Re diagnosis I started threads about it taking FAR too long for women to get diagnosed with gynae issues and women being fobbed off medically just generally speaking but got no responses.
Op hope it's ok that I say that diarrhoea, back pain, pain in the abdomen that isn't in the womb area, especially if severe, pain going to the toilet (pee or poo) can all be symptoms of endo.
"I honestly believe if we spoke openly about these things, endo diagnosis times could be slashed, amongst other things." I wish it were that simple - women getting a diagnosis for ANY physical condition that isn't immediately obvious can take up to 3 X longer than for white mc men. Women are still viewed as 'hysterical' patients who are worrying needlessly.
"Had to wait years for diagnosis and then treatment though cos GP's never believed me because they 'didnt see it happening' ... "
Yep 14 years of CLASSIC symptoms being fobbed off here.
I was once told that the diarrhoea was just the body getting rid of the water retained during pre-menstrual time. May be true for some but I don't retain a lot of water and it was used to deny all my other endo symptoms (and the GP was 'training' another dr too - so teaching a new generation of gp's to dismiss women and gynae disease). Both Drs were men and had an eye rolly "ah women, what can you do?" Smug attitude.
Labour was far less painful than my usual period pains.
Since diagnosis I've had 3 surgeries and various medical treatments inc temporary false menopause and am now peri-menopausal (which brings a whole new set of delights!). It's now manageable but still not how those without gynae quirks have their periods.
First couple of years before getting ANY treatment migraines so severe I'd not only pass out but remain unconscious despite stimulation for many hours. Periods heavy every day and lasting up to 14 days with MAX 14 days in between - so I was on more than I was off.
"I honestly don’t think men appreciate how ruled we can be by our periods" my dad once asked me pre-diagnosis to describe the quality and severity of the pain (mum was having a bad time of it pre-menopause and I think he was trying to empathise). He and I have similar stomach symptoms when we get upset stomach things so I related it to that and some other ailments we have in common. By the time I'd finished he said "bloody hell! No wonder you're all murderous! The stomach stuff is bad enough but then all the rest?!!!"
Seamus - yea I too have a singular period zit. Slightly to the left of the very centre of my chin.
Also javelin arse. For those asking, for me it's like when you sit on the wrong part of an old sofa (the kind with a wooden frame inc a slat in the centre of the sofa. And just 'catch' the nerve there).
Piles worse in the immediate aftermath (prob caused by the diarrhoea)
I also get the clumsiness (thought to be due to swelling - hands and eyeballs weirdly). Contact lens wearers eyeballs apparently swell during period.
I also get the leg pain in one leg - same side as I had the twisted ovary and ectopic pregnancy.
Also swollen sore itchy boobs, eczema worsens.
And that's all not inc the devastation of losing 3 babies and almost losing dd.
It was endo kicking back in at almost 9 months post-natal that made my milk dry - literally overnight. Nobody told us this could happen despite my endo diagnosis all over my notes by this point, so we'd no bottles or formula in and this was pre 24 hour shops. Last feed was around 11pm when dd woke around 2am - nothing there! She slept until around 6am but from then until 8am when shops opened was hell! I felt like the worst mother in the world. We then had a few days until we found a formula that didn't make her projectile vomit and teats she could manage to get milk from without being drowned by milk!
I have serious (not directly related) mental health dx, I am way more fearful and anxious at this time. I was asking my cpn about this - she confirmed that most of her female service users experience an increase in symptoms at this time.
Isitorare - I don't wish to alarm but have you been diagnosed with endo? The pain between shoulder blades concerns me.
To all that have missed out on having DC or had pregnancy woes as a result 
