Hi... I've had stage IV endo for nearly 10 years. I endured the painful periods with excessive bleeding and clotting before being put on continual bcp. The continual bcp helps -- one reason is because you don't have a cycle -- unless you're TTC... then that's not going to help!
Between surgeries I actually had ultrasounds periodically to check for endo growth... the ultrasound is used for more than looking in the uterus. The ultrasound is able to check the size of the ovaries and determine if they are larger than normal or if there are other masses attached to the ovaries. However, the ultrasound can't tell you if there are adhesions which is when the endo acts like taffy and starts attaching to your organs, etc. With stage IV endo everything pretty much gets stuck together and moves as one large mass.
Ibuprofen can help but in time you have to find some other methods for relief because the ibuprofen can eat away at your stomach lining -- I've had an ulcer as a result.
The only true way to diagnose endo is with a lap... and many times the doctor can excise the endometriosis while performing the laparoscopy.
Good luck!
Heather
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Diagnoses: PCOS * Vit D Deficiency * Endometriosis * Hashi's * IR * Elevated Prolactin * Lupus Anticoagulant Syndrome
Meds & Supplements: levothyroxine 137mcg * metformin ER 2000mg * welchol 2500mg * microgestin * effexor XR 150mg
vit d 50000 IUs/wkly * fish oils * allergy meds * aspirin 81mg * cinnamon * vit b complex * vit c * magnesium