Feeling completely fobbed off

[Allthatjazz234]

I apologise in advance if this post is all over the place as im feeling so so low right now. Today i had a follow up gynae appt to discuss the results of my ultrasound completed in May.

At the scan appt I was told that a previous complex cyst was no longer there but he could see adenomyosis (and most likely endometriosis but he didn't confirm this). I have suffered for approx 10 years with awful periods, pain, bowel issues, anemia. Really I wasn't surprised at all.

Following the birth of my 2nd daughter via c section last year, the pain become unbearable but it was more around my ovulation period and my periods actually became lighter.

I was so happy to finally have some confirmation of what I always expected. I have done a lot of research and know that laparoscopy is the usual treatment method for endometriosis. I have been on hormonal pill in past and it did not agree with me at all.

The doctor today told me that the mirena coil is what they are suggesting to me because the adenomyosis is mild. When I mentioned about laparoscopy, she got very irritated and said "so you want to have surgery? Is that what you are asking me". I stayed crying. I was just so upset. I suppose I just thought that the surgery to remove the endometriosis would be the go to.

Will the mirena coil help with possible endometriosis and adenomyosis? My pain is all around my ovulation. My periods are fine other than being heavy. I just want the pain gone. I am in ireland and waiting lists are so long.

I've dealt personally with cysts, endometriosis, mature teratomas & now have been diagnosed with Uterine Fibroids so I really, truly empathize with your situation.

I wasn't formally diagnosed with Endo until my teratoma was found, and that was only noticed because I ended up in the ER with extreme abdominal pain where they preformed a scan and found I had a 6cm in diameter (literally the size of a baseball) tumor pushing all my internal organs aside.
Great fun.

During my laparoscopy to remove the teratoma they formally diagnosed/found I had severe endo and preformed the surgery to ablate (scrape) the scar tissue from my ovaries.

The relief was fantastic, I came off hormones entirely and enjoyed shorter, less-painful periods. That was in 2017.

Unfortunately, the pain returned for me and this week I went for an ultrasound where they found small Uterine Fibroids >1cm in diameter so, not really much to be done about them. My pain is back to excruciating levels, I manage as best I can and take off when I need to from work.

Still, I wouldn't change having the operation even if I didn't have the teratoma to deal with/bring light to my situation. But, for me the symptoms returned so my advice is that the same may occur for you. Also, abdominal surgery isn't very fun to recover from. The real question is up to you to decide whether or not the pain/time off/recovery window is worth going through with a surgery that may not stick for the long term. For me it was, but not everyone may feel the same.

Wishing you all good things xx

Thank you @PondLurking for sharing your experience. You have had to deal with so much. Im glad to hear that the operation did work for you. This is the outcome I would be hoping for but they just seem to want me to go for the mirena coil. I don't even know how the mirena coil would help when my periods aren't really the issue. And I read that you bleed for months after insertion.

If it meant that the pain that I have been experiencing every single month for years would be gone then I would definitely go for the surgery even with the recovery as I am barely functioning for a large majority of the month.

I just feel so frustrated as I felt backed into a corner and didn't feel listened to at all. If they suspect I have endometriosis then why are they so hesitant to do the surgery.

I think the theory is that the coil will stop your periods, so should stop the pain, and it’s the least invasive method.
If that doesn’t help they may then look at what’s next.

It could well be because a laparoscopy will cost far more to perform than a Mirena coil.

I would seek a second opinion. Any pain also that is cyclical in nature and or gets worse up to and including menses should be checked out to see if endo is present. Endometriosis as well can cause heavy bleeding to arise (and bladder or bowel issues in some instances). Is it possible for a person in Ireland to see a gynae as a private patient at a privately run hospital facility?.