Endometriosis symptoms?

[Liloldme]

Hi, I was just wondering what your symptoms were and how long you had them before you went to the doctors about them? Also what were the processes for the diagnosis?

[Jessjesssophia]

It'll totally vary between women but my experience was having really bad periods and pain during sex. My periods would last around 2 weeks which was pretty awful & they were really heavy. I'd get lower abdominal pain particularly on the right side and would have real trouble (sorry) having bowel movements. Really sore in my abdomen. After going backwards and forwards to doctors for over a year I got scheduled for an ultrasound which showed nothing then a laporoscopy a few months later which confirmed the endometriosis.

Being persistent with the doctors helped!

Hope you're ok x

[Hidden]

I had very heavy periods and pain during my period. I also had awful bloating throughout the month. I then started to bleed throughout the month, although this was brown old blood and was only spotting. I arranged to have a private ultrasound scan and this identified 'masses' in my pelvis which led to my GP referring me to a gynaecologist urgently. I was lucky because I was treated at a BSGE centre really quickly. I then had a laparoscopy and my endo was diagnosed and excised. X

[Pickle881]

I came off the pill to try for a baby, wasn't falling then about 10 months being off the pill I started getting severe abdominal pain and swelling 1-2 times a month, not linked to any particular time of month, period cycle became irregular but never painful, started having some pain during sex and a constant niggle in left side.

The abdominal pain was horrific!! I'd rather brake a bone then have to go through that pain, was very hard as the pain would just come on all of sudden for no reason and would last 12-24hrs.

This went on for a year, in which time I had swabs, blood and urine tests, scan which showed an left ovarian cyst that had ruptured, then was sent to specialist then had my lap 3 weeks ago confirmed endo and chocolate cyst, now ongoing treatment.

When I look back on it I've suffered the above symptoms very rarely maybe a couple of times of year for the past 8 years ish but was always fobbed of by Drs with you have a titled womb, it's IBS, it's a pulled stomach muscle. All this time I was the pill it kept it mostly at bay, coming of the pill brought it to light.

Hope this helps x

[mierran]

Hi, I had painful periods from puberty but kept getting told it was all part of being a woman and normal. I was put on the pill at 15 after having b6 supements etc. Pulse dosed pill for 10 years until it no longer helped. Thought vomiting diarrhoea, pain that meant I couldn't stand up , painful sex etc was all part of life. Then when my partner and I started ttc and after 18months nothing had happened I went to a different doctor. He referred me for fertility workup where straight away they said endo. Diagnosed definitively on lap and told needed ivf.

Time from first dr appt to diagnosis 20 years. By which time I have infiltrative stage 4, needed one ovary removed and other one so gubbed by endo I needed donor eggs. I also have major adhesions everywhere, bowel and intestinal problems and chronic pelvic pain.

Thankfully I think things have since improved re diagnosis and treatment.

[Liloldme]

Thank you everyone for your replies, I really appreciate it. My situation is very unique indeed! Makes me feel a bit better, thank you <3 <3