Re: diarrhea
From: Ally (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sun Oct 26 16:22:13 2008
Bren -
I, too, had a lap to remove endo implants and scar tissue by a OB/GYN
specialist. It gave me absolutely 0 relief from my GI problems. The
pain just continued to get worse.
That first surgery was in Sept. and then I had the second in Dec. by
an endo specialist. I cannot even begin to tell you what a difference
it made for me getting that bowel resection done. I will be hoping and
praying that you find someone to help you soon!
--
Ally
At Sun, 26 Oct 2008, bren wrote:
>
>Endometriosis implants can also sometimes form in the intestines and
>cause painful bowel movements, diarrhea, and even constipation. It is
>important that the surgeon is experienced w/ all the manfistations of
>endometriosis because even w/ lap surgery to remove any endometriosis
>seen, many women continue to suffer because the surgeon missed endo in
>other areas. If I can go back in time before my lap, I would of asked
>my surgeon if it would've been possible to do the bowel resection as
>well. I am in search of an endometriosis specialist w/in Kaiser because
>my lap was performed by an obgyn specialist and although adhesions and
>scar tissue were removed, I have not had any relief. I sufferred many
>many years of dysmennorrhea (painful & heavy-long periods) and diarrhea
>before and @ the onset of my periods thinking that it was all normal.
>Now I suffer from constipation instead. It wasn't until I started to
>get sciatic pain daily that used to only happen before my period and
>after a painful papsmear that I went to see my primary care physician to
>get a referral to see an obgyn specialist. This was when I found that I
>had a retroverted uterus during an u/s and MRI and cT scan and was
>unofficially diagnosed w/ Endometriosis after having a physical
>rectal-vaginal exam. I have a lot of tenderness and nodules that were
>felt posterior my uterus. It's been a month since my lap, which seemed
>to also made my period irregular/late for the first time. I just
>started my period today and this whole past week, I was sufferring more
>sciatic pain, fatigue, and GI problems especially last night and today
>(w/ the GI issue). Before I would get constipation and then diarrhea
>when I started my period and during and it would alter throughout my
>cycle. Now I mostly suffer from constipation and abdominal + pelvic
>pain that radiates through my lower back. I also take Miralax to help
>w/ the constipation and noticed that once it starts to work and I am
>able to have a bowel movement, my stools are also very thin. There's no
>doubt that this is all related to my period/Endometriosis or maybe even
>adenomyosis, but the hardest part is getting your doctor to listen to
>you and agree rather then saying "it's possible" and then not doing
>anything about it...very frustrating...I haven't seen a GI specialist,
>but if you have and even had a colonoscopy that was normal, then I would
>not have a doubt in my mind that all your GI symptoms are related to
>your endo/period. GI is most commonly affected w/ endometriosis and
>it's surprising how many doctors do not relate the two. It's amazing of
>how under-researched this disease is. There needs to be more
>endometriosis specialist available and I just don't understand why if
>it's so common in women, why there isn't one easily accessible for many
>women who have to travel so far to get to the small number of "popular"
>experienced endo specialists. Anyways, usually I hear of constipation
>being the most common topic on this forum w/ endo and gave advice about
>taking miralax...but if diarrhea is the problem and is not getting any
>better, it's important to see a doctor about this right away as you can
>become very dehydrated. Remember if you do have constant diarrhea, it's
>very important that you continue to hydrate yourself....when I used to
>have this problem, I would wait it out and hydrate myself and if it did
>not improve, I would either go see a doctor or take immodium AD as this
>works well to help w/ diarrhea and pain.Hope any info I provided was of
>some help.....
>
>*Bren***
>
>At Sun, 26 Oct 2008, Ally wrote:
>>
>>The doctor said he could see it on the u/s and it was strongly suspected
>>due to my symptoms. However, I don't think it can be absolutely
>>confirmed until you have a lap. I also had a colonoscopy before the lap
>>that was normal. Endo enters the colon from the outside in.
>>I'll have to admit, the thought of a bowel resection was VERY scary for
>>me, but they were able to do it all laproscopically and with no temp.
>>colostomy needed. I am very thankful for the relief I have and how
>>smoothly everything went. Let me know if you have any other questions!
>>
>>At Sun, 26 Oct 2008, annie wrote:
>>>
>>>Thank you Ally,
>>>Did you know in advance that the endo was invading your colon or was it
>>>confirmed during the lap?
>>>At Sat, 25 Oct 2008, Ally wrote:
>>>>
>>>>I had experienced diarrhea during my period with a lot of urgency and
>>>>abdominal pain like you describe. This was only the first couple of
>>>>days during my cycle, but got progressively worse each cycle (more pain,
>>>>more urgency those days). I also had very thin (sorry for TMI) bowel
>>>>movements and needed to go multiple times a day during the rest of my
>>>>cycle.
>>>>
>>>>I had a lap last Dec. where a bowel resection was done due to the endo
>>>>invading my colon. Since then, I experience NO diarrhea during my
>>>>periods. I feel so much better and have no doubts that the GI symptoms
>>>>were due to the endo.
>>>>
>>>>Hope you feel better soon!
>>>>
>>>>At Sat, 25 Oct 2008, annie wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>Sorry, it is not a pleasant topic but I have Stage 3 endo which has
>>>>>recently been acting up. I always had diarrhea during my period, but
>>>>>now my period just ended and the abdominal pain and urgency to go to the
>>>>>bathroom has not ended. Does anyone experience this and attribute it to
>>>>>endo?
>>>>>
>>>>>--
>>>>>Annie, Brookyln, NY
>>>>>
>>>--
>>>Annie, Brookyln, NY
>>>
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