Started on the combined pill.. symptoms even worse and bleeding. Not sure what to do next.

[MandaBunny]

Hi everone! I'm Amanda and I'm finding this site so helpful.

So, I'm at the stage of being primarily diagnosed with endo by my gyneachologost and listed for a laparoscopy (Which I've been informed, may take 3-4 months).

She advised that I take the combined pill - Microgynon - for 3 Months without a break. I was really reluctant to do so, as I'm 39 and heard it could worsen symptoms.

Well I was fine for 2 weeks, but then began bleeding (more like weird black stuff) out of the blue, which could have been really embarrassing. With it, came my usual agony; stabbing pain to the right of my navel, burning around the right flank (was originally diagnosed with renal colic, which was ruled out by CT) and stabbing/cramping in my right lower back.

I'm unable to get an appointment with my GP, so in desperation, have stopped taking the pill as I've also been experiencing really severe headaches.

Has anyone else been through the same? And what did they do about it?

I'm at my wits end.

Many thanks in advance.

[CandaceM]

I’m not a doctor but I think that the estrogen in the combined pill wouldn’t help. They suggest you should be on progesterone only to reduce endometrial growth. You should go back and talk to your gyne doctor.

[Sez73]

I've never taken the pill to control my endo as I was only finally diagnosed during the time when I was trying to conceive so couldn't be on any medication obviously while I tried to get pregnant. I do get very surprised when GPs offer the combined pill though as my understanding of endometriosis is that it is an oestrogen-dependent disease. I would have imagined taking oestrogen from the combined pill, and therefore having regular hormone exposure, would result in ongoing pain symptoms and potential disease progression? I guess that's when progesterone-only pills are another option, however, speaking from experience whenever I have had progesterone overload e.g. from taking it in IVF etc, I've felt lousy, but more worrying the excess progesterone has caused unbearable anxiety and very bad heart palpitations.

I guess it's trying to find a balance in what suits you, endo affects women in so many different ways, I don't think there can ever be a one size fits all solution to be honest and sometimes it will be a case of trying out different medication to see what best suits you and I don't think most GPs are very good venturing away from the standard approach to be honest. Having not taken the pill to control my endometriosis symptoms, I'm not in the position to advise, however, I do know what excess oestrogen can do when you suffer severely with endo and you may as well be throwing petrol on a fire in my experience. I'd have a better chat with your GP about what your options are. I noticed you said you couldn't get an appointment, as far as I'm aware a lot of surgeries allow you to phone at opening time for an emergency appointment and I would do that if you are contemplating coming off any medication. It's very sad but a lot of GP's I've encountered wouldn't know how to treat endo if it smacked them in the face, I quote my own GP "well you know an awful lot more about this disease than I do"...need I say more.

All the best trying to get something which will help you. When I was in Australia, the consultant prescribed Visanne which is a progesterone only pill, however, it was very new in the country at the time and I heard some horror stories about it so never took it further.

Would it be worth paying for a private appointment with someone who will actually know more than your GP, I can't think prescribing the combined pill is in your best interests, but that's only my humble opinion.

Hope you can get some relief soon x