Endometriosis, Cysts etc

[Gingergurl]

Hi there. I am very new to this forum but I would like to know if anyone out there have endometriosis with those chocolate cysts and manage to get pregnant?

Here's my story. My wedding is on Sept 12, 2010. 2 years ago, I suddenly have a period lasting for 2 times in one month. Went to my gynae and a scan revealed a cyst near my ovary.

I had a lap procedure about 5 years ago to remove a chocolate cyst and the doctor then diagnose that i have endometriosis. I did nothing about it because at that time I was not planning to get pregnant or start a family.

My gynae said I should try for 6 months after my wedding day (that is when I will start ttc) and if nothing happens, he said he will remove my cysts and any other endometriosis site. He also mentioned that before i ttc, he will run some test to basically make sure I do not have CANCER (god, i hate that word). He however reassured me that I do not look like I have cancer because the cysts is not growing fast. It is now about 4.8cm and has only grown about 0.8cm since 2 years ago when it was first diagnosed.

I am very worried I cannot conceive. I am under heavy pressure from my husband's family as they are expecting me to conceive by next year. Personally I would like to conceive as well.

My cycle has been terrible since last year. I have periods lasting for 14 - 18 days (light, just one or 2 drops) My gynae put me on BCP to stabilise it but I am still having spotting after period for at least 1 week some months. I will officially stop the BCP on Aug 31.

This hormonal thingy is driving me crazy. Everytime I spot i worry if i am ever going to conceive when I really ttc.

Can anyone tell me why my periods became haywire all of a sudden even before I took the BCP? Is it worry/stress/anxiety or something is really wrong with my body?

My gynae said its my endo and cysts acting up but I have been having it for years without any problem, why did it flare up when i would like to conceive in a few months time?

Help anyone?

 

[Gingergurl]

I am also afraid to go off BCP because I am worried that once I go off, I will have those long periods last for 14 - 18 days again.

 

[Elski]

Hi!

I've had endometriosis for 10 years and it's been classed as 'severe' (grade 4) for 5 of those. I had 4 laps between 2005 - 2008 to remove the endo, which kept coming back. I had constant 'period' pain all the time and it affected the nerves in my legs, so much so that at times I couldn't walk properly. I was told I'd find it 'very difficult' to conceive naturally - we'd not been 'trying' as such but we hadn't been particularly careful because I didn't really see the point. So my partner and I decided to move to Canada for 6 months to get away from everything (he owns a property there and spends a lot of time there and we needed a 'project' so we spent the time renovating the house).

We got there in Nov 08 and my endo was the worst it had ever been, pain-wise. We were scheduled to see my endo specialist in May 2009 on my return to the UK, when we were going to start the long journey of fertility treatment.

In March, I was on my way to the hardware store and I got a metallic taste in my mouth and just had a feeling I was pregnant. AF wasn't due for another few days but I went to the pharmacy and picked up one of those early-detection kits. I did it in secret when I got back.... there was the feintest BFP! I was staring at it for ages, holding it at all sorts of angles, under the light, in direct daylight etc as I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. I went back to the pharmacy and bought a load of tests and repeated every day and the BFP's got stronger and stronger. I was REALLY worried as not only does endo make it difficult to conceive in a lot of cases but it can also make the uterus a 'hostile environment' meaning a higher risk of miscarriage. I was absolutely terrified and constantly checking for AF/bleeding. Made a doctor appointment and he sent me for an early scan at 6wks. On April 16th 2009, I saw the teeny tiny heart beat of my now 6 month old daughter, who I'm watching playing with her toys on her playmat

I know endometriosis can play havoc with fertility and my story may well be in the minority where severe endometriosis is concerned BUT I just wanted to tell you because it's testament that despite the so-called 'odds', it can happen. In fact, women with mild endo are almost as likely to conceive as those with no endo. Many, many women with endo have babies. Lots of women don't even know they have it until for whatever reason, they have a c-section and it's discovered then!

I don't know why your cycle seems to be all screwed up at the moment, or what might be causing it but make an appointment with your gynae and discuss these recent developments with him. It sounds like the system there is pretty similar to here, with regards to endo... they like you to 'try' for 6 months, then they'll do an investigative lap where they'll have a good look around and clear any endometriosis... once the endo has been cleared the body is in the best condition it can be in and the chances of conceiving for the 9-12 months following the lap are at their highest

I think your husbands family putting pressure and time-limits on you is incredibly unfair and stress like that can lower your chances of conceiving. Talk to him and get him to have words with them and make it clear that they are to support you rather than pressurise you

Good luck!!

 

[Gingergurl]

Hi Elski,

Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. I am happy to know someone with endo can conceive because most of the gynae keep saying I will not be able to conceive.

I did go to see my gynae about my cycles but he said it is normal for endo + cysts but with all the long periods, I really do not know when I will ovulate or when is the best time to try. He said there is nothing he can do about the long & irregular cycles as it depends on my body. The only thing that can cure it is the lap surgery but he insists I try naturally for 6 months first before going surgery.

Did you have any of those chocolate cysts?

Why do women have so many of these problems especially when they are ttc....

 

[Elski]

Did you have any of those chocolate cysts?

Why do women have so many of these problems especially when they are ttc....

I know, it can be a really long, hard journey for some

I had lots of chocolate cysts - on my uterine ligaments, left ovary and bowels. They removed them all during the laps. They do grow back though (unless you're on one of the hormonal treatments that halt it) as they're formed from menstrual tissue, which obviously activates itself each month

Your gynae has given you good advice in that you should try for 6 months - you never know, you may conceive naturally straight away and you won't have had to go through unnecessaty surgery. How old are you, if you don't mind me asking? When I was 26 my consultant said I'd have to try and conceive before I was 30 or it wouldn't happen - which threw me into a massive panic as I was single at the time. I was 32 when I conceived so shows they really shouldn't say things like that!

 

[Gingergurl]

i m 33...

i hv seen lots of bag gynaes in the past who each told me that having endometriosis means that I am infertile and have a very low chance to get pregnant. All they want to do is to remove my womb..