Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

[kazzy]

Please can anyone help... im suffering with what seems to be the symptoms of PID ..
I have low abdominal pain/cramps around where my ovarys are i think.. i also have groin pain, a dull ache in my pubic bone and low back pain which is really uncomfortable. I also have waves of nausea and i did seem to want to urinate more frequently but that has gone at the mo. I also have increased discharge which is white or clear but a lot thicker.
I first went to the doctor 2 weeks ago and he gave me antibiotics for a UTI infection.. the next day my boyfriend rushed me to a&e late at night as i had a fever, shakes and felt terrible... the doctor thought infection was tracking to my kidneys so gave me a stronger antibiotic (co-amoxiclav)... 2 days later no improvement and my urine sample was clear. I then went back to doctor and she did internal, took swabs and more urinse samples.. all came back clear. So again i went back to the doctor who then put me on 'Ciprofloxacin' (250mg) & 'Metronidazole' (400mg) for 7 days as a treatment for PID .. i have now been taking this for three days and no improvement or very mild if any.
Im starting to get scared now... it is dangerous looking on the net as im scared of Ovarian cancer/cyst etc etc..
Can anyone tell me if these symptoms match theirs..? And how long it can take to respond to antibiotics? I have read that you should be treated for 14 days.. can it take as long as this to start feeling better?
Also another thing.. i have been with my partner for 5 years and i have never had chlamydia . they say you can still get PID for unknown reasons...?
Please can anyone offer any advice or help..? My doc says he will refer me to a gyne specialist if this med doesnt work but he said i should have improvement within 24-48 hours which of course i has not happened so i do intend to go back tomorrow.
What tests can they do to detect PID?
Many Thanks

[katty1]

Hi - yes i say you have got PID ...it seems very obvious . Im not an expert on medicines - the medinces you mention metronidazole and cip ? (sorry just forgot the correct name ) but im sure this is similar to ofloxacin ..those would be the correct meds and correct dose but im wondering why you have only been given them for 7 days when the usual treatment for PID is 2 weeks of that medication or it is with metronidazole and ofloxacin not seven days . Are you sure your dr dosent want to see you in 7 days to give you a check and then another week of meds . To be honest there is no way you will feel any better in two days in fact you will start to feel worse that is the medication working particularly metronidazole ..check the info leaflet inside your packet to explain the side effects you can experience and also check in the other packet .
It can take a long time to recover from this but you must have bed rest ..and drink plenty of water .
If you go and see your doctor you could ask is it correct you should only take them for a week or should it be two weeks ? Our A and E department here in UK gives 2 week treatment for PID with those tabs and gernerally its the same with anyone diagnosed or with suspected PID .
It is difficult to diagnose but past termination or surgery or previous infection with sti such as chylamydia can be the culprit ..make sure you are cleared for sti chlamydia ..its difficult becuse it can get nconfused with a UTI or cystitis ...the main symptom of chlamydia is a white discharge from vagina looking the same as vaginal thrush and increased or painful urination ...but a very bad general UTI can cause a fever , shaking ect ..but this sounds like PID ..do you have a coil or any internal contraceptive divice fitted has it been removed have you had any treatment on your cervix for pre cancerous cells in the past ..and has your partner been tested and cleared for all sti such as chlamydia ?

I do think this is PID , but whatever you do dont stop taking the medication its vital you do and i would enquire as to if you should be taking them for two weeks . Im not a doctor but having had PID i took them for 2 weeks as all women in UK do .
You can take metonidazole for bacterial vaginosis either orally or intravaginally.
I know its awful and i send you my best wishes and hope you feel better soon.
Katty x

[katty1]

forgot to say ..the tests to check would be a laproscopy ..but that is surgery ..you are not well enough for surgery and also i think they have a fairly good idea by your symptoms ..abdomonal examination ..cervical , and pains in legs , sides back feeling sick and fever ect .

[kazzy]

Thank you so much for your quick response. It certainly helps to hear someone has gone through the same thing.
I am going back to the doctors this afternoon to ask the reason for the 7 day course. I also have pins & needles in my left leg and foot today together with my left hand... only mild. It seems this can be a rare reaction to the medication.
I was glad to hear that its not usual to improve within 2 or 3 days as i was starting to worry it was something more serious as i hadnt yet responded... I hope i will do soon. Can you tell me how long it took for you to get better so i know what to expect..? I know everyone must be different but it will give me some idea. Did you have any long term problems?
Just noticed you mention about being in the UK.. i am too in the UK.
I have had tests for SDI's but i am clear. I did have a termination but that was three years ago. I dont have and never have had a coil or internal contraceptive.

Thanks for your help.. x

[katty1]

Hi Kaz ..no probs with the reply ..nice to chat to someone else from the UK ..welcome to the PID forum ..just wish that yur on the mend as soon as possible . Im in the Merseyside area by the way.

Just got the email alert and i know your worried so im replying now . Kaz , dont worry ..it will take a little bit to get better and yes ..everyone is different with how they feel but one thing i know is it makes evryone feel awful . It took me a good six months or even up to a year to fully recover but that was for several reasons ..mention in a minute . I took 400mg of Ofloxacin and 400mg Metronidazole but i had to do quite a number of repete courses plus medication for chlamydia ..doxycyline for a few weeks ..i was hosptalized for a couple of days ..didnt have any operation to check around because at the same time as i had all the other to cope with and the pain ..i was hospitalized and given morphine for an ovarian cyst they said was unrelated to PID ..and it was just a fluke i got that at the same time ..(ive never taken the pill and , 40 ..so they told me id of been having them for a long time in my life and just didnt know it ..i thought it was IBS )

Anyway , was quite ill becuse i was taking general anibiotics , the same as you for nearly two years was it ? i forget but ive written it here on the forum in past posts ...had to have all kinds done ...

The long and short of it is kel ...i was very ill but ..very luckily i made a complete recovery andstill having regular periods although i do get ovulation pain or midsmertz and upset tummy at that time ..this month it was quite bad ..but ive hasd thorough checks ..plus smear test and im fine ...which means a lot as id like still to have a child ! (just finding the right guy ) but no havent got kids as i never tried to have any in the past .
I did have a termination at age 22 and treatment for abnormal cells on cervix (stage 2) . ..but almost def my PID was caused by chlamydia . It *may* kaz, but i wouldnt like to be so bold as to say that was why ..it might not of been that some infection remained or developed as a result of the termination three years ago ..it can often be the case ..you may have experienced a very mild flare up of PID but subsequent "episodes or flare ups of PID ..you have had an acute attack ..but its made its presence known and the good news is your getting treatment..PID can silently grumble on for ages and someone just carnt put thier finger on why they feel ill ..untill obviously they have an acute attack . The treatment Kaz , is very very effective and and although it may feel as though your not gettig better they are working and you are getting better with each tab you take ..i promise you that . They can make you feel very sick indeed the tablets , with wieght loss ect...give yourself up to 6 or 8 weeks to get back on your feet and be feeling betterbut that could be sooner ..just take each day as it comes .. With the side effects of the tablets kaz..i had every side effect ;-( but you will get better . An ovarian cyst is not dangerous kaz ..its normal ..and they do go away on thier own generally three to six months ..it *only* if the cyst twists the overy cutting of the blood supply ..that is life threatneing and will need an op immeadiately..but you would no as youd be in agony ..more than the general pain that a cyst would give you ..call an ambulance if you experience sudden vomiting ..terrible pain ect .
Hope you get better soon ..i hope i am allowed to mention another site which has a lot of information and forum for PID it is netdoctor a UK based site . Please do look in the STI forum and womens general health forum so any people have PID and it is a very helpful site i have found ..even though its talked about and people are posting in sti forum it dosent mean that everyone is suffering or has had sti so please if im allowed to mention that site , do check it out .

Kazz ..try to relax you will get better ..but it is a nasty time at the moment with this illness and tablets , stay stong and thinking of you . Please let us know how you get on at your doctors appointment and what he said about your tabs .

Katty x

[kazzy]

Thank you again for your help...
I am from the New Forest close to Southampton.

Im sorry to hear of all your problems... I hope you are feeling better now.? Sounds like you really have had a rough time of it.
I was also worried i could have an ovarian cyst... but my doctor said it is very small if i have as he cannot feel anything from an internal and external examination.

Today i questioned him re the course of antibiotics and he said that he only ever treats people for 7 days for PID and they all have had improvement within 24-48 hours. I told him of my research and that everywhere it say you should be treated for at least 14 days so he has agreed to extend it for me. Im guessing as he is male he probably doesnt see anywhere near as many cases as women doctors. I would normally see a woman and did at the start but she went on holiday and i wasnt willing to risk waiting.
He has now decided to send me for a blood test tomorrow.. CA125 which i hope will help rule out anything sinister. He is also testing for CRP, liver , renal and full blood count. I then have to go back and see him thursday evening.
I feel i have improved a little bit this afternoon but i do seem to go up and down so its hard to tell.
Although doc couldnt explain my pins and needles on my left side...

Thank you for the info on the other site.. i shall have a look.

Also a big thank you for your concern.. you have certainly helped me feel a little better at this horrible time. I cant wait to feel fighting fit again as its quite draining al this not knowing and worrying.. i feel it probably contributes to the horrible way i feel.

Kind Regards x

[katty1]

Hello Kazzy . I am delighted you went back to your doctor and he is sending you for a range of tests (as he should be doing). Also that he has extended your course of medication . I do wonder sometimes why a doctor would say he has only ever given a 7 day course for PID ? for every case of PId he has encountered - but then he did change his mind , i certainly think evn if PID is suspected you should start treatment immediately without hesitation , where it is confirmed i would say definately a 2 week course to make sure you will be free of all bacteria responsible . I know that A and E departments would be in agreement ..

its very good that your going for tests to check your white blood cell count is imprtant and your blood for ovarian cyst and perhaps an ultra sound for that which they will advise ..

If you find kazz ..im glad you mentioned the pins and needles but that can be a side effect of Ofloxacin and it does advise on the information sheet that you inform your doctor if you are experiencing any symptoms of pins and needles or tingling in the arms and legs ..you did inform him so he is aware but if you do suffer from any severe symptoms or any breathing difficulties go without hesitation to your nearest casualy or A and E department not out of hours or NHS direct telephone call ..if you carnt get there call an ambulance if that is severe or anything else that is suddenly happening. with these tablets you can get a lot of side effects Kazz some people dont experience all or half of whats listed other, just depends , if you are taking any other medication eg. asthma or epilepsy medication do inform drs of that ..just to be on safe side ...

the main thing is bed rest Kazzy and lot of water , keeping out of the sun ..if we are lucky enough to get a sunny day here ..lol becuse ofloxacin and your general condition sweating and sensitivity to sunlight with tablets does not mix ! You may find that after about one week on your tablets you feel you have had enough ..please do take the WHOLE 2 week course if its been advised to make sure it kills that bacteria because ..if they are stopped this condition can return ...

I really am pleased for your positive news kazzy and i hope you make a full recovery soon . I post under the name of Sabrina40 on netdoctor about PId and other female related conditions ..look forward to posting to you or anyone else if they so wish ...here or on netdoctor .

Take care kazz and dont hestitate to go and see the female doctor when she returns from holiday .family planning clinics or well woman clinics will also help you with your condition if you need a chat or an examination ...they also have days that doctors come in ..i have been there myself . Do check when you had your last smear test ..the family planning clinic or GP can arrange that for you ..

My best wishes and take care
cath xx