Hi there,
I would really appreciate any thoughts on whether the symptoms I am experiencing might be endometriosis. I suffer from intermittent (but there most of the time) very low, dragging pelvic pain - both vaginal and rectal (sometimes one or the other or commonly both together). The pain is a strong ache and feels very much like the cramps I have always had with period pain (except I never had the rectal pain). Standing and sitting are very painful, but lying down seems to alleviate it and it doesn't bother me at night (unlike period pain). The pain radiates to the lower back also. This has been going on for about a year and a half on and off, but has gradually become worse and harder to live with.
I also have very heavy periods with pain and clotting. Periods are irregular. I also have extreme breast tenderness for 7 days pre-period, migraine headache and generally feel rubbish. I know I have oestrogen dominance and last summer had surgery for a ruptured ovarian cyst. I am 43 and have two children - no problems conceiving and normal pregnancies.
Investigations I have had include a Gynae exam to check cervix and any sign of prolapase (none), trans-vaginal ultrasound (all normal, just a thickened uterine lining on the limit of normal); GP exam of rectal area (normal); specialist physio to check pelvic floor (pretty normal considering 2 kids!). GP doesn't know what to do next - has suggested the pill but I'm not keen. Gynae (who I saw privately) said the next step would be to check for endometriosis with a laparoscopy, but that my symptoms do not seem to be typical of endo in that they come and go during the month. Sometimes it seems they are not linked to cycle at all - other times they are - ie. def worse around ovulation and struggling really badly at the moment - a few days before my period.
Whilst I am really keen to get to the bottom of this, I also don't want to have an unnecessary laparoscopy if the Gynae thinks this is not likely to be Endo. I'd love some thoughts from those who have some experience of the symptoms! Feel at a dead end right now and in a lot of pain....