Anyone know much about endometriosis?

[PinkElephant]

I came off the pill last year and have TTC since. We had an ectopic over the new year and have since had an HSG xray which confirms everything is clear in my tubes and womb looks normal. I have self diagnosed myslef with endo and asked the Registrar at my check up appoint and she agreed I had mild endo. My symptoms are pain during ovulation for about 6 days and then pains a week before AF is due which gradually get worse and worse until AF arrives. Is this normal?

That sounds about par for the course regarding endometriosis I am sorry to report.

It would not have been detected on a HSG - endo is usually diagnosed through a keyhole surgery procedure called a laparoscopy.

Has any treatment options been put forward to yourself?.

Would suggest you take a look at the website of Endometriosis UK (formerly the National Endometriosis Society); their web address is www.endo.org.uk. It has lots of info on there and a good message board.

Thanks Attila. Its the constant pain which made me read up about it all and then all the other symptoms just made sence immediately. I had a chat with the Registar who agreed it sounded like Endo but as I'm TTC conceive I don't want to go down the route of a laparoscopy just for the sake of a diagnosis. As I managed to get PG at the new year the Registrar said that obviously my fertility wasn't affected and to TTC again. Obviously I will go back if I cannot conceive in the next 6months or so. The HSG showed that there were no blockages in my tubes and the uterus looked ok - so its good news for me. Do you suffer with this, if so do the pains go when you're pregant? Or do they simply carry on like period pains?

I have had endo since I was 14 (always had awful dragging period pains) but did not get a diagnosis till I was in my early 30s. My main symptoms of this were severe period pains, back pain, pelvic pain and leg pain. I had diathermy surgery which got it all at the time but recurrence post surgery is certainly not unknown.

Endometriosis dies down during pregnancy but can flare up again post pregnancy.

Glad to read the HSG is clear but this will not itself detect endometrical deposits in the womb and elsewhere.

A lap can also be used as a treatment as well as a test. I think you are wise to return in six months time if you have not been successful in trying to conceive by that time.

Have found Endometriosis UK to be very helpful, they also have a helpline.

Yes I thought the endo website was really good too. I'm the same as you, I've always had very painful periods throughout teenage years and was always off school one day a month in agony and being sick. The pains settled whilst being on the pill which is why they've reared they're ugly head again in the last year since I've come off the pill. I feel like each month they are getting worse and worse and the pain just feels like a constant cramping which I seem to have to live with. Maybe its my age, I will defo go see the G again if can't get PG in the next 6months, if only because I'll be 35yr soon and may need a helping hand
Do they pains stop when you find out you are pregnant?

Hi PinkElephant,

You have my sympathies, my teenage year periods were very similar to yours in terms of pain. My Mum did not know what was wrong with me.

The endometriosis deposits dampen down during pregnancy but it can return post pregnancy.

I would say that you need to find a gynae with a specialist interest in endometriosis (certainly ask how he has treated such cases) along with up to date knowledge. Some gynaes are definately better than others when it comes to dealing with endometriosis.