Has endo returned or something more serious

[Nix123]

I'm 46 and two years ago had laparascopy and thermal ablation of endometriosis on the uterosacral ligaments and pouch of douglas after suffering severe ovulation pain and pelvic pain for years. I felt amazing after the surgery, although didn't have much follow up as to what stage it was. After about 6 months, the familiar twinges started to reappear but not as bad as previously so I managed to put up with it. I should say I can't take the pill as it makes me very depressed and was hoping due to my age it wouldn't grow back before the menopause! Last month my period didn't arrive, despite having period pain and I had a headache for over a week. I had spotting for a few days but that was it. I made an appointment with GP for today as my cycle has always been 25- 30 days and wouldn't you know, my period arrived today, after 60 days! GP was very good but when she examined me, particularly towards my right ovary where I've been getting the pain (and the area I got it before) she said there was a swelling so is sending me for internal scan plus various blood tests (CA125). I asked her if she thought it was serious and she said that she just needed to rule out that it isn't. I'm obviously worried now that there is something sinister going on although hoping it's maybe the start of perimenopause, along with possible endo returning. I should add I have had nightsweats for a couple of days (around spotting), my weight has stayed the same but I have felt muddled and fatigued on occasion, plus I do often suffer with IBS C on occasion. Could this be perimenopause/endo or something more sinister? I'm trying not to worry (although I am a worrier) but would just like to get the scan asap and the waiting is frustrating! I almost wish she hadn't mentioned the swelling - I'm quite slim and can't feel anything!

[luthien]

Hoping it isn't anything more serious. Obviously you don't want it to be your endo recurring as that's awful too

Unfortunately endo can recur after surgery, it very much depends on the woman; their cycles, their treatment and their hormones. Ablation doesn't get rid of the endo, it takes the top layer of affected tissue away a few layers of cells deep so it can leave endo behind, this can regrow faster.

As we are mammals we always have female hormones (even men have small amounts) therefore the chance of endo growth is always there. Even after menopause or hysterectomy endo can regrow as it's related to those female hormones. It may grow less or not at all or symptoms are manageable.

Keep us updated with what goes on xx

[Aisha12]

I know menopause can throw your cycle off, so it probably is that! With my endo I was told that it’s more than likely within two years it would all return again. So yours could well have returned. When they found my cyst I also was told it could be cancerous and all sorts, and had blood works done. But with endo your CA125 tends to come raised. The whole wait until proper diagnoses was just awful! Try and take it easy, they have to rule out everything serious with everyone. I don’t think the doctors or nurses are allowed to tell you that’s its nothing to worry about because if in the slightest chance something does end up being serious, it’ll just come back on them. A nurse did tell me though that she’d seen plenty cases like mine and that there really wasn’t anything to worry about. The nurses I got afterwards doing my scans were never that helpful in terms of giving out info from what they saw on scans which worried me even more.

Try not to worry. Wishing you the best of luck x

[Nix123 in reply to Aisha12]

Thank you very much. I know there is no point worrying until I have something to worry about but it’s the waiting game that is very frustrating. If I could get the scan done tomorrow I would!!