pregnant with endo - painful?

[TigerseyeMum]

Hi
I am new here, I posted earlier in Conception that we are TTC our first baby bu I have stage 4 endo and adhesions, my left ovary is stuck to the abdominal wall and there was a lot of scar tissue in there last time they looked (about 5 years ago).

I don't have periods due to being on the pill (coming off it today) but when I do have them it is agony, proper contractions and everything.

One thing that worries me is if a miracle happens and I do fall pregnant, is it painful to have a baby growing inside you when your internal organs don't move around and are glued together? I know pregnancy can put endo into remission - though I have also heard of women where it gets more painful - I am more concerned about there being enough 'room' for the baby to grow and for me to expand.

With a back problem as well I am concerned that it could be hugely painful and not practical.

I am seeing my consultant soon I hope but in the meantime anyone's experiences of being pregnant with endo would be really helpful (eve if they are nagative - it helps to be prepared!)

Thanks

I have(Had?) Endo. Am currently pregnant and have no symptoms although I had been cleaned before being on th epill for a year to hold it back then ttc. During the 6 months it took ttc my periods got worse but I think I benfited greatly from the 'freshish' start prior to that. I had stuff stuck together and they lasered it off, has no one suggested it?

Hi

Thanks for your response - I had loads of stuff lasered off over 2 laps but they are reluctant to laser too much as in the end it causes more scar tissue to grow. My left ovary is a bit of a mess I think so I also worry about the risk of ectopic as the existing scarring could block the tubes.

I am hoping my consultant will offer a 3rd lap and laser as much as they can and see if the tubes etc look clear.

I am dreading periods again as last time I came off it was agony from day 1.

Endo can make things so much more complicated - I try not to read too much about it at sometimes it makes it seem like it's near-impossible!

I was told that pregnancy should hold it back for s bit as can bfeeeding & then go for next one asap. Not sure about next one but I think the idea was the longer the periods are subdued the better it is long term. Not sure how accurate that is

I had some bits lasered off in February but there were large implantations on the uterine ligaments which they couldn't get so are still in there. I am now 12 + 4 pg. I had some pain in the first few weeks, but no worse than before I was pg and it stopped around week 8. I will have 2 consultant appointments for the endo during while pg so they can monitor the situation and keep me on the books for afterwards. Still early days for me, but the endo does seem to have calmed down. Good luck ttc.

Hi Tigerseyemum,

Sorry to hear you have endo, but the good news is that they have / are treating it.

I was diagnosed with severe endometriosis last year and had 3 cystectomies / laps within 8 months - painful and exhausting. Very suprisingly (given I'd been told it would be almost impossible to conceive naturally), 2 months after my last surgery and once I had stopped taking zoladex, I found myself pregnant.

Similar to you, I was very nervous about how my body would react and was hypersensitive to cramps, aches and any pain in my pelvis.

I'm not certain how much of the pain was just due to my uterus stretching and preparing for pregnancy or if it was my scarring from surgery, but it was no more painful than light period cramps, and very sporadic.

Your consultant is the best person to talk to and get advice from, they'll be able to talk through any fears you have.

I'll have my fingers crossed for you, take care of yourself.

Hi

Thanks for your responses, it is encouraging to hear of people with endo geting pregnant, I ruled it out for 15 years and assumed it would be imposible, but at 36 I find that I really want to have the chance to have a family. Wish I'd had that feeling earlier but hey ho!

Hopefully I will get an appointment with my consultant quickly - it used to take 12 months but the waiting time is only 6 weeks at the moment - and I will grill him about where the endo is and what it means for me.

Thanks for the encouragement

I have endo. I've been told by a few doctors that the best 'cure' is pregnancy. I don't think you generally experience symptoms of it when you are pregnant. Saying that it still came back after I had DS. Although I have managed to get pregnant again. 3 years with DS, first time unprotected sex with this one!!!