Advice please: Ovarian Cyst, Bowel issues, Endo, FIT test

[Mumstheword1380]

Some advice would be amazing. I’m currently a nervous wreck 🙁
Been having what seems to be issues with my bowels for at least 2 years. Been back and forward to the GP and been sent on my way with fybrogel and suchlike. Had a fit test a few months ago I believe and it was negative. I did a home one and it was positive, went back to GP and they did another one and I was told it’s slightly positive, score is 22.
it all seems to be on the one side, my left. I get nipping and sometimes sharp pains under my left rib cage, pain left side in middle, lower back pain, a nipping and sometimes sharp pain two inches from my naval to the left. I’ve been having mostly soft poo for quite a while and sometimes I feel like I can’t go.
I went to the A&E just over a year ago with stomach pains and a ct with dye was done which showed 2 ovarian cysts, one on right 6cm and one on left 4cm. I had an internal scan which the consultant could see the right cyst but not the left so I think something must have been in its way. She said she could see a fibroid I’m sure in uterus and suspected endometriosis.
Hadn’t heard anything until just recently when I got an app for a procedure which must be laparoscopy, can’t do it then as no childcare and also I was hoping to get an appointment to speak to someone about it and see if cysts still there before getting a procedure.
Do any of these things sound related? I’m wondering if the cysts have gone or have they grown. Would they cause all the problems being 6cm and 4cm a year ago. Could it be endometriosis causing my bowel issues even though I’ve never known it was there before. Or could it be an issue with my bowels.
I had open surgery around 4 years ago because of mercles diverticulum which causes perforated bowel and peritonitis.
any advice would be amazing, thank you for reading xx

Part of the reason that endometriosis takes so long to diagnose is because it is viewed as a gynaecological problem when in fact it is a whole body condition affecting many parts of the body. Every symptom you have can be attributed to endo including blood in your stool, the rib pain, the cysts, all the sharp pains you are experiencing near your navel. I do not want to worry you but you already have a positive FIT, cysts and fibroids so you already know something is wrong.

If they are looking to do a laparoscopy to both diagnose and hopefully treat any endometriosis deposits by excision, not laser, excision is proven to be the more effective treatment, I would be looking into thoracic endometriosis as well as endometriosis as a whole. Ignore NHS site as it is shit at listing symptoms. Instead look at this www.endometriosis-uk.org/ You can have it on the diaphragm and lungs and it can collapse lungs in very bad cases. It can be seen on a normal abdominal laparoscopy on the diaphragm but only if they look in that direction.

As per my user name, I was diagnosed over 20 years ago and have followed factual medical information for years not just people with endo talking about their endo. There is a lovely woman on TikTok who has thoracic endo who was on a panel with over 100 medical experts from 7 countries talking about her experience and that is why I know some of your symptoms match her posts about it, she tries to raise awareness.

My ovarian cysts shrank as they suspected endo and so I was put on a medical pathway to manage my symptoms. I was borderline as to whether they would operate due to the size of the cysts but tablets are cheaper and less invasive so they went with that option.

@EndoEndoNoNo
thank you for your reply
I’ll definitely look at that site, thank you.
Im in two minds to see if I could get a MRI of pelvis to see what that shows.
Did you have a laparoscopy? I’ve read so many things about it taking a long time to heal from.
Thank you

You need to speak to your Gynae if you have a procedure booked and you are not sure what it is. It is unlikely to be a laparoscopy because there would be a pre surgical appointment and extensive discussions beforehand. It might be a transvaginal ultrasound or something like that.

I appreciate childcare is a genuine issue but where I live in the SE appointments with a Gynae are very hard to come by and the waiting lists are horrendous. I’d do everything you can to make any appointments. Not least because you sound very worried and like you need explanations about the current plan for your care and treatment.

I agree with @vincettenoir you need to sort out some childcare because endo is a complicated condition that can damage your organs and things like your ureter tubes that connect your kidney to your bladder. You do not want to push back any appointments. In case it wasn't on your radar, the BBC did a program called Fighting Endometriosis, it is on iPlayer.

Yes I went through everything that is listed on that endo site, all the meds, a chemical menopause and then finally a laparoscopy to confirm what they already knew and treat the visible endo.

Times have changed, MRI is now a better tool to help diagnose as the risk of adhesions from any surgery including laparoscopy is relatively high. But you need someone who can actually read the MRI results, someone who specialises in women's health.

I understand your concerns about the healing from a laparoscopy, mine was probably about 2 weeks and at that point I didn't have children. But that being said my endo got so bad post children I had to quit my job. My children understood that on some days I was literally parenting from the sofa as that is all I was capable of. I have chronic fatigue as part of the endo symptoms.