6 months trying….

[CAA121]

Thank you to anyone who reads this and can offer some advice :)
I’ve had problematic periods / insanely painful to the point I can’t even walk periods since I started at 15. I have had one surgery to check for polyps a year ago but my gynaecologist believes I have endometriosis but won’t perform a laparoscopy until I’ve been TTC for over 6 months. It’s been a battle to have my period problems taken seriously, sometimes I even have periods twice a month.
I’m at the 6 month mark and have tried conceive plus tablets and the fertility cup (Ferti-lily). My periods have got weirder since starting to try for a baby. They’ve always been irregular between 20 and 30 days a cycle but recently I’ve been spotting for 5/6 days prior to a period which is not normal for me. Could it be the conceive plus tablets are messing with my cycle? I use ovulation sticks and I had a static face (LH surge) 3 days ago and now I’ve started my period, this isn’t normal right?
I just wonder if anyone has any similar experiences or any recommendations?

Have you any history of hormonal imbalances or poly cystic ovaries?

No history of hormone imbalances or poly cystic ovaries but been very hard to get doctors to take my symptoms seriously

I'm not sure the drugs you are taking? What is in them because if its oestrogen this will be causing endometriosis to flare up causing the spotting.

I have endometriosis, and it took over 18 months to conceive naturally in my late 20s and then again in my 30s

I'm sorry OP. Are you in the UK? How old are you? I'd see your GP or another GP at your practice ask for a referral ASAP.

@CAA121

We sound very similar.
I've been ttc for 8 months and I have endo too. I have spotting before my period for 5-7 days as well.
Have you had a laparoscopy? I'm on the waiting list for mine plus removal of a damaged Fallopian tube from the endo.
I've heard a lot of endo sufferers find getting pregnant tends to happen within the 6 months after the laparoscopy - although obviously everyone is different.

How old are you if you don't mind me asking? X

@malfoydracomalfoy I’m 31 and haven’t had a laparoscopy, gynaecologist at the time said she would recommend I wait until after TTC. I guess my next steps are my GP I just really hope they take my symptoms seriously this time as I feel I’ve been battling for answers since I was 15

@CAA121

I find it very strange that your gyno isn't suggesting a laparoscopy beforehand!
Definitely go back to your gp and at least question if this is an option.

I'm 29 and I've had this since I was 15 too but only just been diagnosed in the past year.

Xx

Yeah the option was there for a laparoscopy but she said she wouldn’t recommended it because could make things worse for trying to conceive so should try to do it naturally first. So hopefully they’ll put me forward for it now 🤞

Your GP is wrong. The endometriosis needs looking at and removing via wide excision surgery prior to pregnancy.

They hope that basically pregnancy will "get rid" of endometriosis symptoms which it simply doesn't.

Also factor in having endometriosis with a small baby? And how exactly will you recover from surgery with that.

Could you please find a new GP or search up for your closes endometriosis specialist hospital and simply ask for a referral to a consultant that works in exsion (no ablation) surgery.

@CAA121

Everything @nonstoprenovation is correct.

Definitely push and push for this to be taken seriously. I wish I had then I would maybe not be in the mess I'm in now.

Sending you all the best xx

@CAA121 it really shouldn't be this hard should it.. god I hop the OP can get this sorted out.

Please keep updating the thread we will support you xxx

@nonstoprenovation thank you so much for your support, very appreciated. I have a GP appointment next week so will be pushing hard to be taken seriously and be referred on. What is exsion surgery versus ablation? Is this type of laparoscopy?

@malfoydracomalfoy sorry to hear about your issues with endo and TTC. Thanks for your advice. I hope you get your laparoscopy soon and it helps you to conceive. My fingers are crossed for you!

The way of describing this is that ablation is the cheaper easier option that the NHS default to, they use a laser and zap and burn the endometriosis, which is just treating the surface of the issue.

You have raft of gyane surgeons who are literally "having a go" at ablation, with minimal training, sending women home and saying take a few paracetamol.

The key take away from this is that the endometriosis isn't taken away it's just burnt, so recovery is fast, relief is simple and you get out of the system "fixed" the reality is 80% of the time you will end up with multiple surgery's. For years on end as it doesn't fix the problem and your insides are just getting burn and lasered.

Excision, this is only done by top excision specialist surgeons, and the surgery is done by removing the endometriosis by its root, its wide excision so an area around the endometriosis cells is removed, it's done in some cases with robotic assistance so it super effective and accurate, the NHS do have access to these surgeons but they a rare and have long waiting lists so you need to fight for excision only, wait or pay.

You can find the wide excision surgeons via google find who is local to you and insist you see them.

The recovery for this surgery is longer depending on the extent of your endometriosis, it's more involved, and took me 12 months to be pain free, everyone is different. But the chances of it coming back are as low as 20%.

The only way I've seen this explained is like shaving your legs or using an epilator..

Google Peter Barton smith and others and see what they say.

The other thing to note is endometriosis doesn't show on scans always.. I've have MRI,CT and vaginal scans zero Endo and yet with surgery removed from womb, ovaries, pouch of Douglas and bowels..

I hope that helps??