Endometriosis Support Group

[ItalianFashion]

Originally Posted by abbygirl

I have the beginning stages of endo and will be doing an "ablasion" in a week. This supposedly help my heavy periods and everything that goes along with it. I am suppose to have a hysterectomy, but I cannot be off my feet for 6 weeks. My son is graduating soon and I have tons to do from now until then and after. Anyone had the ablasion done?

Abby let me know how it goes. I am scheduled for the 8th and scared to death. I may postpone until after xmas if you say its horrible

[tresjoliex]

Sometimes I will have horrible horrible pains. It's like every other month it happens. And it is not tolerable. My stomach kills like crazy, my lower back, and my legs hurt. Sometimes I will feel very hot, and then I will shiver. I never used to feel nausea but a couple periods ago, I actually did. I couldn't eat anything, once I stuck something in my mouth I wanted to puke.

What are the symptoms of endo?

[yvalenz]

tres- I have the same symptoms every month. My doc would have diagnosed PMDD but I don't have all the emotional problems, mostly the physical ones. I guess emotionally I do have all the symptoms, but they're not as severe as the physical.

I agree ladies - this is a problem that is often overlooked and not thought to be as bad as it is. I've dealt with heavy periods for years, and have been on the pill to try to regulate it. Even with a very high dose, I bleed heavily for 8 days!! Imagine what it would be like without the pill.

About two years ago (I think), i went to the doctor literally crying because i was in daily pain, and was finally referred to a specialist. It took visits to three doctors before I found one that really believed me and the pain I was in. I had a laparoscopy for sever endo that was "attached' to my intestine. Every time I ate the movement of my intestine pulled on my uterus.

Bottom line - don't give up! Keep pushing your doctor to appropriately treat you or find another.

I can tell you - if you only have the laparoscopy, you can feel better and moving within a week. I was released the same night as my surgery, I actually could get out of bed by myself within 2 days, but about one week after was fully recovered. It's been the best decision ever!

I'm getting back to the daily pain again, and this time might need the full hysteroectomy. I also have had my thyriod removed, and things absoltely got worse after it was taken out.

[tresjoliex]

The pain I do have sometimes makes me wanna cry. I can remember one time, a couple of months ago, I seriously like wanted to die. The pain was so bad. I don't bleed that heavily though.

I don't do the midol/tylenol either. I don't believe in drugs...I just take the pain.

I've read though, taking daily acv will help eliminate the pain.

[yvalenz]

^ It does sound like you may have the PMDD also. I don't have the website, but i'm sure if you do a google search you can find the one that has a checklist to see if you may have it, and a daily record of symptoms that you can print and track - and take to your doctor for further follow-up and diagnosis

"Just take the pain" - No way! I'm not that brave!! i pop a few Aleve or if I have them, Motrin800 and go to bed! Tylenol does nothing for me but Aleve works wonders!

At first, I only took the recommended dose (2 tablets = 400 mg), and it didn't really help. My doctor recommended 3-4 tabs, as they would be equivalent to the Motrin he was giving me. Works like a charm!!

[mellecyn]

Italian Fashion, I also have these other things such as IC, IBS, fybromalgia....they are listed as symtoms of the endo. And also problems with candida infections.
I am glad you found a good doctor, trust is so important.
I have also a laparoscopy planned for early next year and I have decided to also do my research (despite the fact I am an expatriate which makes things more difficult)
and instead of going to the first local hospital proposed I am gonna go to a more specialized one, try to find a good specialist, even if it delays the laparoscopy and takes longer.....Despite our feelings of being depressed and vulnerable with this illness, we need to take the courage to push for things.

If you go on the 8th you should be fine by XMas, the lap takes only 1 day at the hospital, then a few days of recovery at home, not eating much and with gaz inside our belly !
Make sure you prepare all your needed things beforehand, move the TV in the bedroom, take your comforter, favorite DVDs, favorite magazines.

Good luck, please let us know how it goes.

[bellacherie]

Oh what a nice group! I was diagnosed with endo about 2 years ago when I had a laparascopy to remove an ovarian cyst which kept getting bigger. I am on the pill now, but try to skip as many periods as possible to avoid that crippling pain.

[bellacherie]

Originally Posted by ItalianFashion

I just posted about this in another thread but I am having the laparoscopy done Dec8th to look for it and laser it out at the same time if present. I finally found a good gyno doc at Duke. He did a thorough exam and ultrasound and asked many questions and aslo did lab work. He scheduled the surgery the first visit since he thought it was a high probability I had it. I have always had cysts on ovaries. I still have a painful one right now. I have pain and heavy irregular periods, leg pain back pain and dirreah also with my period. Lately my periods have been every 21 days or less. I have also been diagnosed with Cystis Cystica from the Urology doc. He did an in office cystoscopy. Before I mentioned it to the gyno doc he said he also thought I may have Interstitial Cystitis and he would also check this out during surgery by doing a cystoscopy at the same time. He told me if my appendix is inflamed he will also remove that and if Endo was on my bowels I have to get another type of surgeon to resect my bowels later. I hope it is not on my bowels!! That scares me to death. In addition to these two things I also have IBS and Thyroid problems. I have read about Endo since being diagnosed and it seems Endo often accompnies other diseases. IBS , thyroid ( it said 7 times more likely) CFS, (100 times more likely) Fibromyalgia, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. I would be interested to know if any of you also have these other health problems. Do you guys think I should reschedule until after Christmas or will I be ok getting it done so close to Christmas? I am worried if it is advanced or I have to get appendix out or something I may not be well for a while.

With my lap I was fine (day surgery) but reacted badly to the anaesthetic and had to go back to the hospital and stay overnight. The next day I was a little sore and quite puffed out around the belly. No pain after leaving hospital the next day though (that I recall anyway). I think you should have it done sooner rather than later so you aren't stressing about it over Christmas. Keyhole surgery has a really fast recovery time - but if there is a chance you could have something else removed maybe you should ask your doctor.

[shoegirl1975]

Hi~I also have endo. I was dx 6 1/2 years ago when my dh and I weren't having any luck ttc. Anyways, I've had 2 Laps and finally conceived via IVF. I thought my periods would get better after having a baby but they didn't. So, I decided that I would try an alternative route...and started acupuncture 3 months ago. This cycle I really felt like the acupuncture has been working. My period was lighter, didn't last for days upon days, cramps were only on the 1st day and my PMS symptoms have improved greatly...my dh can confirm that one! LOL

Anyway, thought I'd pass on what has hopefully worked for me!

[mellecyn]

Bumping this thread !!

So since being in so much pain and waiting for an apointement at one of the 2 endometriosis centers in the country...I waited for 6 months (!)...I had an apointement with THE specialist and he did an ultrasound and didn´t see anything alarming.
I then had a magnetic resonance imaging exam to see cases of severe/deep endometriosis eventually located on other organs before the laparoscopy procedure (which is planned for late september), and....it came back normal !!!!
So that good news, meaning at least there is nothing severe or on other organs ! That´s the news I needed to share....

[deleckidesign]

Not sure why I never saw this thread before, but I think it needs to be bumped!

Pretty sure I've had endo since I started my period when I was 13. Had the most painful periods. Rolling around in bed in pain...no drugs could touch it. 1-2 days out of every month I couldn't do anything.

It wasn't until I was 23 that I was diagnosed. I couldn't take the pain anymore, so I had a consultation with a specialist. Finally did a laparoscopy where he found a LOT more endo that he expected. Before and after pics were like night and day. Before pics were mostly BLACK.

That was back in 2005.

I still have painful periods, but I'm able to control them if I take Motrin BEFORE the pain is full blown. On the first day of my period, I end up taking at least ten 200mg Motrin pills. Probably not the best thing for me, but it's the only thing that works. And I can't afford another lap right now since my husband and I are both unemployed :(

[jctc]

I have endometriois for the past 20+ years. I am on the pill to help control it. I had two laboscops done- I am hoping i don't have to have them done again. I do know what you are going thru.

[tiffthegreat]

i really hate doctors so i've been trying to avoid them but my cramps have become unbearable, I mean it's been so bad that, once i tried to take a shower and almost fainted from the pain, i've also had cold sweats so horrible that i looked like someone had thrown a bucket of water on me, i also vomit, then there's the diarrhea, the not being able to eat or drink a bite, or even walk. What makes it worse is that i can't take pills, ( whenever i try to i throw up) so usually i have to suffer through it. It usually only lasts a day, but it's still hell.

The last two periods have been pleasant however, little to no pain, and after 5 tries i even managed to take two ibuprofens, i have two friends that have the same issues, so i've always dismissed it as just " normal". I've been researching to find out if something is wrong with me and even discussed my concerns with my mother she told me to stop worrying and that " nothing is wrong with me, maybe i should just go on birth control" but i've read the possible side effects of them and i'm not to ecstatic about that.. Could it be endometriosis, im only 19 and the cramps aren't that bad EVERY month, but most of them.