I have had a constant niggling pain in my lower left abdomen/pelvis for about 7 months. I didn't think anything of it as the pain has been quite mild. Recently the pain has changed/worsened, it has become intermittent and changed from a slight discomfort/ache to a sharp stabbing/throbbing pain. I have the pain several times a day most days and sometimes it radiates down my thigh. It only lasts a few seconds at a time.
I have been very tired for at least the last year, some evenings I struggle to stay awake after 6.00 pm. My bowel habits alternate between normal, constipated and loose (latter becoming more frequent). I have multiple wee trips, but may not be excessive. I put tiredness and change in bowel habits down to stress of starting a new job (although I did experience some of this prior to starting new job). Last year I had a strange bout of flat poo which lasted for a couple of weeks, it went away and came back the odd time, but think that has gone now.
I went to see my GP this week. He said he didn't think there was anything serious going on. Couldn't feel anything in my abdomen, ruled out a hernia and said the locality of my pain seemed a little low for it to be the ovary.
He said given the longevity of my pain and my tiredness that it needed to be investigated further. He was going to refer me for a scan but I have had to delay this for 3 months due to me working away.
He also told me to book a blood test and arrange an appointment for a pelvic examination next week.
GP didn't mention cancer, said he couldn't feel anything and likely that it wasn't anything serious. Assume he is following guidelines with regard to tests etc.?
I am 58 and post menopausal.
Hoping that someone on here will have experienced something similar and be able to offer a possible explanation. I am a little worried/concerned, but not unduly so as GP said likely to be nothing. Also I don't think I have any bloating or abdomen extension (although hard to tell).
Thanks in advance to anyone that can help.
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Pippycat89
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Thanks for your reply and advice Laura. I would normally have said yes to the scan, but I am currently working away from home in another country. I have resigned, but have to work three months notice. I fitted my GP visit in whilst back home on annual leave.
I will have the scan (if necessary), it will just be delayed. In the meantime, I will be having a blood test and pelvic exam - if anything shows up I may be able to negotiate a reduction in my notice period so that I can return home for a scan.
Hi there you need a ct or mri scan or TVS scan to find out what was going on.my symptoms were the same .without going into detail a ca125 blood test was also done and after many tests and scans it turned out to be a 5.5 cm fibroma they are non malignant .i have refused to have it surgically removed unless it starts to get really painful .they can’t be 100 percent on diagnosis until it’s removed .so please get it checked out ASAP.i am 72
Please listen to your GP your symptoms do need to be investigated further and try and get this done ASAP as your health is important.
Changes in bowel habits, extreme tiredness , needing to wee more and abdominal pain are all symptoms that we are told to look out for. Keep a symptoms diary as this can help the GP.
Although it is unlikely you have OC it does need to be ruled out so you will need a CA125 blood test and an ultrasound and /or CT scan.
Please put your health first it sounds like you have been in pain for some time and as Laura says go A&E if it gets worse.
This could be a number of things. Have a CA125 test,labs done. I was so tired I could fall asleep standing,I was physically exhausted. I couldn't walk a 100 feet without stopping. I never had pelvic pain, I was swollen but dropping weight. I could sleep 12 hrs and wake up exhausted. Best of luck Liz
I did read somewhere that part of the problem with diagnosing ovarian cancer early, is that there are four main symptoms listed, but many don't realise that you don't actually have to have ALL of them. Like yourself - no pelvic pain.
I don't think I am bloated and haven't lost weight, so tending to think it is likely to be something else. Like you said, it can be a number of things.
I have a blood test booked for next week. My mum died of ureter cancer 3 years ago. By the time she was diagnosed she was advanced stage four and too poorly for treatment. She died 3 months after she was diagnosed.
Mum had numerous visits to the GP but all her symptoms were dismissed as something else. The advice of everyone on here is sound, to get it checked. Better to check and find it's 'nothing'.
I know if I were giving my mum advice, I would be telling her to get the tests done.
Hi pippy, hopefully your blood test is soon, so as to she'd some light, make sure they test your ca125 levels. My symptoms were identical to yours. But I had fibroids and endometriosis, as well as endometriod ovarian cancer. I also had weight loss. My gp told me I had 'physical grief' as I'd just lost my mum and the a and e dept told me I had ibs and a ball of gas in my stomach...no wonder we don't get diagnosed in time
Five months later a female gp sent me for a ca125 test. That's what led to me being sent for a scan. Good luck and I hope you get a good outcome.
Could it be ovarian cancer? Yes, absolutely it could - if you have any money saved and can afford to, I'd pay for a CT scan to be done asap, without waiting to return home, just to make sure its not OC. I was told not to worry by the Senior Gynaecological Consultant who gave me an internal and external pelvic examination but concluded there was nothing 'sinister' going on because my CA125 blood test was 'only' 91. I was booked for an ultrasound scan for six weeks later, which I attended, and ten minutes after the ultrasound scan, they gave me an unscheduled CT scan, because they could see what looked like a tumour on the pelvic wall. Following biopsies a week later, I was diagnosed with OC and was already Stage 4b... and I wasn't swollen at all. So much for 'nothing sinister going on'... fingers crossed for you its not that.
I can only echo the others. My symptoms were very similar to yours and my CA 125 was only 8. My gp dismissed my concerns but I went to a gynecologist who ordered a transvaginal ultrasound and found a 7.5 cm mass. I’m stage 3b. Don’t fool around with this!
Thanks to everyone for comments and replies. I can see it's best to get things checked sooner rather than later - even if it turns out to be nothing.
It is easy to dismiss symptoms as they are often quite mild and can be explained by other things going on in your life. I guess the thing is the constancy and persistency of symptoms - they don't go away and gradually get worse. You do think you are imagining it sometimes.
Hi again pippy, my symptons didn't stop me working, right up to the day of my blood test. I got the gp call re the blood test results on the way home from work. However a year later I am sitting on a beach right now and feel great.
I don’t mean to alarm you but you need to get this resolved now! I had something similar. I started with being tired. I too thought it was job related stress. I saw my GP and she ordered bloodwork. She told me my vitamin D was a little low. I then started getting the mild pain near my left ovary. I then called my OB/GYN who told me it may be a gastrointestinal problem without examining me. I waited two weeks and when things did not change I requested a second transvaginal scan since we were watching my ovaries due to a BRACA positive after a precancer of my breasts. It turned out to be ovarian cancer stage 3c. You have to be your own advocate when it comes to your health. I saw four specialists to ask if I needed to remove my ovaries after I had a prophylactic mastectomy and they all said no. You need a CA125 and a CT scan. Hopefully your GP is right but my experience has been that if you feel something it is because your body is speaking to you. You can’t accept not knowing for sure even if it is a pulled muscle. Please prioritize your health. You can always get another job but you only have one life. Don’t take that lightly. I hope everything turns out fine but you need to know. God Bless!
Thank you for all the advice and info, it doesn't alarm me - I feel quite realstic and grounded...at the moment. I nursed my mum 24/7 for the last three months of her life so at least have some experience (albeit not the nicest).
Funny you should say you need to find out, even it's just a pulled muscle. My mum saw two GPs for severe long standing pain and a myriad of other symptoms, they both said she had pulled a muscle. That was about 4 months before she died of cancer. The third GP actually listened to her and sent her for tests, but it was too late.
I have to phone tomorrow morning to see if I can get an appointment for a pelvic exam. If I manage to get in, I will discuss blood tests and scan then.
I really appreciate people sharing their stories and journeys on here, it is an invaluable help to someone like myself. I am sure many have you have endured some awful and very worrying times. It's not something you would wish on anyone.
I think the right step is for your GP to order a scan. Then go from there. It could be absolutely nothing. Always good to check. When I was 58, I had no pain but a huge bloating. I looked 9 months pregnant. Even after losing 10 lbs. at the time I was taking care of my dad who was rehabbing from foot surgery. I was also working full time in a stressful job. I neglected myself for 3 mos. there were about 3 weeks of feverish chills in the evening. Flu like. I was so incredibly stupid for not having gone to my dr right then and there. Long story short I have ovarian cancer stage 3. I beat myself up a lot saying I should have gone to dr so much sooner. It happened. Nothing I can do about it except to keep fighting forward. I am doing well (knock on wood). I hate it when people lecture me but if you are coming to this group looking for an honest answer then put work secondary. It will be there when you get back. It could be absolutely nothing but go get a baseline. Also ask for the CA 125 which should be an automatic test but hasn’t happened yet as protocol.
You weren't stupid for not going to GP sooner, you had a lot going on and you probably thought all your symptoms were related to that.
Awareness of ovarian cancer is increasing, but not enough women know about it still. That's why we come here for answers from people who know. You get better answers on here than you do from your GP.
You are 💯 correct. I joined this site when I recurred looking for answers, comfort and hope. I found it here. When I was given the bad news the PA was more visibly nervous than I was.
You posed a question and now you just gave the best answer. We need more awareness on this disease.
I was diagnosed with Stage IV uterine cancer 2-1/2 years ago. I never really had a lot of pain. It was more like a gurgling sensation. Unfortunately, when I finally went to a dr., the cancer was the worst type of uterine cancer and it had spread to my omentum. My oncologist has kept me going thus far. Request a CT scan and a CA-125 blood test. The results of those tests are what finally had my dr. Refer me to an oncologist. Don’t wait any longer. I wish you the best.
I second all that have responded to you .work is secondary .it may be nothing at all to worry about so don’t go googling everyone is different but you must get it checked out now not in 3 months .doctors cannot tell you anything only scans will pick up a problem.in answer to could it be cancer ,nobody will know except gynaecologist so the worst bit is waiting for all results to come in.i won’t say don’t worry because it’s obvious you will.please let us know how you get on .i worried my self sick and was told it could be over Ian cancer months of scans all indeterminate.then asked for a second opinion which I got.i am probably sitting on a time bomb but at least I am aware of it and can make choices.hoping all goes well for you and look forward to hearing from you
I would go for an ultrasound asap! I wouldn’t delay. It may be nothing sinister but it’s better to get checked. An ultrasound is quick, easy and fairly cheap. You could then get a CT when you’ve more time.
Thank you to everyone that has responded on here, you have all been absolutley amazing.
I have just come back from seeing the GP and I know you guys are not going to be happy. I had a quick pelvic examination and was told that everything seemed to be OK. The only comment was that my vaginal walls were very tight (common after menopause) and this could lead to a prolapse (I have had a stange whooshing feeling in my pubic area). There was no evidence of prolapse today. I have been prescribed a topical oestrogen for a 3 month trial.
I asked if the oestrogen would sort out my pelvic pain and was told 'probably not' and that it's likely to be unrelated. Told that I would need a scan to check my ovaries, but that they cannot now refer me for 3 months (not sure why and I didn't ask). I explained about having to leave the country to work 3 months notice and was told that didn't matter as there doesn't seem to be anything wrong. I have been advised to arrange a scan when I come back to the UK, they said I might not need it then anyway as the pain might go away in the meantime.
I also had a swab taken as I mentioned that I have had very slight discharge over the last year, this however has been very,very minimal and I put it down to the tail end of the menopause.
I also asked what the blood test was for and was told, "It's just a general blood test checking thyroid etc." Again I didn't ask if they were checking CA125 and if I am honest, I didn't have the confidence to ask them for it. I just assumed they would check CA125 if they suspected ovarian cancer - which they obviously don't.
My partner is advising me to get a private scan and CA125 blood test done now rather than wait. Admittedly I feel a bit of a fraud going to the GP when the only obvious symptoms I have are longstanding intermittent (mild) pelvic pain and tiredness. Possibly some bowel/urinary changes (but not absolutley sure on this). On the otherhand, I feel a bit like my mum who was told she had pulled a muscle when in fact she had advanced stage 4 cancer. GP seemed to focus on a potential prolapse and scant discharge when my primary complaint/concern is pelvic pain and tiredness/fatigue.
Hello Lorraine, I agree 100% with your partner about following up privately (and quickly). Otherwise you will just keep worrying - when, hopefully, you have nothing to worry about!
It took my wife Suzanne several visits to the GP over 3 months before she was referred for a CA125 blood test and trans-vaginal scan, resulting in her OC diagnosis. She came back from the first visit to the GP saying she had indigestion and I can remember as clearly as anything saying "Thank God, I thought it might be ovarian cancer".
In retrospect, I wish we had gone private and moved things along quickly. At the time we even had private medical insurance, so heaven knows why the GP didn't suggest the scan and blood test first time round.
Good luck with your decision and wishing you the best possible outcome.
We have taken your advice WoodyB (and that of many others on here) and have booked a private consult, scan and blood test. Hopefully we will have results before leaving the UK next weekend. Whatever the result, the information will be useful for anyone that comes on here looking for advice and support.
Glad to hear that, Lorraine. Hopefully you will get good results and can stop worrying. If the results are not what you're hoping for, then at least you will get sorted quickly which will give you the best possible outcome. Good luck and let's hope it's nothing x
Thank goodness you have made the right decision! I was treated for IBS and by the time I found out that in actual fact I had OC I was stage four. 3 months is a long wait in a situation such as this. I really hope all is well and your mind is put at ease
but if not remember we are all here to support you and exchange ideas. I will be thinking of you and hope that your next post will be good news.
An update for anyone that might be interested and a way of saying thank you to everyone that reponded to my post.
I have now had an abdominal and TV ultrasound and CA125 and HE4 bloodtest (private medical company) - the great news is that everything appears to be normal. My CA125 was 17 and stated as low risk. I still have the pain (which was a little worse today), perhaps it will just go away with time.
I have an NHS blood test tomorrow, not sure what they are checking but it might show something. If my pain persists/worsens, I will return to the GP when I come back to the UK and ask for a scan. Think the NHS scan will be more general rather than just gynaecological.
I can stop worrying for now and glad that I followed the advice given on here. You have all been amazing and very supportive.
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