Endometriosis ?

Hello,

On Friday I saw a new doctor, and after an examination and going over my history, she has suggested that I may have endometriosis.

I don't know much about the condition, and have just been scaring myself on google this morning.

I just wondered if anyone here has it, how it was diagnosed and if they've managed to successfully have children since ?

I'm having an Ultrasound and HSG next week for something else and am wondering if the HSG may show if I do have endo ? (I don't like the alternative way they find out according to google!)

I'm really nervous because I feel like I've had my lot for the year and the thought of having another problem fertility related really scares me

Princess_Bubs I was diagnosed with endo when I was 16 - I had lap surgery to remove the endo - but then when I was 18 I developed PCOS due to endo being undiagnosed for so long.

DH and I are TTC - but due to chronic pain with menstruation I went on the Depo continuously for 6 years - we are now awaiting test results to see what the damage is all about.

Endo itself is not so bad once you get the right meds and diet - it is the ongoing effects for us.

There is a really good website http://www.nzendo.co.nz/ there is alot of good info o it.

Good luck and head up :)

Yes I have it and have gone on to have children naturally. I actually call my children one night wonders as that is how they happened.

You will have to have a laproscopy to diagnose it and at the same time they will remove it if you ahve it. Simple op as it is done via keyhole surgery so you are up and about within a matter of hours of the surgery (I was both times).

Thank you so much for the responses! I love this website, It's so great to have a place to come too where others understand what you're going through!

Tal - I'm so sorry to hear of the long road you've had TTC. I know the RMC have a really high percentage of successful pregnancies following recurrent m/c, so I look forward to hearing that you are one of the many! (My parents neighbour is one of the guy's who runs it ) :)

nzendo.co.nz was a great site for info and so is the fb page - Huge Thanks!

Roughly how long does the laproscopy take ? Is it painful afterwards ?

Have any of you had an HSG ? My letter from NS Hospital doesn't give much info, It doesn't look I'll be given any kind of medication to distance myself from the sensation which makes me a little . I'm a huge sook when it comes to these things - I really hate pap smears so I'm not sure how brave I'll be when it comes to this

Princess - Thanks for your wishes, I trust that we have great success after the second surgery and being under the RMC. Great that many have been able to share some things with you that have really helped. As Little Red said it does vary for people on how long it takes for the surgery, how they recover and so forth. I was told mine should be just over an hour but was over three hours in the end as was the worse endo you can have and also had to do reconstruction on my cervix. I was told when I woke that I would be in for an extra few nights as it was so extensive and would be in pain but the pain was so bearable that I didn't ask for more pain killers as they wore off after surgery and despite coming out of surgery at 8pm went home at 10am the following day and showered on my own and all that, they were blown away to say the least.

Thanks for your honesty everyone, I'd much rather know the truth than have a sugar coated version of it!

I'm having the HSG on Tues for a suspected Bicornuate/Septate Uterus (The specialist thinks that is what caused my recent miscarriage). The doctor has only just put in the referal for the lap so now I'll be waiting a while for that also :(

I've only had medical Insurance for a year and pre existing conditions aren't covered. I had declared investigation into period pain previously and so I'm now not covered for anything gynacological until I've been insured for 3 years.
It's very frustrating having to wait on the public system. I think I'll phone the hospital and tell them I have suspected endo before my appointment, it probably won't make a difference but you never know.

Did you ladies feel much better after having the lap ? I've suffered with the symptoms for years so I'm thinking if it makes me feel much better then it's got to be worth it!

We will be waiting until next year to TTC so I'm trying to stay positive and to think of this year as a preparation for baby year and get everything sorted out so I'm ready physically when it happens!

Little Red - Interesting what you say about bladder infection type pain (Not sure if you were getting actual bladder Infection's too?). I have had so many UTI's this year it's unbelievable (Sorry if TMI!) I had 3 while I was pregnant, and have had 2 since. I wonder if it's got anything to do with endo ?

I do everything you're supposed to do to prevent UTI"s yet I still get them

I can't really comment on how everything was after the lap, because I never got my period back! I'll be interested to see once the baby is born, but guess by that point any changes could be attributed to the baby as well.

I've never actually had a UTI, so I guess that suggests that at least in my case, the endo didn't contribute to them.

I was diagnosed at 19 after having a ruptured cyst and talking to the specialists I had a laparoscopy which confirmed it. Then when we were TTC I got my doctor to refer me reasonably early to a fertility clinic (I think after about 6 or 7 months) because I figured I'd need another lap, we had that a few months later and then 6 months after that we got our BFP

My endo was milder and the surgery was about an hour I can't quite remember and I was uncomfortable for a few days or a week but not too bad really, so fingers crossed for a milder version!!

The pain during my periods was heaps less after the surgery and any other cramps I was getting throughout my cycle disappeared as well.   

Hopes - you might be pleasantly surprised, I just had my first AF back this month and NO pain at all. It was so weird. I'm really hoping things stay that way, but not holding my breath

Thanks so much everyone! I definitely feel a little less freaked out by the whole thing now.

I'm so happy it's improved the quality of your life so much Tal I'm sending lots of sticky baby dust your way! When are you having your next surgery ?

Chelle - What did a ruptured cyst feel like ? I ask because the same doctor I saw last week when examing me said I may have a ruptured cyst (she didn't give me any information or seem concerned so I figured it's nothing major?) She said there was some blood up there which is why she suspected it, but then 4 hours later AF arrived (3 days early) so I'm wondering if that's just what she saw ?

I get so frustrated with Doctor's at times. She also said perhaps I've got an appendicitis (I'm on 3 kinds of antibiotics for 10 days!!). The advice she gave is to just go to hospital if the pain gets really bad. 7 days into the Anitbiotics and I'm still feeling sick and sore but I don't want to go back and feel like I'm complaining.

On a Positive one of my friends had her baby boy via C section on Wednesday and he's perfect and I'm going to visit them in hospital at lunch time