Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Ljp on July 05, 2015, 04:50:09 PM
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Hi
I'm 50 and had no periods since last August, so think I'm now menopausal, I've had intermittent right sided discomfort, since Christmas, started after sitting around doing very little over Christmas period sometimes months between, sometimes it's a burning ache in my back , sometimes it's a dull ache in my side, liver region, and now today it's in my buttock like sciatica. I went to Dr thursday I had a blood test and she has referred me for an ultra sound, best to get it checked out she said. It's not every day, and seems to be no real pattern to it
I'm terrified it's ovarian cancer! Although I had the sciatic pain several years ago, and saw my osteopath for it, and over time with stretches etc it went away, I am very fit, I teach 5 hours of dancing a week and 4 Zumba classes, so I try and tell myself it's related to that, but why only ever right side?
I have had urinary frequency for years, and that has become worse since menopause, but have estriol cream to help and it really has improved, I also have IBS (no tests, just Dr suggested by symptoms)which have had for years, but that has played up more since hormones have been all over the place! It's so worrying not knowing what causes what symptoms!
I think if I had sciatic pain years ago, and urunary frequency, and IBS etc wouldn't I be much much worse by now if it is ovarian cancer? I mean how long would it take for it to grow?
I dont get much bloating, certainly not all the time, my stomach is pretty flat, except if I over eat ( have good appetite) although on occasions I will bloat, and tummy will be gurgle and be comfortable when anxiety is bad, as IBS seems related to my anxiety too
Since I lost my mum to cancer 7 years ago, and with peri menopause, I find myself anxious a lot of the time, and question if the pains and discomforts are being caused by my anxiety, I am really struggling wit things at the moment, I feel paranoid like people are talking about me, and anxious before and during my dance classes as I have forgotten steps before and feel really stupid, this is now becoming another anxiety issue every Sunday before my classes on Monday.
I'm terrified of calling for my blood test results tomorrow as if ct25 levels are high, I will be in a state of craziness worrying I have ovarian cancer, and waiting for the scan is already sending my anxiety sky high, I can see myself being horrible to live with, so shut myself away from the family, as I need someone to tell me I'm ok, and they can't, and no one can until the scabs confirm it one way or the other … feel like I'm going out of my mind
Sorry if this I garbled, but had to get it out of my head 😟
Just worrying myself into a breakdown over this 😟😟😟
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Thank you sparkle, I have to wait for scan appointment, GP suggested it will be about a month.
My mum had non Hodgkin's lymphoma, which isn't genetic, but I panic with every symptom I have, thinking its cancer!
Sorry to hear you have fibroids and ovarian cysts, are your pains in the uterus region? Mine are all above my pelvis ( except the hip/buttock/sciatic one when its there) it makes me feel I need to massage it or stretch it out, Hoping it's just muscle issues from exercise
I know what you mean re the more you focus on it the worse it is, I try so hard to be positive, but my anxiety will then take over and fill me with dread yet again!
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Totally feel for you on this one as I am also waiting blood test results. I just have weird feeling in bladder area, think it is anxiety but as I put on another post, it becomes a bit chicken and egg if you suffer from health anxiety like Sparkle and I do.
I am older than you at 55 and haven't had a period since hysterectomy 15 years ago. I take oestrogen which stops hot flushes but have all sorts of aches and pains, particularly in my right hip area. And my digestion is crap lately (the double meaning of using the term crap in that context has hit me after use!). Do you think you just have menopausal aches and pains? My OH and I have reached the stage where we can't get out of a chair without making a noise!
My G P has also done blood tests 'just in case' she felt my tummy and said it was fine. The first time I mentioned the problem she said it was anxiety as she could feel no problem with my tummy. It was only the second time I went that she suggested blood test and perhaps an ultrasound.
Probably, like me, you know your GP is just being cautious. As she said, best to get it checked out. I find sharing on here helps as I feel less alone - my OH is a bit sick of my worries and just says 'you can't do anything till you know, so why worry'. I have got a couple of health anxiety books from the library and they have useful tips.
I have no answers, just know you are not alone, so share away and rest assured you will get support here. Xx
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Thanks Rebelyell, my digestion is also crap (lol) at the moment, but as my anxiety is also bad, that probably accounts for the gurgling, gassy, grumbly feelings today.
I guess my aches and pains could be menopause related, or due to the bashing my body takes every week at my Zumba and Fitsteps classes, but just knowing the tests are looking for possible serious causes us enough to send my anxiety off the chart.
It's not the first time I've got myself in a right state over health worries, I had a sebaceous mole on my face that I picked to the point I convinced myself it was a melanoma, then it cleared up with antibiotic cream and all was fine… I wish I could stop the anxiety and fear, it's ruining my life and stopping me relaxing and enjoying my life, I have a lovely family and feel I'm making their lives miserable too 😟
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I know that feeling of different day different problem! It would be so nice to just feel happy and normal without all the anxiety and worry, just want to stop feeling like I've got something seriously wrong with me all the time, it's constant pressure 😟 sat here now with gassy pains, worrying it's yet another symptom of ovarian cancer
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I had the same pain in the left side and would also be in the bottom of my back. It was this pain that drove me to the docs too... convinced I had ovary or cervical cancer. I didn't!! I had absolutely nothing; no fibroids, no cysts. If you read an article called the The Ovary's grand finale, it tells you that at times they are literally screaming (this is the pain) and this can happen in the peri and menopause. Try not too worry, although that is all I do, but take on board all the lovely ladies comments, they helped me through some dark hours. xx
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Thank you Mandy, not heard of that before, really hope that's the case with me too x
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It is the waiting that makes us edgy >:( …….. your GP has done the blood tests, do you go to the Surgery for the result and when?
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Hi CLKD blood test results will in tomorrow, I can call after 2pm. But really worried about it
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Of course you are. But if the worst is the worst there is help there! Let us know how you get on! I made a list of what I had to do if the diagnosis was bad and going to take a lot of my energy and time i.e. made a Will, sorted out my bank details, made a list of addresses of people who needed to know - but it didn't come to that ;): however, it kept my brain busy!
Do you live alone or will there be someone around when you get the result?
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Oh CLKD I can't even think about the worst, which would be the ct25 levels being high! I will be here on my own when it's time to call Dr, hubby working and daughter on a training course
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Maybe ask your Husband to come home for half a day. Worth it to have him by your side and very important! Once you have a result you can begin to work on how to deal with it. It's the waiting :bighug:
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I think that your husband should stay at home, without you even asking him :-\ - have you discussed your worry with him?
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Hi, like Mandy I had it in the left hand side and landed up in A&e with it, again after much investigation ie ct scan and ultra sound, they found nothing and put it down to menopause!! I really feel for you, it's really not nice, but hopefully nothing horrid xxx
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Thank you all, CLKD as my understanding goes, the Ca125 blood test is a tumour marker blood test, they are also doing routine blood tests for liver and kidney function etc, my husband finishes work at 3 in any case, yes I discuss my worries with him, but he is probably fed up with me worrying that every thing that concerns me health wise is cancer!
Thank you Marf, when you say you had it in your left side, where exactly? As my right side discomfort isn't in my pelvis or uterus, it between my hip and bottom rib right side, and comes and goes, sometimes a dull ache that feels like it could go into a spasm, sometimes it's a burning pain in my mid back, right side, and sometimes I have like sciatic pain in my buttock, again right side. Today, no pain in right side, or back, or buttock, but very gassy, IBS playing up, wind cramps, but always bad when I'm anxious! 😢
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I had it exactly as you say but in the left side, like a burning pain, it was so weird, is it my bottom, my back, my side at front, if I poked about it was mostly at the top of my hip and moving round to the front (like if you put your hand on your hip and squeezed). It's aching a bit now but I'm not as bothered as I was as I've seen the scan. Try not to panic (easier said than done!!) 😘😘 thinking about it now, my anxiety levels were mega high at the time too so maybe it's all linked 😬 xxxx
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Hi Lisa
I can understand your health anxiety, I get it too, I lost my mother and my father suddenly and I'm not very good with sitting in the unknown. Sounds like your logical brain is trying hard to manage the worry brain and I hope that you get some reassurance tomorrow.
Your doctor sounds like they are being cautious which is good if you have symptoms that could be various things and you are getting concerned about it all. A scan in 4 weeks suggests to me it isn't an urgent referral. I hope you feel better soon on both the physical and the anxiety fronts. x
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"he is probably fed up with me worrying ….. " has he said as much? My DH would be hurt if he thought I assumed that he was 'fed up' etc. without my asking him directly. NEVER assume anything! Assumption has cost me dear in the past :-\ when I got 'it' wrong :'(
He may be worried too and may like to talk to *you* about it!
I had that kind of pain deep behind my hip bone, I would squeeze and it would go away …….. probably bowel related in my case, anyway it went …….. what do you take for the IBS?
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I meant to say that I had a really terrible pain in my hip/ovary/pelvis/groin back in January, it is what took me to the doctor along with a period that was spotting for days. The pain felt to me like ovarian pain that was radiating, I was bloated, my digestion went haywire and then I got a pain in my back, it was awful. The locum wasn't much interested and sent me for blood test for thyroid and hormones - my FSH came back high and noone mentioned the pain and said I was perimenopausal and that was that.
I have not had the severe pain again, but I have had this stiff, aching, burning pain almost on top of my hip/sacrum area and have done some release stretches and it eventually goes - I have noticed it is cyclical and have put it all down to hormones. Is the pain you have showing any sort of pattern with a cycle, despite not actually having a bleed anymore? It could be that you still have hormone activity going on but not enough for a period?
Just thinking out loud really, I think it's best for your anxiety to follow up with the checks and at least that will eliminate a few things.
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Thank you bright light and Marf, I am trying to be logical about it, and I am ok at times, it's just whenever there are tests involved, I get myself in a spiral of anxiety, the feeling they are looking for something sinister, just sends me into meltdown.
In my logical mind, I feel it's more likely to be muscle related, it comes and goes, it does seem worse when I'm not active, and often wake in the morning with the ache from sleeping, so now questioning my mattress
I don't know how I will react if my blood results show elevated ca125 levels, I will have to cross that bridge when I come to it.
CLKD I have have spoken to my husband about my fears, he is very supportive and is trying his best to understand my journey through the hell that is menopause, he also knows what an insane worrier I am, and how I think every health concern indicates that I must have cancer
My husband had very similar symptoms several years ago, and had ultra sound scan etc, all clear and nothing to worry about. Hoping mine is the same.
It's that horrible scenario where I need to know, but don't want to know unless it's nothing, then I will be fine, but dont want or know how to face it if it's not ok
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Good luck with the phone call xxx let us know what they say xxxx
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ovary pain is usually very low down, behind your hip bone. Where you are describing sounds more like gallbladder pain. It radiates through to your back and can be excruciating. When I was very overweight I suffered alot with it. I am really confident you are going to be ok... I'll keep everything crossed for you xx
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I've had something similar to this on and off for years and years. It turns out it's constipation - can be surprisingly painful. Does it go away or reduce after you've had a poo? Our bowels are influenced by our female hormones (surprise surprise) which explains a lot of pre-menstrual discomfort.
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Not much longer to wait. What is it you can't 'deal' with exactly? What is the worst that could happen?
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Just called Dr, blood test results aren't back yet have to try again tomorrow!!
what could that mean?
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Bugga! Did you tell them how worried you are and why not give them a ring-back to find out why the delay? Probably due to Bank Holiday or a Consultant being busy or away who needs to see the result ………..
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How frustrating for you, I don't think it means anything particular. Slow Monday after a sunny weekend? If you think you are going to put negative meaning into this and worry yourself I'd ring again and just ask if there is a particular reason, maybe tell them you are anxious as CLKD says
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Another one here with the left-side stomach pains - ended up having an ultrasound which found nothing (and no sign of the ovary on that side either which kind of supports Mandy's idea about the ovary going out with a bang?) Had this for a couple of months early this year... and then it just went...
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I wouldn't read anything into it at all, frustrating but just delayed xxx
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Do give the GP a ring though and tell them how this is impacting on your anxiety!
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Thank you all for your support, I will wait until tomorrow, can't be seen as being some crazy anxious woman!...I remember calling for a swab test result a few months ago, that was supposed to have been back on a Monday after a Thursday test, but that too was delayed.
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Lisajp
I understand how you feel as I am the same and suffer from health anxiety. Thinking logically its probably a good thing that results are delayed as if there was anything amiss you would have got a call immediately. CA125 tests even if they are raised do not necessarily mean anything bad. I have had a few and they have ALWAYS come back raised, the cause - endometriosis. Hope all is well and you can then relax! xxxxx
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That's interesting gilaray, I am also waiting for CA125 test and am similarly scared stiff as suffer badly from health anxiety. I suffered so badly from endometriosis that I had a hysterectomy at 40 but kept ovaries. It has occurred to me that HRT might have stimulated ovaries and caused issues lately, as I read somewhere that you can still get endometriosis after a hysterectomy. I just have strange feeling/pressure in bladder but it might be wind caused by extreme anxiety and 'worried blladder' as my GP called it!
Fingers crossed for all of us waiting. There's a lot of waiting with this meno lark isn't there?
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Thanks ladies, when are your results due Rebelyell?
Despite all the anxiety this is causing, I still think its best to be checked out, and am grateful that I have a good GP
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Of course it's best to get checked …….. do you ring this afternoon?
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Just called for my blood results and all clear no action required, thats the CA125, normal levels, as are plasma c and liver function....feeling relieved! .....still a bit apprehensive about the ultra sound though
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That's good news! Ultra sound results likely to be OK too. Do you have a date for that?
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Hooray - one investigation ticked off :)
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no date yet, GP did say it could be up to a month
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If it were urgent I think you would have an appt. sooner ;)
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I can certainly relate to weird aches and pains in that area... I have had two transvaginal ultrasounds (March and June) which showed nothing wrong with uterus, ovaries, or anything. In January I went to the GP and complained about my weird toilet habits and rectal pain. Blood tests were done - nothing wrong there. Two rectoscopies, and the only thing found was an old hemmohroid. I also have a rumbly, grumbly stomach. Indigestion that sometimes makes me have looser stooles, sometimes firmer. Gassy. But, really, all these indigestion problems have been with me during my menstrual cycles before. I wonder if perimenopause have amped up the craziness a little...
TS: Have you thought about problems with pelvic ligaments and/or muscles? When I get pains on the right side of the belly button and downwards (toward my uterus), and also back pain in the same area, I wonder if it is a muscle problem? My aches seem kind of "superficial", close to the surface. Also, this is som weird I can barely describe it, but when my rectal pain was bad during the winter it sometimes felt like a "tugging" or "pulling" sensation inside my rectum when I moved in certain ways. I TRIED to explain this to one of the doctors, but I heard how stupid it sounded as soon as it came out of my mouth. Certain sensations/pains in your body just cannot be described, I guess.
I hope we both can figure out what are problems are. Hoping it is "just" hormones going bananas...!
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Do you suffer from proctalgia fugax 20032003? http://www.healio.com/gastroenterology/curbside-consultation/%7Bbbb8179d-8c12-4b63-b23c-6fd23806b5b1%7D/what-is-proctalgia-fugax
It's a really painful cramping, pulling and sometimes sort of twisting sensation in the rectum. Not nice. I get it but it's linked to fibromyalgia in my case I think.
Taz x
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Do you suffer from proctalgia fugax 20032003? http://www.healio.com/gastroenterology/curbside-consultation/%7Bbbb8179d-8c12-4b63-b23c-6fd23806b5b1%7D/what-is-proctalgia-fugax
It's a really painful cramping, pulling and sometimes sort of twisting sensation in the rectum. Not nice. I get it but it's linked to fibromyalgia in my case I think.
Taz x
I don't think I do now. However it must have been what I experienced sometimes in grad school (about 15 years ago ). I would sit in class and my rectum would cramp up so bad that I could barely stay seated... Due to anxiety, I believe. For a while I would also have rectal cramps every time I started my period. I wonder if the latter has something to do with a cramping retroverted uterus? Everything is so close together and a uterus that is tilted backwards might make it evev worse....
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Thanks 20032003 and Taz2, my pain does shift about, it's always right side ( I did have whiplash some 16 years ago and was at a roundabout looking right at the time of impact)
Over the years I've had neck problems, and about 4 or 5 years ago had chronic pain which went on for months top of right buttock and problem with rib popping out, saw osteopath which didn't really help that much, but did stretches etc and it suddenly went.
This is the type of pain that is back again now, when I wake in the morning, it's a dull ache/burning around my right hip, and into buttock sometimes it moves up a bit to my right side, and other times, like yesterday, it goes to my mid back (still right side) where my lower ribs are, and it's a burning pain when it's there. Even my shoulder blade feels sore. I feel like right side of body is more forward than the left.
I do think hormones are influencing it, but also my activity levels and work. For 8 years I worked with dogs, in hydrotherapy, which involved lifting. Now for the past 4 years ( all during peri) I have taught 4 fitness classes a week, and 5 hours of dancing too.
I have been going to yoga once a week, and did so regularly until my holiday a few weeks ago, it was on my return from holiday, and back to work, that the pains started up again, hadn't been a problem for the 10 days away. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get to yoga for a few weeks, went back last week, and now today is last class before her summer break.
I do think there is hormone involvement too, as anxiety is a major problem for me, I take kalms tablets to try and help when it's bad, don't want to go along the Medes from Dr route really, as health anxiety is the worst for me, along side social anxiety. Weird that I am able to get up I front of a class to teach, yet when it comes to just being me in a social environment I get in a tizz about it! I also get episodes of IBS it was cyclical when I had periods, but now seems worse when anxiety is high, I have foregut (right side) issues, with fast transition, meaning rush to loo fairly quick after eating, again I only take OTC buscopan for that, or use probiotics and slippery elm
Apologies for length of message, just wanted to try to explain all my issues, although I am feeling relieved about blood test results, I'm still aware that subconscious is getting in a tizz about ultra sound
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20032003 I also have retroverted uterus, and used to suffer bad cramps around mid cycle x
Wonder if it's all related?
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20032003 I also have retroverted uterus, and used to suffer bad cramps around mid cycle x
Wonder if it's all related?
I don't think it's impossible. Ask a doctor/gyno, and retroverted uterus don't cause problems. They'll say it's like righthandedness and lefthandedness - i.e. a normal variation. But if you google you'll end up finding women who have had fairly decent problems with theirs. If you google pictures, you'll se how the retroverted uterus squishes the rectum. And STILL they say it's not a problem...??
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you should definitely ask about your gallbladder. This pain goes through to the back and is felt in the shoulder blade. It also causes burning pain and excess gas and weird bowel movements. It is exacerbated by the menopause also... worth checking out!!
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Thanks sparkle, and Mandy43, re gall bladder, I will be having ultra sound on all abdominal area, so hopefully gall bladder too. Dr didnt think it sounded classic gall bladder as pain is very intermittent, and not always after eating.
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mine came on at any time and was very much intermittent. I was lucky, as just changing my diet and losing weight stopped the attacks. You sound very fit and healthy but the menopause can bring this on, as I know quite a few ladies who had to have their gallbladder out once they hit that time in their life, due to ongoing symptoms. xx
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Would t inflammation have shown up in blood tests? As plasma c levels are to do with inflammation? Doesn't hurt when I breathe in either it's a real mystery, but driving me crazy, as really uncomfortable, and moves around from buttock/hip. to mid back (right) to right side (in region where you get stitch) Al it's feels like it could spasm at any moment
I'm stretching it out and even taking pain killers and rubbing voltarol gel in, non of it had. Ugh effect 😟
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Depends where the inflammation is - give your GP a ring?
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A raised ESR level shows either that the lady is pregnant or is a sign of something else, which I have forgotten :-\ sorry ::). Let us know when you find out ;D
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If the pain goes as far down as the bum, then I would say no, not Gallbladder... maybe a trapped nerve or as with many things with me, psychosomatic?
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Thanks for all your replies, I will just have to wait until I have ultra sound scan, and stop trying to guess what it might be, and worse still stop consulting Dr Google!
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Yep, Dr Google isn't always on our side ::)
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Hi Lisajp, just wondered if you had a conclusion to your concerns and pain? I hope so and I hope things are OK
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This is the type of pain that is back again now, when I wake in the morning, it's a dull ache/burning around my right hip, and into buttock sometimes it moves up a bit to my right side, and other times, like yesterday, it goes to my mid back (still right side) where my lower ribs are, and it's a burning pain when it's there. Even my shoulder blade feels sore. I feel like right side of body is more forward than the left.
Hi Lisajp, just wanted you to know that this is a perfect description of the pain I first had when this hormonal chaos hit. I had MRIs, scans, saw numerous specialists, was exhausted with the pain affecting sleep and was generally very frightened. I had to give up running which I loved. It was so bad that at times I couldn't wear a bra as the burning in my ribs would get worse from the pressure! I was given various ADs for the chronic pain which helped, but I still worried about the cause.
Eventually it was found to be a hormonal imbalance. I had water retention which seemed to niggle nearby nerves.
I can't remember if you said you take HRT, but I found HRT and then the pill helped control things. I now get more 'obvious' hormonal symptoms, but the chronic pain has subsided and is now more of a vague dull ache at certain times of the month.
Hang in there - xxxxx