New to site. Pelvic/abdominal pain. Offered laparoscopy, undecided.

[JLea]

Hi, I have had pain in my abdomen for around 5-6 mnth now, maybe a little longer, sometimes feels like severe menstrual cramps, stabbing pain, and can sometimes feel like someone has hold of my insides and is pulling/stretching them.

The pain can be right low down in my groin, or a little higher to around my belly button. Mostly on the left side, but does occur on both. It doesnt happen every day, its every other day to every few days and can last for anywhere between half an hr to all day long. The pain is excrutiating at times, and can be really painful during sex and gets worse during my periods which are completely irregular, but no idea what is causing this. I have the Mirena coil which has been in place since Jan 2015.

My doc referred me for an Ultrasound which came back fine (checked for hernea on my bowel, and ovarian cysts as well as confirming like ive already been told previously that my coil is in place - I was worried it may have perforated the tissue)

I was told during the US that the follicles on my ovaries looked 'slightly chunky' - ace professional, medical description - but is still normal.

After this, I was referred to a gynaecologist. I had the appointment on Friday 29th April so only a couple of days ago. Again, she confirmed my coil is in place as it should be, and took a few swabs, though she didnt say what this was for and I completely forgot to ask during my appointment. I had my smear last year also which came back fine.

She then did an internal examination, sat me back down and told me everything looks and feels completely normal, and couldnt tell me much more than that. She said she thinks it may be my large intestine with the type of pain and where it is but Im not convinced - I have IBS & know the kind of pain it gives me, and the pain I experience is always more severe during my period, when I have them.

She said she doesnt think it is endemetriosis.. but to rule this out 100% would mean having a laparoscopy, so they can physically see whats going on inside. I asked whether any signs of endo would have shown on the US - she advised that it wouldnt.

I suppose with a lap they would also be able to see if it could be something else causing the pain, so I would have a better chance at getting an answer as Im getting really disheartened now with no one being able to tell me whats going on inside my body thats causing this. However, I dont want to go through the procedure to be told again that they havent found anything, and for me to have to take a week off work for the privelege.

I was wondering if anyone had any advice? What you think this could be, if anyone else has been through something similar with similar pain/symptoms? Any advice is much appreciated!!

Thank you in advance.

[Tboag]

Hi it does sound like it could be endo, do you have pain during or after sex? Like she said the only way to be sure us through a laparoscopy, x

[JLea in reply to Tboag]

Thanks for replying. Just realised how long my post was, oops! I get pain during sex and it can be really painful, then it will linger for a while afterwards like cramps x

[Tboag in reply to JLea]

I would op for the laparoscopy, to check for endo, the gold standard of treatment is thorough excision in a bsge centre with a specialist, x

[JLea in reply to Tboag]

Thank you. I think I have to really for the sake of trying to get some answers. Can I just ask, what is a BSGE Centre? Im brand new to this haha x

[Tboag in reply to JLea]

Bsge is a specialist centre, the surgeon have undergone further training in excision, general gyne often havnt got the skill to identify endo nor the skill to remove it, and often burn it off, which is not as good as it grows back, look up a lady called Lindle on here, and read her posts, general gyne are also not permitted to deal with endo on certain areas, but unfortunately often still do, xx

[JeanOsborne]

Hi I totally agree with Tboag. On another point of us . Any type of scan can show endo , it just depends on how severe or deep it is and how qualified and experienced the person is who is interpreting the info.

[applebird]

Hi, this really does sound like it could be Endo related. My advice would be to go for the laparoscopy - otherwise you will be left in limbo and investigation into what's causing your pain will effectively halt. Lap is the only way to diagnose Endo and as you point out when they're in there they can check for other pathological causes as well. Worst case scenario they don't find anything, you will recover within 3-4 weeks in this case - a week is the absolute minimum time you'd need off. endo-resolved.com/laparosco...

If they find severe Endo they will book you for another lap at a later stage - they may need more time/equipment/multidisciplinary. In that case they'll close you up, recovery still circa 3wks.

If they find Endo mild/moderate and do work to remove it whilst in there add another few wks onto recovery and you'll need at least 2-3 wks off work. 

I know all of this may seem a bit daunting, Endo if severe can progress to damage the bowel, bladder etc. if not treated so it really is best to rule it out or deal with it. X

[applebird]

Ps re. Bsge centre 

bsge.org.uk/ec-BSGE-accredi...

There are different protocols depending on where you are in the U.K. Sometimes you can be referred direct by your gp to a centre if Endo is suspected. Otherwise you go through General gynae lap first and when you have a diagnosis they will refer you on.