UPDATE: Dr Hive...severe uterine pain

[LarlaB]

Does this sound familiar to anyone? 
 

Last night I woke up at 1am with severe uterus cramping/pain.  Nauseous, dizzy and at about a 9 on the pain scale.  It’s not my period (I’m mid cycle) and while I just started a new progestin only birth control pill, it’s been fairly calm.

I have had 2 miscarriages and 2 unmedicated births as a frame of reference- so, I do not use “severe” loosely. This was severe. This was a very sharp and intense pain- felt like something was ripping or pulling.   I was literally writhing in pain- and we were on the verge of going to the ER- wondered if it was a ruptured cyst or overlay torsion. After about 10-15 minutes and farting twice, an urge to pee and having a surprise bowel movement,  I grabbed the heating pad- still doubled over. Eventually it started to ease.   The what helped.  

Today I have leftover lower left quadrant pain that I’ve had before- constant and mild to moderate- like 3-4 pain.   Feels full and heavy, and like I’m constipated (but I am not).  I’ve had todays pain before (2-3x) - sometimes finding it difficult to walk.  I feel like I have my period but I don’t.  But have never experienced anything like last nights pain.
 

Im calling my GP tomorrow AM, but know she will likely refer me to GI specialist and/or OB. I’m exhausted at this prospect.  I’ve had SO many medical issues and expenses sorted thru already in the last 9 months (mild TBI, POTS, APS, MCAS and all the associated gremlins).  It’s overwhelming and exhausting. 

I really can’t take more but still know that’s last night is nothing to play around with so I’m trying to figure it out . 😞

Edited February 26, 2020 by LarlaB
Update

[Zoo Keeper]

When I had pain that severe, it was a ruptured ovarian cyst, combined with a huge blood clot, combined with an ectopic pregnancy.  All on the same side. 

Please get checked out. 

Praying for you.

Edited February 24, 2020 by Zoo Keeper

[Kassia]

I agree that you should get checked out.  Pain that severe can be a symptom of something dangerous.  I'm sorry about everything you've been through! 

[Liz CA]

What zoo keeper said plus possible endometriosis. It can present differently from person to person.

[Ottakee]

If this is new and that severe, I would encourage you to at least call your doctor but likely head in.

[LarlaB]

40 minutes ago, Zoo Keeper said:

When I had pain that severe, it was a ruptured ovarian cyst, combined with a huge blood clot, combined with and ectopic pregnancy.  All on the same side. 

Please get checked out. 

Praying for you.

All at the same time? That had to be intense.

Yes I’m got in to beg to be seen tomorrow by my Dr.  I don’t feel it’s emergency room level right now- and would have gone last night if it didn’t ease. 

[LarlaB]

21 minutes ago, Liz CA said:

What zoo keeper said plus possible endometriosis. It can present differently from person to person.

Endometriosis could definitely fit  based on what Ive read....

[EKS]

Severe abdominal pain is on the list of things one should get immediate medical attention for.  I hope you feel better soon.

[school17777]

2 hours ago, LarlaB said:

All at the same time? That had to be intense.

Yes I’m got in to beg to be seen tomorrow by my Dr.  I don’t feel it’s emergency room level right now- and would have gone last night if it didn’t ease. 

Ectopic pain can come and go

[Katy]

I would go to the ER.  Chances are it was a ruptured cyst, but it could also be endometrial cancer, ovarian torsion or an ectopic pregnancy. 

ETA: rupturing a large cyst is worse than back labor IME. 

Edited February 24, 2020 by Katy

[Zoo Keeper]

3 hours ago, LarlaB said:

All at the same time? That had to be intense.

Yes I’m got in to beg to be seen tomorrow by my Dr.  I don’t feel it’s emergency room level right now- and would have gone last night if it didn’t ease. 

Yes, it was all at once.  I ended up in the ER, and then had emergency surgery (had to have f-tube on that side removed) the next day. 

[Suzanne in ABQ]

LarlaB, how are you doing? Is the pain subsided? Have you seen a doctor?

[LarlaB]

10 hours ago, Suzanne in ABQ said:

LarlaB, how are you doing? Is the pain subsided? Have you seen a doctor?

Thanks for asking!  The low level pain has backed off quite a bit as of this evening.... 

I went to my family/GP doctor yesterday morning....then for ultrasound in the afternoon (which ended up being clear for cysts).    Ruled out ectopic pregnancy and kidney infection.  Dr thought 'the middle of the night agony"  sounded like a ruptured cyst (even though it was uterine pain and in the center, not off to the side near ovaries- but what do I know?)  Anyway- during the exam and palpation, she thought the lower left quadrant pain was more in line with diverticulitis due to placement..... near left ovary, but further away from midline.  No idea if the two pains are even related - could be 2 different issues.

Ultra sound was clear for cysts.  Yes, it could have been a weird placement or have overlooked as it would be empty (having ruptured), but i'm not concerned. If I have that pain again or develop a fever in the next few days, I am to head to ER.  Works for me.   I choose to just release it an not worry about it- if that makes sense.  With chronic, complex health issues like I have, there isn't enough energy to worry about all the things.  I do my best to prioritize, and then release it. 

RE possible diverticulitis, Dr ordered a CT for Thursday,  which I am going to decline at this time- assuming everything stays quiet.  She was ok with that., because it is on my radar to have a full GI workup in the near future, due to other issues.   With dysautonomia, digestive issues are extremely common.  Since I have diagnosed small fiber neuropathy in my feet,  it can also be present in my GI system, causing nonesense and could be, in my case, causing this reoccuring pain and affecting transit time.   Another rabbit hole to dive down.  

So, $8K deductible, here we come. Again.    And while the medical system absolutely frustrates me beyond words, I'm grateful I have access to great care and grateful for MediShare which has been incredible throughout this journey.  

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

I ruptured an ovarian cyst and it was awful.  Like I fell on the floor from bed and tried to crawl to the phone to call 911 but couldn't.  Then tried to call to my 4 year old (oldest child at the time) to get me the phone... but couldn't call loudly enough.  It was bad.  He eventually found me and brought the phone.  I called 911, then called the neighbor to take the kids.  By the time we got to the hospital, I was feeling sort of human again, and by the time they imaged, the cyst was gone.  But I had known it was there form an earlier ultrasound, so that helped confirm the diagnosis.  

 

I hope you are feeling MUCH better, and that whatever it was... is gone for good!

[Suzanne in ABQ]

I'm glad you're doing better. If it was a cyst, hopefully it was a one-time thing, and you won't have to go through that again.

The only time I've had a pain like you describe, I believe it was my IUD (copper, t-shaped Paraguard).  I think it must have turned or something. But it righted itself, pain disappeared, ultrasound didn't show any problems, and I kept it in for another 5 years or so with no problems. (I've since had it removed have never had another problem).  Of course, you would know if you had an IUD!  I'm just saying I can empathize with your off-the-charts, worse than unmedicated childbirth (I've had three), uterine pain. It was horrible and scary to lie there unable to move and hardly even breathe because of the pain. I'm glad you're better.

[YaelAldrich]

8 hours ago, Suzanne in ABQ said:

I'm glad you're doing better. If it was a cyst, hopefully it was a one-time thing, and you won't have to go through that again.

The only time I've had a pain like you describe, I believe it was my IUD (copper, t-shaped Paraguard).  I think it must have turned or something. But it righted itself, pain disappeared, ultrasound didn't show any problems, and I kept it in for another 5 years or so with no problems. (I've since had it removed have never had another problem).  Of course, you would know if you had an IUD!  I'm just saying I can empathize with your off-the-charts, worse than unmedicated childbirth (I've had three), uterine pain. It was horrible and scary to lie there unable to move and hardly even breathe because of the pain. I'm glad you're better.

That happened to me last April.  I thought transition in labor was comparable pain with no squishy reward at the end.  It is almost at its expiration date but I am sooo close (I hope) to menopause and don't want another BC device.  

 

Edited February 27, 2020 by YaelAldrich
stupid apostrophe - killed a kitten

[LarlaB]

2 hours ago, Monica_in_Switzerland said:

I ruptured an ovarian cyst and it was awful.  Like I fell on the floor from bed and tried to crawl to the phone to call 911 but couldn't.  Then tried to call to my 4 year old (oldest child at the time) to get me the phone... but couldn't call loudly enough.  It was bad.  He eventually found me and brought the phone.  I called 911, then called the neighbor to take the kids.  By the time we got to the hospital, I was feeling sort of human again, and by the time they imaged, the cyst was gone.  But I had known it was there form an earlier ultrasound, so that helped confirm the diagnosis.  

 

I hope you are feeling MUCH better, and that whatever it was... is gone for good!

That is helpful to hear-that it really can disappear!  And, sounds about right, pain wise.  It was breathtaking and I could not stand up straight even if I needed too, and found it difficult to talk to DH who was furiously googling LOL. And then, it started to fade and was eventually gone enough that I could sleep.  

 I felt like such a dork telling my Dr that this was very sharp and intense pain that, for me, was worse than labor in some ways- so sharp.  Maybe because with labor I knew the pain had a purpose and I was expecting it. ?? 
 

 

 

 

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

9 hours ago, LarlaB said:

That is helpful to hear-that it really can disappear!  And, sounds about right, pain wise.  It was breathtaking and I could not stand up straight even if I needed too, and found it difficult to talk to DH who was furiously googling LOL. And then, it started to fade and was eventually gone enough that I could sleep.  

 I felt like such a dork telling my Dr that this was very sharp and intense pain that, for me, was worse than labor in some ways- so sharp.  Maybe because with labor I knew the pain had a purpose and I was expecting it. ?? 
 

 

 

 

 

Maybe...  I've had 3 unmedicated births and I was never "incapacitated" by them quite like the cyst rupturing.  At least with labor things come in waves.  The cyst was more like just staying at the height of a contraction for an hour or so...  Yikes!  And definitely the cyst felt like something was wrong, and labor felt like, "well this is just what it feels like to get a baby out of my body".  

[PrincessMommy]

I have had diverticulitis and the pain doesn't just go away.  At the very least you need to change your diet, and usually you'll need antibiotics for it to go away.  The pain is very much like you described.  It comes in continuous waves and is worse than labor.   I can barely walk when I have had a flare-up.   But, I have never heard of it just stopping on it's own.   I'm surprised the dr. suggested diverticulitis.