Bowel endo or IBD?

[Endo8701]

I have always presumed I had endo on my bowel as I suffer with Diarrhea when I'm on my period. I bleed also through my bowels when I'm on my period. I have had an MRI scan and got the results back to say I do not have any endo in my bowel?

I have recently lost alot weight in the last month and had chronic Diarrhea. My GP send my stools off to be tested and I've tested positive for inflammation in the bowel. So he said I've either got an IBD or endo is causing the inflammation?

But my endo specialist has said it isn't endo. So now I think I may have an IBD? Has anyone else been through this? Or have an IBD as well as Endometriosis?

I am being referred to a bowel specialist now. As well as waiting for surgery for endo which they've found on my left side.

[Dogmad6]

You seem to have all the classic symptoms of endometriosis on the bowel, exactly the same symptoms I've experienced and I've had excision surgery there several times. The only way to be sure is with a laparoscopy performed by an endometriosis specialist.

Scans cannot show for sure if you have endometriosis.

I'm confused why your surgeon has said it isn't endometriosis when you are awaiting surgery. I don't get that at all and they've left you confused. You could have IBD also but I wouldn't be surprised if endometriosis was the cause of it all, the diarrhoea with periods and bowel bleeding are so classic of endometriosis.

I hope things become clearer soon. xx

[LouiseC83]

I agree with Dogmad. You need a lap to diagnose properly

I had an MRI earlier in the year and it didn't show anything up. It was only following my lap that I was found to have extensive endometriosis. I had all the "classic" but intense symptoms of IBS and was told that was it. It turns out I had endo on my upper intestine and colon. I didn't have specific endo symptoms until the period just before my procedure when I passed blood.

I'd perhaps think about finding a new specialist and getting a second opinion out of this. All sounds too familiar

[Arty09]

Hi there

I agree with the other comments made. It sounds to me like your consultant may not be a true endo specialist. I have been to an endo specialist who told me that is unlikely endo will show up on an MRI unless it is over 5mm thick, deeply infiltrating, nodules etc. My MRI showed no endo prior to surgery but endo was found in several places including on my bowel. I also have bowel bleeding during my period. Yes possibly you could have IBD as well (recent research is indicating that endo is an auto immune and inflammatory disease similar to IBD. They can go hand in hand.) but the fact the bowel bleeding is cyclical is a strong indication of endo on the bowel. Your consultant shouldn’t be so dismissive. In my experience when some doctors don’t have answers due to tests being clear they just say “well it’s not x,y, z” but there are no clear cut test/scans for endo and the only way to truly know what is happening is having surgery. Perhaps you should get a second opinion? If you are going for a laparoscopy you will want someone with advanced knowledge of endo and ability to manage endo on the bowel. It’s a scary and horrible symptom but you can take solace in the MRI being clear as at least it means it is not deeply infiltrating the bowel. I hope you get some help and feel better soon xx

[Kricam78]

Hi Endo. I have the same symptoms and have undergone investigations for IBD (Colonoscopy and barium swallow). The results of those came back negative though the consultant recognised my bowel was stuck to my pelvis due to the issues I had during the colonoscopy. I'm now waiting for a laporoscopy as my GP thinks my symptoms are classic bowel endo. Push for a laporoscopy.