Any advice - Endometriosis

[AppleCrumbling1]

Hi all, off topic from my usual thread but just need to vent/hear experiences

Feb this year I went to my GP complaining of period issues - my periods had become heavier and more intense, severe tailbone pain, low energy, ovulation pain on my left side, pain during bowel moments during period/ovulation, pain when urinating during period, pain during sex, severe bloating during ovulation and others

GP was fab and sent me for bloods which came back normal but sent me for a ultrasound

Ultrasound showed a 4cm Endometriosis cysts attached to my left ovary, the lady said this was linked to endometriosis as people with onset endo can have these “chocolate cysts” but actual endometriosis doesn’t show on ultrasounds. Had another scan 6 weeks later and it was the same.

fast forward to last month I had my gynaecology appointment who again has been amazing and I’ve signed the documents for key hole for the official diagnosis and hopefully getting the cyst and any other bits out of me.

things have ramped up again and my cycle this month has been 18 days, and it’s as heavy as usual. The pain is horrendous and making me sick. can endo get worse over time? I feel like it’s just ramping up and it’s harder and harder to deal with especially with two young DC.

has anyone gone through a similar journey? I’m terrified of living like this forever, but also terrified of key hole incase something goes wrong or they find something worse. Will getting the cyst removed and the coil fitted help?

sorry just feeling at a loss

Hi OP. Sorry you are going through this.

I was diagnosed with endo around 3 or 4 years ago after a long string of investigations.

Firstly, in my experience it does get worse over time. The way it was explained to me is the endo is your womb lining basically adhering to the wrong places or blood failing to exit properly during a cycle. This leads to the build up of the chocolate cysts and also sticks things together inside potentially as well when really advanced. The more cycles you have the worse it can get so stopping them can help.

I've had two surgical laps to remove growths and one bowel resection as well to remove them.

Following the latter two treatments I was temporarily on HRT and it stopped my periods which helped massively.

It is an awful condition and 100% causes all that you listed. Thoughts are with you OP 🌷

Just to let you know you've posted in a topic for people doing their family tree (genealogy) rather than gynaecology. I advise reporting this post to MNHQ and write in the box that you've posted in the wrong topic and would like to move it to Women's Health. You'll get more traffic and better advice that way. Good luck!

Thank you @KinderCat and @harriettenightingale for your replies! I’ve now had this moved to Women’s Health!

So sorry KingerCat that you went through that, it’s awful isn’t it xx