but I do have the pain every single day since then. At times I also feel some tightness/pain on my right ribs. Does any one of you ladies experienced this? Is this still related to endo?

Many thanks for your response.

[HD16]

I am going through something similar at the moment. I spent the other Sunday at the hospital undergoing tests having been in pain on and off for over a week. I have cysts on my ovaries and while they don't seem to have changed/burst something has been causing acute pain. The gynae consultant said it would take another 2-4 weeks for the pain to subside and I should rest so will be getting a sick note tomorrow as even basic tasks like making dinner are sparking pain and exhaustion.I hope your pain improves soon too x

[EndoCoeliac_Woman]

Hi,Funny enough I had a strong pain last night on my left side as well. Usually is internal but quite at the back. But not like ovulation back pain, I can say it's the ovary. Then last night was quite in front and very low (close to the hip bone). Is it the same location as yours? I get random stabbing pain just under the ribs on the right side, and at the back of my left side that irradiates down the leg. But that pain yesterday was unusual. Very very sharp, hurting for few minutes, then gone...

They say it's normal but we know when it's "normal"(intense or chronic) endo pain, and that was very unusual.

[Moonglo]

Hallo! Your story is so familiar to mine, I could have written it myself! The gap between the episodes was 20 years, but I experienced the exact same agonising pain both times: a burst endometrioma; A&E; emergency lap.

If the pain felt the same both times, and if it was a unique type of pain (mine felt like a snap and then a hot, blunt knife plunged into my ovary both times) then you must know it was the same issue. I knew instantly that my endometrioma had burst again (we were monitoring it and ironically I was due a lap to remove it). An endometrioma is a cyst full of blood, associated specifically with endometriosis.

You might not like what I say next. I had 3 failed IVF cycles after that second burst cyst. I had to accept my infertility and after that, decided I never wanted painful periods again so I went on Zoladex, and that was 10 years ago. Although it’s very unusual to have that treatment for so long, it eliminated the periods and excruciating pain, and most importantly, shrunk yet another cyst I had growing.

In your case my gut is telling me you had another burst cyst and you still have the ‘blood’ inside, which may be the cause of your latest pain. You might need to carefully weigh up whether you want to continue the cycle of cysts growing and bursting, or to have a laparoscopy to remove the endometriosis and any other cysts which may formed. This carries a risk to your fertility, but at this stage it’s either that or your physical and mental health.

[Chocolatefanatic]

I have been dealing with right sided pain for a while been worse since my a&e trip in April. I would suspect it is endo related, do your scans show where the endo is? As some of mine is on the ligaments that attach to the uterus and the end is worse on the right side, my right ovary is attached to my uterus and has a cyst. If you can find out where the endo is and if it’s worse on one side may explain why.

[CFin]

Hi Paraiso, you’re having quite an awful time, I’m so sorry! If you still have your appendix, ask your doctor to get it checked out. I had a similar experience, and it lasted for about 5 years! All through that time they investigated it as a gynae issue and never checked my appendix. I was booked and pre-opped to have diagnostic laparoscopy to check for endometriosis, but 5 days before the laparoscopy, my appendix ruptured! I ended up getting sepsis and peritonitis, and now have adhesions from it likely affecting my pelvis. Do get appendix ruled out at least. (CT scan is what found it, not seen by US or MRIs)

[JOSANDY40]

Hello,Yrs I have experienced all the things you mention yrs ago and still. I believe I have experienced everything this disease can do from head to toe!

I had bleeding/ fluid in the lungs every mth from stopping Danol to starting Zoladex! Fluid on the brain, Pancreatitis from longterm use of steriod Danol. Nerve damage, a resection of the bowel, a life saving Operation at 26yrs with stage 4 Endo. 9 operations since. Took Morphine 3 yrs. Zoladex over 10yrs. Have a rigid bowel, have damaged organs, nerve pain, Ulcerative Colitis, heart enzymes change since

Chronic Pancreatitis, Lactose and gluten intolerance since, a problem with histamines since, Mannitol, Mushrooms and Banana issues with breathing and drunk feelings, issues causesd by liver unable to break down certain foods, sugars, Histamines.

I still have Endo, slower, as I am older but still cysts growing, still pain, less stabbing, more issues with bowel emptying, swelling and not being able to pee when I want to as the bowel is backed up/full.

As for specialist most are pretty text book and really have no grasp of the pain or what we go through. We just pretend a normal relationship or job.

We have to be brave, strong and work within our inner strengths to live with Endometriois.

There's no longterm fix. For most a Hysterectomy does little, creating other issues which can be change body functions and damage relationships.

Exceptance is hard but I work within my ability which has taken yrs to combat. That's the key to Endo being part of you, exceptance but it doesn't mean defeat.

My best x