Endometriosis

Yeah, I've got endo, but only stage II (which is fairly mild form). My sister was diagnosed with it after trying to conceive #1 (took her 4 years in the end ), so when I started having symptoms, I went straight to her specialist, who booked me in for a lap quick smart given my sisters history. He found some (but as I said quite mild) and removed it by zapping it! This was all in July 2004 (I remember because I had the operation before sitting my huge nursing exams - not comfortable!)

Anywho, everything was pretty good for about a year and a half, when I started getting symptoms again - for me symptoms included heavy, drawn out period - like 10 days of heavy bleeding out of every 30 (this was while on the pill too ), irregular periods, pain during ovulation, pain during sex, pain passing bowel motions (sorry TMI), and bad constipation/bowel habits. Soooooooo, got myself on the waiting list for another lap (1st lot had been private through Mum and Dad's insurance, but they cancelled my policy after I had surgery ) and cancelled surgery after finding out I was pregnant in October, 2006 (we had been trying for about 3 months)

So far *touch wood* haven't had a period since having Bella but am absolutely DREADING it because I am already having ovulation pain and other churning of 'bits' in that general area. Hopefully the endo holds off so we can ttc #2.

Sorry for the long post

And PS - I never had a scan; straight into surgery because of the heriditary nature of endo.

Edited by ShellandBella

I am hesitantly in denial and haven't done anything about it but am fairly sure i have this prob as well. Sorry this is prob long and TMI

Waited till 16 to even begin having period, then wished like heck i hadn't spent all those years wanting to get it when all my friends did. was fairly regular, has always been very very heavy, clots, very very painful cramps, stomach pains and upset tummys while i have it.. lasts minimum 8 days, at least 5 of those heavy.. usually the 2nd day of it i plan nothing, i try and schedule days off work around it.

I get also a heavy numb sore feeling around everywhere and the tops of my legs and i have to be very careful how i sit down cos it hurts.. (it's like when your arm goes dead and before the pins and needles theres that sore sore numb feeling).

I am unbearable to be around for 3 weeks out of the month, i have 1 weeks grace after Af finishes before i get sore around OV, then bloaty from there until Af again and pain around AF.. Funnily enough mike reckons Paris gets my PMS cos around the same time she tends to start being really hormonal and grumpy too!

After having Paris it got worse, I started waking up in so much pain i would be sick, i would shake uncontrollably, I talked to doc and he said probably low sugars.. lol nope i think not mate... cos it started happening during the day while AF was visiting too. I ended up with chronic stomach pains and a feeling of fullness around my liver and was tested for gallstones etc and put on class 2 pain killers.. nothing helped.

It seemed to get better, then i fell preg with ayja, and after her it was fine for a while, then started back again a few months after AF reared her ugly head. i never picked up i was preg with #3 because in the months leading up to that cycles had started going nuts, from 24 day cycles (with 8 to 9 days of that AF), up to 39 days.. hence i didn't worry too much till day 40 hit and i did that test.

A few days after finding out i woke with horrible pains on one side up to my belly button and a feeling like a tearing as if something was stuck on the inside and had suddenly been pulled free - maybe i knew something wasn't right cos it was the next day i requested that early scan at my midwife appointment. Since D&C, i had a couple of ok months, then back to horrible, is coming later and later, unpredictable - makes scheduling days off to accomodate it a nightmare. Have also since found that apparently there is a cyst on my cervix (TMI TMI) which they aren't worried about as smears came back fine. I have started having breakthrough bleeding midcycle in the last couple of months too.

I am sick of it, i know i should just go and complain my butt off to the doc, spose i am just being a woos too scared to actually do something about it.

hmmmmmmmmm Janine that sounds a lot like me especially that sore achy feeling in the tops of the legs and the whole general inbetween leg area, I also didn't get my period till I was 15 and seemed to be the last of my friends to get it and then it was heavy with bleeding lasting anything up to 11 days and not normally less than 7 but I had a clockwork 34 day cycle. I went on the pill to help was on it for about 10 years and everything was fine, 28 day cycle quite light bleeding for 3-4 days etc this stayed like that when I came off to get pregnant which in total took 12 months of trying (with a ttc break thrown inbetween). Since getting my period back I am having ovulation pain (have it now really bad although i'm not mid cycle so maybe I ovulate irregularily as well?), pain sitting and pain having sex at this time (although I don't cos whose in the mood when in pain?). I have also been diagnosed with IBS as they could find no other reason for my bowel troubles (sorry more than you wanna know) they did ask about my periods but they where fine on the pill so that may have been masking the issue. I'm booked in for a scan as they suspect I have a cyst but I'm not sure about this whole endo business and getting that diagnosed the doc never even mentioned it as a possible cause.

Hope you get it sorted soon Theresa and Janine I know I am pretty sick of it at the moment and it seems so difficult to get any answers.

PS, cuppatea, I can give you the name of my OBGYN if you like - he's fantastic, and if you're worried you can easily get your GP to refer you. I preferred to pay the $150 it cost to see him just to get the ball rolling...

I had mild endo removed a couple of years ago aswell. Some of the symptoms above sound very similar to what I had although they are much better since having the lap. I also had a little on my bowel so would get alot of pain going to the loo in the first couple of days of af, I had sharp, electric shock like pains shooting up (sorry way tmi!) Also painful sex, bad period pain, sometimes causing me to throw up etc. I went privately to an Endo Spec in Auck, took 3 months to see her, then had a scan a week or two later and the lap a couple of months after that. I could have had it the next week, but it was around the time of my wedding then Xmas so waited til that was all out the way. Unfortunately its a bugger you need surgery to diagnose it

Well I have already answered heaps of questions for you  so you already know my life story with endo.

But I have to add my mum was one of the first woman in NZ to be diognosed with endo, back then they had no idea how common it would end up being. My mum had me at my dr almost every month in pain and he never believed I had endo. Took 5 years and finally a huge apology and servere endo taken out. Now both my sisters have it and my cousins and aunties as well. Mum had a fully hysto at a young age (I can't quite remember how young) and I am in the works to possibly have one as well just after I turn 30.

Hey all

Thought I would stick my hand up too.

I'm currently on the waiting list for a lap to diagnose after my insurance claim was declined back in August.

I have PCOS and my specialist is 99% sure I have endo (including on my bowel). Hubby and I have been TTC for 2.5 years, but to no avail (not ovulating at all).

I've officially been on the waiting list for almost 3 months, so hopefully I can have my lap soon and get that part of the problem sorted. Next followup appointment is in January, so should know more about where we are.

Keep us posted!

I'd also highly recommend Neil Johnson, especially if it is causing fertility issues. He's done a lot of research into endometriosis and one of his specialities is lipiodol flushing which has been shown to increase the fertility of women with mild/moderate endo and clear tubes by 400%.   

I have endo but have very few symptoms, the key clue for me was fertility issues and pre-period spotting. I also developed mild discomfort around my left ovary. Since having Lucy I've had no symptoms of endo so I'm hoping it's gone for good.

And then there is those of us who have no or little symptoms, but end up having Lap done to dismiss Endo for fertility reasons (even my GYNO didn't think i had endo) and what do you know I had it and quite severe.....none on my bowel but through out my abdomen.

If you do get any of the symptoms, I would definitely recommend going to your doctors or specialist.

I was wondering Becks, since you've put up a couple of threads now about pains.