When my son was around a year old, after a chiropractor’s adjustment, my period came back in full force. I already had off-and-on back pain since giving birth, which led to a good friend suggesting her chiropractor to me. But even though the chiro adjustment helped my back feel better, my unusually heavy period was a sign that something had shifted.
I was worried, annoyed and just plain tired. I had three little kids to raise. I didn’t have time for pelvic pain. But pain was my body’s way of signalling that something was wrong, and it propelled me to get help.
I went to my OBGYN for a checkup, and a pelvic ultrasound revealed that my left pelvic vein was too large. She diagnosed me with pelvic congestion syndrome. “I could put you on the pill,” she suggested. “And if that doesn’t work then you’ll have to see the vascular surgeon.”
Surgery. I needed surgery? I didn’t have the time to get surgery! I had preschool drop-offs, pick-ups and a youngest baby who was still very attached to me. So I tried the pill. And my bloating got worse. The anti-inflammatories my OBGYN prescribed me helped dull my pain during flareups, but they soon ran out. When I bought more, the pharmacist warned me to use them sparingly, but I was desperate for pain relief. It was so much harder to keep calm with my children when I was in pain. Chronic pain has a way of blotting out even the best of intentions.
Acupuncture saved the day for me and gave me relief in a way no painkiller did. The acupuncturist confirmed that my pelvic blood flow was compromised. Traditional Chinese herbs helped to tonify my blood and reduce my bloating, but I couldn’t afford to keep going for acupuncture.
I went online to look for more solutions. I found other women (and a handful of men) like me in a Pelvic Congestion Facebook Group. Our stories were so similar. Of the women, many of us had multiple pregnancies, a tendency towards haemorrhoids, fullness in the pelvic region, heavy periods, exhaustion, brain fog and most of all – pelvic pain.
The author before surgery. Source: Supplied
Because PCS isn’t very well-known, some OBGYNS have incorrectly suggested hysterectomies as a treatment option. I cannot imagine the stress of a major surgery like that, only to still have pelvic pain from enlarged pelvic veins. PCS is a vascular issue and needs vascular treatment. I was too anxious about surgery to even consider it yet. I wanted to exhaust every non-surgical option first, even if it meant dietary changes.
Eating, a source of joy for me for most of my life, became a source of agony. Dairy in all its iterations caused me so much bloating and pelvic discomfort. Gone were my days of sipping Lady Grey with a dash of cow’s milk. Gluten was another trigger for me. I vividly remember my last bowl of spicy hand-made ramen soup. My bloating after the combination of chilli and wheat was so painful, I swore I would never eat ramen again.
Despite all my lifestyle and dietary changes over the past 18 months, I would still get pelvic pain flareups. My compromised pelvic blood flow had weakened my gut health and increased my food intolerances. My vascular problem needed a vascular solution.
When my mother came to I was so relieved to be able to get the extra support I needed. My sister played with my children. My mother came with me to the vascular surgeon. The surgeon scheduled a pelvic CT scan, which confirmed that I had dilated ovarian veins on both sides – I was surprised because I only felt pain on my left side. “Your left side is worse,” he confirmed. “Embolisation is a simple procedure. The platinum coils will help redirect blood flow in your pelvis and that should stop the pain.”
On the day my mother flew back to Sydney, we both cried, and I went in for surgery a week after that. My familiar left flank pinching pain had worsened in the days after my pelvic CT scan, and by that stage, I was looking forward to surgery. I have a seafood allergy, so I needed a hydrocortisone injection to prevent a potential allergic reaction to the iodine-based contrast dye.
What I do know is how important it is to listen to my body
During my embolisation procedure, I had to have another hydrocortisone injection and an ironically painful local anaesthetic. The vascular surgeon made a tiny incision in my right arm and threaded the platinum coils into my distended ovarian veins. As I lay there, cold and vulnerable on the operating table, I could feel some tugging in my pelvis. Best of all, I felt that deep pinching left flank pain finally fade away.
That week, my husband took leave from work so he could be in charge of all the pick-ups and drop-offs so I could rest. My friends organised a meal-train. My mother-in-law ensured I had nourishing food. My kids tried really hard not to jump on me. I am almost a month out of surgery, and now pain-free.
My vascular surgeon said nobody knows for sure what causes pelvic congestion syndrome. What I do know is how important it is to listen to my body. Pain is a signal something is wrong, and a red flag for me to attend to, even though it’s so easy for me to put myself last when I’m always running after my three small kids.
Now that I’m pain-free, I have the mental clarity to look after myself better. All three of my kids are at school for part of the day, and I have more time to rest, exercise and write. I hope to model to my children how important it is to listen to our bodies and trust ourselves.
I’m working with a good friend, an Ayurvedic healer, to help restore my gut health. She’s optimistic that over time, I’ll be able to eat gluten and dairy again. I’m looking forward to a warm bowl of ramen some day soon – a luxury, like living a pain-free life – I couldn’t have imagined before.
This article does not recommend or endorse any particular treatment. It is not intended to replace the advice provided by your own doctor or medical or health professional.
