Tummy bug or endo?

[singingelephant]

Hiya, I’ve been suffering with cramping and loose stools for a long time now but this week I’ve had my worst cramps yet along with diarrhoea. Is this my endo getting worse or have I caught a tummy bug. It’s just weird that it’s right as I started my period. I usually get bleeding from my bottom week leading up to my period (as I did this month) but my back and tummy pains are getting worse. I just feel so lost. Had to take time off work and I just hope it’s not my endo flaring badly

[Moon_maiden]

Hi

If it’s coinciding with your period I’d say more likely Endo, slim chance a bug especially if you’ve been around anyone else with one.

Where are you at with your Endo?

[singingelephant in reply to Moon_maiden]

I’m a teacher, so bug is a possibility but I’m really not feeling poorly with it. Just cramping and bad back, which is “normal” but the pains worse. The last couple of months the pains have been getting worse though. I came on my period yesterday.

I’m currently “undiagnosed” although had a scan at the beginning of Jan and was told I have endo and adeno. On the waitlist for a lap x

[Moon_maiden in reply to singingelephant]

Are the pains easing now your period has started. Mine always started to ease after the first day or two, even better after passing stool. A period was really the only time that stopped for a day or two. I’d say that was a diagnosis, pretty definitive scan by the sounds of it. 🤞 not a long wait for you.

What pain relief do you take? I used to get by with paracetamol and or ibuprofen. Sometimes not needed at all.

[singingelephant in reply to Moon_maiden]

Um, my pain doesn’t seem to ease until near the end of my period and only lasts a couple of days before my ovulation pains kick in. My cramps are a little better but my back in killing. I take naproxen for the pain but haven’t taken it incase it was a bug. I’ll know for next time if I flare like this again though. I just feel awful having to take time off work 😅 where are you at with endo?

[Moon_maiden in reply to singingelephant]

I’ve seen that it can be best to take Naproxen in the lead up to a period rather than trying to stop pain already there, maybe have a chat with GP about it. I’ve been told by a pain nurse to make sure I take Paracetamol regularly for it to stay in the system as a preventative. Back pain could be muscular our posture seems to crumble on a period 🤦‍♀️

My periods would sort of last a week, but after the first two three days it could just reduce to black looking clots. Clots can be a sign as well.

Hindsight is wonderful, I have my third op since Feb 2020 on Tuesday. The last one was a hysterectomy with a colorectal surgeon, but Gynae failed to tell me there wouldn’t be one, really he thought there wouldn’t be Rectovaginal Endo, but there was. The upcoming surgery is mainly colorectal with Gynae involvement.

I’m not a good example, I never did anything about periods so diagnosed at 51. They agreed to operate as no previous colorectal involvement and a complicated op with hysterectomy. I think they want to have a nose due to late diagnosis 😂

[singingelephant in reply to Moon_maiden]

I really hate taking tablets too. I was told as a teen that I would get migraines due to taking paracetamol too frequently so it worries me now haha. I think if it’s like this again next month or the pain isn’t improving I’ll go back to my GP, she has an interest in endo and is frequently at the hospital so I feel I’m in good hands!

Gosh, you sound like you’ve been through an absolute whirlwind. Well done for getting through it all. Hopefully you’re doing ok?

[Moon_maiden in reply to singingelephant]

Sounds like a good GP, hopefully there’ll start to be a commitment to have someone with knowledge about Endo in every surgery.

I’ve pushed a lot, I want to get back to a life, I’m sure they lose sight of that.

[singingelephant in reply to Moon_maiden]

Yes finally! Me too! It’s such a shame that we have to push for it so much

[USgalwthendo]

I have 26 day long cycles with the pain lasting from a day before to five days into my period. I have the worst pain on day 3 sometimes day four. I have diarrhea from the day before my period to about day 3 or 4. Recently I have been getting pain during mid cycle so that’s a change for me it feels like tugging on my uterus. Basically I’ve found there is a pattern for me with my pain and it helps me tell the difference between endo related bowel issues vs a bad burrito. It helped me to keep a record in the beginning (diagnosed 8 years ago severe endo). I take ibuprofen right before my cycle starts and then 5 days on, as moon maiden also stated it’s hard to get on top of the pain after it starts. I also use a tens machine and heating pad and hot water bottle. Good luck to you. I know this can be a very painful disease. I work full time and it’s embarrassing heading to the staff bathroom 8 times in an hour.

[singingelephant in reply to USgalwthendo]

Oh gosh, it sounds like hell. I think I need to get better at taking painkillers before my period starts. It’s silly, it keeps shocking me every month even though I expect it and know when it’ll all start. Just keeps getting worse each month😅. I’ve gone from having diarrhoea to now being constipated 😅 thank you for your message! Best of luck to you too x

[USgalwthendo]

Oh my gosh! I still do it time to time. Like “forget” the ordeal until it’s right on top of me again. Like I’m in denial. 😜

[singingelephant in reply to USgalwthendo]

I’m 100% in denial still! Probably still won’t feel real when I eventually get my lap😂