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Left Sided Pelvic Pain
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chocdeluxe posted:
For the past couple months I have been having sharp stabbing pain on my left side and cramps every single day that have not gone away. It is also tender to touch that area. Activity makes it worse. I never had menstrual cramps before now and I'm 36. I bled very heavily my last period and it was very painful. So painful and heavy that I went to the ER which I have never had to do before. They gave me a urine pregnancy test that came up negative. They gave me an ultrasound and said they only saw follicles on that side and referred me to my OB-GYN. They said they were unable to tell but they thought it could be PCOS. They decided against that diagnosis because I have never had a problem with fertility. I have 7 children ranging in age from 16 to 10 months.

I went to my OB-GYN and she so far has only given me Motrin for the pain which isn't helping. She is sending me for another ultrasound this weekend which I disagree with. I feel at this point I should be getting a CT Scan or MRI. Some of the other symptoms that I have been having is high blood pressure because the pain is so intense at times, dizziness, a low dull backache, and the pain has now spread down into my thigh. I've been ganing weight while I have a loss of appetite and I eat very little mostly once a day because I just never feel hungry. Also for the past 6 months or so I have been missing my period every other month which is leading me to believe there is something very wrong with my left ovary. This month is my month to miss and I have missed it but I still have this sharp pain on that side and the cramps are still there also. Is there anything that I can suggest to my doctor to start looking for?

Also my husband and I do not use birth control of any kind.
1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Left Sided Pelvic PainFor the past couple months I have been having sharp stabbing pain on my left side and cramps every single day that have not gone away. It is also tender to touch that area. Activity makes it worse. I never had menstrual cramps before now and I'm 36. I bled very heavily my last period and it was very painful. So painful and heavy that I went to the ER which I have never had to do before. They gave me a urine pregnancy test that came up negative. They gave me an ultrasound and said they only saw follicles on that side and referred me to my OB-GYN. They said they were unable to tell but they thought it could be PCOS. They decided against that diagnosis because I have never had a problem with fertility. I have 7 children ranging in age from 16 to 10 months.<br /><br />I went to my OB-GYN and she so far has only given me Motrin for the pain which isn't helping. She is sending me for another ultrasound this weekend which I disagree with. I feel at this point I should be getting a CT Scan or MRI. Some of the other symptoms that I have been having is high blood pressure because the pain is so intense at times, dizziness, a low dull backache, and the pain has now spread down into my thigh. I've been ganing weight while I have a loss of appetite and I eat very little mostly once a day because I just never feel hungry. Also for the past 6 months or so I have been missing my period every other month which is leading me to believe there is something very wrong with my left ovary. This month is my month to miss and I have missed it but I still have this sharp pain on that side and the cramps are still there also. Is there anything that I can suggest to my doctor to start looking for?<br /> <br />Also my husband and I do not use birth control of any kind.
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Jane Harrison Hohner, RN, RNP responded:
Dear chocdeluxe: I would concur that the missed menses every other month is likely due to missed ovulations, however that could arise from either ovary. It is not necessary for ovulations to alternate sides.

It may also be that the left lower abdominal pain is from something other than the uterus/tubes/ovaries. Other sources of pain in that area can include the descending colon, small intestine, or kidney stone on the left. I would urge you to follow through with your GYN's suggestion for a second ultrasound as I suspect they are trying to rule out a GYN cause of the pain. Ultrasound does a decent job of imaging most GYN organs. My best GUESS is that they will refer you on to a primary care and/or GI MD for additional evaluations.

Certainly, if the pain continues to be this severe, you should call your GYN or primary care MD. They may send you back to the ER or order additional screenings.

In Concern,
Jane
Report This| Share this:Left Sided Pelvic PainDear chocdeluxe: I would concur that the missed menses every other month is likely due to missed ovulations, however that could arise from either ovary. It is not necessary for ovulations to alternate sides. <br /> <br />It may also be that the left lower abdominal pain is from something other than the uterus/tubes/ovaries. Other sources of pain in that area can include the descending colon, small intestine, or kidney stone on the left. I would urge you to follow through with your GYN's suggestion for a second ultrasound as I suspect they are trying to rule out a GYN cause of the pain. Ultrasound does a decent job of imaging most GYN organs. My best GUESS is that they will refer you on to a primary care and/or GI MD for additional evaluations. <br /> <br />Certainly, if the pain continues to be this severe, you should call your GYN or primary care MD. They may send you back to the ER or order additional screenings.<br /> <br />In Concern,<br />Jane
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