This may or may not be vagina related.
A week before my period started I thought I was having constipation problems. It wasn't that I couldn't have a movement, but it wasn't as frequent as it had been in the past. So I guess it wasn't text book constipation, but it was a little bit different from my usual schedule. I also thought I was constipated because I had a dull pain in my lower back that seemed to be relieved when I had a bm. I drank more water, took some fiber, and for the next couple of days it was the same. But then the pain got worse one day. It turned for a dull pain to more like a muscle pain and only hurt when I would move in a certain way. Then next day it was so bad that at one point I couldn't sit up and could barely move all day without groaning in pain. It was mainly in my back on the left side. I thought it was my muscles because if I would put my head down, it would pull the muscles in my back and hurt badly. I went on an advil, tylenol, icy hot regimen, and the next day felt a lot of relief. It seems like the pain lessens/is alleviated the more active I am. In the morning and at night it's worse. Almost like my muscles are stiff. Its no longer on my left side. Its more like i feel a pulling/pain in my lower-mid back and a little bit in my lower abdomen. At one point yesterday, I thought it was completely gone. Since the pain has started I've gone from thinking it was kidney infection, constipation, endometrial cancer, muscle strain, ovarian cysts, to sciatica....all thanks to "Google paranoia".
I think it's also worth mentioning that for the last 6 months my period has changed. My "light days" are much lighter with the addition of a clear watery discharge. So overall my period seems shorter.
The constipation (because its more regular now) and the menstrual info might just be a coincidence and completely unrelated to this back pain and I might just be paranoid over a strained muscle. I should also mention that I'm a big girl.
I know you're all going to tell me to go to the doctor (and I agree) but I also need advice on that as well. I have no insurance and don't have a lot of money at all. I'd prefer to go to a gyno, that way I can figure out whats wrong but also get some other non related medications taken care of (since i dont have a gp).
im sorry, i feel like i'm all over the place in this post. lol
A week before my period started I thought I was having constipation problems. It wasn't that I couldn't have a movement, but it wasn't as frequent as it had been in the past. So I guess it wasn't text book constipation, but it was a little bit different from my usual schedule. I also thought I was constipated because I had a dull pain in my lower back that seemed to be relieved when I had a bm. I drank more water, took some fiber, and for the next couple of days it was the same. But then the pain got worse one day. It turned for a dull pain to more like a muscle pain and only hurt when I would move in a certain way. Then next day it was so bad that at one point I couldn't sit up and could barely move all day without groaning in pain. It was mainly in my back on the left side. I thought it was my muscles because if I would put my head down, it would pull the muscles in my back and hurt badly. I went on an advil, tylenol, icy hot regimen, and the next day felt a lot of relief. It seems like the pain lessens/is alleviated the more active I am. In the morning and at night it's worse. Almost like my muscles are stiff. Its no longer on my left side. Its more like i feel a pulling/pain in my lower-mid back and a little bit in my lower abdomen. At one point yesterday, I thought it was completely gone. Since the pain has started I've gone from thinking it was kidney infection, constipation, endometrial cancer, muscle strain, ovarian cysts, to sciatica....all thanks to "Google paranoia".
I think it's also worth mentioning that for the last 6 months my period has changed. My "light days" are much lighter with the addition of a clear watery discharge. So overall my period seems shorter.
The constipation (because its more regular now) and the menstrual info might just be a coincidence and completely unrelated to this back pain and I might just be paranoid over a strained muscle. I should also mention that I'm a big girl.
I know you're all going to tell me to go to the doctor (and I agree) but I also need advice on that as well. I have no insurance and don't have a lot of money at all. I'd prefer to go to a gyno, that way I can figure out whats wrong but also get some other non related medications taken care of (since i dont have a gp).
im sorry, i feel like i'm all over the place in this post. lol
You may also have a sliding scale clinic in your area. I have one that will see you for about $25 a visit if you bring proof of income. I just had to Google my city and "low income clinic" or "sliding scale clinic" to find some resources. Granted, I live in a relatively major city, so I may have more resources than someone in a smaller area. But I imagine there should be options in most places. Good luck! Try not to imagine the worst-case scenario. You will probably be pleasantly surprised to learn it's not very serious.
Thanks for helping :)
*hugs*
The other stuff the OP mentions... sciatica pain occurs lower down in the back than you are describing and radiates down the back of one or both legs. A plain old muscle strain is perfectly plausible. I wouldn't jump to conclusions about cancers or anything like that, there's nothing you've described to suggest anything dire as of yet - a doctor's visit can reassure you what's going on.
An ultrasound scan will verify whether you have them or not.
And yes, staying well hydrated is a generally great plan :)
Also, on the ultra-far-out possibility, is there any chance of pregnancy? (You'd almost certainly have to be working hard to not think about it, but anecdotally, for some people, decidual bleeding can happen beyond the first trimester -- and my decidual bleeding fooled me that first month, while my mom said she wasn't sure she was pregnant with me (decidual bleeding again) till I started kicking, which would've been 4-5 months pregnant.) If there's a chance, peeonastick.com says that Dollar Tree Store tests are as good as most of their expensive drugstore cousins, and better than some.
I agree with babytalking about ways to find a low-cost health clinic; it would probably be a good idea if you can swing that. Good luck!!
If you know where the weight gain came from, then kidney stones are probably more likely than thyroid issues -- but thyroid is my pet hobby-horse, as I was undiagnosed for many years. When I finally got treated, many things I thought were "normal" ... well, they weren't. In general, I advise a test every 5-7 years if possible, and getting the numbers in case you are borderline; your TSH should be between .4 and 4, and ideally no higher than around 2 or so. Some labs use outdated ranges of "normal," so it can really pay to get the numbers instead of having the doctor say "normal" at you.
I hope that you get answers soon, and feel better!