Questions on symptoms I'm having

[Struggles]

Hi all just wanted to pick your brains about some bits relating to my endo.

An overview...regular periods until I was 23 until I began trying for a baby with my then partner and fell pregnant- had a ruptured ectopic pregnancy and have endo as a result of the internal bleeding from that (the internal bleeding turned to adhesions) and I now can't have kids, don't ovulate and only have my right Fallopian tube remaining. I've had problems since then really - had a laparoscopy 18 months ago to remove a lot of adhesions but it's been getting worse since then. I am not getting anywhere with docs- whenever I talk to them they basically just shrug and say it's the endo and to take pain killers and rest...

Basically is any of this normal for endo?...

I have brown discharge regularly

I don't get cycles for months then bleed for 20 days every day

I get dizzy a lot

I throw up a lot and get nauseous

I'm exhausted ALL the time

I get hot and cold flushes a lot

My Bowles are always really bad and I bloat and block up for days before going to the loo

Intercourse is excruciating

I can't use tampons cause it hurts too much

I bleed if my partner touches me internally

I bloat a lot

I have a lot of pain every day

The doctors keep saying just take painkillers and rest but I can't-I'm working my arse off full time to pay the bills cause my paraplegic partner is really ill at the mo and is awaiting a major op so I am caring for him and am the only one bringing in any wages and even that doesn't cover the bills.

Paracetamol, cocodamol etc doesn't do anything to the pain and tramadol makes me so I'll (it does stop the pain)

I don't know what to do

[Hidden]

Hello struggles.

I am no expert just someone who has Endo for 20+ years.

All of your symptoms can be linked back to Endo. I suffer with the majority of them also. Apart from the flushes.

I also have PCOS. Which in the past has made my periods very irratic and along with the Endo has given me fertility problems. Thankfully I was able to get medical help and have three children.

The other symptoms of PCOS that I have had are:

Excessive sweating

Acne

Excessive hair

Ovarian cysts

Lots of tummy fat (food has a little to do do with my belly too!)

And very irregular periods.

PCOS can be diagnosed easily with blood tests and scans, I really think it may be worth you demanding these tests.

As for pain relief I have tried them all. Tramadol, naproxen you name it. The things that work for me are 2x codeine/ paracetamol ( 30mg of codeine 500mg paracetamol) 1x 50mg diclofenac suppositorie (up my bum as I can't take them orally). I take the two medicines together. I also use hot water bottles and heat pads. It does not take my pain away completely but does allow me to function day-to-day.

I really hope I have helped you a little.

Love and best wishes,

Barbara

[Struggles in reply to Hidden]

Hi Barbara, thanks for the reply

I don't have PCOS - I have regular scans etc due to the previous ectopic that keeps an eye on that I do have adhesions around bowel, pelvic wall, ouch of Douglas and other areas. The adhesions were removed 18 months ago but I fear they have returned with a vengeance :/

I may have to see if I can get hold of some diplofenac and see if that helps

I basically don't stop all day so can't really have hot water bottles I collapse into bed but I get really really hot (I sleep with window open and quilt off me) so not sure if I could manage a hr water bottle in bed

[Cooka]

I've just been reading Dr Sandra Cabot's book on hormones and she talks a lot about estrogen dominance and progesterone deficiency. One of the reasons that this can happen is if you no longer ovulate (which you mentioned)- which means you don't produce progesterone to combat the tissue produced by estrogen prior to ovulation. They say it's like estrogen grows the grass before ovulation and progesterone cuts the grass after ovulation. If there isn't enough progesterone around to manage the estrogen it leads to estrogen dominance which leads to amongst other things, endometriosis, pms and fibroids.There is a whole list of symptoms caused by this which all us endo sufferers can tick. She then mentions using natural progesterone cream to rebalance the symptoms. Try googling estrogen dominance. I'm sure it will make more sense than me!

[InsideOut]

I too have had most on your list and have been diagnosed with endo for nearly 10 years. You could also try a tens machine if you have to move around a lot. I have found it to be quite helpful at times - at least enough to give some relief so you can function and do some everyday tasks.