Should I push for laporoscopy?

[Athy90]

Hello,

I am new here, and really grateful to have found this community!

I have not been officially diagnosed with endometriosis, but I due to my familial history (many women in my family have it along with infertility) and my symptoms I truly suspect that I have it. I have always had horrendous periods that pain killers won't even touch but pain between periods has been worse in recent years. I also have pain and spotting in between periods to the point where I will wake from sleep with so much pain from ovulation. I've also stopped running because most times during/after a run I end up in fetal position from stabbing pain in pelvis. I have a long list of digestive symptoms, severe sciatic-like leg pain and fatigue and constant nagging pelvic discomfort.

I have tried various forms of birth control, but the symptoms from these medications are making me even more miserable, and increasing the occurrence of migraines and anxiety attacks.

I have been, for the most part, dismissed by doctors who tell me my pain is probably normal when I know it is not! Throwing up and passing out from pain during one's cycle cannot be normal !!! No one in my circle of friends is suffering the way that I am.

I want to know if I may have fertility issues like so many women in my family, I want to know what is going on inside my body. However, the fact that I am having such a hard time getting help from doctors is really getting to my head. My fear is that I will take all the effort in finally getting a laparoscopy done, just for them not to find anything or to miss it entirely. Like they'd look at me and say "I told you so. Nothings here."

So far all that has shown up is a cyst on my left ovary during a pelvic ultrasound (on top). They refuse to do anything transvaginal because I have never been sexually active before and they have a policy against it. I can't even get a papsmear done because it is so painful.

I am already feeling so lost, embarrassed and frustrated as this is negatively impacting every facet of my life. I am only 25 years old, and I spend more time feeling sick in pain than not. I am a straight A student and I am having to drop classes and take so much time off from work due to pain.

Should I/How do I push for this procedure and let go of the fear of not getting a diagnosis in the end? How can I see an endometriosis specialist if no one takes me seriously enough to refer me to one?

Thank you so much,

Mandy

[SarahMia227]

Unfortunately, a lot of it is persistence, argue your corner, and keep going back to wear them down. You can always change GPs and try and find a more sympathetic one. Don't worry about the transvaginal scans, endo very rarely shows up on them anyway so it's the lap you want. Good luck xx

[Athy90 in reply to SarahMia227]

Thank you,

I switched my GP and I am determined to get some answers this time around! Good to know that endo rarely shows up on the exam. Some GPs are convinced it would, I don't think they know much about endo!

[SarahMia227 in reply to Athy90]

Unfortunately, a lot of doctors do still think it shows up - I even had a specialist say it would! It's still a good exam to have though, cause they can rule out other things that might be causing symptoms (like cysts). I have heard that they don't always do it if you've not been sexually active before, but I don't know the rationale behind that. Frustrating either way! I had a doctor tell me to have a baby as well, and I'm just like "I'm a 24 year old student with a student partner." Plus I don't want a baby!

[Athy90]

Thank you,

I know , the policy does not make any sense to me! They are taking me less seriously because I am 25 years old and a virgin. I am really focused on school, so this might be the case for who knows how long.

I am in a lot of pain but I've been told that they weren't even going to explore the surgery option because that would be "opening up a can of worms" ! What does that even mean?

Then they follow up that statement with "Pregnancy can help." Unbelievable. I don't even have a partner :/ I also have a blood disorder which limits the types of pain medication I can take especially NSAIDS, not that they would help anyway. Doctors just keep trying to stick me with more birth control, muscle relaxers and narcotics.

I switched my primary care doctor, as you've both suggested. I am just going to have to put my foot down for the sake of my health. I am going to push for the lap - at least then I'll have a better idea of what is going on. I want to make sure that the surgeon is sympathetic and knows what they are looking for. I've read stories about endo being missed by general gynecologists. Hopefully, given my history, they will refer me to an endospecialist for the lap.