Progression?

[hallc1999]

Did anyone else notice a change or progression in your endometriosis symptoms?

as you got older, new changes?

worse?, less? let me hear!

[Dinky26]

I've always had heavy painful periods since I started aged 13, was finally diagnosed through a lap in 2009 aged 21. They removed what they could and I didn't have any treatment from then. Then about 3 years ago my periods suddenly got alot heavy to the point where I was flooding every half hour but I ignored it and knew it was down to the endo. About 4 months ago I started getting awful leg and back pains which lead me to have a pelvic ultrasound and they found a endometrioma cyst on my left ovary which I'm assuming caused my periods to suddenly get heavier and then last week I had a 2nd scan which showed 2 endometriomas on my left ovary! I'm on decapeptyl injections now and waiting to see what's next. I've been offered a hysterectomy but I'm only just turned 34 so don't want that yet! Apparently my womb is hard and fixed in place

[hallc1999 in reply to Dinky26]

im sorry. similar with me with heavy painful periods since the beggining. i was on the pill things got better but since i had an IUD placed 8 months ago things have randomly been getting worse. weird symptoms i don’t remember having before.. i was told my left ovary is polycystic but not PCOS because i dont have the main horomonal symptoms of it... other ovary is fine.

i had my first pap smear last friday. waiting on those results. if they come back clear im seriously looking to having this IUD taken out and the lap.

[Moon_maiden]

I was diagnosed last December at 51. It’s likely been there years as always had period issues but ‘coped’. Given that it decided to make itself very noticeable last year, and this, I’d advise anyone to get it checked/confirmed and treated in a suitable way.

[maricastanha]

hello Haleyconti! like yourself I have just joined this forum. I am 33 and since my late 20s my periods starting to get more and more painful and heavier. I now also experience ovulation pain and this month it seems like the ovulation pain has decided to stay all the way through my cycle. I have been trying for a baby for almost a year now, unsuccessfully, which is very upsetting, and I have a phone appointment with my GP at the end of this month to bring all this up, although I'm dreading that she might not take it seriously and won't refer me to a gynecologist. The lack of support for this condition is enraging and that's one of the reasons why I have joined this forum.

So... in answer to you question, yes, I feel it's getting worse as I age.

[hallc1999 in reply to maricastanha]

may i ask where you are located? why do you need a referral to see a gynecologist ? you cant make an appointment on your own?

[hallc1999 in reply to maricastanha]

& yes. this forum already has made me feel much better and less crazy. if you google this stuff it says you have stage 4 cancer at age 21. itll tell you your endo symptoms “cant be endo”. on here it seems more people have similar experiences than experts think!

[Anastasia17]

Much worse as I got older. I never received any treatment until this July, so I think the endo has spread unopposed for years.

The Urogynaecologist didn't do his job 2 years ago, that's when the symptoms and pain could have been contained, so I am now dealing with severe digestive issues, important rectal bleeding, feeling completely drained at times, immediate tummy pains if I eat food rich in oestrogen. The past 2 years have been a complete nightmare with both GPs and 1st consultant blocking my medical care.

I did my own research, received a lot of advice and support from the vaillant endo warriors on this group, completely modified my diet, asked for a 2nd referral and I am now seen by a consultant who found endo on the ureter and on the bowels. I still have a lot of symptoms so it's not finished yet, but at least I am not so much on my own. The GPs are a complete disaster and an absolute disgrace.