Does this at all sound like endometriosis?

[20032003]

Short background:

My periods in my 20s and early 30s were VERY painful. Lots of bad cramping, and I would have to walk around for hours sometimes as that was the only thing I could stand doing. Not sure my bleeding was extremely heavy - it was probably fairly moderate. Not light, but not superheavy. In addition, my stomach would also be BAD at the time of my periods. Pain, diarreah - almost to the verge of fainting sometimes. I remember one episode when I went out for a walk, thinking that exercise would help my cramps. BAD choice... I started getting stomach pain and urge to go to the bathroom so bad that I almost fainted on the way home. Not quite sure to this day how I made it home...

Then, in my mid 30s and up until recently (I'm 46 now), the cramping eased up and my periods got easier to deal with. Also the stomach issues were less bad, even though I've always noted the loose stools at the beginning of a period. Except for this past fall and winter, which seem to have been an exception for everything...

But now, I've started thinking a lot about endometriosis. I have read about how it can affect the bowels, and also grow between the vagina and the rectum in odd places. Could that be MY problem? My latest batch of problems started last Summer, when I really think about it. That's when I sometimes would get the sense in the evenings that I needed to go to the toilet because "something" was bothering my rectum. Like something was stuck there. I could barely ever go though. Early fall, I would sometimes get a sharp but brief cramping on the right side (I believe at least) of my rectum after large BMs. Then, in October (around my period), I started having to strain a lot to go to the toilet. I got BAD rectal pain and pressure/swelling. Two doctors could not find anything wrong inside my rectum, except for an old hemmorhoid and sensitive anal tissue.

Fast forward to now. I've also been to the gyno twice (she's starting to think that I'm a pain - I can tell...). She's felt my stomach and "insides" as well as done two transvaginal ultrasounds. The really bad rectal pain is gone, but I often have pressure still. I noted today, after a couple of days of bleeding (on my period now) that my rectal pressure seems less. I also have a retroverted uterus, if that matters. I think it might - the gyno thinks not (although she did admit after chatting for a while that SOME women do experience certain problems)...

BUT could I possibly have endometriosis somewhere? I'm most likely perimenopausal, it that matters. All through fall and winter I don't think that I ovulated, but May, June and July periods seem more "powerful" and "normal" again...

[Tina32]

Hi, go and see your doctor and ask to be referred to a gynaecologist for more investigations. The problem with endo is that the symptoms are very similar to other things that can also cause pelvic pain like fibroids, IBS for example which is why it can go undiagnosed for such a long time.?

Don't spend to much time trying to diagnose yourself just go and see your doctor

[20032003 in reply to Tina32]

But I HAVE been to one GP, one gastrospecialist and one gyno. The GP did blood tests (all normal) and fecal blood test (normal too), as well as a rectoscopy. The gastrospecialist I was referred to for another rectoscopy. Normal, aside from an old hemmohroid. The gyno has done two transvaginal ultrasounds on two separate occasions - both normal. No fibroids, cysts, or anything else abnormal. Aside from the retroverted uterus.

[Tina32 in reply to 20032003]

Sorry I scan read your post so I didn't see where you said you had already seen a gynae. You could always ask for a second opinion if you are still experiencing problems. Endometriosis can only be diagnosed from having a laparoscopy done. Sometimes deeply infiltrating endometriosis especially around or in the bowel or bladder will show up in a MRI, perhaps you could push for a MRI. Endo won't be seen from a transvaginal scan. You could push to be referred to a endo specialist centre, if you do have bowel endo this will be the only place you should be receiving treatment as surgery to remove it is complex. A lady on here called Lindle has a post on how to be referred to a specialist centre.

The endometriosis UK website has some good leaflets on bowel endo. If you haven't seen it already have a look maybe you can then take the information back to your doctor to explain your concerns around your symptoms and support why you suspect you have endo endometriosis-uk.org/public...