Can't Figure Out This Abdominal Pain

Updated on February 20, 2009
J.T. asks from McKinney, TX
20 answers

Hi mamas!

Yesterday, while playing with preschoolers, I felt a sharp pain on the left side of my lower abdomen. I'm guessing right around the ovary. While I was active, I wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary or too strenuous. Plus, this is such a pinpoint pain, I don't think I pulled anything. After I felt those first pains, I let up as much as I could with playing, though I remained active with the kiddos.

I've only felt that pain related to round ligament pain around weeks 6 or 7 of my previous three pregnancies. In fact, that's how I knew I was pregnant the last two pregnancies. I'm not due for my period for another two days (really, more like 4 due to my slightly longer than 28 day cycle). I felt several sharp stabbing pains yesterday and wondered if I'm pregnant. Today, the pain has been more consistent and more of a throbbing (instead of stabbing)pain. It's just more present and hurts every now and then, even while sitting still. While it's consistent, it's not constant.

Someone mentioned a blocked fallopian tube to me. What do you think? If it continues tomorrow, I'll schedule something with my OB/GYN, but just wondered if anyone else has experienced this.

FYI. I had very, very mild endometreosis years ago, before my first pregnancy. Have not had similar symptoms since, so I don't think that's it. I'm also not constipated or having any problems peeing. TMI! :)

Thanks so much (in advance) for sharing your experiences!

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So What Happened?

Turns out I'm pregnant! Yippee! Thanks for all your great advice and for caring enough to try to help!

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M.D.

answers from Dallas on

Overian cyst? Ectopic pregnancy? Adhesions? Call the OB/GYN immediately and have a physician address it. Good luck!

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E.L.

answers from Dallas on

I get this kind of pain frequently right around when I ovulate. I read up on it, and it's called "ovulation pain" or "mittelschmertz" (sp?) and many women have it. My midwife told me it gets more noticeable as you get older when I asked her why after my second child it hurt more. I usually take Tylenol or Ibuprofen for a day or two and then it's gone.

I know you said your period is due in a just a few days, but is it possible that you had a late ovulation this cycle? If you aren't on hormonal birth control, to know for sure when you are ovulating you could start charting your cycles. Either by observing cervical mucus or just taking your temperature at the same time every morning when you first wake up with a Basal thermometer. (About $10 from Walgreens). ccli.org is a Natural Family Planning website that has good info about how to chart your fertility, not only for family planning but just for knowing what your body is doing too.

2 moms found this helpful
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A.W.

answers from Dallas on

I'm sure you've had many responses & maybe everyone has had the same experiences, but in case they haven't here goes:
Pain due to pregnancy
Pain due to an ovarian cyst
Pain due to a pocket of trapped gas in the intestines

1 mom found this helpful
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B.C.

answers from Dallas on

You may want to contact your doctor immediately. Although your appendix are actually on the right side of your body, quite often, the pain associated with appendicitis manifestst itself in the lower left abdominal area. What you are describing sounds very similar to that, with minimal pain that gradually increases. Give your doctor a call and follow their recommendations.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.E.

answers from Dallas on

It could also be a cyst on your ovaries.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.W.

answers from Dallas on

I have several ovarian cysts over the past 5-6 years. One got quite big, that if got a little bigger the Dr. was going to do surgery. Fortunately, over time the size of it got smaller and eventually went away. The pain was a sharp pain in my sides and sometimes it was a dull pain and I had time sleeping on my stomach. This might be the cause, they are common in women. Ask for a sonogram and they can check it out. They can give you medicine to help with the pain, if you need it. Majority of people they don't do surgery, only a few where the cysts get so large they remove them. Hope this helps

1 mom found this helpful
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M.L.

answers from Dallas on

It could be a kidney stone. I had one of those a few years back and what you are describing sounds really familiar. It was awful! I've had two kids naturally and one kidney stone - and frankly, I'd rather have another kid.

1 mom found this helpful
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P.M.

answers from Dallas on

Sounds like an ovarian cyst to me. I have had many of these and I always knew about I had one 2 or 3 days before I start. Mine would pop every few months or so. Talk to your dr an easy sonogram will determine if that is the problem. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.B.

answers from Dallas on

I had this a few weeks ago and it hurt for about 4 days. I did go to the ob/gyn and he it might be a cyst. He gave me some pain pills and that did help, but the pain just disappered on its own. But, I would just go ahead and make an appointment.

Hope you feel better soon.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

It kind of sounds like the pain I felt after my 1st pregnancy when my doctor said I was having gall spasams. He suggested I take zantac every few hours (it's been almost 8 years, so please don't take this like I totally know what I'm talking about!) That helped and then it went away. It was a sharp pain, not all the time, on the side, and sometimes I thought maybe if I ate something it would feel better, but that didn't seem to really help.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.R.

answers from Dallas on

it sounds like something I have felt before. It actually happened to me more than once and has been different things each time. You need to see your doctor for sure.The first time I felt it it was cysts on my ovaries. The second time it was the stabbing pain that seamed to come out of nowhere and would take my breath away. I let it go because it would go away for several days.Then I started getting the stabbing and a pressure feeling. I had two masses and had to have them removed. One was attached to my tube and I almost lost it. I remember looking it up on the internet and symtoms could be related to a number of things including tubal pregnancies. So the bottom line is that nobody can tell you what is wrong unless they are your doctor. He can give you an exam and will probably have you get a sonagram.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.B.

answers from Dallas on

I don't want to sound like an alarmist, but I have had a similar abdominal pain when I had an ectopic pregnancy a few years ago. An ectopic is very serious and needs immediate medical attention. I really hope this isn't the case, but definitely something worth checking out if the pain doesn't go away very quickly.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.E.

answers from Dallas on

It could be diverticulitis, which is an inflammation of the colon. It is usually on the lower left side. I had a problem before Christmas and learned all about it. Try eating yogurt with active cultures every day. Have you ever had a colonoscopy? They can diagnose it with that or a CT scan. If bad you will need to take antibiotics to get over it. It happens when pockets in your colon get food, seeds, etc. caught in them and then the area gets infected. It can be very painful. Let me know what your doctor says. Good luck. L. E.

1 mom found this helpful
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E.S.

answers from Dallas on

Well if you've experienced pain like this with previous pregnancies you might want to try taking a pregnancy test before you go to the doctor to rule that out. I don't know much about a blocked fallopian tube, but it definitely sounds like it's related to your reproductive system and if it doesn't go away or gets worse I would definitely see your physician or ob/gyn. I had extreme pain on my left side a few years ago...a mix of a dull ache, stabbing, shooting, and throbbing pain and it turned out to be a benign cyst on my ovary. Unfortunately it had gotten quite large and they had to remove my ovary and fallopian tube. I don't think this is what you have, but if you're hurting on that side it could be something to do with your ovary or fallopian tube. Good luck and I hope everything is alright!:) I'll send my prayers your way!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.K.

answers from Dallas on

Hi,
I had similiar sharp pains when I ended up having adhesions inside...seems that my colon was adhesed to other internal organs. The sharp pain was caused by bowel moving through the area that had adhesions - pulling the adhesions as it passed through. It felt like a knife stab. However, it felt like that also when my kids would jump on me (playing of course :o))...when they jumped on that one area, it was very painful.
Hope that helps a little...everyone is so different, hope you find out soon!!! Blessings to you!
A.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.B.

answers from Dallas on

My first thought when I read your post was ovarian cyst.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.E.

answers from Amarillo on

J., could it possibly be an etopic(spelling??) pregnancy??
A.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.J.

answers from Dallas on

I experienced lower abdomen pain three times in my life. The first time I experienced lower abdomen pain it was 5 years ago I found out I was pregnant in one of my tubes. I had to have surgery because I was bleeding on the inside. My Tubes had been tie, clipped and burned for 12 years. Then again March of 2007 I had that same pain and found out I had a ectopic pregnancy again I had to have surgery and no baby. In May 2007 2months later I had that same pain and I found out I was pregnant again Lord, I had no tubes left to get pregnant again because the other two ecoptic pregnancy destroyed them. This time he was in my ovaries and now I have a beauty healthly little boy!! I wasn't happy about it at first because I was 42 years old and I didn't want anymore kids I already had two 21 & 18 years old. But I had to realize If God sent me through all of that to get this one child in this world then I know he must have plan and purpose for my child. So It is very important that you go have that checked out.

1 mom found this helpful

P.W.

answers from Dallas on

Yes, it could be all the things mentioned and you shouldn't ignore it......which you aren't, but it could just be your colon too. You could have a little stomach upset.

Another possibility is you are getting your period. I used to have a lot of cramping with my periods and it started the way you describe.

I'd call the doctor today just for peace of mind so that you can relax over the weekend.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.S.

answers from Dallas on

I had the same thing happen about a year and a half ago, same area and everything, and it turns out it was a cyst on my ovary that ended up rupturing, which is a good thing since they didn't have to go in and do anything to it. But that was some pretty intense pain before it did rupture. I have 3 kids and I was thinking some of the same things you are but they did the sono and verified there had been the cyst present. I knew it had ruptured b/c of the "bursting" sensation and then a very obvious abnormal discharge :0

K.

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