OT: pelvic pain

[doublevision1]

On several occasions over the past few months I have had intense cramping in my lower abdomen/pelvic area that is so severe it awakens me from a  deep sleep.  It always occurs in the middle of the night, a few hours after I fall asleep.  It feels exactly like menstrual cramping, especially like the severe cramps I used to get as an adolescent.  It seems to have nothing to do with my cycle, which always stays on schedule, every 28-30 days like clockwork.  It happens at any time of the month.  I'm 42, have no signs of impending menopause (unless this is one).  Advil helps, just like it does with actual menstrual cramps.  Any clue what this might be?  My GP suggested it might just be due to ovulation but wouldn't it happen on some regular frequency if that's the case?  I may ask her to order an ultrasound to make sure nothing serious is going on.

[Rena705]

Hey girl!  I think it must be something in the air girl because I have been suffering the same sort of pain and I have had a partial hysterectomy! (my ovaries remain)  I just got back from having an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound but my doc won't get the results until Tuesday and I have an appointment with her next Friday.
My symptoms are pelvic pain just like when I had menstruation cramps with the pain travelling down my legs just as it did back when I had a period.  It is very uncomfortable during waking hours but as of yet it hasn't disturbed my sleep.  I also have a lot of gas, difficulty emptying my bladder, lack of appetite, bloating, back ache, nausea, change of bowel habits but unfortunately my symptoms don't include weight loss... hehe
Still honey...it could be something in our Alberta air too I guess...they are blaming all the problems of the world on the Alberta Tar Sands so we can always blame them too I guess ha ha
I will let you know when I get some results and I will be watching for any answers you get in the meantime.  Hope you start to feel better soon and we can all get our aches and pains figured out.  I don't know about you but I am really getting tired of this pain and I hope there are answers on the horizon!

Lots of Hugs,
Rena

[sllowe]

Hey DB,

I've had something but not sure if it's similiar or not. So I'll try to describe. Mine includes a squeezing or tight feeling where I feel like I can't roll over. And at that point it does wake me fully. It's almost as if I must try to roll over while sleeping and then that pain wakes me up. It's on and off and never constant.

I've the same thing, lower in my torso and hips. I often wondered if it's the hug, It passes once I breath through it for a few. It's weird to say the least. It hurts and I never get the feeling that's it's internal or related or coincidental w/cycles - it just doesn't feel like an internal thing if that makes any sense. I never brought it up to the dr.

I've not had it in awhile, knock on wood. How long you been getting this? And, I'd love to know if this sounds like what you experience.

-Shell

[SickMomma_PDX]

Is it on one side or the other, or in the entire pelvic area? I'd get it checked out, just in case. The fact that Advil helps may be because you have inflammation going on. Does it only happen one night a month or so, or is it happening more frequently? Have you tried keeping a food journal to see if there's something you've eaten that might be triggering that pain?

The other thing is that as we age (and I'm 43 so I'm right there with you!), we sometimes ovulate more frequently and/or more eggs/cycle. That's the reason, I'm told, that the odds of fraternal twins increase with the mother's age.

If it were me, I'd discuss it with my gynecologist. And I'd also consider discussing it with a gastroenterologist before I simply accepted it as a new normal.

[jensequitur]

I had some horrible pains last time I ovulated - I'm on the pill, and hadn't in several years.  But yes, it should happen about the same time every month - twelve days after the period, right?

I've also had some horrible cramps that were in the pelvic area, and felt more like bladder cramps.  I think that must have been something else - probably muscle spasm related to the spine lesion.

Like ess says, see the gyn first!

[essdipity]

Hi, deebs. Back in the day I used to get rather severe ovulation pains, but not each cycle. I could tell that's what they were because it would alternate sides.

If I were you I'd see my gyn and pin this down.

Good luck,
ess

[marymoto]

hi double you know i get a similar thing and it not even close to when i get my period. i will wake up in the middle of the night in severe pain because i have not woke up earlier to go pee. when i sit on the toilet i cant pee. i think it is from my bladder overfilling.has happened a few times. once i am able to pee it goes away.it is severe i take tylenol 3 when it comes on.

[willowwoman7]

I've been getting that for about a month just every once in a while. I am post menopause, so I know it's not truly menstrual. May be related to a ruptured disc in my low back? Who knows, but I sure don't like it.

[rendean]

I had something similar and it was chalked up to peri-menopause AFTER I had undergone several ultrasounds as well as a CT scan. The fact that it is eased by Advil, an anti-prostagladin, points in the direction of menstrual cause. The fact that you have chosen to be childless may play a part as pregnancy and breastfeeding seem to lower risk factors for more serious causes.

I'd get an ultrasound, etc. for piece of mind , if it was me.
Ren