endo advice

Hello all... :hello:
I am wanting some advice on what i should be doing about my suspected endo...
Mmmmk. heres the story -
I am 19, I have always had really painful periods, its started getting worse when i was about 14/15, went from very long, painful, heavy periods to getting them every two weeks, so i went to the doc, had some ultrasounds, they couldn't find anything specific, assumed it was endo and put me on the pill (levlen ed). Period was okay for a while on that, sorta had 6 months bad, 6 months good still had a some pain and all that jazz but i was just happy to only be getting them once a month!!! I have always had bad pains (stabbing, pulling, aches etc..) on my left side, and it seems to be getting quite bad of late. I have a family history of stuff like that - My mum had endo & cysts, my Sister had cysts and pretty much so all of the women on my Mums side have issues with that sorta thing.

Anyhooo, Although Hubby and I aren't planning on having Kids anytime soon (only been married six months!!!), I REALLY don't wanna leave it and hope for the best and end up not being able to have kids!

I have probably put it off doing stuff about it already but the pain is usually manageable; and i guess i didn't think about it much until the cluckiness in me kicked in and i realized how badly i want to be a mum.

What should i do??

Hi Sophie, firstly welcome to BB! :)

I'm really sorry to hear about the suspected endo. I've had alot of the symptoms you describe and it's not very nice to put up with, so I know how you feel. IMO, I wouldn't be putting it off any longer. The sooner you know what's going on and can manage it, the better your chances of becoming a mum later in life are. Have a chat to your GP about getting a referral to a gynaecologist. The only way to properly diagnose endo is through a laparoscopy so you might be looking down that path.

FWIW, when I was diagnosed, the gynae told me I'd never be able to conceive naturally and would have about 30% chance with IVF. Two and a half years later, I fell pregnant naturally and now have my gorgeous boy :)

Feel free to ask any questions.

All the best!

I would definitely recommend getting checked out. I have had painful periods forever too. When I was 21 I went to a GP who said it could be endo but you would have to have surgery to find out and did not really recommend it to me. I was not ready to have kids then either. Then when I was 28 and trying to get pregnant nothing happened. Finally saw a gynaecologist and had a laparoscopy only to find I have severe endometriosis. I have been very lucky to have now had a baby (at age 30) via IVF but I think had I known what I was dealing with I would've tried having kids much younger.

Thank you :D
Seeing a gyno is the first thing on my list to do, but i was hoping there may be something non-invasive i could do first? e.g skipping periods with the pill etc (I have heard that can help) or maybe any natural stuff? I am trying to lose weight at the moment because personally it really helps the pain, when I am heavy the pain tends to be worse...

But yes I will definately be booking in to see a gyno ASAP.

I have tried diet to control things - avoiding caffeine, meat, wheat, soy and dairy. I did manage to stick to this diet for a fair while but I really didn't notice any difference in my symptoms and it is REALLY hard to eat like that. I also worried about cutting out whole food groups.

You could read Endometriosis a key to healing and fertility through nutrition by Dian Shepperson Mills.

Also Acupuncture is supposed to help some people.

I have used acupuncture but only pre- and during IVF so not sure if helps symptoms or not (I got pregnant first IVF cycle).

If it were me I think I really would see gynae first to see what degree of endo is there so you know what you are dealing with.

Diet was something I noticed when AF was visiting. I had to avoid anything that contained caffeine... including chocolate! If I had a coffee or coke or choccie in the first few days of AF's arrival, it would make the pain even worse.

Have you had a read through the endo/pcos threads? There are a few books mentioned, I just can't remember the names of them at the moment sorry..

Yep, diet affected my pain as well. After my lap I cut out caffeine and sugar and it helped immensely.

Another good book to read is "Endometriosis and Other Pelvic Pain" by Dr Susan Evans. It's really good and gives lots of good advice about managing endo through diet, etc.

Skipping periods with the pill didn't do much for me. It wasn't natural, the pain was a hundred times worse when I finally let my body have a period. It was almost my body was trying to force it but I was resisting.

Although a lap may be invasive - it really did give me the answers I needed.

Mine was also "suspected" endo - there is no real test they can do that says you have endo unless they do a lap. It turned out I did have endo, and quite a lot of it and during my lap my gyno removed all of it. My periods have been completely normal ever since and my ovary pain has completely vanished.

Definitely visit your gyno and ask what your options are. Maybe an ultrasound would be best to start with to see if you have any cysts and the decide on a course of action from there.

By the way - welcome to BB!

:) aww you guys are great! Thanks for all of your suggestions!

I have read some of the pcos/endo threads, i will definately read more, everyone on here is so lovely and helpful!! I will make sure I look at some of those books too.

I made the appointment to see a gyno, although i do have to wait until May to see him :doh: but I don't mind.. the pain is not horrific at the moment so I'm okay with waiting.

Hey Sophie,

Please read an old post of mine here at https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...-reversed.html
I also highly suggest you purchase the book The Natural Way to Better Babies - Preconceptual Healthcare for Prospective Parents - it doesn't matter if you are not ready to conceive yet- this book is loaded with info on how to eliminate common barriers to conception such as endo- and how to avoid and plan pregnancy without harming your fertility in the meantime. You can buy it off the net for $39.95 - and it will provide you with hoardes of info that you are unlikely to ever hear from your doctor.

Best of luck to you...

XXX

Heya Sophie :) Look out.. you're gonna get hooked on BB! LOL.

Got your msg about seeing Dr P. You'll love him. Actually.. you can either love him or hate him LOL. I've known a few people to say they didn't get on with him.

Lemme know if you need company for your appt.. I'd love to see Dr P again! Not sure I will see him as an OB again.. think I'm losing that battle :(

whoa - double post! :)

Update!

The Dr just called and said they can fit me in earlier!!! I go to see him on the 7 March now instead of 25 May! :D

Awesome stuff.. now you just gotta think of what you're going to ask him :) Is Marc going with you? or is he at his course?

yep he's coming... i was writing my list today what i wanted to ask. eek. nervous now!

yay! saw the dr today, will be looking at having a lap. finally getting something done!!!

That's great news Sophie! Hope you get some answers

Nic

Hello...

I finally got my letter from doc outlining the surgery etc (really good letter, I didn't expect it to be so detailed!), but i don't know what to do next? Do i call him and make an appointment to see him again?? or do I make an appointment for the actual surgery? it doesn't say on the letter... lol I'm confused!

Hey Soph,

Just ring them. They're really nice, they'll know what to do re booking in for it.

Hey, I'm also looking for advice and to give advice with what Im suffering with too. I found out I had endo when I was 18 through a laparoscopy and now Ive been informed that I have pcos too.. I have another laparoscopy coming up in 3 weeks. My hubby and i are unsure as too whether we will be able to have a child. We lost a pregnancy last year and don't want to go through the heart break again.. I know there isnt a cure for endo, but is there one for pcos?