stabbing pain in lower abdominal area alternating between left and right - Women's Health Message Board

beadgoddess · 07-14-2003, 06:54 PM

My daughter has been experiencing a sharp stabbing pain in her lower abdomen for almost 3 years now (she's now 18). The pain alternates from the left side to the right side, not really coinsiding with ovulation, just pretty much at random, no particular time of month. We have tried all sorts of things. After an ultasound showed an ovarian cyst which docs believed to be blood filled, we purt her on birth control and it disappeared. She then developed migraines and they took her off the birth control (thinking that was the cause) and the abdominal pain came back. They put her back on birth control and the pain did not go away. After CAT scans and ultrasounds which didn't really give conclusive evidence that anything was wrong, a laproscopy was performed. The found a hair-filled cyst on one ovary, some scar tissue and a smaller cyst on the other ovary. All was removed and we thought the cause of all her pain was gone.

Here we are 6 months after the surgery and she is still experiencing the pain, quite severe at times, where she is doubled over in pain. They said she had no endrometriosis and that she was clean after the cyst removal. We are both sick of all this (especially her, lol) and are tired of the "we don't know" answers. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

jessilynn68 · 07-14-2003, 07:59 PM

Hi there -

Sometimes the pill, or other hormone treatments, can "hide" endo. Many women I know, and many women here, have been told they have endo at one point or another, then they go on some form of treatment, then go back in, and the docs can't see it. I know I had 2 laps before I was finally diagnosed with endo. I had been on the pill the whole time, and I think it kept it small enough that the docs missed it. When I went off the pill, the endo grew rampantly. Its my theory, and not proven, but I have no other explanation.

Also, did they call the blood filled cyst an endometrioma? That is typically found in women with endo. I had one 2 years before I was finally diagnosed, and my doc never linked it for me.

I might try a different doctor, and maybe go to a reproductive endocronologist. Even if she isn't trying to conceive at the moment, they are typically much more aware of what causes problems for women. good luck!

Boundi · 07-15-2003, 11:21 PM

Sounds like your talkin about me. I started with my pain when I was about 14. This was about a year after I started my period. I alway had bad cramps, but since I always had them I thought they were normal. Anyway, pain was with ovulation and periods at first. Then it would be at random. I married at 18 and sex became very painful. Had my first annual exam shortly after I married. By doc sent me to a specialist. The specialist suspected endo. I had a lap and sure enough it was all over. After my lap my pain subsided greatly. Hope this helps.

normorcrazy · 07-16-2003, 01:00 PM

Did the doctor tell you cysts can re-grow? She could have more cysts again. They can sometimes be caused from irregular hormones. Talk to her doctor about it again.