Guys: As I posted before, the ultrasound of my uterus, pelvic and ovaries was 'normal.' And yet I'm having significant pain in my ovaries. Don't ask me why I think/know it's my ovaries; it just feels likes every single cramps I ever experienced...

It's mostly the right side and on a 1-10 pain scale, it ranges from a 5-9. Ibuprofen (600 mgs) relieves the pain for exactly 1 hour and then it's back again.

My gynecologist is stumped. Her solution: Try more hormones. I feel like a guinea pig...she doesn't how to treat me so she just throws out any sort of treatment that might work.

Any idea, girls? It comes and goes...some days it's there all day. I don't have a fever, I'm not vomiting....I've considered appendicitis, but sometimes I have it on my left side, too (although not as often)...

Calling all amateur doctors---I need a dx!

Robin,

Just a note - from what I understand, with appendicitus, you can have pain on your left side also (it's called rebound pain).

It probably is your ovaries. I had left side pain (not as bad as yours) on and off for months. I never had it checked because I came here and found out it was pretty common. However, if I had pain as severe as yours, I'd probably give in and go to the doc.

Robin,

I'm no doctor, but could it be that your ovaries are "trying" to ovulate and that is what is causing the pain? Forgive me if that sounds stupid but my ovaries hurt off an on too and I firmly believe I am ovulating or trying to ovulate in an irregular way. No longer the mid-cycle ovarian pain, but more like all month long off and on. I think you have passed the one year mark for not having periods, haven't you? But, still maybe your body is still trying to go through the cycling motions of a period, but without producing an actual period.
Maybe your doctor could give you something a little stronger than the Ibuprofen if the pain does not resolve soon.
Take care.

cindy

Robin,

This will sound weird but it's five years since my last period and I still get pain in my ovaries occasionally - and it's exactly like the pain I would get mid-cycle. I agree with everyone who says your body still cycles for a long time.

If you're only 12 months without a period I have no doubt that your ovaries are still doing "something." It might feel abnormal but my guess is that it isn't.

Hope you feel better real soon!

Helen

Update:  Spoke to my gynecologist again today; told her that the pain is unbearable at times and I need some answers beyond just 'take hormones.'  She wants to do a laparascopy to see if I have adhesions--old scar tissues that could be causing pain.  She said when you are post menopausal (and supposedly I am), the ovaries 'shrivel' (ugh) and adhesions can begin to tug and hurt.  Anyone had experience with this?

RoundRobin:

I had 2 c-sections and developed adhesions. I had pain on my left side for years and didn't know what it was. I always kinda thought it might be endometriosis. One doctor told me it was a fibroid. I started to develop a lot of infections, then abnormal paps. My doc advised me to have a laproscope to see where the left side pain was coming from, a D & C for the constant infections and a LEEP procedure on my cervix to correct the abnormal paps. Well, the Laproscope revealed the adhesions to my bowel and they were lasered and removed. This was in '99 and it totally took care of my pain for years......until now. What the doc didn't tell me then was that it is common for the adhesions to return. Anytime you have any kind of surgery, scar tissue forms, even after laser removal. The past year I have been having that left side tenderness and pain that is always worse with my period or ovulation. Sometimes it is there in between for no reason as well. Adhesions can be very painful especially when moving a certain way. The laprascope and laser removal of the adhesions did help for about 7 years, so it was worth it. I now fear, however, that I may have to go through this again, or maybe there is something wrong with my ovary on that side. I haven't seen the doc, yet. I am waiting to see what happens. I sounds like your doc may be on to something. Hope this post helps.....take care. TerriC

Thanks Terri. So the adhesions can return? That makes sense...I'm thinking the procedure to remove them causes it's own scar tissue to form. Who knows...I'm just so tired of being in pain. Calling the doctor today.

Yes, the adhesions can return due to the procedure that removes them! Were you able to see your doctor?

RoundRobin, I'm pretty much in the same boat. I've had ct scans, an ultra sound, blood tests, etc. and nobody can tell me anything. Researching on my own, I suspect either interstitial cystitis or diverticulitis. Both can cause pain in the pelvic area. Right now I am sick and tired of doctors and hearing that they don't know what's going on. I've decided to just tough it out for a while and hope I can find the right direction to go.

I hope you can find some help soon. I think I understand how you feel!

Could be muscle spasms in that area. Try wet heat in the area of the ovaries to see if it helps that area to feel better and see if you get a relaxed feeling.

I've tried dry heat, wet heat, and pain killers. None of them really work. My doctor thinks it's either scar tissue or IBS...she's got me on a new drug, Reglan, and if that doesn't work, my only option is a laparoscopy with general anesthesia. I already hate the new drug...it's making me constipated...but I don't relish having surgery. I'm at a loss...

RoundRobin, Was wondering how you are doing with your ovarian pain? Did the medication work for you, aside from the constipation? Hope you are doing well.
Tiona

Tiona: Thanks for checking in. It's dying down...slowly. I've opted to do nothing for now. Pelvic exam and ultrasound show no masses, so I'm just hoping my ovaries are on their way to final and total shutdown (god that sounds awful doesn't it?)

Hi RoundRobin,

I read this thread and saw that you were suffering with abdominal pains that your doctors couldn't explain. Since Oct 07 I've been getting lots of inflammation pain in the left lowe abdomen and it gets worse with periods or a few hours after sex (due to the pushing and prodding, I guess ). Had ultrasound, ovaries were normal, tested for occult blood in the faeces - normal, 3 doctors told me it's probably IBS.

Did some research on my own and found that the lastest research confirms that IBS can produce inflammation. Went to a naturopath and she said that also around peri time, when estrogen levels become low or when a person is estrogen dominant (meaning out of control and not enough progesterone to balance the estrogen) it can produce inflammation. I've been taking herbs that she's given me to balance out hormones and control the inflammation and these seemed to work well, except when I have a flare-up, like when I have sex and hours later I feel sore in the left side, or when I get a full period (which thankfully isn't that often anymore) and then things are bad, bad, bad.

I am terrified of doing a colonoscopy, and I know that even if I do one it will come up clear. My last doc did some blood tests and told me that if I had colon cancer there would have been certain abnormalities in the actual readings of the white blood cells and other markers, and so she said not to worry and that I have IBS. But no one can get rid of this left sided pain that feels like soreness or stitches or both, or sometimes the inflammation is so bad that I can't even walk without jarring the area and it really hurts.

Also my naturopath says that the left ovary is so close to the left side of the bowel that this is why things like periods, etc, can really affect the bowel and make us more crampy.

Have you had anymore answers to your problem? I am curious to see if you have had anymore info as to what is going on with us.

One last thing - I read in a website on IBS that pain during or after sex is possible and it usually happens on the left side of the abdomen. Curious, isn't it?

Hope to hear from you soon. Sylvia

I have a friend who has the same symptoms you are describing. The pain was so bad she went to the ER several days ago. They did a CT scan and found out she had diverticulitis.

J

Hi,

I thought about diverticulitis, except that it brings with it diarrhea and bleeding in the stools as well as fever. I have none of those symptoms, but I will check with my doctor when I next see her.

Cheers, Sylvia

Sylvia,
Seems like you have had a good check up and that is great. Funny you described the exact pain I have been having for such a long time, funny kind of sad in a way I am glad to hear someone else is having this to.
I do still get periods am 55 years young but did skip 2 months recently. I decided not to go with the colonoscopy yet but did find something that really helps that nasty pain.
Its called BIO FREEZE or another one is called FREEZE IT you can google them and they have menthol and some herbal stuff in it but believe you me after a few days of using it, the pain has almost gone away.
I also get it after a joyful time with hubby, thats odd that it happens that way but the way you describe how the ovary is close to bowel all makes sense. Now in Doc Northdrops book she talks about these things called EICOSANOID IMBALANCE and how this affects inflamation, etc a very good read its in her book called The Wisdom of Menopause.

So if you find anything that helps you in the natural relm of it all please PM me I would love to know.

God bless you
Tinks

Hi Tinks

I do have Dr Northrup's book and I vaguely remember reading something about the eiconoid imbalance. I will have to read it again, except we're moving in less than 2 weeks and all my books are already packed and sealed in boxes , so I will have to wait until I unpack.

When I get to Sydney I will go and see my usual naturopath; he's been through many episodes of IBS with me, since my 20s (I am now 46). So I would say he knows my condition fairly well. The naturopath I see at the moment is convinced I have inflammation and it's all due to the hormones, but though the herbs she's given me have worked really well when I don't have a period, the minute I get a period the whole inflammation comes back big time and the same thing with sex

I will keep you posted on any natural remedies that work. I am also holding back from having any invasive tests. The only thing I did as far as the bowel was concerned was to have the occult blood test, where they look for microscopic blood in the stools. That's an easy one to do, all you do is collect a bit of poop from 3 different stool movements and take them to the lab in a little bottle. That test came back clear. My doc told me that if there were a cancer of some kind or polyps, then there would be the presence of microscopic blood, and that's when they then recommend a colonoscopy. Have you had this done yet? I mean the occult blood thing? At least it brought me a little peace of mind, even though I'm still living with this condition.

Cheers, sylvia

You know its somthing to finally have found someone who describes ones pain to the T like we arent strange birds after all
No I didnt do the poop test yet but will consider the funny thing is that just like you when the period is about to come it hurts on the left side so badly.
I once had a docter about 10 years ago say that it also had something to do with the egg traveling down dont remember exactly how it went but anyways thats what she said.
It is an inflamation I totally agree with you because once I apply heat like a heating pad it soothes it, I also have began my supplements of Fish oil, Magnesuim and evening primros oil.
I also take probicotic because I to have IBS and eat yogurt especailly the ACTIVIA BRAND.
Its all tied in somehow.
So please Pm me anytime I would like to stay in contact with you since I to have this issue.
Now please when you have a moment google the BIOFREEZE you wont believe the difference it has made just after using it a week, its a greenish cool gel you just rub it on and then after a while you feel the cool warm minty effect, I also have a job where I cook for at least 4 hrs a nite and at nite I come running home to put this stuff on my hurting feet.

Hope your move goes well, it must be beautiful out there where you are going.
KEEP IN TOUCH MY FREIND,
Warmly
Tinks

Hi

I'm 59 and I think my ovaries are going for the "Last Hurrah" hot flash surge and ovaries up and down specifically the right one. It makes you go into the Am I going crazy mode.

Take care!

Girls, I hate to tell you this, but the ovaries never shut down after meno; they simply stop making as much progesterone/estrogen, and other parts of the body like the adrenals, body fat and even peripheral nerves take over and make the hormones we need (as long as we are in good health, that is). I've been reading quite a lot of medical books lately on what actually happens after meno with the ovaries and the hormones, etc. Very enlightening!

That's interesting. If they never shut down then we can be subject to all kinds of not-so-phantom post-meno symptoms.

I too have had lower pain since mid July 2008 although whether it's ovarian or not the docs can't tell me. I have had what I thought was period-like cramping and had (along with the usual Annual) a pelvic inner-ultrasound done, and some bloodwork. Nothing conclusive other than a few small fibroids (can't cause pain, says gyn, too small). I have no bleeding and no period since Dec 2006.

'Course then you're sent to a GI doc. She immediately wanted a colonoscopy. That was on August 26th. Gotta' tell you: It was not a horrible test to go through for me other than the throbbing migraine I developed from fasting the previous day which made me a grouch with the outpatient nurses. I'd read the horror stories on the net about waking up during the procedure in pain and I did--sort of--wake up and heard myself say, "that hurts" a couple of times but went right back into sedation, so it's all a very vague memory. I think there are way worse tests than the c-scope as long as the sedatives are administered skillfully. I used OsmoPrep tabs as the laxative and they were very gentle. Milk actually does me a way worse job with my lactose-intolerance.

I had expected colon-prep cramps to add to the pain/cramping I already had. The GI doc removed a polyp and I get results Sept 9th. In the meantime, I can tell you as I will tell her (the GI doc) that the colonoscopy wasn't bad but the next day I felt like I'd fallen downstairs. The colonoscopy exacerbated my pre-existing abdo/pelvic pain. Very tender. I was tired and had a big bruise from the IV. Stabbing pains cont'd for about 4 days on both sides on my lower abdomen--the right is where the polyp was removed. You get a little worried because friends told me, "Oh I had no pain the next day--I went right back to work". Yeah, right. But now it's been 5 days and I feel like I'm healing from the colonoscopy inner-tenderness but the pelvic/ovarian/abdo pain persists on and off.

It's very frustrating to run up these med bill deductibles (insurance only pays for part, it's a PPO) and still know virtually nothing other than you're not getting better. I'm also fighting not falling into a depression because of all this. I try not to think about biopsies, either.

Ladies, keep updating. I'd like to continue to hear from you how things go for you.

After TEN MONTHS of no periods and no ovarian pain, it's all back with a vengeance. A few days ago, I felt some period-like cramping, but thought "nah, it's just gas." Nope. Ended up bleeding like I haven't done for years, since just before my second endometrial ablation. In the middle of the night, the day after my period came back, I woke up with really, really bad pain. Pretty sure it's an ovarian cyst. Went through this same thing a year ago.

I posted last February about all this. Thought at the time it was IBS or whatever, I think because I was told my cysts were too small to cause this much pain. I've since decided that the docs who told me this have NO CLUE what they are talking about.

I am sick and tired of this. The pain is so bad at times I just curl up in a ball. Advil helps but if I take too much, my stomach gets really bad, then I have pain AND a bad gut to deal with. Feels like I can't win.

When will I get from menoPAUSE to menoSTOP!?!?!??!?!??

Thanks for letting me rant. For those of you also going through this, I hope you find your answers and get some help.

I agree with the "no clue"! Ob/gyn's are too busy with their breadandbutter (babies) to worry too hard about post meno women. They know a lot but they don't know enough.

Are you going to see the doctor again? By the way I have the same problem with my stomach---my doc says take no Advil, etc., only Tylenol for pain bec my stomach is a mess. But I do anyway sometimes and regret it--like you, I end up with lower pain and upper gastritis pain at the same time. It's wonderful.

No problem with the rant we all need to let it off somewhere and same to you: find your answers and get some help.

You are exactly right about the "baby" docs! I really like my gyno but I'm afraid I may need to move on to someone who is more "into" menopause than he is. Meantime, I will call him tomorrow--this crap always happens on a holiday and/or weekend--and see if he has a plan B. I cannot do this much longer.

Right now the pain is really bad in my lower back, but just on one side. I don't know if it's my hip or ovary or what. I can imagine all the darn tests with no conclusions. Too bad this doesn't happen to men. There would already be a telethon. And if I see one more erectile dysfunction/Flomax commercial I am going to throw something at the darn TV! Sorry guys. I'm just losing it.

Hi all,

I am still having periods, but somehow they seem to be more painful than they ever were, and in between I have heaps of crampy pain, uterine cramping, bowel cramping, stitches on the lower-left side of the bowel (ovary?)...who knows any more; and sometimes I get the pain on the right side.

I had my second ultrasound in 8 months because I just didn't know what to do any more. My gynie tells me all is normal! Well, at least that's good news, but one thing she did see on the ultrasound image was a very gurgly bowel. It looked like a tornado on the weather map

I've given up going to doctors about my bowel because they simply want to send me off to all sorts of horrible invasive tests like a colonoscopy . Finally, I had a good chat with my naturopath and described all my symptoms and pains to him. He said that none of my symptoms were synonimous with any of the bad bowel problems, such as: tumours, polyps, chron's disease, ulcerative colitis or diverticulitis. He said I have a very bad case of irritable bowel and considering the amount of stress I've been under in the last 2 years, he's not surprised. [In the last 2 years I lost my mother, my cat, moved out of the city, couldn't get a job, went through a deep depression with my husband, went into peri, had palps, had panic attacks, had a breast cancer scare, moved back to the city because I couldn't get a job in the country, still looking for work and now this horrible IBS thing that no one can explain - plus I'm still grieving for my mother and cat and still trying to cope with all the meno symptoms], and so, my naturopath said no wonder I am so bad. No only that, but fluctuating hormones do affect the lining of the bowel (to make matters worse)! Even my gynie agreed with this!

And to think that all this time I thought I was having ovarian pain, but the bowel is all over the reproductive system and can mimic a lot of pains that make us think there is something wrong with our reproductive system. It's all very complicated.

The short of it is that I am now going to go on treatment with natural herbs, which can work wonders on the digestive system, I am getting my hormones balanced out with a higher dosage of natural progesterone (attending a specialist meno clinic here in Sydney) and I will go to counselling as I am still very much in deep grief about mum, and I always think about morbid things, including death.

I guess when I look at the whole picture I am not surprised that my bowel is in a big mess.

Has anyone had a similar experience where they thought it was the ovaries/uterus, but it turned out to be more bowel-related?

Cheers, Sylvia

My total empathy to you! Go ahead and lose it---I time my "losing its" with an actual timer--my friend thinks it's nuts but otherwise my emotions will take me away for days and I feel even worse physically. I learned it from a book on women and depression.

And why is it that this stuff does happen on holidays? I'm beginning to hate the holidays sometimes. Keep updated if you learn anything.

Your pain symptoms sound a lot like mine pain-wise except I don't have a period any longer. The pains that move and "stitches" of pain first right and some on left. I still feel the colonoscopy has made it worse but it's only been 6 days so I need more healing time despite what they say about it being "simple" procedure.

That's interesting that they caught your bowel in tornado-mode. I would find that comforting and attribute my pain to IBS just to rest my mind a little.

I thought it was ovaries/uterine problem but ended up at GI doc and I'm still waiting. Your story strikes my heart because my pain started after a long year of protracted (helpless feeling) stress and so I've been experiencing depression both before the pains started and presently. LIke you I do wonder if it is a consequence of grief and heartbreak. My favorite aunt died after having cancer all through the fall 2007. We buried her in January and a week before I found out my sweet pal, my dog-buddy of 8 years, had congestive heart failure. I nursed her through 3 months of pills pills and special diets but she died almost in my arms. It was a horrible experience. A week before that a friend passed from a stroke--a lovely woman who liked to write like I do. I think it was too much at once. I went into summer wanting to new dog but had conflict with family members who weren't keen on a new pet, then when I found a dog and met her, I chickened out---the prevailing fear was that I didn't want to see another dog die again.

That same week, the "ovarian" pain began. Linkage? I don't know. I still don't but like you, I wonder. I start back to work from summer recess tomorrow and I hope I feel better with the exercise and return to a regular routine, hopefully without pain (of all kinds) getting in the way. But I can identify with your feelings: thinking about death, what will become of me, us, that kind of thing.

My deep condolences on the loss of your mum and your kitty (I have a cat, too). When we are depressed, the world is so much heavier and dark. I think you are brilliant to go to counseling, get natural care and everything good you are doing for yourself. Please accept my "cheers" of support. ---TC

Dear TC,

Thank you for your message. I must say that you are courageous going for the colonoscopy! And I am sure the reason you are now so tender is because there must have been some inflammation in the bowel, which in the absence of blood in the stools points to IBS. My naturopath told me that polyps don't give any symptoms, by the way, except sometimes they bleed, but they don't generally cause pain or anything like that.

I noticed all my symptoms coming on around the time my hubby was going through a deep depression, this was about 10 months ago, and right after all the deaths in the family and other circumstances. So yes, I believe a person can develop pain (especially IBS) when something intensely emotional happens in their life.

I feel for your and your doggie. I love animals so much (sometimes more than humans ) and whenever I see a sick animal or one in distress I tend to suffer right along with it. As to the loss of your favourite aunty please accept condolensces too. It is so difficult losing someone we love and who has been there most of our lives and suddenly they are not there any more. When my mother passed on I simply didn't see any reason to go on living even though I had a good relationship with my husband. I guess blood really is thicker than water, right? Even now, when things get too much for me I think that if I die I won't mind so much because my mother will be there and my cat Henry and my dad, and his dog Lofty. They are all there. Well, I still have Henry's twin sister with me, Mitzy, and she's 16 years old, so I wouldn't want to leave her behind. Sorry, I don't mean to sound morbid, but at times like this I sometimes get a little depressed.

Don't get me wrong though, I do want to have a long life and a happy one, but only if my health is going to be good too. I always say, what's the point of living a long life if one is always going to be suffering?

And this is one of the reasons I am taking the natural alternative. I've tried the doctors before and I've seen what they did to both my mother and father. I won't even tell you their stories because it will only depress you. In any case, I believe there has to be an alternative and I hope that this is the way for me.

I hope that your results from the biopsy come out well. I am sure they will. In the meantime, have you tried to drink some chamomille tea? It is very refreshing and it's a natural antispasmodic, which can really help with bowel pain.

Please keep us posted about your test results. I shall be thinking of you.

Cheers, Sylvia

Well I'm nearly 50 so the c-scope was on the horizon anyway. And as I posted in a previous post--it was not that bad other than my migraine and the after-effects.

I recognize your thoughts about joining our loved ones and about suffering. I still tell my dog I'll join her someday. These thoughts are universal to humankind. You are not alone. I do try, for myself, to realize that depression talks gloomy and always will, so I move on, try and do something active and give myself time to heal emotionally. However you and I have now been hit with the added stress of physical problems and that is a new challenge and unfortunately being sad I think makes it harder to manage the pains.

I don't know if you've started counseling yet but it has been helpful to me in the past to sort through my feelings. I've also read books and online articles on handling grief. They are helpful as well.

I love chamomile tea. Thanks for reminding me. I tend to run to the Diet Pepsi first and forget how comforting a hot cuppa tea can be.

Dear TC

I will be going to counselling, possibly in the next few weeks. Right now I've started on the herbs to see how I go with the IBS. Unfortunately, I just suffered a lower back spasm this week and I can hardly walk or do anything around the house. Can you believe it? I haven't had one of these for many years! I wonder if that, too, is attributed to stress!

Keep in touch.

Love, Sylvia

Sorry I missed your post I've been working and also didn't realize there was a second page. I pull my back out all the time. How are you doing now?

RoundRobin: didn't mean to hijack your thread. I'm wondering how things have been going for you with the pain and doctors. I see the GI tomorrow. Hope for a benign on the polyp but then where do I go from there. I'm still having pain. I have good days and bad.

Hi

I think the herbs are settling down the IBS a little and I'm hoping it will all hold. Haven't started counselling as right now I'm looking for work and don't have the money to pay for the fees. In any case, I am trying to do some relaxation at home and taking life as it comes. I am sure that will help. How are you doing?

Dear Ladies
been reading your threads with interest and sympathy for your losses.Add to that physical pain and emotions all over the place and really is hard..
Am 57 so obviously Post Menopausal though I still take HRT.The worst thing for me physically is the continuous stomach upsets.Used to be a time when I could eat just about anything now have to have small amounts little and often.Caffeine is out so no more tea,coffee and sodas.Have almost eliminated sugar too but still have these upsets.Everything alright medically so think most of it is caused by stress.

.I think on the whole we women are a real tough lot.If men had to go through all this they would have committed suicide long ago!

God Bless to all
Elizabeth

Well said, Elizabeth! If men were the ones who had to reproduce and keep the human race going I'm afraid we would be an extinct species

Have you tried ginger tea and chamomille tea? They are both excellent for the digestive system and may help with the ulcers. Are you on natural HRT or conventional? I find natural methods usually take longer but they are safer and a lot more gentle on the body.

Best regards, Sylvia

quote name = Simba 2 date = 10th Sept 2008

Dear Elizabeth

Had to say that I am totally with you about men. At least from my experience, my hubby has no idea just how bad this is though I have tried to explain it to him. It has placed a massive strain on our relationship to say the least. I have been suffering severely with the sweating and he has been complaining that he is cold because I have to have the window open! Just wish they could be in our shoes for one day never mind the years this is taking. Among many other horrible symptoms, I too have had the gastro-intestinal one. Nausea is bad enough in pregnancy but with me that only lasted for three months thankfully and I had a lovely baby at the end of it. I cannot eat what I used to, sometimes dont even feel that hungry. Oh how I wish I could go back in time to the days when I felt really well and didn't wake up every morning with sweating and panic.

Hugs from Simba in the UK

Hi Simba

I think we all wish we could go back to the good old days . I am barely hanging in there these days with my mysterious IBS-like symptoms that never want to settle down, my depression and anxiety and panic attacks, my heart palpitations, etc, etc, etc. Thankfully, I am on natural HRT (bioidentical hormones) and the flashes went away and I do feel a lot better. Have you tried these? I must say they are helping a lot and I am hoping they will soon make me feel better all around.

While my hubby tries to understand he isn't always able to and I cannot blame him really, men's brains seem undeveloped from the word go as far as I'm concerned . Like I said before, if it were up to men to reproduce we'd be an extinct race!

Hope you find some relief from your symptoms. Have you explored herbs? Some Chinese herbs are excellent for menopausal symptoms. I tried Dong Quai before and that also stopped the flashes. Perhaps a visit to a naturopath or Chinese herbalist might be the go.

Cheers, Sylvia

Thank you Elizabeth for your thoughts. Many days I wish I could go out and get a new dog but I have too many med bills accumulated to even think about that right now. Someday I hope.

My update: Still having that pelvic pain, on and off, mostly on somedays. But my teeny colon polyp (about 3mm) was benign--that's good, huh? Now doc has ordered last thing she will order she says (and I inferred that then it's back to the gyn) two CT scans which are costing me an arm and a leg but I want them. I think this is what the gyn would order anyway. I am now over my deductible, ladies, let's celebrate! I'm a single woman so bills can be tough to juggle. Luckily the hospital is accepting a quarter of the total cost.

After this I am not sure what. If nothing shows up, good, but if it does....wow, we could go back and forth like that all day, huh? The scans are on September 12th, 2008, so anyone who has any advice I'd be glad to hear it.

Agree on the men. They have no idea unless perhaps they suffer from some condition or disease themselves chronically, that is, how it is for us women. Sympathies on the hot flashes and on having to watch what you eat/don't eat. I hate night flashes especially---just keep waking me up.

Hi,

Please keep us updated on the scan results. Happy to see that the polyp was benign. Has any doctor mentioned the possibility that the pains might be hormone-related? And of course we know that hormones can also affect the bowel. So perhaps the trick is to balance the hormones in the first place. I am doing that right now and hopefully things will get better. So far so good.

Hang in there. Cheers, Sylvia

Believe it or not, no, no doctor has mentioned hormones. We know about this possibility but seems it slipped their minds? ;-) The gyn practically pushed me out the door bec the abdo pain is my only symptom--no spotting or bleeding. I'm not real happy with them.

If the CT scan is non-definitive on a cause for these pains, then that's my next plan of action--to try hormones and see if that helps. Even if I don't stay on the hormones.

Thanks. So glad to hear you are doing better. By the way, didn't know hormones affected the bowels. How does that work?

I believe the fluctuation of hormones can affect the lining of the bowel and even cause inflammation and this is why IBS can sometimes be triggered off or made worse by the hormones. Not fun going through meno, is it?

Have a nice weekend.

Sylvia

Dear Sylvia
Ain't that the truth!They get a little cold and we play Florence Nightingale.We drag around feeling terrible and they invite people to dinner!

Am on synthetic HRT Sylvia,as I live here in Amman,Jordan,Middle East and we have not got bio-identicals here.Having said that am doing well.Thank God.

Aprreciate your advice on the Ginger and Herbal Teas.Must say that I have found that I tend to get nauseated if I am very anxious so do use Zanax as needed.

It was lovely to hear from you so please stay in touch.

Love and Best Wishes
Elizabeth-the Whitest skinned British Lady in The Middle East!

Dear Friend
Honestly am not surprised that no Doctor has mentioned hormones.They very rarely do.We have to discover so much ourselves and that is why I love this Forum.

HRT takes about four weeks to kick in and does alleviate most of the worst symptoms.At first it might make your bowels a little more sensitive but this generally goes away after a period of time.I find the Milk of Magnesia-two small teaspoons after meals is very effective and gentle

Please keep us posted and let us know how you go on
Love and Blessings
Elizabeth

Thank you Elizabeth, I will. It's back to waiting time on the test results---a routine many of you are familiar with.

The CT scan was so fast--fascinating process and sophisticated machine. I was out the door in less than half an hour. Unfortunately, I turned back and went back in when I saw hive-welts erupting on my arms and neck and felt light-headed. Seems I had a reaction to the iodine contrast medium. I stayed in the ER a couple of hours but it did not get any worse (this time).

I think the radiology dept at the medical center I went to should observe their patients at least 15 minutes after the scans are done---I know sensitivity reactions like mine are uncommon but they occur from 15 to 30 mins afterwards, usually. That's what I've read. I think if one is going to get a severe reaction that will probably happen as soon as the IV'ed iodine hits your system.

The ER doctor recommended I keep taking Benadryl but I hate Benadryl. The diphenhydramine makes my heart race. I took one; that was enough. Hate the foggy head thing, too.

Dear Elizabeth

It must be difficult living in the Middle East; I take it your hubby works there? I am glad you are coping, however, but remember that you can also get bio-identicals over the net (I used to buy a 2% progesterone cream from the States), but of course that was the lowest dosage and you need a prescription for anything else. Still, it might be worthwhile doing a bit of research on this or perhaps if you get to the UK any time soon you can visit a natural hormone place and convert over and they can always monitor you long distance. Well, whatever path you take I wish you good health.

Meanwhile I have another health situation to deal with (as if meno isn't enough!). They have found a small nodule on my thyroid and I have to get it checked out. They say that 95% of nodules are benign, but of course I always think the worst. I really don't know how much more stress I can handle at this stage. I go to see the specialist in October and so I have to wait a whole month before I can do anything about this and I'm not sure what's worse - the waiting or the actual tests that I am sure the doc will subject me to

Love,
Sylvia - a very stressed perimenopausal woman in the sunny city of Sydney

Dear Sylvia
Lovely to hear from you again.Let us just put it this way The Middle East is very interesting!My husband is a Phd in Civil Engineering and we also own and run a small Hotel called The Red Rose.I always tell the ladies if anyone comes out my way am happy to accomodate Menopausal Sisters for free!

My husband is a Palestinian,born in Jordan and educated in the West.He is broad minded and although a Muslim does not pracise and we celebrate Christmas with the Tree,turkey and all the trimmings.I am a Catholic and free to pracise my Religion,pursue hobbies etc. although some foriegn ladies wed to less educated Arabs do suffer.Many make a Midnight assisted escape or get divorced.Unfortunately,they do not always get custody of their children so it is very sad.

Regarding the nodule, I pray it is nothing.My neighbour had quite a large one detected a year ago.It turned out to be a benign but large Cyst.It was drained and all is well.I think Thyroid problems of one kind or another are very common Sylvia at this "Most Exciting"time in our lives.Also the fact that you are kept waiting a month suggests there is no urgency so try to relax-stop touching it!Can honestly feel you doing that a lot.

We pray for the best outcome.
Do keep us posted
Love
Elizabeth

Sylvia: How did they find the nodule?

Dear Elizabeth,

Well, your life sounds very interesting and I am glad you are married to a broad minded hubby. I have heard many stories of women married to Middle Eastern men who have to escape and leave the kids behind and this is very, very sad indeed. But not every man is the same, and that is good news!

As for my nodule, my doc said 95% of these are usually benign, but you know how it is - when we have something we often think the worst. I hope all will be okay.

If I'm ever out that way I will certainly look you up, and likewise if you ever decide to come and visit the land downunder. Let me know and I'll be glad to show you around

Take good care and thank you for your prayers!

Love, Sylvia

Hi,

The nodule was found by coincidence when I went to have an ultrasound of my neck for a totally different reason. Since then I had another ultrasound and in the last 6 months the nodule went from 1.6cm to 1.8cm, which is virtually no change. Still, for peace of mind my doc suggested I see a specialist and get it checked out. Let's hope it's nothing serious.

Have a great week! Sylvia