A little insight please?

[Anngecruz]

I’m 25, and has always had painful irregular periods. When I was young I would bleed heavy but as I got older I’d bleed heavy for the first day and my period would be gone in about 4-5 days. There’s been times I’ve gone months without a period. It started years ago I started to get bad pain in my pelvic down to legs before my period and after my period never during -it was fine then. The drs didn’t seem to alarmed either. I haven’t conceived at all. I thought it could’ve been PCOs because I have the hirtuism that’s associated with it but no dr has given that a thought. Recently I’ve been without my period since about Feb or April but I’m in constant pain- pelvic pain, down to the butt around the hips leg pain and occasional vagina pain. My OB thinks it’s Endo and that I have cyst but doesn’t want to cut me open if the birth control works. My first round of birth control worked after 2 months no pain just the horrible side effects of acne and such so I switch and waiting on that to become effective is a living hell. Just wondering if anyone experienced this.

[NW248]

Edno can usually be detected with an MRI, ask your OB for one.

[Anngecruz in reply to NW248]

Thank you so much for replying.

[Char411]

Only deep infiltrating endo will show on an MRI. Mine was clear yet during my lap they found multiple patches of endo in 5 different places. Only way to confirm endometriosis is with a laparoscopy. It does sound like you could have it, I would push for a lap so you can have definitive answers and then a plan on how to manage it.

P.s I was on the pill prior to my laparoscopy and had been for some years and endometriosis still grew and became unmanageable

All the best xx

[Anngecruz in reply to Char411]

Thank you so much for replying.

[E-JSmith]

Wow! I'm astoninshed at the lack of action taken by your GPs! Lack of a period for months with severe pain should raise several indications that something is not right. I am so sorry you're having to deal with this right now. Why are they reluctant to do the hormone testing for PCOS? I had it done whilst starting proceedings for suspected endometriosis.

Did they give you a reason as to why are they reluctant to give you a laparoscopy? I'm 25 also and my experience with GPs and gynae's has been so different from yours? May I ask what region your in. I would suggest getting another GP and Gina because they are moving way to slow on this and then to just say that birth control is enough...that is absurd! Please directly message me if you want about this because this sounds so stressful and frustrating.

I am going to praying for you to see other GPs and specialists who want to be more proactive about your pain and wellbeing.

Blessings and love and a BIG HUG to you!

E-J

[Anngecruz in reply to E-JSmith]

Thank you so much for replying. I’m going to ask for the hormone testing and an ultrasound.

[Hidden]

From the moment I started my period at the age of 12, I had heavy bleeding and constant pain (passing out, physically sick). I was placed on the birth control at the age of 16, despite Endo running in the family, as I was deemed to young to have any surgical intervention. The pill did take some time to work for me, it was not until three to four months later, I started to feel a bit better.

It was not until I turned 28, after years of pushing for answers, that I finally was referred and had a laparoscopy done, only for them to discover I had stage 4 endo; which was all over the place, and that it had nearly destroyed one of my ovaries due to it having cut off the blood supply. I did some research and found that taking certain vitamins (vitamin B complex, Vitamin E - do not take while on period, as it increase bleeding, Vitamin C, Zinc, magnesium (recommend testing for zinc and magnesium) and drinking unhomogenized milk (Tesco Jersey, Waitrose full organic) could be a big help.

Milk is a big issue with endo, and drinking homogenized is the worst thing you can do for it.

Switching to unhomogenized milk, and taking the vitamins and several months to allow them to build up eventually made it possible to come of the pill. I conscious decision I made due to other health issues which made it imperative I come of birth control (GP being of little use there). I still have heavy periods at times, and pain, but it is manageable with a TENS machine (some reasonable priced ones on Amazon), microwavable oaty bag, heat patches (Boots) and Mefanamic Acid muscle pain relief (ask your GP about this).

If not already known, please be aware that endo feeds off Oestrogen, so even though the birth control can help mask the pain and reduce bleeding the endo will still feed and grow.

Hope this helps a little.

All the best in your quest for finding answers and managing the endo.

Kind regards

CatPaws

[Anngecruz in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for replying.