[marvelousness]

Hello! I have been having some issues lately that are concerning to me. I've always had incredibly painful, heavy periods, but I just thought it was normal. The pain is always the worst in my back, sometimes my cramps are so bad I feel as if i'm going to faint. It's quite hard for me to get through that first few days of my period and do much of anything. Recently I've started on birth control (Sunday start after my period ended) and I've been having tight back pain every single day and cramps on and off since the end of my last period. I also get very frequent migraines which I am not sure if it could be related. I know this website isn'y meant to be a doctor's office but I was just wondering if anyone with endometriosis could relate and maybe tell me how they felt when they found out they had it. Thank you

I'm in a somewhat similar situation. When younger I didn't get intense pain or hardly much pain at all. After having my son nearly 20 years ago, things changed and I began having cramps and understanding why some women would complain of them. They were bad, but tolerable. Around 8 years ago or so I began having intense cramps which feel like labor pains and are of the same intensity. I went to a gyno and she told me to stay away from artificial sweeteners which I did....no help and it got worse. Went to another gyno and he told me that as long as I was bleeding regular, it was normal and nothing could be done but take meds for pain. At this point, I didn't bleed heavy and believed him. I was told by a few people it sounded like endo (I have intense pain in my back, front, inside and outside and when I have to use the bathroom when on my period I scream bloody murder and sure my neighbors can here me even though I live in a house that is separate from my neighbors house. I told my doctor and he acted like it was normal and to get over it. I began bleeding SUPER HEAVY and twice as long....told my gyno and he said it was normal. Asked about endo and he told me that even if I gave endo, studies show it doesn't cause pain so not to worry. I've been in tears for years over this mess....recently an artist I follow wrote a post on Instagram stating that extreme pain during menstration is NOT normal and not to stand for any doctor telling you otherwise. I went back to my gyno who ignored it again....I asked for an IUD to possibly help but when he attempted to implant it, he did something wrong and I was screaming and forced him to stop. I decided to try birth control bills but it's been 2 months and I really feel they've made the pain worse instead of better. I talked to my primary and he said they'd do a CT scan to rule out Endo but I looked it up and it says a CT will not show endo. I'm so sick and confused. So the short answer is, I don't know if I have it, but I too suffer with great pain in this area and my heart goes out to you. (((Hugs)))

[technigal]

I suffered from severe pain for over a year before a gyno finally agreed to do a laparoscopy. He found endo, every doctor said that I could not start having endo at 40 but I did. When he removed the endo it was instant relief.

I pay these doctors $30.00 a visit, on top of my monthly co-pay for them to basically abuse me, deny me tests and deny me peace of mind. And when I asked them for therapy and help with accepting this pain for possibly forever, they look at me like I'm nuts for needing therapy for that. I'm so angry I'm in tears right now. I too get dizzy and feel faint, especially when the pain is very high. I'm bawling right now reading this, especially after the statistics my friend just read to me about how many women get ignored, told its all in their heads, to get over it essentially....this is not right. Extreme pain is not normal!!! Don't listen to a doctor who tells you otherwise.

I've been going through this for 8 years. The Gyno that I recently fired told me a few years back that new studies show that even if I have endo, endo doesn't cause pain. My studies do not indicate this at all. I don't know what is going on with my organs, and stress does make it worse, but I don't feel it's the root cause and they are basically assuming, without evidence, that it's in my head. Labor pains are not in my head, huge clots, bleeding an obscene amount for twice as long, crippling pain that makes me claw into something and brace myself, just like labor. I truly believe I'm being discriminated against for having a mental illness. Can't prove it, but deeply suspect.

[*Laurie*]

marvelousness, I have no experience with endo, but I just want to say that I hope you find an answer and relief for your condition. It sounds very painful and frustrating.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

I've been going through this for 8 years. The Gyno that I recently fired told me a few years back that new studies show that even if I have endo, endo doesn't cause pain. My studies do not indicate this at all. I don't know what is going on with my organs, and stress does make it worse, but I don't feel it's the root cause and they are basically assuming, without evidence, that it's in my head. Labor pains are not in my head, huge clots, bleeding an obscene amount for twice as long, crippling pain that makes me claw into something and brace myself, just like labor. I truly believe I'm being discriminated against for having a mental illness. Can't prove it, but deeply suspect.

ElsaMars, I am so, so sorry that your doctor is negligent. I firmly believe that we are frequently discriminated against by doctors because we have mental illness. I despise my GP because she blows me off at every turn, and I truly believe she just sees me as a 'nut.' I find myself wishing pain on her, pain that no one will help her with....

[AmandaBroken]

http://youngwomenshealth.org/2015/02...etriosis-quiz/

[IrisBloom]

My daughter had a hysterectomy due to years of extreme pain. They didn't find out the cause until after surgery. She had an enlarged uterus. This means it was 4 times normal weight. The lining didn't shed all the way each month and was building up and causing severe congestion and pain. Look up enlarged uterus and maybe ask your doc if they test for it.

I had a CT scan yesterday and they found a fibroid and are sending me for an ultrasound to determine size and need for removal. This could and probably is causing a great deal of my symptoms so I might well be on my way to feeling better. I hope you ladies get some answers too. I've read that there is a slight chance this could be causing much of my mental stress as well.

[Fresia]

I went from early teenage years into my mid-twenties complaining to more doctors than I can count about my pelvic and abdominal pain, and abnormal bleeding. In my case I was " too young to have endo" and with my mental health diagnosis, of course it was "in my head" and I was "trying to get attention". Uh-Um.

A laparoscopy was done finally at 23. In my case they found endometriosis, cysts, and adhesions connecting my uterus and ovaries to each other and other organs including my bowels. My nsides were a tangled mess pulling on each other. The surgeon could not believe that I was able to function. Yeah, well, go figure. I sent letters with the surgeon's report to all those other OB/GYN's to let them know of their misconceptions and their negligence.

My heart is with any one dealing with this and want to encourage you to know you have the strength to find a doctor who will listen, they are out there. Hang in there.