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Tashina · Kate Spade

endometriosis

atlgirl · Gucci

I'm sorry you are having such difficulties. :(

I had a laparoscopy for endo in 1999. I'd had a lot of pain for nearly a year, and the dr. and I tried treating it with continuous b/c, among other things...then they suggested Lupron, but I didn't like the idea of the side effects, so opted to have surgery instead.

It was a relatively easy procedure. I took three days off from work (could've gone back in two, really, but didn't like my job so I stretched it a little). I was told the endo can recur in 3-5 years, but it's been seven years now and I've not had any trouble that I can attribute to endometriosis.

The tricky thing is that they won't really know if it's endo w/out doing the surgery...but IME as far as surgeries go, it's an easy(ier) one. Quick, relatively noninvasive, and recovery time was amazing. And I felt much better in general after.

HTH some.

itsapinkthing · Coach

endometriosis if I understand correcly does not occur in the uterus. However there is another similar disease od the uterus, forgot what it is called. You have a daughter correct? Was she born via C-sec.?

Tashina · Kate Spade

itsapinkthing, i had her vaginaly. i didn't have any complications ore anything. that is another thing that makes me think something is very wrong. with my daughter, our chances of getting pregnant were almost non existant. the timing was bad, we were using protection and birthcontrol. but here she is, and now that i have been trying for so long, and i have a hard time getting pregnant, and i can't stay pregnant.

as far as endo being in the uterus, i knew it was the endometrial lining growing outside of your uterus, but i was pretty sure it would cause pain in your uterus as well. if it isn't endo, i will be thrilled, i just hope it isn't something worse.

Elle · Hermes

I'm sorry you're still having trouble, Tashina .

Endo doesn't occur in the uterus because endometrial tissue actually belongs there. But it can cause pain/cramps in your uterus - the tissue growing outside the uterus can form adhesions between internal organs which can be quite painful. Some people have endo and get pregnant with no problem. But many times the inflammation from endo can prevent ovulation and implantation, and if your uterus is being constricted by adhesions it probably wouldn't be able to grow and stretch with a growing fetus.

I would definitely go see a doctor.

The wise ladies on The Dot would probably be a good resource too - many of them have dealt or are dealing with endo now, and lots of them have had great success with surgery.

mirbear · BCBG

Tashina:

I have endo, was diagnosed 6 years ago or so, and have had 3 laparascopys since that time. The most recent one in January, and I don't think I have completely recovered. My Doc has done everything all the other great MD's of the world have done.

I am 30, no kids, and I probably can't have any...we'll see. As much pain as I have gone thru, I don't know if I could take it. I like my rest time and my hot baths.

I should have realized something was wrong when I was in highschool because I had horrible periods. I haven't had one now in a year. I am grateful for that at least, because that doesn't help the endo...it really causes more problems because more adhesions occur.

Endo can grow anywhere. I had it near my colon, adhesions latched on to my uterus and retroverted it, and it even attacked my appendix. I had my tipped uterus fixed in Jan & the appendix taken out because it would have been eaten up eventually.

My right ovary is nearly gone from just getting sort of eaten alive my the scar tissue, etc.

It's not fun. I know that most of my issues come from this. I have been on Lupron for almost 6 months, I'm getting off of it, and have felt completely gone for the last three or so. My mind just wanders and I can't do anything hardly. I hate working (at my regular job), I don't want to clean, do homework (almost done w/BBA), etc.

I am afraid to go anywhere fun because what if I get crampy or whatever?

I've been through barium enemas (I know, gross, right), a colonoscopy, too many bottles of that saline drink you must have prior to surgery sometimes, etc...in just 6 years.

I consider myself sort of a semi-pro expert since I have dealt with this a long time. It's weird. My sister doesn't have it. My aunt did though. I don't know if it's hereditary or not. I know that I don't like it, because there is no cure!

The doc can sometimes do a CA-125 blood test to see if you have a protein that is found in women w/this disease. The only really good way to know for sure is to have a laparoscopy.

Sometimes when I was in the worst pain, I might have also had a cyst on my ovary. The doctor can do an ultrasound to see if that is the case.

I have been on 2 kinds of low dosage birth control pills (am on actually). I couldn't take the heavy ones...with my crazy hormones...I just cry constantly.

PM if you have questions.

-- Edited by mirbear at 00:07, 2006-06-24