Should I Go to a Doctor?

Updated on June 23, 2011
L.N. asks from Abilene, KS
15 answers

I have been waking up each morning for the last several months with what feels like period or before period pain. I've also had some pain in my back that I used to get when I had my period. My daughter is 11 months old and I am still breastfeeding her so I have yet to have any periods return. I also have noticed that I have been really gassy lately and seem to have an upset stomach almost all day and waking up feeling the same way in the morning. I have also noticed a small hard area on my stomach right under my belly botton a bit towards the left side. I just don't know what is going on but I don't have health insurance so a trip to the doctor is something that isn't very easy for us to afford.

I should add I have taken two pregnancy tests both negative. I went ahead and scheduled a visit with my doctor for monday.

What can I do next?

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So What Happened?

I actually switched my dr's appointment because I finally got my period back. I wanted to see if the pain would subside after that. Unfortunately it did return so today I went to the doctor. He isn't terribly concerned because since my last baby was a C section he said my dr would have seen all my inside stuff and he doesn't think too much could have popped up in that time frame (11 months) He wants me to track my pain for the next two months and then if it is still bad he will run some tests. He understood about the money (I didn't even bring it up) he told me to do my tracking and just drop it by his office he will look at it and get back to me and not charge me for an office visit.

More Answers

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

there are many reasons that this could be happening...

while I am sorry you don't have insurance - you need to find out a way to get to the Dr and get this looked at - it could be something simple - but it could be something much worse...

You should be able to go the ER without any insurance and get seen and taken care of....

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M.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

You should get to your doctor ASAP. I don't want to scare you but some of your symptoms match up to ovarian cancer. Please go and get that ruled out. It's probably not but it is something that you want to get checked on sooner not later.

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M.G.

answers from Dallas on

You should go to the doctor.

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S.J.

answers from St. Louis on

A few questions:

Are you very thin?

Does the "hard spot" go away or is it constant?

But to answer your question, yes, you should go to the doc. He or she can set you up with a payment plan. Or, head to the ER where they will treat you and bill you later.

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C.A.

answers from Atlanta on

It could be something as simple as idigestion but it could also be something more serious that you are putting off. I understand the expense of it is holding you back and you are going to be in quite a pickle if you need surgery. Maybe you could go to the health department? I haven't always heard such great things about those doctors especially from my own mothers point of view from personal experience as well as her professional experience since she works for an internal medicine office and hears the horror stories but I HAVE heard good stories too-its just like anything else. You hear the bad when you want to hear the good ;()) You could also contact your internal medicine office and tell them what is going on and perhaps they can give you some medical advice to try. More than likely they will want to "see" you but perhaps you can work out a payment plan or since you are self-pay they will give you a discount?? All they can say is no.

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T.L.

answers from St. Louis on

I would go to the doctor. Have you used webmd to look up your symptoms?

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K.P.

answers from New York on

Yes, you need to go to a doctor. See if there is a clinic in your community that works on a sliding scale (there usually is) and go from there. If it's nothing or something minor, then at least you know. If it's not... you can work on getting better!

Remember that doctors offices will generally work-out a payment plan for you if you tell them at the outset.

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K.W.

answers from Seattle on

The small hard area on your stomach worries me. You really shouldn't have any hard spots on your abdomen. Most of the things that do cause hard spots are serious, even potentially fatal. Getting to a doctor ASAP would be a good idea.

You might be able to save *some* money by doing some web research and making some phone calls to find out which kind of doctor. If a General Practitioner would automatically refer you to a specialist, you might be able to get that information over the phone. It would be cheaper to start with the specialist, rather than do two doctors.

If you can, have cash, credit card, or a (good) check on hand. When you're talking to doctors, ask them if they have any discounts for paying cash up front. Most doctors give a discount of 50-75% for people who make their paperwork life easy.

Good luck, and I hope everything's okay. Let us know what you find out.

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E.S.

answers from Houston on

Do you have your gall bladder? I don't know about the bump by your belly button, but after my daughter was born I started getting this intense pain in my stomach and back and turns out it was my gall bladder. I'm glad you got a dr appt. Hopefully they will get it figured out.

S.K.

answers from Denver on

have you been having regular bowel movements? that could be the gassy bloated feeling. The small hard area on your stomach could be a hernia? Can you push it back in? I have one but its above my belly button which was repaired. I got pregnant and it came back so the dr said as long as I can still push it in and it doesnt become hard then they just want to leave it. If it cant be pushed in or u dont think its a hernia i would go to the dr. If it is a hernia and it cant be pushed back in it can turn into a very serious issue.

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P.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Yes! You HAVE to go. Now.

It could be nothing, but it could also be something VERY serious.

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K.N.

answers from Cleveland on

We found out a couple of weeks ago that we are expecting again. My periods never came back because I was breastfeeding my almost 7 month old, and we had no idea. I was crampy and had an upset stomach and swore it was just my period getting ready to come back, but boy was I wrong. try your local health department, or call job and family services and see if they have a number for a local clinic, but you should be seen.

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R.Y.

answers from New York on

Maybe you can find a Planned Parenthood or other clinic in your area with sliding scale fees. I did have some cramps when I breastfed/pumped in the first few months but not after 11 months. I have also had cramps from and upset digestion and from my period that felt very similar. And I hate to say this if you have an 11 month old but are you sure you aren't pregnant again? It's easy enough to check. It can be possible to get pregnant before you get your period back. So much stuff in your body is readjusting even 9-12 months after a baby it can be hard to tell.

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C.J.

answers from Dallas on

I read somewhere it takes two years (seriously two years!?) for your uterus to get back to it's pre-pregnancy size. The process of breastfeeding and the hormones released play a role in that process - it could very well be 1. your body "changing back" 2. your body prepping to start menstration again.
I say that because I could always feel this "shrinking" and it felt like cramps and came at the strangest times. . . I'd watch it and if it does not subside in a week, call a doc!

N.G.

answers from Dallas on

Doctors give discounts for cash-paying patients. When I didn't have insurance I saw my regular doctor for $80. You definitely need to go!!

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