Scan for endo ???

[Georgie91]

Can any scans pick up endometriosis as I don’t want to have a larcoscopy and I’m 99% I have it on my bowel due to symptoms

[weekari]

Yes. It can be seen on the an MRI, that's how I was diagnosed. Not all endo can be picked up this way though, so you may get a clear mri and still have endo or you may have more endo than what's seen in the MRI. It's definitely worth exploring though.

Good luck.

[Georgie91 in reply to weekari]

Thanks for responding I just want to try non avasive procedures before going down the operating route

[weekari in reply to Georgie91]

Yeah I can completely understand. You can't really know for sure without a lap but an MRI could maybe give an idea. Especially if you think your bowel could be involved, if it's seen in an mri to be affecting your bowel, then you'd meet the criteria to be seen at a specialist endo centre rather than general gynae.

Though don't worry, just because you have bowl symptoms doesn't necessarily mean it's damaged your bowel. I have a lot of bowel symptoms but it's because my endo (and a huge fibroid) is in my pouch of Douglas which is the space between the uterus and bowel and can cause those symptoms.

[Swats]

Hi,

I had CT scans and they were clear.

My MRI scan and colonoscopy camera picked up my endo on my bowel.

Hope this helps and hope you get sorted soon x

[Georgie91 in reply to Swats]

Thanks x

[luthien]

Some scans may pick up endo, but they usually only pick up old endo / scar tissue. They don't always pick up the active or smaller bits. The size or amount of endo doesn't relate to severity of symptoms either, so yours could be horrible symptoms but a tiny amount of endo and therefore may not show up on any scan. Scans can be used to suspect endo but it isn't clear so isn't formal therefore no specific endo treatment can be given.

The only formal diagnosis for endo is laparoscopy. With that they can also take biopsies and see the extent of it plus what it's doing to the organs - it can stick them together. Then you have the option of treatment (removal of endo sometimes in the same op) or having hormones in a variety of ways. The advantage of the op is you then know what you have, what it affects and what you can do next.

I know you're looking at non invasive options - bear in mind treatment may not be endo specific but just then sorting your symptoms - usually hormones - nothing can reverse or stop it so it will only get worse - there's no timeframe for that either. That may be all you need for now though just to cope and be normal.

It may not be what you want to hear but just being honest x

[Georgie91 in reply to luthien]

Thanks for responding I really appreciate the info you have told me and I will definitely look into it many thanks x

[Lizziecotterill]

Not really unless it's an MRI and the endometriosis is REALLY bad like mine....in fact it was and MRI of my spine for something else and there is was quite by surprise to consultant he at first thought tumour not being a gynae but then shared with urologist and he knew straight away no it's her endo.

Wow yes wow

[Georgie91 in reply to Lizziecotterill]

Thanks for letting me know I’m definitely going to ask for an mri

[L-Jay]

An MRI picked up inflammation in the pelvic region, but wasn’t a clear image of it. A laparoscopy was needed to diagnose mine. Give it a go though x

[lizzyxx]

I have really bad bowel symptoms but don't have it on my bowel, endo close to the bowel can also cause the same symptoms as I have it in the pouch of douglas x

[Georgie91 in reply to lizzyxx]

If you don’t mind saying what are your symptoms? I just want to see if they are similar to mine because I’m really worried that it’s on my bowel x

[lizzyxx in reply to Georgie91]

Constipation and diarrhea, pain in stomach during and after bowel movements, bleeding from bum and shooting/stabbing pains up my bum x

[Georgie91 in reply to lizzyxx]

Oh they does sound exactly like what I suffer from I think I just need to get it investigated a bit more but thank you for sharing with me I really appreciate it x