OK, so I have PCOS, I was dx 4 years ago. I have always had horrible menstrual pain. My mom always told me it was "normal" I dont know why she would say that. What she meant was it was "normal" for her too. She had endo, and she had a hysterectomy at like 34 because of it. She always told me when I was in pain or had heavy periods "well I dealt with it too, its "normal". WHY would she say that first of all knowing she had to have surgery because of it?
Ok, so anyway, now as an adult she is a different person, not so selfish, and she tells me "you should tell your Dr. I had endo, that might be why you are in so much pain" So I have finally decided to talk to my Dr. about the possibility of my pain not being from PCOS. I assumed the horrible back pain like a 350lb man was jumping up and down on my back, or the feeling like from my belly button, down to my hips were on fire every month. I have a HIGH pain tolerance, and since I've been in pain my entire life, I kinda numb myself to it. But every month my ovulation, and AF about kill me. My DH thinks I am being dramatic, but i'm really in pain.
So I have horrible back pain, feel like my insides are on fire, HEAVY periouds, well at least for me. I mean, I can soak through a super in 1 hour on my heavy days. I just for the first time ever admitted I needed more than super, and bought ultra tampons. I am at least not running to the bathroom.
Does this sound like endo?? What should I tell my Dr next week? I really dont want to go through years of complaining before they do something and test for this. I want to be listened to, and my concerns taken seriously. It seems every AF gets worse.
__________________ Sheila To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Mommy to Alyssa (10-3-05) and Tripp (7-16-07) Loving wife to Larry since 11-13-04
Endometriosis does not follow any distinct pattern, which is why it is difficult for the medical profession to know that a woman has the disease. Some of the symptoms will mimic those of other health problems, including:
ovarian cysts
ectopic pregnancy
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
irritable bowel syndrome
ovarian cancer
fibroid tumours
colon cancer
appendicitis
The most common symptoms of Endometriosis are:
Pain before and during periods
Pain with intercourse
General, chronic pelvic pain throughout the month
Low back pain
Heavy and/or irregular periods
Painful bowel movements, especially during menstruation
Painful urination during menstruation
Fatigue
Infertility
Diarrhoea or constipation
Other symptoms which are common with Endometriosis include:
Headaches
Low grade fevers
Depression
Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)
Anxiety
Susceptibility to infections, allergies
__________________ Sheila To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Mommy to Alyssa (10-3-05) and Tripp (7-16-07) Loving wife to Larry since 11-13-04
My OB/GYN thought I had endo years ago too. Looks like you and I have a lot of the same symptoms. I was on bc pills to regulate my cycle and help with the severe cramping.
They did a laprascopic procedure in 2003 and didn't find endo, but found adhesions (scar tissue - most likely from a ruptured cyst). There were adhesions on my fallopian tube that had attached to the wall of my stomach. After they cleared the adhesions during surgery, I had NO more IBS problems!!
Just tell your Dr all the symptoms you are having and let them know about the family history. If they do not take you seriously, find another Dr. Hopefully they will br pro-active and try to figure out what is causing your problems.
Hope this helps!
__________________ Me 30, DH 31 Married October 2005 On BCP's from 1998 - 2009 TTC since February 2009 Dx with PCOS August 2009 HSG and SA - All clear October - Follistim injects for 24 days. Cycle cancelled since follie didn't grow to maturity
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
OMG your symptoms and your story sounds JUST LIKE MINE, with the exception that my mother has not had endo. But she had horribly painful heavy periods when she was younger, and may have had a very mild case of it, as she's has a multitude of digestive issues.
I lived with that kind of pain since I was 13, unless I was pregnant or breastfeeding a baby under 1 yrs. It got better after my c-section with my last baby (who's 6 now) but gradually got worse again after 4 yrs. I think the c-section cut some nerves etc.
I finally had a doc who paid attention to the subtle symptoms I mentioned over the course of the year, because like you I had been told to "SUCK IT UP" and I was being overly dramatic, and to deal with it. By my dad, by doctors, you name it. My mom wasn't as crass, but to her it was normal, because that's what she went through until she had babies. Finally my current doctor and his wonderful nurse practitioner said to me back in June " SAM! This isn't NORMAL, we need to find out whats causing all this pain, and its not right you have to live with this every single month several times a month".
HTH, and Good Luck!
__________________ Sam (30)
Loving & Living Life w/ Mark (32) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
4 Beautiful Children
Darcy(dd), 9.5 yrs going on 21 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Brennen(ds), 6
Connor(ds), 5.5
Brandon(ds), 4
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"
"A woman is like a tea bag- you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water."
~Eleanor Roosevelt
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Definitely tell the doctor everything you just told us. If you can, start writing down every day you feel pain and how heavy your periods are each day that you have it and then bring that with you to the doctor as well. I have a lot of those symptoms you mentioned and I too can tolerate a lot of pain as well. I remember last year when I was reading about Endo, I found a quiz online, printed it and took that with me to my doctor as well.
Good luck with everything Sheila. There's a lot of information here on this forum.
__________________ Liz To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
2010: Breast Reduction Surgery scheduled for January 2009: Laparoscopy (Endo Stage II) | Hysteroscopy (Fixed Septate Uterus) | Cervical & Thoracic Disc Degeneration with Foraminal Stenosis | Herniated Discs in C5-6, C6-7, T4-5, and T7-8 2008: Psuedotumor Cerebri | PCOS | Endometriosis | Depression | Anxiety 2003: L4-L5 Herniated Disc Affecting Right Leg Sciatica 1998: Herniated Disc in Neck (At the time I wasn't diagnosed with which one.)
Does this sound like Endo? 
