ENDO Messages for February, 2008: Re: newly diagnosed

Re: newly diagnosed - asymptomatic for years?

From: anony (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat Feb 9 20:30:24 2008

Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
Next message: Shelly: "Blood clotting on my period with endo"
Previous message: anonymous: "newly diagnosed - asymptomatic for years?"
In reply to: anonymous: "newly diagnosed - asymptomatic for years?"
Next in thread: Debbie: "Re: newly diagnosed - asymptomatic for years?"

I too am one of those who suddenly and quite severely had extreme pain with periods. My periods were quite normal from my first one at almost 17 to the age of 31. A few years before the onset of the severe pain at menses I began to have vague problems with painful bowel movements and cramping. It was dismissed as IBS, even though I would wake in the middle of the night with these awful cramps and explosive diarrhea. I had strange twinges all the time in my lower abdomen too. This started in 1999. Test after test revealed nothing. Not until my first excruciating period that sent me to ER after passing out at work in 2004 did I put two and two together and associate the IBS type problems with my cycle. It was another 11 months before anyone mentioned endometriosis and I had my first laparoscopy (or surgery of any kind). I had an endometrioma on my left ovary and endometriosis on my bladder, sigmoid colon, and ligaments surrounding my uterus.

The tricky thing with endometriosis is that you can have it all over and severe and have no pain or any problems with periods, or have just one little spot that causes excruciating pain. It may become symptomatic later in life or cause trouble from the first period. It may not even start until later in life. Unfortunately there is no cure and still no proven known cause for it. It is one of the most frustrating diseases one can have that is for sure!

I would definitely have the laparoscopy first before starting any treatment to make sure you know what you are dealing with and do actually have endometriosis. A laparoscopy is the only definitive way to truly diagnose endometriosis and the best way to visualize the extent, location, type of lesions etc..There are many other reproductive problems that can mimic the symptoms of endometriosis, although you mention that you have an endometrioma on your ovary which is a strong indicator of endometriosis.

If you are not comfortable going in to surgery right away or starting strong hormonal therapy you have plenty of time to research your options and get a second or third opinion. If I had it to do over, I would have spent more time searching for an endometriosis specialist skilled at excising the endometriosis from all locations in my pelvic area. The gynecologist that did my first laparoscopy had told me he was going to laser it off if he found any, but ended up just opening me up, looking around, and closing me without removing any of it except what was needed for biopsy in pathology and to take pictures with the laparoscope. Surgery is risky enough and you want to make sure your doctor is going to be able to do everything possible to remove whatever endometriosis he/she finds to make it worthwhile. But you don't want just anyone poking around in there. It may very well be that your gynecologist is knowledgeable and skilled at dealing with endometriosis, and if that is the case, great!

If you google "Endometriosis Research Center" and "Endometriosis Association" you will get lots of solid info on endometriosis and treatments, research, etc..They can also point you to listings of endometriosis specialists if you are interested. Good luck with everything and I wish you and your husband the best with having children in your future!

At Sat, 9 Feb 2008, anonymous wrote: >
>I just was diagnosed with endometriosis based on my symptoms and because
>I have what appears to be an endometrioma on my right ovary. I first
>felt pain last month, when just before my period started I had extremely
>severe pelvic pain that sent me to the ER. The same thing happened
>again this past week after my period started, but before the "heaviest"
>day began.
>
>My gynecologist suggested that I start on lupron or do laproscopic
>surgery. My husband (who is overseas until july) and I still want to
>have children - we are both in our late 30s - and I am wondering if I
>could get opinions on this? And has anyone else had the symptoms come on
>so suddenly and strongly? It seems like most other people have been
>suffering from painful periods for years - that is not the case with me.

Next message: Shelly: "Blood clotting on my period with endo"
Previous message: anonymous: "newly diagnosed - asymptomatic for years?"
In reply to: anonymous: "newly diagnosed - asymptomatic for years?"
Next in thread: Debbie: "Re: newly diagnosed - asymptomatic for years?"

use when must restrict search to only the endometriosis forum...
Enter search keywords:
	Returns per screen: Require all keywords: