New member

Hi all, my name's Leanne and I'm 27. After suffering with endo ymptoms since the age of 14, and having a continuous battle with GPs for years, I had my first consultation with an endo specialist on Tuesday. I've had a smear and ultrasound come back clear this year so my next step is an MRI and a further consultation which is currently booked for June of next year. While in my consultation I was told that there's suspected endo on/near my bowel and possibly in another area, after an internal exam, but the consultant didn't seem convinced of my pain and symptoms - or maybe that's how I perceived it after years of being told nothing was wrong.

At this point I'm so worried that nothing is going to show up and there won't be any further steps to this journey. My consultant told me he won't entertain an investigative laparoscopy purely for diagnosis, and any surgery will be purely open/operative. I'm overall concerned that it's just me and this is what I've got to manage for however much longer.

It's nice to find a support group finally, and read similar stories as well as those further along the journey.

[Snack_Panda]

Welcome - sounds like you need a new consultant. If they’re saying you’ve got symptoms but don’t want to do a lap it doesn’t sound like they’re a Endo specialist. You could do some research, find an actual specialist and ask your GP to give you a referral. I’m 29 and have suffered since I was 14 and it wasn’t until this year I found the right person. It took research and lots of phoning my GP and crying at them down the phone. It’s your body don’t take no for an answer.

[Hidden in reply to Snack_Panda]

Hey! Thanks for the response, the consultant is an endo specialist at the endometriosis clinic in Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge. I did loads of research prior and he has really great feedback and reviews. I think he possibly meant he didn't think it was necessary just to have a look as opposed to going in to remove something. This is the first time I've been taken seriously with this and I think the MRI is the next natural step, but again first experience with all of this.

I have issues with my GP surgery in that I never see the same doctor and we are unable to request a specific doctor - this is an issue with living in a relatively rural area with only 1 surgery. I'll definitely keep pushing if I don't receive the treatment I expect with my next appointment.

[Luci20]

Hiya I have also had endometriosis symptoms since I was 14 years and I am also 27 now. This year I finally got a diagnosis and had endometriosis removed via laparoscopy. I spent all this time getting dismissed by my GP and general gynaecology. I saw an endo specialist and he advised for a laparoscopy straight away given my long history of endo symptoms. Nothing showed up on my ultrasound scan but they found a lot of endo during the laparoscopy. I have also heard it’s the same for MRI scan in that it doesn’t always show any endo but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any. The only way to know for certain is to have the laparoscopy with a specialist.