[Laurievaio]

Hello everyone, I am a 23 y/o, sexually active female. I'm not on the pill, although I was for about 2 years. In 2007 I had a d&c. About two weeks ago, I started to feel some discomfort in my left pelvic area. When I lie on my back and press down, I can feel as if something is swollen .. Not a lump, but more like a tube.. The feeling isn't debilitating or anything, but it is annoying and obviously worrisome. Painkillers do help to ease it. I went to my gyno at the beginning of the year for a check up and a pap smear. I told her about the pain as I've beein having it off and on for sometime.. She did a transvaginal ultrasound and said that everything was fine and perhaps the feeling is due to constipation.. But I'm not sure if that's true as I don't think I am.. My periods are normal and it doesn't hurt me during sex or anything.. I'm wondering if I should go by another gyno for a second opinion.. Thoughts??

[WildChild]

Try drinking more water, less caffeine and sugar, more fiber, more fruits and veggies, regular stretching and walking or running and see what happens?

[Laurievaio]

Thanks, I'll try that! But do you (or anyone else) have any idea as to what it may be??

[viola]

Do you have a bowl mvt. daily? or more than once a day?

[kira]

Drink a bottle of magnesium citrate and see if it goes away. Make sure the bathroom is nearby and available. That would solve the question of constipation in less than a day.

[Laurievaio]

I have bowel movements probably 1-2 times a day.. And new development, my rights side is now getting some pain.. *sigh.. Nothing else is happening... I'm going to get an ultrasound Thursday.. Hopefully the us tech can tell me something though, cause the gyno isn't available til May.. I might just take the us to a gp.. I dunno.. I'm so scared and worried and I can't focus on anything!

[CHANDLERS WISH]

Third thought simular.

Gas can be a terrible thing, it can create alot of pain exactly where you are describing, left or right, and can be caused from foods your body is rejecting... Google IBS , Irritable Bowel Syndrome and see if any of those symptoms also ring a bell to you.

CW

[kira]

If it's moving around intestines seem likely to be the source of the pain. However if you have steadily increasing pain in your lower right abdomen that gets severe or any sign of a fever do go to an urgent care clinic or even ER if it gets bad enough because it could be your appendix.

For gas problems you can get liquid simethicone for children and take up to 500mg in 24hrs. I usually take 150mg. You can buy the adult version in things like gas x strips but then you are stuck with that dose where as the liquid you can take what you want and it doesn't taste that bad. Also peppermint helps the intestines absorb gas in to the blood stream so it can be excreted other ways. You can buy peppermint capsules or drink peppermint tea.

I have trouble digesting sugars like lactose and fructose and periodically suffer from bacterial over growth of the small intestine which leads to inflammation so I've been through it all with intestinal issues. Constipation, long term laxative use, ER trips wondering if I had a bowel obstruction, or appendicitis, and to urgent care clinic for gall bladder problems from taking saline laxatives too long. Pain from your digestive tract can really seem like a reproductive issue. It can even cause lower abdominal pain when having sex. It can be hard to sort out which one is the source of the problems. I had 3 ultrasounds on my reproductive tract before they were finally satisfied the problems were gastrointestinal.

[Laurievaio]

Thanks to everyone.. Another symptom also presented itself.. Mucus in my stool... I'm thinking it could be IBS?? I don't know.. I'm so scared.. Would I go to a GP if it were that??

[Laurievaio]

Went to the gyno today.. I have polycystic ovaries.. She put me on the pill and glucophage for 6 months and antibiotics.. It was a tough day, but I'm glad I found out and she said I came in early, so it hopefully won't have any long-term effects.. Including my baby-making capability.