Hi everyone.
I’m 21 and have had chronic pelvic pain since I started my periods a week after my 10th birthday. Prior to that I have always have recurrent UTI’s. After years of waiting, numerous referrals and told it was normal I was finally told I most likely have endometriosis about 4 years ago but still have not received my diagnostic laparoscopy (pandemic).
A year and a half ago I was put into artificial menopause and suffered severe side effects in terms of my mental health. I had really extreme mania as well as all the other awful symptoms of menopause and almost tried to commit suicide it was so bad. Obviously I then stopped the treatment and my mental health improved but my pelvic pain was untouched by the entire experience.
I had the mirena coil at age 18 which stopped my periods altogether but would occasionally pass clots of varying colours. The only hormone treatment that’s ever worked even slightly for me is the combined pill but I had to stop taking that after being diagnosed with factor V Leiden.
Post menopause, in April of this year I had a cyst rupture on my right ovary and was hospitalised for a week with a pelvic infection afterwards but luckily didn’t require surgery. My CT scan or ultrasound could not get a clear ‘normal’ image of my left ovary, something doctors were concerned about but didn’t think it warranted any further tests as it could have been down the fluid in the pelvis.
Whilst waiting for my laparoscopy, my doctor has put me on Norgeston, the mini pill, taken in conjunction with having the mirena coil. It’s been a month and I’m going insane, I’m hormonal, I’m hungry and I’m severely depressed with no motivation. It’s ruining my life and my university work is affected and my new job, this is without all of the pain which never goes away.
I have been thinking over the last week of stopping all hormone treatment completely but I don’t know whether the pros outweigh the cons in this case. I haven’t had a natural cycle since I was 13 and am unaware if I would even have a period at all. But also knowing how life altering my periods can be that how will I manage day to day life.
I’m just wondering if anyone has any experience in making a decision like this at this stage and how perhaps I should go about discussing it with my doctors as I don’t want it to seem like I’m declining treatment but I really just don’t think it’s good for me.