QuestionSorry, this turned out to be so long....I just had a lap done and the Dr. found I have "mild endometriosis" and a small cyst which she burned off/removed. I have to say my heart goes out to all the women who have this disease; there is nothing "mild" about the pain and fatigue I have been experiencing. I know women are out there suffering more than me and it makes me so sad for them.
I think I have had endo since I started my period when I was 16 (I'm now 28) because of my painful, heavy periods hat never end. I have a hard time tollerating BC Pills, but have found one that seems to work for me (seasonale).
I also suffer from PMSDD and have a really hard time emotionally and suffer from awful headaches during menstration. I call them "rubber-band" headaches and NOTHING makes them go away but time. My symptoms from the PMSDD are better with the current BCP I am taking. However, the surgery has seemed to exacerbate my PMSDD symptoms. I have had really bad "rubber-band" headaches and crying spells. I don't know if I am just bummed from knowing I have a disease that is incurrable or if the poking around they did is making my hormones go crazy. Are PMSDD and endo. related and are my post-op symptoms normal?
Also, I am wondering if there is any corrilation between gallbladder disease and endo. I'm asking b/c I had to have my gallbladder removed a few years back. They didn't find any stones, but they did find that my galbladder was enlarged and the walls were very thick and abnormal. Just curios as to what you think about that.
I am taking a holistic approach to my endo as I believe the East should meet the West to reach overall wellness. I am taking magnesium, DIM, and olive/borage/fish/flax oil supplements. I also started taking Green Vibrance (a powdered pro-biotic), and have not had one cold sore (I get these chronically, at least 1 outbreak every month) or yeast infection (which I never felt like I got rid of)since I started this. It's also helped my IBS symptoms. I have felt less pain during bowl movements as well, a symptom I never told my Dr. about b/c I thought it was gas, all along it was the endo.
My symptoms are all month long as far as the cramps and bloating go, I don't have much relief when I'm not menstrating and boy does it get bad when I am. I also have a very annoying stretching/tightness in my right groin/leg that makes me very uncomfortable. I'm also having lot of trouble sleeping because of the cramps and discomfort.
I would really love to know your opinion about the holistic approach as well as any other supplements you have found to help. As far as my Dr. goes; what should I expect to be the next treatment after the lap? So far I've had the seasonale and lap as my treatments. I'm waiting onmy next follow up to continue treatment. Hysterectomy is out of the question because I don't have kids yet. I just want to make sure I am taking the appropiate steps and measures.
It's been difficult because my best friend has not seemed to really express any concern or belief in my symptoms. Luckily, my boyfriend has been very supportive. I am so blessed to not have to go through this alone.
Thank you so much for the oppurtunity to gain advice and support. I've felt so much better being able to see I'm not the only one going through this.
AnswerHi Heather,
Well I am so on your page. I too, was diagnosed later in life...I started menstruating at age 13 and felt horrible until I was diagnosed at age 25. Alot of gynos kept telling me it was in my head, that cramps aren;t that bad...one even told me to hold on my salt intake...
I am prone to think that your gall bladder is somehow related to endo. I recently read an article on endo, and it stated that even your lungs can be affected by endo.
All of the symptoms you described, I had, too. Generally, endo makes you tired all the time, bloated, crampy, backachy, headaches/migraines...oh my the list goes on.
I tried BCP for many years and they did a great job, until I began to get Migraines. Then I stopped them. I also agree with the emotional side you are experiencing. In recent years, researchers have correlated the levels of seritonin with the levels of estrogen produced in a womans body. As you know, seritonin can cause huge emontional hills and valleys to ones life...so that something to think about.
As far as treatment is concerned...I feel at this point, anything that works is a GO! If that works for you, please use it. But something else comes along that looks and sounds hopeful-try it. I feel so bad for every woman that has to suffer...to miss big events in their lives, etc.
I would condsider trying to get pregnant soon, so if your endo does worsen, a hysterectomy might be an easier choice.
Best of luck to you-feel better! And no you are not alone!
Martha
