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Endometriosis help ASAP!!

Ok ladies...I need some advice!!  I posted an entry on the 27th about my endometriosis pain.  I had the depo shot about a month ago and the pain seemed to be alright for awhile.  The past couple weeks, however, it has returned and gotten significantly worse.  I called my doctor, and he told me I could try some medicine that basically puts me into early menopause for awhile (I'm 19 years old) but the nurse said the hot flashes and side effects would probably be pretty bad.  Another option was a booster of depo, but from what I've heard and experienced, I don't think that sounds like a good idea.  Now all I've got left is another laparoscopy.  I had one 6 months ago...what do you think...should I go ahead with another one or see if the pain subsides?
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Avatar universal
I wish I could have had as much luck..
My Pain had been progressively worsening and I went to my doctor who also recommended trying to have a baby asap (since we were thinking about it anyway) So we tried for 9 months.. I had my baby in April 2011 and then had no pain for about 3 months. By the time August rolled around I started having worse pain than I was having before I had my daughter.
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Avatar universal
Two months into my 10th birthday, I was on a bus from California to Florida, my stomach started hurting so bad that the bus driver was going to go off course to take me to the hospital in fear appendicitis. My pain lessened after some medication and the bus stayed on course. The next month the same thing happened again. Finally, on the third month I started bleeding.  Every since then I have been in extreme pain. I was on birth control at 13 and had laproscopic surgery at 17. I am now 32 and the pain is continually getting worse. I have no health insurance and doctors do little, since I can not afford much. I have tried Depo, jolessa, and NSAID's but nothing helps. What gets me the most is that the doctors won't give me anything stronger. They say the NSAIDs are the best thing. I am not a pill head just in pain. When I ask for something stronger she looks at me like I am a junkie. And lord forbid I go to another doctor...then I am a doctor shopping. Don't know what to do...........
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Avatar universal
Hi there,

I just thought I would add.. To those of u who haven't tried altering ur diet. PLEASE give this a try. It might seem crazy and too extreme for some but I was dairy and gluten intolerant and by cutting those it seemed to have decelerated the growth of my endo. I was able to go two years in between my surgeries. At my wit's end leading up to this second surgery I had a week ago I began to do a Candida diet. if u look into reasearch out there it is a similar diet to the diet they recommend for endo. A lot of endo women have relief from trying it. It focuses on u counting out things that aggravate and inflam ur current lesions. It is worth a shot. I was spotting and cramping every day for two and a half months. Two weeks into my diet the pain and bleeding stopped. It took about three weeks and then I was not feeling like having pain killers at all. I am slowly adding foods back in and watching for the ones that aggravate my ovaries. U feel a lot healthier and will be surprised by the culprits. Coffee, beer, gluten, dairy and sugar are the usual suspects. And some citrus fruits. So PLEASE give it a shot before they take ur uterus. Wish I had have realised before I was so far along to having my second surgery otherwise I should have gone without it. My ovaries were stuck down with scar tissue and now I am dreading that I may just regrow more.. So worth a shot ladies. I know how exhausting and helpless u feel.
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Avatar universal
I'm 30 years old, and I was diagnosed with endo when I was 16. I have had three surgeries for the endo, one which caused a perforation in my bowels, and emergency surgery, and the latest was two years ago when the thick adhesions were strangling my intestines, and it was an emergency exploratory surgery, since it was not showing up on the ultrasound.  I'm in an incredible amount of pain, and my husband fears I could be in danger again, though my doctor refuses to do surgery unless it's a hysterectomy (there was a lot of scar tissue found from the two BIG surgeries, on the outside the scars go from two inches above my belly button, to eight inches below, and  from one hip to the other across, if that's any indication). I'm not ready to do that yet.  I did have a miracle baby, though.  The doctor when I was 16 told me to get the hysterectomy then, since he had never seen such a bad case in anyone, and firmly believed I would never be able to get pregnant, or carry a baby full term. Well I did. And I am grateful for that, but there's so many risks that go along with that kind of a surgery, too. I just want to be a good mom, and right now, I feel as though I can hardly walk with my daughter, pick her up, take her for bike rides.... But it's not just the pain that's bothering me, that's just a symptom of the risks to my intestines again.  My current doctor won't return my calls, answer any questions, he gave me a pain med that I'm having a really bad reaction to, but doesn't seem to care...and I'm at the end of my rope. Sorry so long, I just want some advice.  And someone to hear me.
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Avatar universal
An Update in my case.  I have a daughter who is 9 now, I thank God and think that everything happens for a reason.  I do know that having children slows the growth, it does not heal it.  Trust me, if I could have another child, I would.  I am at the point where it is so severe I haven't many options left.  I have several aunts and friends who have been through the same thing with Endometriosis and Irritable Bowel and they say that they DO NOT REGRET the hysterectomy.  Out of everything they tried, medicine, therapy, Laproscopic surgery every 6 mo.etc., their quality of life returned after the Hysterectomy.  I have sat idly by for 10 years now watched this disease change everything about me.  Weight, moods, behavior, energy, etc. I am done letting this control me.  

I have decided to talk to my doctor about the Hysterectomy.  I made the Pros/Cons list and found that the Pros in my situation outweight the Cons.  I will deal with the aftermath fo the Hysterectomy and hope that I can start to have better days.  If you feel anything like I feel, you yearn for days that you feel totally normal.
Thank you all for your advice.  I will update with anything new.  GOOD LUCK with your journeys ladies!
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Avatar universal
Hello there (New to the community),

I feel your pain as well. I am 21 and was diagnosed with endometriosis at 16. I've had three surgeries: 4/26/04, 6/18/07 and recently 9/10/08. Some people, have amazing luck with their first surgery and it can be gone. I wish that were the case. Instead, I am constantly vomiting due to the pain and am forced to take intense pain medications. I am way to young to have a child, and it is not a guarantee. I am going into Stage III of it, and it's honestly, the worst thing of my life. It has caused depression, ruined relationships with everyone, I can never do anything. Instead I am always sick. I've done every medication out there, and honestly am at my wits end. HOWEVER, one of the great things I am doing, I take Lybrel. Now, guess what, it *****. It's a birth control, that semi accelerates your progress (at least for me) BUT, it stops your period. Now, if your period is anything like mine (ie. heavy, painful, vomit, fainting, goes on for two weeks) this is a GOD SEND. Ha ha, but I do recommend it, because if you are going to be in pain anyway, why not have NO period? :) Best of luck to you all!!!
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Avatar universal
I have endometriosis, I had the surgeries, the shots, everything. My doctor told me the only thing that would make it go away for a long time was having a child. If I did not try to have a baby, I would suffer for a long time, not to mention be sterile. Well, I tried for 1 year to have a baby, and finally got pregnant. I had the baby and I've been fine for over 14 years. My doctor told me that childbirth would clean the endometriosis from my body. Well, all I can say is that I'm fine after 14 years, I have a son of 15 years and I've tried to get pregnant for the past 5 years and nothing. Please think about what this can do to you, painful treatments, tested, not to mention you can get sterile from this disease, if you plan on having children, my advice is to have them soon. I was told that after having my first child, I would not be sterile, I have not been tested to determine if I am sterile, but I have not used birth control for over 5 years and still no baby. I thank god that I have my son and no problems with endometriosis. This was my best choice.
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616812 tn?1221214326
I have recently had some spots of endometriosis removed by diathermy from my left ovary.  The consultant suggested that it wasnt  a big thing but I have been in pain for quite a while now-It really affects my work.  Does anyone else feel symptoms with small amounts of endo?
Salsamiss
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Avatar universal
I just wanted to say i am glad i found this forum. i know it sounds bad, but been in the military it is really hard to be able to say you are in pain. you want to be "hard, motivated and good leader" i come to work everyday and put a smile on my face and pretend not to be in pain, and most of the time i have to go to the bathroom and cry!! then i go home and just shower and get in my bed and just wake up the next day and start again. i was in horrible pain for a long while and waited for ever to tell my medical dept (and that was only when i spend a whole night throwing up in the bathroom and with a pain so horrible i didn't know what it was) that resulted in me having to get emergency surgery and losing my left ovary! ever since then i have been depressed and seem to cry for no reason. the pain is unbearable and i don't know what to do. i am afraid i might not be able to have children and i am also scared that i might be put out of the military because of this. i kept on gaining weight on the pill (a big no no specially in the military). i thought i was going crazy and making a big deal of something that should have gone away after surgery, but it is good to know that other people understand what i am going thru! i recommend that everyone gets checks out if they feel they might have endo and not wait until it is too late.
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Avatar universal
I have been an endometriosis sufferer for over ten years now.  I've had
three surgeries, two of which were laparotomies, with the last one in
February 2007.  I was really frustrated, tired of the pain and really
wanted a solution.  It didn't help that both my mom and and aunt were
sufferers as well.  They both had hysterectomies and still continue to
suffer with bowel obstructions and adhesions.  I felt hopeless.

I decided to not give up and keep trying.  I explored natural remedies
because I liked the idea of not having side effects.

This is what I did:

1.  Researched www.endo101.com which lead me to Dr.  Eckharts's website
www.womhoo.com.  To sum it up, I filled out the free consultation,
ordered the Progestelle, stopped using Xenoestrogens, stopped drinking
coffee, stopped drinking beer.

I had a pelvic exam with my Dr.  last November (2007) and he was
surprised.  I didn't have any cysts.  Normally by this time, the cysts
would be back.  The last surgery I had, one of my cysts was 10 cm and
was pushing against my uterus.

I started drinking coffee again (I really enjoy it) to see how this
would affect my body.  I could get away with drinking a few times a week
but if I drank it everyday, my female area would start to become
sensitive, best described as I could feel each of my ovaries.

2.  My martial arts instructor turned me onto ionized alkaline water in
January (2008).  I saw the demo and was sold.  I bought the filtration
system and started testing it out.  I felt even better.  My
endurance
was better during my workouts and I didn't feel sluggish when I slept
only 6 hours.  I tested out drinking coffee again and could get away
with drinking it everyday.  My roommates also started drinking the water
and for the first time, they both no longer have cramps on their
periods.  www.explorekangen.com

I told myself that once I found relief, I would share it with as many
people as I could so that they can find relief as well.  This is a hard
disease and as a career minded individual, it was really difficult for
me to work and to keep up with the day to day events of life.  I feel
like I've overcome something huge and I'm here for anyone as support.  I
have photos from my last surgery if anyone would like to take a look at
how advance it was for me.

Feel free to contact me with any
questions.
***@****

Thank you,
Christy Lemaster
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Avatar universal
I am 23 and have what we think is endometriosis, but I have declined to get the lap to figure out if that's what it really is.  I am in excruciating pain and becoming depressed, that's how I found this site today.  I plan on trying to have my first child sometime next year, and I have refused any of the treatments that are available so far.  I used depo for a year or so and that was the most wonderful year of my life.  However, I gained 60 lbs that year and have since discovered that any form of birth control involving my hormones makes me gain weight rapidly.  I had to post because I found another site while looking around today that I thought may help a lot of people.  I will be calling her today.  What do I have to lose?  Check it out, too.   http://www.endometriosissupport.com/
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Avatar universal
I know your pain.  I had the surgery a year ago and then went on the Lupron shot that put you in Menopause.  For me, the benefits BY FAR outweighed the side effects.  I was able to live a normal pain free life again.  I was on that shot for 3 months and then they switched me to the Depot shot.  I know you may be worried about the Lupron shot, but as long as you take care of yourself (eat healthy etc.) then it will be worth the hot flashes.
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Avatar universal
I can relate... I've had endometriosis for about 7 years now (I'm 27 years old). I've had 2 laparosopy's - the first one, they burnt all my spots off then 2 years later when there were more spots, they cut them all out.  To be honest, I feel so much worse since the 2nd operations. I've been to see countless doctors, professors, specialists to no avail.  Every month I've got severe cramps and feel pre menstral for 2.5-3 weeks which is almost all of the time.  I was on the pill for a couple of years and that didn't help.  Some doctors have recommended cutting salt and sugar out of your diet, one week before your periods start and do some intense exercise.. It hasn't helped me but it might help you.. The other doctors say having a baby is my best bet (although there are no guarantees).  When I was 23 a Professor told me I should go into early menopause which I refused.. My husband and I started to try for a baby last month and when I was 9 days late I was extremely hopeful, but would you believe for the first time in my life I've apparently just missed a period.. anyway, that's my complaint!!  Good luck - all I can say is it helps soo much to have good support either by a partner/family or by friends that understand.
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Avatar universal
I feel for you. I went through the same thing last year and i was told my only other was a hysterectomy. Sadly laproscopy, only works short term, and the scarring left behind leads to more problems. The best advice i can give you is work closely with ur dr and do what the 2 of you feel is best. Best of luck.
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