To think this is Endometriosis

[RatherBeAwake]

This might be the wrong topic to post this in so MNHQ, feel free to move it.

I’m in the process of finding a diagnosis for suddenly irregular periods and mid-cycle bleeding. My period this month was a week late (which is very odd for me. I’ve been “by the book” for over 15 years, up until 2022 when it all started happening).

It’s finally arrived but I am in an immense amount of pain. TMI but I have stabbing pains in my bum, and stabbing pains from my belly button down. My right side feels tender and swollen. My legs are numb and tingling, and pain typically starts shooting down. I’ve taken 400mg of ibuprofen and am in bed curled up, but I’m in bits. My hot water bottle is helping a little bit.

I’ve always had very heavy periods, which has led me to being anemic since I was a teen. Clots, bad cramps. Missing school or work, etc. I always just got on with it as best I could until S hit the fan late last year, leading me to require medical attention.

The doctors have been throwing around a lot of conditions, but Endometriosis seems to be winning. I have an abnormally thick endometrial lining (over 20mm), and am awaiting further investigation.

AIBU to think it’s safe to say I’ve got Endometriosis?

I’d be very surprised if you didn’t have it. Poor you

How old are you? It could be peri which starts with the dropping off of progesterone...causing oestrogen dominance....heavy painful periods.

No, it’s not safe to say that because you haven’t had a formal diagnosis, which for Endometriosis needs an MRI scan at minimum, but more likely keyhole surgery to confirm.
It does seem, however, safe(r) to say you have at a minimum Endometriosis-like symptoms. This is a condition in itself where the body presents all the painful and awful symptoms of Endo, but without Endo actually being present.

I have endometriosis and adenomyosis and cysts on my ovaries. It was a long slog, as you’re finding out (!!) to a formal diagnosis, but from the first time I ever got a period it was clear that something wasn’t right. I’ve had multiple surgeries, scrapes, tried every medication going and none have helped. The only option untried is a hysterectomy which isn’t something I cant explore (yet).

I guess I’ve written the above because to me, whether I formally had an Endo diagnosis or not didn’t really matter. The pain was real, and the treatments for Endo are not at a point where (for me), any meaningful difference could be made. So the diagnosis did nothing beyond closing a diagnostics chapter.

I hope you get the answers you need, and am sorry for the pain you’re suffering. Whether your doctor diagnoses you with Endo or not, persevere to see if there are treatment options to help with your pain!

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