Pain associated with bowel habits

[Ania_96]

Hi guys,

I was recently diagnosed (well, havent had lap yet) with endometriosis following symptoms of terrible cramps during period, painful spot on sex and pain all throughout. I haven't had a lap yet as I was told my Mirena can improve my symptoms if I give it a bit more time and could spare me a surgery. I also struggle with finding enough time to have the surgery.

However I recently noticed that my pain gets much worse when I need to go to the loo. I've been having some erratic bowel habit recently (attributed probs to stress and poor diet), but all that made me wonder i I really have endo or is it sth else. I've had bowel problems before but never with that kind of pain. And recently when I had a period I found sex so painful, which still points towards endometriosis.

I guess what I am wondering is if there are other people who find pain worse when they need the loo

[ShellySinkers]

I am waiting for my first specialist appointment with suspected Endo, I have had symptoms for years but as most of them include constipation and diarrhoea my GP has spent the last 15 years telling me I have a weird case of IBS that gets worse for the two weeks a month when I am due and on my period.

I have also had many Endo symptoms and had a mirena fitted for a couple of years to sort out a period that just wouldn’t stop (62 days when I had coil fitted) . I won’t scaremonger but I didn’t get along with the mirena, I found i had new stabbing pain in left ovary with it, I persevered but eventually had it removed as I just felt awful all of the time.

Anyway my GP told me that my bowel was an unlucky thing that can’t be explained, and my periods were also an unlucky thing that can’t be explained. That’s when I started googling and went to him with the Endo query, nobody I have seen in hospital or doctors has ever suggested it to me even though I have pain during sex, pain during pelvic exams, pain around time of month, constant fatigue and now anxiety/depression cos I’ve had to give up work as my health is so unpredictable.!

Sorry, went a little off with my rant there, my point is yes you may feel the bowel is your main source of pain but don’t be fobbed off, mirena won’t cure Endo or IBS so push for an op, get diagnosed properly once and for all then at least you know what you are dealing with.

[Ania_96 in reply to ShellySinkers]

Thank you for the detailed reply!

In my case it was all a bit faster, because I am a medical student and I suspected endometriosis when I saw women come in to clinics describing essentially my life. I went to the GP and pushed for an appointment and got it fairly quickly.

I know mirena won't cure me (it did help though, I had copper coil before and that was terrible), but I know how it works and how it can help me. I have migraines so can't be on combined pill and progesteron-only pill gave me irregular periods that i couldnt tolerate due to being a swimmer.

I am due to have my next appointment in June and I might ask for a lap then. Still not sure as I don't really want surgeons I know (from my placement) and my colleagues to operate on me

[Fabbird in reply to Ania_96]

Hi, i have a confirmed diagnosis and also pain with bowel movements. My MRI showed an endometrioma on my rectum, which explains it. So you might have something similar going on.

I also work in the NHS. Its completely understandable that you don’t want colleagues to operate on you. Your Trust should have arrangements for staff, eg to be treated in a neighbouring Trust, in such circumstances. I think you just need to have a gynae consultation and make a request for treatment elsewhere. You certainly shouldn’t get any less care because you are a medical student.

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It hurts when I need to poo sometimes and the bloating is painful. My other half takes pysillum husk tablets. He could see I was very uncomfortable so suggested I take them. So I did a bit of research and it said they help with Endometriosis and IBS . They really helped with the IBS , constipation and the bloating I had.

Give psyllium husk tablets a try.

We use the innopure psyllium husk tablets.

I hope you feel more comfortable soon.