My story with suspected endomitriosis.. Feeling anxious now for my diagnostic laparoscopy..

[Sianni]

Hi there, I’m 24 have struggled with problems from my very first period back when I was 14, the last 10 years have been a rollercoaster ride to say the least.. I have been through 7 different birth control pills to try and level out and regulate my periods, when I was a teenager my periods would have me in bed doubled over, it was frightening. The pill seemed to regulate the bleed and after trial and error we found one that kinda helped with the pain but it didn’t work for me as a person I wasn’t my self I felt like a “phsyco” and for at least three years I stayed like that! School and college was hard but I was non the wiser and thought that was just me the heavy 10 plus day periods were normal the pain was normal the head aches and loneliness and depression was normal,I tried different contraceptive pills and my hormones were all over the place and of course I thought that was part of growin up. When I was 18 I had been doing some research and was going travelling and decide to come off the pill when I was nearly 19 and to give my body a rest and for a year I was ok! I felt my head level out I became more myself and I began to feel like a normal young lady who suffered once a month again thinking the pain was just what us women have to deal with.. I think all went like this up until I moved to Ireland when I was 20 I began to get irregular bleeding and terrible abdominal pain lower back pain and occasional left ovarie pain I remember one day I felt like I had been kicked in the vagina it made me drop to the ground like a booting feeling in side me (sorry for graphic words) my ovarie was hurting was like a pulling feeling when I moved and horrendous pelvic pain so much so I couldn’t staighten out. I got these chronic pains occasionally and randomly and started to think something wasn’t right I was in agony I went to my doctor and explained everything he actually laughed at me and said “well your a women and some women suffer with painful periods” so we will try a birth controll pill to try regulate things have you done that before I said yes many.. he said we will try this and see how you get on because you probabbly have something called endometriosis and if you do then this is what they will give to you anyway.. I said what is that? and he preifly explained but brushed it off as nothing serious.. I then tried this pill for a year and still suffered with dibiltating pains and started to suffer with miagranes and feeling not myself again, I began to feel pain during intercourse and was so confused, one day I was in work and was doubled over in pain my boss actually drove me to the doctors and got me seen too but I went straight to a lady doctor instead and got an internal examination.. and do you know what she said are you using contraceptives I said yes and she said we will test you for an STD any way! I said I know it’s not a std me and my partner are very careful and haven’t been with anyone else! She took a swab and sent me away with painkillers for period pains but again mentioned Endo , I ended up back in the docs with horrible abdominal pains and lower back pains and miagranes he said he would refer me to the hospital were I had an ultra sound nothing came up on the ultra sound so I was referred to the gynaecologist and then doc tried changing my pill, so this pill did regulate my period but I was still having long heavy bleeds and often painful intercourses I became very depressed and couldn’t deal with these head aches, I changed my doctor she took my bloods bloods were fine urine sample was fine and I felt comfetable to explain everything to her she tried me on the progesterone pill only and said to try this for 6 months, I have been irregular bleeding since going on this new pill but it’s the straightes my head has felt in years! I don’t suffer with head aches anymore! But I still get these random chronic pains and sex is uncomfortable and often hurts or makes me bleed I have completely lost my libido no interest what so ever and being 24 it kills me to say that, I don’t know if I’m afraid of the pain or afraid I’m going to bleed or just simply don’t want to? I’m always bloated I’m suffering with pains weather it’s abdominal back kidney ovarie it’s never needing... meanwhile after waiting two years in total I have had my gynaecologist appointment they informed me they lost my ultrasound that was done two years ago and I have to come back to have it done again and they also did an early smear test because I’m not 25 yet but because my symptoms they wanted to do one. The specialist explained to me about Endo and said he strongly believes this is what I have and had to rule out anything else first so I went back for ultra sound and transvaginal ultrasound and was told all looked ok and normal endometrial was a little thin but all seemed ok my smear came back inadequate so no results from that I went back to have smear test and they said I was bleeding to much to have done and have to re arrange when I’m not bleeding! I’m so fed up and emotional for this on going process I got very upset and asked what is my next step I feel helpless something is wrong I know somethings is wrong! The nurse went out to the doc and had a chat with him and he decided with all I have been through and all symptoms all that is left to do is a laparoscopy. I am booked in now for October I am in one way relieved because I am hoping to get answers finally, but I’m nervous and I’m nervous that they won’t find anything.. it’s been so hard living with this and trying to explain to my partner is hard we are young and sexual should be more active and it’s so hard for me... I feel like a waste of a women a shame. I feel so sorry for him as I know it must be hard for him as a man. I feel like a moan and that I’m overreacting all the time but it’s just so hard, I know something is wrong and I know my body.. I don’t know what I am looking for here I just need some advise or word of wisdom or support.. its been a long time for me and I am starting to begin to feel and think it’s all in my head I’m fine, just needed to share my story and if any one reaches out I would appreciate it. Also with the laparoscopy I work as a care assistant in a nursing home my job is very heavy I have told my boss I have my opp date and she is aware of my ongoing condition and is happy I’m finally getting looked at but I have told her I don’t know how long I will be out for until the surgeon tells me? She said depending what they find could be different recovery time? Does any one have any information about that? Urgh sorry for life story.. “/ thanks for listening ... Sian x