This is my first post. I had a laparoscopy way back in 2009 and had some ablation for mild endo. Only about 6/7 spots on my uterus, 1 ovary and bladder. I’m 43 now and for last almost 3yrs I’ve been struggling with diahrrea. Almost always during ovulation. All came to a head last year when I started bleeding from my back passage during a bad bout. I was put on 2wk pathway. Colonoscopy and contrast CT was all clear and no obvious IBD. Only showed some chronic inflammation in the ileum. I then after lots of waiting had a capsule endoscopy which again didn’t show anything major but a few polyp like lesions which the consultant said is very rare in the small bowel. I’m going in for a gastroscopy biopsy tomorrow. He doesn’t seem to think they look sinister but he’s very perplexed by it.
After reading online you can get these sort of lesion with endo if they grow deeper into the bowel wall… and the fact that it’s ALWAYS during ovulation makes me wonder.
Has anyone else had this???
what was your treatment plan?
Many thanks x
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Food4ever
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Some of our histories seem similar. I’m also 43 and back in 2006/2007 had initial investigations on the gastro side as my syndrome always involved what I’d call ‘bowel attacks’ and intermittent pain or diarrhoea. Before endo was looked at, we went gastro route. So I also had top and tail scopes. 😉
I guess my point is that although I didn’t have recital bleeding as you do, I genuinely thought my endo symptoms were bowel driven until diagnosis. So I think it’s very possible this is endo caused but it’s important also that you’re ruling out later causes. It’s so easy to put jt all down to endo and miss new things.
My endo was on my rectum from the beginning but it causes dull aches hours before I know I need the loo, I swing from constipation to diarrhoea, often have severe bloating and then I have acute moments where I almost pass out/vomit sometimes with the bowel spasms. Luckily these tend to only last until I pass a movement.
I’d definitely say it would be worth seeing a gynae to discuss, once your gastro investigations are complete
I’m still working on management. Currently use laxido for stuck days and on permanent mefenamic acid and cocodamol. I’d like to find some advice on any foods I could include/avoid which might help my gut have a break.
Are you able to get d cent pain relief?
On the specific question of ovulation - yes - I often get a flare up for a few days to a week around the time. It tends to be different from my period symptoms too. Often a strong pinching feeling and usually on one side. But also have disrupted bowel movements and bloating goes nuts. I think I’m starting to realise that often the symptoms from endo though caused by ovulation or period/hormone shift, can overlap and so it’s sometimes hard to always pinpoint what in your cycle is driving it. I think often the inflammation can cause things to be extra sensitive so the slightest change in hormones can kick things off.
I hope you can get the support you need for your symptoms. Definitely don’t gaslight yourself and I wouldn’t let the specifics use too much of your energy. It’s so easily to drive yourself crazy wondering. It isn’t in your head and jt is all part of endo most likely. But you’re doing the right thing by also ruling out other causes too. 🧡
Yes def exploring all the options. Not taking any chances 😅 But yes because my endo symptoms have always very manageable it didn’t even initially cross my mind… I just assumed it was pure gastro issue (which it might still be..) It only when I started keeping a diary that I went… Hang on a second… its always when I ovulate… without fail… so there much be a hormonal influence.
Hopefully I’ll find out soon enough. Although gynae waiting list at my local hospital is 40+wks!!! 🤪🤪 So will prob be next year… xx
One thought which popped into my mind reading your reply is that even without endo, monthly hormone changes are known to cause change in bowel habits in some people. I think it’s to do with one of the hormones acting like a relaxant.
This on its own can cause some pain I’m sure or in some cases might stimulate a bowel spasm (which are very painful).
I think that when bits of the endometrium grow into the walls of the abdomen and anything else around it is called adenomyosis. I have a bit of that but not the rectal bleeding.
Also the laparoscopies themselves can cause adhesions which stick bits of the internal organs together impacting on digestion and causing blockages and pain, if care is not taken to seal off the scar on the inside of the abdomen during surgery.
There is also a condition called anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome, (acnes) which I have been diagnosed with, which is where the insides of the scars from laparascopies stick to the nerves, causing nerve pain. This one isn't limited to the time of the month and causes pain all the time.
It may be that you have just one of the above or a mixture, but a look at inside of the abdominal cavity would be needed to ascertain this rather than the inside of the gastric system. Perhaps worth asking your clinician about.
I had my upper endoscopy and sadly they couldn’t reach the areas of concern. To deep in bowel. 3 areas. So now they are doing a meeting with a different gastro to come up with a plan. Surgery or double balloon enteroscopy. I asked if it could be endo and the consultant said he doubts it.
So now it’s another waiting game to get answers. It just the fact that it’s only during ovulation. Unless it’s 2 seperate issues obviously and the polyposis is an incidental finding. Who knows 🥴🤪 x
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