When to see a doctor

themuffinman16

I am hoping I get my period soon, but I haven't yet. I also have had sporadic pan on my left side. I am 8 days late (maybe... I have gone off of bc two months ago. My cycle might not be regular, even though I have ovulated this month- for those who don't know the situation).. Because I have endometriosis, I am at risk for an ectopic pregnancy... I am trying not to think about that, though. The pain I have been experiencing is sharp but not persistent. Having endometriosis makes everything more confusing, because it generally causes me pain. Usually, it is only when I ovulate or get my period, or during sex, sometimes.
I am spending a small fortune on pregnancy tests, all coming back negative. I don't want to be that person that goes to the doctor over nothing. When would it be reasonable to call my doctor to make an appointment?

levioosa

I was on BC for almost two years, then I went off it for almost six months.  Each period was consistently late (and more painful and long each time).  One of them was almost three weeks late (and it freaked the hell out of me).  I was also having cramping, spotting, and nausea which didn't help me feel any better about it.   At two weeks I took three pregnancy tests and they all came back negative.  So I tried to take a deep breath and relax, but it still took another week to show up.  I was ready to make an appointment regardless of what the home tests said before I finally got it.

Stressing out doesn't help either, since it might push the period back even more. I think a home test would pick up an ectopic pregnancy, but if you're experiencing unusual pain and you're prone to ectopic pregnancy, I would just schedule an appointment to be safe. If you have endometriosis and you think this is a concern, I wouldn't mess around with it.  Do you need a check up?  You could kill two birds with one stone. 

WhatawagSBNy

If the pain is sharp, and ever repeats, several possibilities could become life threatening. These include ectopic pregnancies and appendicitis, and others which are temporarily serious but may resolve them selves or may respond to quick attention and only by surgery if not, dealt with early, like blockages in the ducts of the kidney, upper urethra, gall bladder or similar.
Take your temperature before calling, and ask to speak to your nurse practitioner or physician on the phone, a call back. You are right to not want to go to the doctor for every little thing. Sometimes a person who is constipated and has maybe started taking iron recently but not increased their fluid intake, gets such hard dry matter in the intestines that it won't move on, and your system is giving a hard cramping squeeze. And doing it hours later ten inches down the intestine.

Starting prenatal vitamins often leads to this type constipation, though it often takes a couple of months to build to lots of iron. Provided you are not swelling anywhere, like ankles and such which may be kidney trouble or low potassium, it rarely hurts to wait until hours after a meal, when your stomach is empty, and mix a tablespoon of an oil, corn oil works as well as drug store ones, with 2 cuts very warm water, not as hot as coffee, but tap hot, and drink it all within five minutes or less. This can be repeated many hours later, maybe near bedtime. The point is to get a rush of warm fluids down your go track, to mix with what is there and make the mix softer. Cold drinks do not help. If you drink more than is necessary your body pulls the excess from your intestine and you pee . So you should not do it frequently and overload your kidneys. But a couple times in 24 hours can help .

Dr. visits for constipation, especially if unusual for the patient are extremely common after starting vitamins, and most often it is a matter of being told, drink more warm water, and take an over the counter softening agent like an oil or colace, a stool softener that draws water to your bowels.

Annoying to go to the doctor's office and take time off of work for that.

themuffinman16

Because of my endometriosis, I also can have have a little delay in the intestinal department, but that situation resolved itself, however, the pain still comes and goes. I had the flu last week and had a fever with that, but now, I am better.

natswild

I would definitely go in and get it checked out.  You don't want to mess around with the endometriosis/ectopic possibility.  Also, another possibility, in addition to PP, is ovarian cysts.  Good luck!

WhatawagSBNy

themuffinman16 said:

Because of my endometriosis, I also can have have a little delay in the intestinal department, but that situation resolved itself, however, the pain still comes and goes. I had the flu last week and had a fever with that, but now, I am better.

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Then check it out, make a call. Take care of yourself.

jacques27

themuffinman16 said:

I am spending a small fortune on pregnancy tests, all coming back negative.

I don't want to be that person that goes to the doctor over nothing. When would it be reasonable to call my doctor to make an appointment?

Would you rather be the person who ends up in emergency life-saving surgery because they ignored the warning signs their body was giving them?

Use the money you're spending on pregnancy tests to pay for a co-pay to your doctor.

theartistformerlyknownas

Definitely call your doctor and see what s/he thinks. No harm in that.

SBmini

If test after test came back negative, your problem probably isn't an ectopic pregnancy. Your pancreas is on the left side, it can be infected. I would schedule an appointment for your doctor. 

ElcaB

If the pain you are feeling is sharp, go to the doctor or emergency room.

I've always struggled with doctor visits --- I'm very hesitant to go. Recently I ended up in the ER due to severe abdomen pain, and while we are still trying to figure out what the problem is I am very glad to know I am doing everything I can to solve it. 

Trust me, people go to the ER for silly things all the time. Better to go & know it it's something silly or something legitimately wrong. 

KatWAG

I agree with Lolo. Can you all you doctors office and leave a message for the doctor or nurse on call?

southernbelle0915

If you're ever in pain and you think something is wrong, I think it's time to call your doctor. You don't need to call an ambulance to take you to the ER or anything dramatic like that.

But you can just call and ask for the earliest appointment or get on a cancellation list. If things are more pressing, go to an urgent care.

princessleia22

I figure that you know your body more than anyone. If you are concerned enough to consider going to a doctor, it never hurts to go.  It may be nothing serious, in which case a doctor appointment would put your mind at ease.  It may be some sort of infection that will be resolved much quicker with antibiotics.  Or it could be something more serious.  No matter what, having it checked by a doctor may be a good idea.

AprilH81

Also, Urgent Care might be a good option if you can't get in to your regular doctor.  It is a step between the doctor and the ER and is usually a lot cheaper than an ER visit.

labro

SBmini said:

If test after test came back negative, your problem probably isn't an ectopic pregnancy. Your pancreas is on the left side, it can be infected. I would schedule an appointment for your doctor. 

I agree with this. My mom had an ectopic pregnancy. She had a positive pregnancy test and she knew she was pregnant but didn't know it was ectopic until the pain started and she went to the doctor. If you're having a negative test it's likely something else going on. I'd go to the doctor.

themuffinman16

So, apparently my endometriosis is gaining strength, and eats uterus for breakfast. I got my period today. At least, I will be ovulating soon.  My doctor said more intense pain can be expected after going off the pill with endometriosis, as I develop more scar tissue. 

  Getting pregnant will put it into remission, so lets hope that happens soon. Uterus... you are on notice... get your shit together! 

banana468

Good luck!

You can do things like buy a BBT thermometer if you want to watch your body temp to see if/when you ovulated and if you want pregnancy tests, look on Amazon. I bought a bunch of LH and HCG test strips for something like $20.

AprilH81

And dollar store tests work too!

levioosa

Good luck!