QuestionI have had endometriosis twice now. The first time, I had the laproscopic surgery to burn away the adhesions and did 6 months of Lupron. I was 19. I had my daughter at age 24 much to my amazement. she's my miracle baby.
I had endometriosis again when I was 29 and my doctor just put me on Lupron...without surgery. After both Lupron treatments, I ended up gaining over 70 lbs and this last time, my thyroid became underactive. I do not know if it's the lupron that made that happen or if they just happened to coincide with each other as hypothyroidism runs in my family as well as endometriosis.
A few months ago, I started having bleeding during ovulation and cramping as well. Over the months, the ovulation bleeding has stopped but the crampiness is still there and there is SEVERE pain during my period. I have felt as if I am in labor for two days now [stabbing with a hot poker feeling and severe pain in my lower back and MAJOR headaches]and I am having huge blood clots and well... we'll just say that I feel like Niagra falls over here. The strangest thing though is that for two months now, my period has only lasted a few days. It's like a typhoon. Crippling cramps, huge clots, running to the bathroom to change the super plus every 20-30 minutes...and then poof. Nothing. I went to the gyno and received an ultrasound externally and internally and my pap came back clean and they can't find anything wrong with me. Before, when I had endo, the pain wasn't this severe and was always accompanied with ovarian cysts. I'm wondering... what the heck is wrong with me?! Is it back or is this something else that can't be identified via ultrasound or pap?
AnswerHi Deena
Well it does sound like endo! And the weird thing about endo, is it never really goes away. So your endo probably layed dormant and then flared up again. Having a baby can help endo, for awhile...it sort of cleans out the plumbing so to speak. The Lupron probably also helped in that it helped settle for awhile. By the way, I am not a big fan of Lupron...I have had reports of weight gain, sleeplessness, aggravated moods, etc with it.
Your symptoms very much mimic endo and the stabbing pains could mean one of your ovaries is affected by endo. My left ovary behaved that way, and when I had surgery, my gyno found that the majority of it was consumed with endo. I only have 1/2 an ovary now, they removed the other half.
Also, endo runs in my family, too, so your chances of having endo all along, are very high.
Your sporadic bleeding may also be caused by other issues. Over the years and many small surgeries later, I had fibroids removed that initially had the same symptoms as what you are experiencing. Heavy bleeding, short periods, headaches...but endo also exhibits these same symptoms.
Endo affects each woman differently. You probably feel overly tired and even depressed at times, this is another wonderful characteristic of the disease.
Not being a doctor, but I would ask about another lap, only because your endo may have decided to flare up again. But with proper treatment, it is somewhat controllable.
I wish you well, and hope you feel better...
Martha
