Laparoscopy clear but still suspect Endo - anyone else?

[yarnbomb]

Hi there,

I have suffered from IBS symptoms (abdominal pain, cramps, mucus, bloating, lower back pain, constipation, and diarrhoea) since I was about 15, but about 2 years ago my symptoms significantly worsened and I wanted to check it wasn't something more serious. I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy (both clear) and my blood tests came back normal.

I had my suspicions that it might be endometriosis because my mother had it, and my symptoms were always at there worst the week before and the week of my period. I also have quite erratic periods (some long, some short some very heavy, with lots of clotting and others light). I managed to get a laparoscopy (after some pushing because I am young).

The doctor didn't find any endometriosis, he did say that he found some adhesions between my bowel and stomach muscle. To me that sounded like something endometriosis might cause but I am not a medical expert, so I let it go. Anyway I am about a year on from the laproscopy and I am really struggling with feeling rotten most of the time! I have had further gastro investigations that are all clear, and I am now thinking maybe endometriosis was the cause...

Do the adhesions sound like something endometriosis can cause?

Have others had a laparoscopy that missed endometriosis the first time around?

Thanks

[Dartmouth93]

Hey lovely...your symptoms literally are the same as me. I had a laparoscopy in august to be told nothing was found, except I’m still having issues and still suspect endo is the cause. I have a family history (grandma both aunties and cousin) of endo, and have had awful periods since I started age 12. Pushed for answers the last few years because I started to get bad stomach issues as well...I’m currently due on my period and the last few days have had severe bloating, cramps, achiness and an upset tummy. From reading on here a general gynae can miss it, so I’m currently looking at booking an appointment with a specialist. Stay strong and keep pushing for answers - we know our bodies and when something isn’t right xxx

[yarnbomb in reply to Dartmouth93]

Thanks for the encouragement, I hope you start to feel a bit better once you are through your period! I have just has the worst one I can remember (so heavy, painful and feeling nauseous) and though I have now finished I still feel like I am on my period 🙄 I am going to keep pushing for answers, I feel like it is all being dismissed as IBS!

[thughesx in reply to yarnbomb]

My first laparoscopy in December 2015 (general gynaecologist), found no endo and I was diagnosed with IBS. Treated 'IBS' symptoms for a few years alongside hormone methods but no improvement. Had my second laparoscopy in September last year (again general gynaecologist), where they found endo. It can be missed!! I'm now under a specialist who wants to me to have another surgery as he wonders if the general gynaecologist missed some endo last time as my symptoms have not improved since surgery.

Don't stop fighting and get a second opinion if you need to!! Sending lots and lots of love to you both xxxx

[Dartmouth93 in reply to yarnbomb]

Thanks lovely, I still havn’t come on and hand a migraine all night last night, fun times! When I’ve had my period often I still feel horrendous and can feel like I’ve been bruised in my lady bits I feel so achey there as well. I get really heavy too and have to use long pads and tampax together and still leak sometimes, and have lots of clots. I find it hard using tampax though because I find them really uncomfortable 😭 definately push for answers - they’re telling me it’s just IBS and I know it surely can’t be! It’s amazing to hear thughesx that you’ve finally got the answers you deserve and makes me feel better in my decision to keep pushing for answers, I hope your specialist helps you even further xxx