Endometriosis

[susan_1981]

I had a hsg done about 3 or 4 months ago which was all clear. I also had an internal ultrasound which showed no problems with my ovaries. She said that all looked fine there. But as I still haven't conceived and my tubes are clear, they have now referred me for a lap and dye. I assume this is to check for endometriosis. Is there any way of knowing whether you have endo or not? From looking online, it seems that some people don't have any symptoms. The only symptoms I'd say I have is that my periods can be quite heavy - although not majorly so - I do get quite bad period pains, although again not majorly. And I also have spotting for sometimes 5 or 6 days before my period starts, although this has only been since my HSG so I don't know whether its related. Is there any treatment for endo? And basically can you still become pregnant (with and without assisted conception, i.e. IVF, IUI, etc) or does it depend on how bad it is?

 

[fitzy79]

Hi Susan, I had a lap done last month and endometriosis was found. I also have PCOS so only get about 3 periods a year. These were not overly painful, just on Day 1 and this was usually sorted with nurofen. I had no other symptoms and didn't expect endo diagnosis Anyway I have stage 1 & some stage 2 which is considered quite mild. It's classified in stages 1 - 5. My FS doesn't seem overly concerned about it at the moment but that's probably because his main priority at the mo is getting me to ovulate. I don't know much about treatments for endo as such but hope someone else will come along to help soon. Apparantly, endo is mostly helped by getting pregnant...chance would be a fine thing eh....!!

 

[Gille01]

Right now the only way to really know is to have a lap done. For treatment they try to remove as much of the endo as they can during the lap. I had been on birth control for over a year which is another treatment. It didn't really work for me as my pain level increased but for some that works and for others they have to have stronger drugs.

I was on combination birth control pills (progesterone and estrogen), some people go with straight progesterone since I believe endo feeds off the estrogen. The side effects of it are something you would need to consider but I wasn't ready for that. There is also Lupron, depo prevera I believe is another. I'm not a fan of either but you would need to get with a doctor and figure those out. There are options but what doesn't work for me might work for you.

Also you can look into more natural ways to approach it which is what I do. I eat a ton better, easy exercises when I can and have been considering acupuncture. A friend of mine with endo loves massages. There are ways to handle it. I can say that I am feeling better so I don't know if it was a combination of things or what. Try out what you can. Who knows what will work.

It does depend on your case as to how easy it will be to get pregnant. Since endo can vary very much per woman there isn't a real clue that you can get from anyone else's situation. It really depends on your own.

Good luck!

 

[susan_1981]

When I had my internal ultrasound, the lady said that she couldn't see any problems wtih my ovaries - I'm assuming that would have picked up any cysts - but she did say that if I had any major scarring, she would probably be able to pick that up. She also said that she couldn't tell if my tubes were ok but everything that she could see looked fine. Obviously my tubes are clear but I suppose I need to have the lap and dye to check for endo. Thanks for our replies.

I have my pre-op assessment in July so I'll be able to ask all these questions then but what what is the recovery time after a lap and dye? Would I be able to go to work the next day? And is it done under general anaesthetic?

 

[spacegirl]

Just a bit of reassurance for those of you that have found endo but have no symptoms...

Read this:

https://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/11/suppl_3/103.pdf

It suggests that asymptomatic endo. could just be a naturally occurring phenomenon and doesn't neccessarily get worse and/or cause infertility. The paper suggetss that when it is found upon investigation it can be a welcome relief to actually find something to explain the problem for both doc and patient.

So basically if you are found to have endo but have no pain/probs etc... and your organs are not actually damaged then you shouldn't assume this is going to be a problem.

I hope this helps xx

 

[Rach27]

Hi Susan,

I was dianosed with moderate endometriosis in November 2008 and it was excised on the spot, another form of the treatment is to have laser surgery I believe.

I had painful periods but that was it in terms of symptoms.

Anyhow, 7 months after my surgery, I got pregnant and had a little boy in March this year.

I am a firm believer that many 'unexplained infertility' cases relate to endometriosis so, in my opinion, it is definitely worth getting investigated and the treated if there is any present, especially if there is no male factor.

Please feel free to PM me if you have and questions or need support

Rach x

 

[daisii]

Hi, I have endo. I had a lap at the end of Jan. They removed a lot tof the endo with a laser (although in time it will probably re-grow!). Anyway I had been TTC for 2 1/2 years. After the surgery I was given 3 months clomid to "give me a boost" I took my first round at the start of April and am now 9 weeks pregnant! So yes it can be treated (albeit not permanantly) AND yes you can get pregnant!

My endo symptoms were pretty severe pain, hip pain most of cycle, heavy bleeding, Spotting and extreme shooting pains during af. BUT there is no connection between severity of the pain and stage of endo, it just depends where it is. I was lucky my tubes were clear so with a bit of help we concieved!

Good luck!

 

[Godswillfor3]

I was diagnosed with endo last year at this time. Had lap to remove endo last July. Pretty severe stages all throughout abdomen but ovaries and tubes looked great and clear. Still TTC 10 month later. Now 4DPO started my second round of prometrium last night. Have felt lower abdomen "twinges" "buzzing" near pelvic bone. Anyone ever felt this? Related to conceiving? The 2 wk wait is the hardest. You've done all you can do and on top of that the prometrium gives me prego symptoms. Not a cool side effect. Messes with you mind. Praying hard everyday that little egg with stick and grow! Blessing and Gods Grace to everyone TTC and healthy and safe deliveries for the mommas to be!

 

[brumbar]

There's amixed bag as you can see....
Some fall pregnant naturally, some need AC . I had no symptoms all hormones fin, light, painless periods, clear tubes and I was diagnosed with stage 3! Going back to the old times now I could probably attribute some pains and discomforts to endo, but still not a lot! To your question if you need time off work.... Yes probably a week off. it is done under general. Good luck hun .

 

[teapot]

Echoing what the others have said, everyone's different. If they find endo during the lap, they'll try & remove as much as they can.
Mine was suspected after a hysteroscopy as there was endo on my cervix & then the lap confirmed it. Unfortunately, mine has left me with blocked/scarred tubes & we are on a waiting list for ivf.
My cousin had terrible pain for years. After 3 laps diagnosing & trying to remove severe endo, she's just had a little boy (yipee) / conceived naturally.

I didn't realise the pain I was in was abnormal until now, (as it's nothing like it was before)! I had very heavy AF/flooding all the time & heavy spotting throughout cycle due to endo & a polyp in my womb. Now, I only need 'green' Always instead of the nighttime 'blue' ones!
...wish I'd been checked out years ago - might not have had the chance to damage my tubes then.

Get it done as soon as you can - it all helps! I was fine after mine, had it on Monday, took Tues off & went back to work on the wed. Worst bit was shoulder pain which lasted a couple of weeks, but it's more annoying than painful.
x

 

[susan_1981]

Thanks everyone. Made me feel a lot better. I'm convinced I've got endo. Something has to be causing this spotting x

 

[BizyBee]

Hi Susan,
I was recently diagnosed with Endo and PCOS and they were only able to find it with the lap. I never had pain, so I wasn't sure if they would find anything. I also only had the long cycles symptom for PCOS, but that's it. My bloodwork was always fine and the cysts didn't show on ultrasounds. The lap revealed that my ovaries are polycystic based on a white film/layer covering my ovaries. I am so glad I had one, as he was able to remove a lot of the endo and I feel my odds have increased. Good luck! xx

 

[Zoom]

Hi

I am on the sofa just getting over my removal of endo. It was all over overies and tubes plus back of vagina and bowel. I have had in cut away and have been told the chance of it coming back on as high as people say. I don't know if we can have a baby naturally yet as the dye test didn't work on my one tube, so we are having a HSG next. However if we end up on IVF at least I know that we now have a safe place for a baby to grow. PMI if you want any more info. I will help all I can. I never knew I had endo as well!!

 

[Bumber]

I hope your dont mind me stopping by, I have stage 3 and after 13 years, five huge ops and some clomid later I am having twins, This time last year my DH and I were struggling to get any help at all and we thought it would never happen.

I had a Hycosy in Sept last year which revealed a blocked tube and two massive cysts and after a huge op in Oct I got pregnant two months later. We count our blessings every day just to have got this far.

I would recommend the lap. that way you will know one way or another and they can then tell you your options. Not everyones story is like mine, so better some worse. But I am proof good can happen and I very hope it happens for you (all of you!) x

 

[susan_1981]

Thanks everyone. You are all so lovely and I hope that I will give birth to a healthy baby next year. Failing that my sister in law just had a baby and I think she wants us to be god parents. That's made me feel so happy

 

[rachm]

I had a lap done after I had been ttc for over 3yrs. It showed that I had Endometriosis and some small cysts. I didn't have any symptoms so was unaware that was what they were going to find. The specialist cleared it up as much as he could (this was Feb 09). After the op he said that he will give me 6mths to see if I conceive after that my only option was IVF. As you can see I feel pregnant in September 09.

So I wish you all the best and in my experience they can do something about it.

xxx

 

[Zoom]

lovely news ladies helps with PMA!!
xx

 

[fluffosaur]

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