Anybody on here ebf with endometriosis?

[virgo1979]

...if so could I ask you a few questions, via email if you prefer....

i have/have had endometriosis and have 2 ds (nearly 5 and 2 yr old.)
I bf them both til just over a year although they both had 1 bottle of ff per day.
what is it that you wanted to ask?

I have stage 2 endometriosis on sacral ligaments, one ovary and bowel. During my last lap (2007) they zapped all but the stuff on the bowel. Have been breastfeeding for most of the last two years and have 2 children (had 2 menstrual cycles in that time, the second of which enabled me to conceive DD2). Happy to answer questions if you'd like me to.

I'd you don't mind havingbthe replies public, I'd really like to read them as I have had stage 4 endo, had four hours surgery in 2005 to remove three ovarian cysts and lots iof abdominal adhesions including one on my liver (!). Had ds two months prem after spontaneous labour in jan 2007, bfing was nightmare not reAlly viable because of being on Scbu for five weeks despite my best efforts and I kept some remnant of it going for five months despite constantly bleeding nipples. Now have just had dd two weeks ago by EMCS after another sodding cyst ruptured at 35 weeks, another stay on Scbu for five days but I am bfing exclusively right now and intend to carry on pretty much forever if fate allows this time. Any tips on avoiding period return gratefully accepted. It's early days for us but so detemined to make it work this time for so many reasons.

thanks all for replies - will post more tomorrow, ds is poorly with cold so giving him lots of tlc at moment.

Hi ladies, basically just wanted to know if bf-ing helped with your endo. I had a laparotomy in 2008 to remove ovarian cysts from right side, then course of prostap injections then ttc, pregnant after 6 months (luckily, as otherwise would have had to go down clomid route), dc now 4 months old. My periods returned 4 weeks after DC was born, and have been regular as clockwork since - am EBF. . Was looking forward to no periods. With each cycle, the usual endo pain is returning, and this cycle gone was the worst, the build up before it arrives is worse.....

I thought BF was supposed to help with endo? What are your experiences?

Also, when i was in labour, I had the most horrific shooting pain down my right led with each contraction, a sort of more intense endo pain that i got shooting down my leg, could feel it from my ovary running down the inside of my leg, it was this pain (with each contraction i was sliding off the bed, even with pethidine, DH said i was screaming my leg was on fire....) that caused me to have an epidural....anyway, i had some more of these pains before my last period. basically my whole thigh feels numb but with a very intense pain running down the inside of my thigh...is this endo related or something else?

Sorry for the waffle. Am wondering whether or not i need to go back to consultant or if he will just tell me this is how it is....And just feeling a bit short changed that i am ebf AND periods returned so bloomin quick AND regular as before AND getting what feels like endo pain AND that stabbing pain in sides which makes me scared that have cysts again....

TIA

Hm, that sounds really really uncomfortable - poor you! I'd definitely go back to see your consultant about this. Would you be willing to go on the progesterone only pill to try and suppress the endo and stop your periods in the interim? I'll ask my OH (a GP) to read your post in case he has better ideas than I do (quite likely).

bump

DH thinks that the pain down the leg and with upper-thigh numbness sounds sciatic, so not specific to endometriosis but possibly hormonally exacerbated if comes back at predictable point in your cycle. He agrees that the POP might be a good idea, and suggests that you ask about an additional lap (if, of course, you would be okay with an additional lap).

Thanks frozen. Bump.