I can not believe how many people are having the same issues post c-section. I have a fire burning sensation in my left side, a little below the incision. My scar looks perfect - it is an internal burning. Any feedback?
thanks! ↑
I am really curious as to why it's always the lefy side my incision is lumpy on the left and not nearly as smooth looking as the right side. I did have a repeat surgery a week post-op from my c-section to removed a retained sponge. So for all you that think your lump is from a retained item it won't be. I was very very ill until it was removed. I am going to ask my doctor again abobut my incision mot feeling right ↑
I had my second c-section almost 3 weeks ago and I started having sharp comstant pains in my left side about 3 days ago and I am really sore. I can not cough or anything without major pain. ↑
hello girls,
just checking in again. seems no clear answers yet! as if....
anyway, went for a 2nd opinion to my mom's gyno. wow! what a relief! i felt like he really listened to me. the sympathy he gave me caused me to burst into tears like a big 'ol baby. i'm truly glad i went now, i half expected him to agree with my doc, but he DID NOT AGREE!! good, because i did not agree with her either!!! she wanted to put me on lupron for left sided pain post c-section. my sis is a drug researcher for a MAJOR med resource company. she did research for me and we both came to the same conclusion. this drug is NOT for everyone, the side effects are worse sounding than the actual condition. my doc wanted to try this because she thought it was endo based on a past history of the disease. this new guy actually listened to ALL my complaints, and said he would absolutely not prescribe lupron without a confirmation of endo through laparoscopy. he said it was not a drug to prescribe so indescriminately, just to 'rule out' a condition. he is going to do a laparoscopy on this thurs. 6-9-05. he said it sounded to him like classic adhesions NOT ENDO, and that is based on my complaints i.e. pain when i toot, laugh, cough, sneeze, bm, period, lay flat stretched out, or hold my bladder too long, and severe diarrhea. he said these are all typically assc. w/major adhesions, and there is a chance i will need a hysterectomy, or partial removal of the ovary on the affected side. since i am D O N E having kids this almost sounds like a welcome relief. he was so HONEST with me when i told i had researched adhesions and was concerned about having surgery to remove then, when surgey IS the cause. he said that was a major discussion of paradoxial proportions in med school. to operate or not, that is the question. so, we will go ahead anyway, just to find the answer, but at least i feel informed that it may not be the cure, and i might have to live the rest of my life on some form of narcotics. this will be my 2nd laparscopy in 15 years, so i pretty much know what to expect, but i still dread it. makes you wonder about some of these chics who actually want an elective c-section. my 1st 2 were vaginal and tough deliveries, but there is no way in hell i would ELECT to have my body sliced open, my guts piled on my chest while my insides a 'vacuumed' out because i think it would be easier. these women really ought to have their heads examined if they know the facts and still want a section!! maybe one's considering ELECTIVE c-sec should visit this page for an eye opener. sorry all, just had to vent!! anyway, wish me luck for thursday....arghhh. my email is nmoungo@charter.net for anyone who wants to share. i welcome thoughts and ideas, and am always happy to share mine ;)
peace-
nikki ↑
Nikki, how did your laprascopy go? Hope you will recover soon. I am hestitating to perform a laprascopy since my pains are bearable and don't want to be cut open again. I have pains about half of the time. Two Obgyn diagnosed me with adhesions. Don't know what to do. Looking for help. Thanks. ↑
For DG - I am experiencing the exact same thing as you, only on my right side. My c-section was done 3 years ago. I have recently lost 20 pounds and can feel a lump the size of a rubber bouncy ball. The doctor thinks it is a ball of scar tissue with nerves entwined in it, which is causing my pain. I'm having surgery on Thursday to have it removed, so I will let you all know if that's what it is. I think it is endometriosis, as I have the pain during my period, and I'm okay the rest of the time. So we'll see! Thanks for listening. ↑
hi girls, out of bed now and ready to get back to 'life', hopefully as i once knew it. thanks for asking after me linda :)
anyway, the laparoscopy went well, i had 2 very large adhesions coming out of the ab wall where the section cut was made. one wound around my bladder and intestines, while the other was connected to my uterus and then right above my belly button on my ab wall. i also had a blood filled cyst on my left ovary. there was NO sign of ENDO ANYWHERE. adhesions can cause 'cycle' pain, because you swell on your cycle thus pulling and stretching the adhesions and the organs they've connected to. unfortunately, i think dr.s probably think the pains are endo when they are more likely adhesions. i'm so glad my 2nd opinion doc well informed enough to make a very educated guess! when my endo was first removed over 14 years ago it was sooooo bad it was all over my uterus, even the back. it had spread to other organs and was making itself quite at home. beleive the experts when they tell you pregnancy can possibly cure it for some, it obviously did me, i'm living proof. i was ate up with the crap. not a sign of it now tho' and this is 3 kids later. i'm glad i had the surgery linda, even though it is no walk in the park, it is certainly not as bad as a c-section. the pain is somewhere close to my monthly cramping. the post op pain was much worse the 1st time around because i was a teeny person then, whose stomach had never been stretched out by pregnancy, nor felt the pain of pregnancy. older and wiser and more stretched out now i guess! its a pretty personal decision to go under the knife or not, it took me a year to get up the nerve, but im glad i did. at least now i know what the actual problem is and that i do not need lupron (thank god!). so for now it is just the waiting game to see how the next few cycles go. im much more optimistic. my doc put these 'patches' on my interior scar tissue to hopefully stop the re-emergence of the little devils. i'm lucky to live in st. louis which is a huge university-med school- research town, so there is usually the latest in treatment available here, if you find the right doc. i may not be 'cured' but at least i know what is wrong with me, and i think that is half the battle. so, if any of you are on the fence about laparoscopy, i say go for it. there is some relief in knowledge, even if there is no absolute cure for adhesions. if any of you live in missouri or close to it and want the name of my lovely lovely wonderful physician i would be happy to pass it on. just email me at nmoungo@charter.net. the next few cycles will provide me with better prognosis making capabilitites, so i will post an update here later.
peace- nikki ↑
Ditto 2 U all. I am 4 yrs post csect. Pain episodes began approx 10 mos post csec. Extremely terrible pain to mid right stomach. Last Aug had Lap and MD advised there was tons of SCAR tissue which she removed. Have been fine since BUT now 10 mos later another episode of pain. Had some spotting 1st thought it was period, but hr later the crushing pain came to stomach, back was like contractions, and trembling. This time felt feverish & like I was going to pass out, nausea. I take vicodin for it, but this time not much relief. Went back to MD and wants to do more U sounds. For the past 3 yrs I did ever test under the sun, and all they did find was a hernia of which they don't want to operate until I lose weight or have another baby. I was pregnant & miscarried in Dec. I don't want to wait again. I am glad to know I am not alone in my frustration and hopelessness on this. Why are there so many of us? There must be more too cause it took me this long to find this site. Also newest addition to symptoms is a discharge from belly button. Has anyone experienced that???? ↑
I had my third c-section in May of 2004 and I've had pain on my left side ever since... my baby is almost 13 months old... It is a very uncomfortable pain...and is not always localized in the same place. It extends from under my left rib cage through my lower abdomen...and also seems to have a pulling pain that radiates into my inner thigh and across my left leg...
It is gettting worse now that my cycles have returned. I am an avid breastfeeder and so I've just had my first period since my son's delivery. So I don't believe it is anything related to my ovaries or endometriosis...which I've never had... I conceived all three of my babies on the first try... they are spaced 24 and 23 months apart.
I had NO such issues after my first and second c-sections... The pain IS worse with my mentral cycle this month...
Sometimes I can feel what feels like a thick cord in my left side...
I've already been for an abodominal U/S and a colonscopy that came back unremarkable... I'm going to see my primary care doc again this next week... I saw him six months ago which is when I was referred to the colonoscopy and U/S tests... I saw my OB/Gyn at that time too as I suspected a possible hernia but she said it is not...
I DO trust my OB...she's extremely clinical and good... she performed all three of my c-sections... And I live in Boston with excellent hospitals--so if it is adhesions I would opt for the surgery.
I'm still nursing and plan to continue until my baby self-weans...
This pain is very uncomfortabe but stops short of being painful... no burning...but yes a twisting and pulling sort of pain.. like my circulation is being cut off the way you might feel wearing pants with a very tight waistband after a big meal--even when I'm not wearing anything...
I feel like I can't work out and get my figure back... and I can't sleep...it bothers me most at night... but lately I am bothered it during waking hours as well...
I have three small children that I am constantly lifting... but I don't think it is that... I think it is adhesions with a nerve pinched in there... I just want it to go away!!!! ↑
Hello all...
I had my surgery yesterday. The doctor initially thought my lump was a ball of scar tissue, but when he took it out he said it looked like endometriosis. Exactly what I thought! So he is sending it to be tested and will tell me for sure in a few days. The surgery was not bad at all, I'm a little sore today but nothing like I thought it would be like. Just wanted to let everyone know, don't be afraid to speak up, also do what your instincts tell you. If your pain affects your daily life, you should have it checked out. Don't wait! ↑
Hi All,
I just did a search to see if there were others out there..suffering as I am. I had a "normal" vaginal birth almost six years ago...Then a c-section almost 4 years ago...and 8 months into my son's life...I was pregnant with baby number 3. He will be 3 in Feb. LONG story short...I have ALways had pain on my left side..after baby#2.(my middle child)My dr."blew me off"..and I just stopped mentioning the pain. It wasn't until last Sept. that I couldn't take it anymore! She suggested another Dr. to see...I got in this past June 13th. He was very quick to diagnose my problem. THERE is an actual stitch STILL in my abdomen!!! I have to wait for surgery..it will be in Sept. and hopefully the pain (and infection) will finally go away.FOUR YEARS OF SUFFERING!!!(bad odour from the incision, and fever, and exhaustion and a very compromised life...but I am a Mom...we are supposed to "suck it up"...and keep going!!)
I feel validated...and I WILL get better!
tjconn@shaw.ca ↑
I had my 2nd C section 4 years ago and have had CONSTANT pain since- BURNING- pulling swelling. the Dr told me it would go away- the lump is the size of a pinky finger. It is severe when I ovulate and after I have sex. I have cried since my daughter has been born-
what can be done- have had pain injections, and no one seems to want to help- have been to 2 different Drs have had MRI nothing.chancery@direcway.com ↑
Well months later and POST surgery, It turns out that I was correct! Even the General Surgeon believed my "mass" to be Scar Tissue or an Incisional Hernia. I didn’t mention Endo to him because No one seemed to believe me and The CT scan/Ultrasound showed nothing but a small mass. I was not actually diagnosed with anything specific. Based on this, My surgeon, who is probably the best in the area(or I wouldn't have had the surgery!), had that LOOK on his face when I would visit. You know, the one where they really don't believe you are in enough pain to warrant surgery?? Anyway, he left it up to me, we pushed forward and HE discovered, during my EXPLORATORY surgery that it was indeed Incisional Endometriosis. Hopefully it has been removed completely and I will not end up with a Hernia after all! Just a week later and I feel Better than I have in a Long time! GOOD LUCK to all and I am so blessed to have found this wonderful site filled with knowledgeable WOMEN!
And thanks Mikie, I just read your response and your support means a lot to me...
For the past week or so I have been having terrible pain above my incision in my stomach. It hurts when I walk and stand. I do hav relief with rest. At night it hurts when I toss and turn. I am two years post op and I recently lost 25 pounds and I am still about 25 pounds over weight. I also have been having a back ache for a week and feel I am not going to the bathroom like normal. Does anyone have any ideas. The pain was a little less today cause my husband was home and cared for the children. It is now night and I am feeling really sore right now. It also burns from time to time. Does anyone have any ideas. I also have a very chubby belly ( lol)
HELP!! ↑
Hi all,
The pain got so bad yesterday I went to the Emergency room. They did blood work, x-rays and a catscan also I had two internal exams guess what? They found nothing?? I can't believe it I was doubled over in pain and everytime I walk or stand the burning is overwelming?? Perhaps I just pulled a muscle? Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks ↑
I am so glad i found this site!! i have been going crazy trying to figure out these pains i am having on my left side and on the internal part of my incision. i am 8 weeks post opt. i quit bleeding 2weeks ago but if i am on my feet for to long i start gushing blood again and having that sharp pain throughout my insicion. If any one has has this please let me know. bernadette@ebeeson.com ↑
Hi bernadette,
Did you see your doc for your six week appt yet? I felt pain and sorness for about three months after c-section. Eight weeks along I was still in pain. The bleeding did not go away for me for sometime. As soon as the bleeding subsided about two weeks later I got my regular period. YUCK! Hang in there and ask your doc is there anything you can do to feel better. I just started having soreness and pain again after two years. They didn't find anything. I guess for certain people our bodies will never be the same after surgery. Good luck and keep us posted. Try to take it easy. ↑
I have the same problem. Left side, 7 mos after C section. It bothered me after 2 mos, so I consulted my OB/GYN who said, "relax, take time, looks fine to me." Now, after months of pain and swelling and not being able to sit up right or hold baby right, I went back to her and now to a surgeon. Surgeon believes it is improper stitches from the actual c section. And, that the muscles have torn apart. I must go for surgery to correct problem, get some kind of mesh inside to hold my self together, and it will be 4-6 weeks recovery. I feel angry about this. My little baby is just starting to crawl and breast feeding is going so well. However, as I heel, I won't be able to nurse him, so he must go on bottle (which he cries and rejects.) Ugh. Well, he'll be fine... hope I will be too in time. Thank you all for sharing your woman-wonderful insights. ↑
Update: Still have the pain and swelling. I had the blood tests and ultrasound and surprise, nothing was detected. The next step is to schedule the lap. Take care and talk to you soon. ↑
I have been reading these responses regarding abdominal pain after caesarean sections. I had my only son four years ago and since the section, my scar has only hurt a little bit. However, I do have a small lump on the right side of my scar. Everytime my husband and I have intercourse it seems to hurt more, and it also aches around the time of my period. Now I think I may be pregnant again and I don't want whatever this is to hurt the baby or me. Does endometriosis, if left untreated, cause infertility (I had a negative pregnancy test last time around but have to test again in seven days), or can it be harmful to the baby or to the mother? What about hernias? I can't believe it's been four years and I just never thought about going to see a doctor about this. I just figured it'd be something that would resolve itself over time--that's what the doctor who delivered my baby told me during my six-week checkup.
Information regarding swelling in the caesarean section scar (found online at http://pmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/-content/full/76/896/376b
Q1:- What is the differential diagnosis?
The differential diagnosis of this swelling with late onset after surgery include organised haematoma, stitch abscess granulomatosis, incisional hernia, endometrioma, and neoplasm which is either intra-abdominal or neoplasm of the abdominal wall itself as sarcoma, desmoid tumour, or metastatic cancer.
Q2: What investigations should you consider?
An ultrasound scan will help to determine if the mass is cystic or solid and exclude underlying intra-abdominal pathology. This was done and showed a 2 cm hyperechoic area in the abdominal wall musculature with no posterior defect, which excluded the possibility of incisional hernia. There was no associated intra-abdominal pathology.
Ultrasound scan showed 2 × 2 cm hyperechoic area in the abdominal wall musculature with no posterior abdominal wall defect.
Other investigations which could be considered include computed tomography and fine needle aspiration cytology.
Q3: How would you treat this patient?
Surgical exploration of the scar and excision of the swelling should be considered. This was performed and there was 2 × 2 cm firm mass in the subcutaneous tissue which was extremely adherent to the anterior rectus sheath. The sheath was partially excised to ensure complete removal of the mass. Histopathology examination of the resected tissue confirmed the presence of endometriosis.
Discussion
The cause of surgical scar endometriosis is believed to be iatrogenic transplantation of endometrium into the surgical wound particularly during late pregnancy and delivery where endometrial tissue has the maximum potential for ectopic implantation.
The reported incidence after term or near term caesarean sections ranges from 0.1%-0.4%.
The endometrial tissue inoculum is subsequently stimulated by oestrogens to proliferate until it becomes large enough to cause symptoms. The time interval between surgery and the onset of symptoms is variable and ranging from a few months to several years with average interval of 4.5 years. ***Incisional endometriosis usually occurs in the right side of the scar as it is the usual side of the operator and it is densely attached to fascia.***
The typical presentation is a tender mass adjacent to surgical scar of gynaecological procedure. The tenderness is usually intermittent and is associated with the menstrual cycle, but this pattern is not always present. The rare incidence and late onset with slow and intermittent progression of symptoms after surgery is usually misleading and is the main cause of misdiagnosis. It is also interesting to note that incisional endometriosis is rarely found in association with symptoms or findings of pelvic endometriosis.
Medical treatment of surgical scar endometriosis is similar to treatment of other forms of endometriosis but it only produces temporary alleviation of symptoms followed by recurrence after cessation of the treatment. Therefore, surgical excision is the treatment of choice and should include the mass and a clean surgical margin which may include part of the rectus sheath in order to prevent recurrence. Synthetic mesh may be necessary to close large defects of rectus sheath. A preoperative period of suppression of ovulation may be considered to reduce vascularity of the lesion, which may facilitate surgery and reduce postoperative complications.
I had an emergency C-section 3 months ago, after laboring for 18 hours. Everything went well, even though I hated having had to be cut, and I did have pain and still can feel my inside being sore. It hurts to have sex and it's just uncomfortable all together. My concern is the bulging belly. I look I am 5 months pregnant, and I can't go anywhere without people congratulating me and asking me when is my due date. It's not just regular fat stomach, it's very hard to touch and high as when I was pregnant. I went to doctor yesterday and they looked with ultrasound and said everything looks good it's probably my abdominal muscles, and that it can't be corected, only with cosmetic surgery. She also said that next ime I have a baby, I should ask in advance to have them sew my muscles back together before they close me up...suggesting C-Section again...What if I don't have more kids? She said it's part from pregnancy and part from the way they pull them appart while doing c-section. Shouldn't they put everything back together the way it's supposed to be before they close you up? I am very confused and quite upset. I cant wear regular close since my stomach is very hard, so I have to wear pregnancy clothes..etc.
I am devastated. Thank you for sharing your stories. It feels good to know I am not alone. Stay well and keep writing. ↑
I wrote a few weeks ago regarding my surgery - the removal of a lump at the end of my c-section scar. My surgeon got results back from pathology and it turns out the lump was incisional endometriosis. He suggested I see my gyno again to determine if I need hormonal therapy to keep the endo from returning. So that is my next step! I am so glad to have the lump out of me and have had no pain in that area other than the surgery healing. Both my gyno and my surgeon ruled out incisional endometriosis in the beginning because it is rare, but that is what it turned out to be. Pain is not normal - get it checked out! I'm so glad I know what was causing my pain and can now be proactive about it. Hope this helps! ↑
I had the same thing from day one. I could barely even walk 2 months after the surgery. It's now 6 months later and my OBGYN says it's perminant but can't pin-point why it happened but "assured" me it wasn't the doctor's fault. I think she is covering up for her partner. All tests keep coming back clear but there is something very wrong. ↑
WEll i DOnt have that type of pain .. I have this numbness in the lower middle of my stomach.. I was just wondering do other girls have that from there c-section.. I had my back in Nov 2003 .. sry i cant respond to the other feelings.... I was just wondering if anyone else was numb ↑
Ok, I'm up as of 1:30 am, worried because my pulling and dull pain that I have been experiences since I had my son, 3 years and 4 months ago, has now become more of a sharp, burning pain as of tonight. Now, I have gone to see a surgeon, last year. He did not want to do anything invasive. He just had me cough lying down and standing up several time to see if it was a hernia. He couldn't feel anything and told me to come back in 6 months for a follow up. I didn't go, because nothing had changed and he was 2 1/2 hours away from where I live. Let me back up a bit to say that a year after I had Samuel, I went to my OBGYN and told her about my pain. She said it was possible it was a hernia (did the cough thing with me) and then said she didn't feel anything. She said that if it was a hernia, it would get worse and I there would be no doubt that I need to go to ER right a way. Well, I am just concerned about "going under" as some of you have already said as well. At any rate, this kind of pain is the kind that you just wish would go away. For me, it is on my right side of my lower abs near my pelvic bone. I was just nervous about the thought of having to have a surgery and I couldn't sleep anymore until I found out if there were others who experienced this type of pain. As others have stated, I am so glad to see so many people sharing on this topic. I'm not glad that we all have this problem, but I am glad we have a support group here. I don't know what I'm going to do as of now. It's very possible that I will be checking on it soon, if the pain gets progressively worse or begins to last longer. However, I know that I will be mentioning it at my next annual in April. I'm grateful to all of you who have share your triumphs over this problem. I pray that we will all have that relief soon. I think I can go to bed now. I'll check in later. ↑
ladies - I have similar symptoms to you all and my GP has diagnosed incisional endo which is being followed up by a gynaecologist asap. What I'm wondering is if any of you have had any legal advice??? I was told that it occurs when the obgyn doesnt rinse the scarline properly of all uterine tissue when he closes up after the C-section. This sounds negligent to me. Any comments? ↑
I had my first c-section 7 months ago. I started getting a sharp pain about 1 inch above my incision - on the inside. It feels bruised to the touch...and there is a small lump I can feel on the inside. I went to the doctor last week and he ordered a CT scan...I go tomorrow for it. I am also now getting some pains on the left hand side. The doc thinks it is a hernia - because I said the pain started after I had a bowel movement. I have searching and searching for other women who have gone through this - and frankly I am saddened to see all of us on here who are having pains months after our c-sections without any explanations. I will post again once I get the results of the CT scan. Anyone with similar pains and maybe their story email me at: debthe@yahoo.com ↑
