August 6, 2019
In the winter of 2018 – 2019, I began to experience occasional minor pain in my lower left abdomen. The pain would only surface in the evenings between dinnertime and bedtime. At first I was not worried; I figured it was indigestion or stress. The pain felt exactly like menstrual cramps, but only on one side, very near my left ovary. After several weeks, I began to be concerned.
I visited my primary physician; she ordered an abdominal and transvaginal ultrasound, which showed only some fluid in my uterus. Then I saw my gynecologist, who performed a uterine biopsy and a urinalysis. Both were negative. That doctor recommended further testing to rule out anything serious “before assuming it was muscular”. I underwent a CT scan, which was negative, but the sigmoid colon image was unclear.
All of this took several months. During this time, I kept thinking, if I don’t have cancer… if I don’t have something serious… then I am fine. Then all is well. Then I can move on with a healthy new life.
Meanwhile, I avoided all gluten and dairy products for several weeks, then reintroduced each, to see if they affected my symptoms. There was no change.
Over these months, the pain began to move, gradually encompassing my whole abdomen at times, often accompanied by severe bloating, and occurring at various times of day rather than just in the evening. Sometimes the pain would be as severe as labor contractions.
My GP sent me to a gastroenterologist. She asked about my diet (which is vegetarian, high fiber) and scheduled a colonoscopy, although I’d had a negative one eight months earlier. Given my family history of colon cancer and a colonoscopy finding diverticulosis and polyps three years before, and the fact that the pain had originated close to the sigmoid colon area, she wanted to rule out intestinal disease.
The colonoscopy, thankfully, was negative.
I finally returned to my gynecologist for a possible laparoscopy, so that she could have a look inside and see what was going on. After a discussion of this, she looked at me and said, “You could have a laparoscopy, but I think I might not find anything.” After a pause, I replied, “If it were you, what would you do?”
“I would see a pelvic floor physical therapist,” replied the gyno.
I stood there dumbfounded. I consider myself pretty well-informed on health issues, but I’d never heard of such a thing. “I do my Kegels…” I said cluelessly.
She handed me a business card. “These people are the best. Don’t let your insurance company send you anywhere else.”
After three months and almost $1000 in physical therapy, I experienced little improvement.
I am extremely grateful not to have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
October 6, 2019 – Update
I still have bad days, times of severe bloating, abdominal cramps, and sometimes lower back pain. I’ve tried a low-FODMAP elimination diet, but it seemed to make no difference. I’m now trying CBD oil.
December 30, 2019 – Update
In the past few months, I have tried eliminating caffeine (no change). CBD oil did not make a difference. I finally had my annual gynecological checkup. I told the nurse practitioner (not the gyno who I’d seen before) that I was still having problems, and that I feel very frustrated that I have not had a diagnosis despite all the testing.
I told her that my symptoms really seem to be affected by my stress level. She launched into a long monologue all about anxiety and how anti-anxiety medication had helped her. She prescribed this medication for me (but I have not filled the script and don’t intend to – I’m concerned about side effects and also I’d prefer to explore holistic stress reduction methods before going that route). In my medical records she wrote that I have an anxiety disorder (??) and also “reactive depression”. She also recommended psychotherapy.
I had my records sent to a doctor who prescribes medical cannabis. I have three conditions which make me eligible – chronic pain, “anxiety” and glaucoma. I plan to try it.
March 30, 2020 – Update
I still have frequent abdominal pain, sometimes severe. It is very clearly triggered by stress. Over-the-counter pain relievers do nothing for it, and I do not want to take them regularly anyway. I have found only one thing that helps – a heating pad (which is impractical in certain situations such as working). I do yoga and meditate regularly. I continue to search for holistic methods of stress reduction and pain relief.
Inner Voice 