Pam
Hello to all you fellow female sufferers. I, too, have endo. I must say that I believe that the manner in which the medical profession handles women with severe menstrual and chronic pelvic pain is a disgrace and a farce! I have had classic symptoms since I started menstruating at age 13. I remember being on the floor, curled in the fetal position. It felt like someone was stabbing me and like there were rubber bands pulling apart inside my pelvis. For years, this severe pain would happen on the first day of my cycle, and then I would be O.K. In my teen years and early 20's I was never diagnosed. The possibility of endo was not even mentioned. My physician prescribed Ketoprofen, an anti-inflammatory,which worked like a charm for the pain. However, in college, I noticed it was losing its effectiveness. By age 27, I experienced dramatic changes which led me to an Ob/gyn. The pain evolved to the point that I could not walk standing straight. I went in for an exploratory lap. I had a cyst on my ovary and some scar tissue on ligaments over my uterus which was cauterized. Then I went on the bc pill to manage pain and prevent cysts. However, in less than three years I had problems again. The pain was unrelenting and did not respond to pain medication. I had a second lap. This time, the doc removed my appendix because it was swollen. I think that was incidental. The doc said he did not see any endometrial implants, however the lab analysis of my appendix revealed endometriosis embedded in the appendix. Now I take Desogen bc pill. It is prescribed on a three week continuous basis, meaning I skip the fourth week so I do not menstruate. This is the only way I know to avoid the pain of my menses. I truly want to avoid any more surgery, and I certainly do not want any organs to be removed. I think hysterectomy is performed way too frequently, without ample consideration of alternatives. I was also offered Lupron but rejected it because I don't want to tamper with my mood or put myself into artificial menopause. Can they think of any other brilliant ways to make us feel worse? Come on! I believe that there is an underlying hormonal imbalance at work.Probably we have too much estrogen in proportion to progesterone. However, don't rely on doctors to help you out on that one. I have had tests which show my individual hormone levels are within normal range, but that does not say much about the balance of one hormone with respect to the other hormones. Further evidence about excessive estrogen--I am taking a pill which suppresses primarily estrogen and am doing much better. I would recommend this approach first for those who are considering surgery but wish to try other options. Surgery, especially repeated surgery is traumatic to the body and can and does cause internal scar tissue to develop. Best of health to you all. I do believe there is a cure for this outside surgery.