does anyone suffer from this? I have bben having problems and have self diagnosed myself. I thnk the worst thing you can do is read the internet sometimes. I ave an appointment with my gyno tomorrow......I'm pretty wprried

my mother and grandmother both had it. I am pretty sure I do as well. I need to make an appointment.

my dad's aunt has it pretty bad. she miscarried about 3 times and when she was finally able to not miscarry, she had to be in bedrest the entire time.

i think i may have it as well but i don't really care to know if i do or not. they say the earlier they catch it the better but i'm not sure i want to know.

doesn't it seem like everyone you know has some sort of serious disease? i swear - when they say that the world is getting worse, they are so right!!! i remember when having cancer was such a rarity and now so many people have it.

I had a laparoscopy about 1 1/2 years ago that confirmed that I have endometriosis. It has caused many different problems (including infertility issues and intense pain). Let me know if you have questions, I would be happy to talk with you about the symptoms I had/have and the options that I was offered. Try not to worry about visiting the dr. because at least you will know if endo. really is an issue and you can try to do something about it. Good Luck!

Missyleigh - I had endometriosis and complained to doctors for years about my symptoms. I went online (back in 1999) and plugged my symptoms into the search box and started reading up on endo. I self-diagnosed myself as well. I brought the information to the ObGyn and he decided to do a laparoscopy and discovered endometriosis! It's good that you look into things for yourself and educate yourself. Many times, I find you have to lead the doctor to your findings and you're usually right. Good luck to you!

kos

p.s. I was lucky, I got pregnant 5 months after surgery!

It's great that you're going to see the doctor. My Gyno can't figure out what my problem is. Go figure. I had the D&C with scope. He didn't think I had endo. He really isn't sure. He wants to do a hysterectomy; insurance said I was too young. I'm 32 with three daughters & a tubal. HELLOOOO. Just take out the unneeded plumbing already.

Just wanted to let you know that sometimes endometriosis can be hard to diagnose. Just because your doctor says that you don't have it, that may not be the case. I had to go to several doctors before I found someone to listen to me. DON'T give up! If you are hurting, and believe me, with endometriosis you will, keep trying. Find someone to help you. There are doctors out there who can help. Good luck!

Thanks so much it is nice to know that i am not alone. Mawagner waht were your symptoms?

Missyleigh,

Endo. can have a wide range of symptoms which for me include lower back pain, severe cramps, heavy bleeding, UTI symptoms, and infertility. Currently my biggest symptom is infertility and low progesterone levels. You can send me a pm if you would like to chat some more about this...I just didn't think everyone would care to hear about all of my issues! How did your visit to the dr. go?

Melissa

Hi!
I wanted to add that I had endo from the time I was 12 yrs old and never knew what it was until I was struggling with infertility at 30 yrs old. I suffered horrific pain every single month for over 20 yrs without fail. Nobody talked about it and it was totally ignored or viewed as "normal" or "too bad for you" type thing. It is NOT normal to have pain. Some women have no pain and can still have it, while others have diblitating pain and many other problems that come along with endo.

Endo can not be diagnoised for sure unless you have a laparoscopy. It can not be seen on ultra sound. I had the surgery and a hysteroscopy at the same time and sure enough had stage 3/4 endo. It came back within 5 months and took me another 3 1/2 yrs to get pregnant using fertility treatments.

I manage an online support group for women going through all kinds of fertility related struggles. But the best place of all where you'll find lots of info is called HysterSisters.com I was lucky that my last fertility treatment worked ( twins!!) but I did end up having a hysterectomy at 37 because of the horrid pain and how badly it was effecting my life. I urge you to find a good Dr who knows about endo, not just a general Dr or gyno unless they specialize in it.

Another good resource is a book called The Endometriosis Sourcebook". It has great info and is very informative.

Good luck!
KimAZ

the dr won't even do a lap or a ultrasound..I got really pissed off and made an appointment with an Reproductive endrocerinologist -sp- but the soonest they can get me in is feb. I am so strapped finacially it looks like no christmas for anyone. I don't think I will even out up my tree. I am so depressed. It is a struggle to get out of bed in the morning let alone come to work.

I'm sorry about the doctor...sometimes it can be very frustrating! How long have you been struggling with infertility?

TWo years. I know it seems like a short time to some people who have tried a lot longer but it is really frustrating. I am only 25 so my age is not he issue.I just don't undertand why I am in pain and no dr will do any thing about it. My husband also has low sperm count ... borderline so that shouldn't be that big of a problem. The dr wants to do insemination but i fell that it might be just a waste of time if there is something wrong with me.

I have to say that I suffered with this most of my life, like many others. Painful periods and intercourse were "normal," I was told, and none of the doctors I went to could tell or would admit that there was a problem...not even with a laparascopy did they find it. At 47, after having lost a lot of weight and getting a divorce, I went to a female obgyn for the first time and she diagnosed the endo and agreed to do a partial hysterectomy, and I was to have a "tummy tuck" immediately afterward (one surgery, two doctors).

When I woke up hours later, I'd had a complete hysterectomy because the endo was so much worse that even she had anticipated. I had to wait to have the other procedure.

My xDH had the gall to say "I guess you really have had a problem all these years." If I hadn't been in a hospital bed and he'd been in the room instead of on the phone, I probably would have done him bodily harm for that one!

Sorry this is long, but don't let anybody try to convince you that it is your imagination, it hurts!
If you haven't been to a female obgyn, try one, this lady seemed to understand more than any of the male doctors I'd ever seen and was willing to keep looking to find a way to help. Janice

Yes, thanks, after the hysterectomy I was fine, no more pain (no more doubtful husband). I know a lot of women think a hysterectomy is a bad thing to have, "not a woman any more", I sure didn't and don't feel that way...as far as I am concerned it was the greatest thing ever!

You are so right, if men had to suffer even a small percentage of the pain women tolerate, you'd better believe there would be lots of changes made...the mamogram for one! I have a wonderful cartoon of a man getting a "manogram" with his "member" being squashed flat by the machine...I love it! You bet they'd figure out a better way if that ever happened. LOL Janice

Missyleigh,

It sounds like our situations are very similar! We also have the double factor with the borderline sperm count. I tried Clomid for a couple months but the second month my progesterone numbers actually went down instead of up and the infertility nurse that I was dealing with really ticked me off so I haven't gone back. Now I am looking for a new dr. that actually knows what they are talking about and then we will most likely try insemination...if that doesn't work then we will probably be done...which is difficult to face as well! Have you gone through all of the different blood tests, etc to have your hormone levels checked? That is no excuse for the pain but it may be causing other issues. Also if you have symptoms of endo. and you are not getting pregnant the endo. could be blocking your tubes. They can do a hysterosalpingogram (sp?) to check that out. I hope that you find some help. Believe me, I know what you are feeling and going through...it's not easy!

Melissa

P.S. I loved in MO for 2 years while I taught at an elementary school there. Just thought I would share!

After reading this, I feel guilty with the fact that I actually got angry when I got pregnant with my third daughter so soon after my second daughter. They are 15 months apart.I guess I took being fertile for granted. I apologize for that.
As I said before my dr. doesn't know what my problem is. I have one week a month where I don't cycle. I menstrate three out of four weeks. I have to be on this new iron pill because my iron is around 10.5 - 11. Everything tastes like metal. He has put me on another round of seasonal hoping to stop this. NOT WORKING! I finaslly told my husband that I wasn't going totake it anymore. I'm tired of crying at mothing, getting angry @ nothing. Ya'll know the emotional roller coaster that happens.
Anyway, I pray blessings on everyone here.

mawagner, don't know where you are in PA, but if you are near the border, there is a great group called DVIF&G in NJ that is just wonderful. I would not have my daughter if not for them - I normally do not like doctors much either so you know I am giving credit where it's due.
My issue turned out to be PCOS but I went through 4 ob/gyns before I was referred here to this group. Here is the site:
http://www.dvifg.com/
Reproductive endocrinologist really is the way to go if you are treating for infertility - regular ob/gyn just doesn't cut it for this stuff. Treated for 2 years almost first getting healthy and then the infertility tx.
My cousin-in-law has endometriosis very badly and decided to adopt instead of going through the tx - they have 2 kids now, a 12 yo girl and an 8 yo boy, and are very happy - she gave up on the "western" medicine and is treating with a homeopathic doctor now with good results.
Pray for good health for all of you and hope everyone finds the help they need.

I also have had some problems. I also had an undiagnosed gallbladder problem. Both happened to me around the same time. I had intense pain in my abdomen at around age 18. I was told everything from ulcer to my imagination. This was in 1982. I went through all kinds of tests and alot of pain. Take some zantac and call us later is what I got. So I built up my pain tolerence. Then in a1988 I had sever pain and bleed really bad for 2 weeks. Finally went to doc( I had no insurance) The OB said they were unsure what had happened because I didn't go right away. I could have miscarried they said. I had several uti's and there diagnosis was I probably had scare tissue on my ovaries. No tests cause I couldn't afford them at 18. They told me I wouldn't ever have kids. Surprise in 1990 while dating for a year I became pregnant. I wasn't using protection I thought fine if it happens I am ok with it. He wasn't though(new thread needed for that) I had my son.
Jump 5 years later I still had tremendous pain. I went to the doctor who finally diagnosed a gallstone. I had the surgery, they removed a stone the size of a golf ball. He said I had had it several years. I told him the pain I was having at 18. He said that is probably when it started. But back then an 18 yr old couldn't have gallstones Ya right.
3 Years later I had my daughter. I still have some pain and really need to have it explored more but my pain tresshold is so high now I don't think about it. Several years of suffering and no one listened. Sorry this is so long.

I guess all these stories come down to the fact that the doctors are still "Practicing" medicine and they sometimes don't do a very good job of it!

Makes me sad to hear of all the pain we've all been through and so much of it could have been avoided if someone had found the problems sooner.

Wish everyone could be painfree from now on! Janice

Ladyofcake,

Thank you for that information on the group in NJ. We are in Lancaster so it shouldn't be that far! I will have to check into it. Can I ask a question about your cousin-in-law adopting? Did they do domestic or international and how old were the children when they were adopted. We have been thinkg more and more about this option, but it is a difficult decision to make. Any thoughts on the process would be greatly appreciated!

Melissa

Definitely, definitely get a Specialist to check things out. My friend had surgery to treat the endo after problems with conceiving and miscarriage and now has two kids. I have endo and whilst it took my DH and I a while (almost 2 years) I am now pregnant (happened naturally) - where the endometriosis is can have a big impact on fertility ie. causes more problems when it is on fallopian tubes etc than other areas/organs etc - it can also spread. I would recommend the following:
a) find out if you have it
b) talk to your dr about surgical and non-surgical treatments I have had a combination of both, some of the drugs have side effects and are not very pleasant but some are ok and can help with the symptoms (you can't take any of the drugs when you are trying to conceive but still something to think about for later you don't want to be suffering with pain all the time even after a child)

Good luck hope things work out

Thanks for all of the responses. Since I first wrote I have made an appointment with a Re in another town . Thay can't git me in untill feb. though. I also called my dr and practically chewed out the nurse. I felt bad and apoligized but I told her I was hurting and KNEW something was wrong. She promised to call me after the holiday. I kinda feel that the infertility is just a ymptom of an other problem and I will not get pregent until this is resolved. everybody cherish yopur kids and your ability to concieve. Also , if somebody dosent have children and have been married for a while.DO NOT START ASKING THEM WHEN THEY WILL HAVE KIDS!!! You may not know that they are suffering with fertility problems. Just don't ask! it can be really painful and you never know what is going on in someones life just a bit of advice for someone who knows

Thanks for all of the responses. Since I first wrote I have made an appointment with a Re in another town . Thay can't git me in untill feb. though. I also called my dr and practically chewed out the nurse. I felt bad and apoligized but I told her I was hurting and KNEW something was wrong. She promised to call me after the holiday. I kinda feel that the infertility is just a ymptom of an other problem and I will not get pregent until this is resolved. everybody cherish yopur kids and your ability to concieve. Also , if somebody dosent have children and have been married for a while.DO NOT START ASKING THEM WHEN THEY WILL HAVE KIDS!!! You may not know that they are suffering with fertility problems. Just don't ask! it can be really painful and you never know what is going on in someones life just a bit of advice for someone who knows

I had an ectoptic pregnancy that was diagnosed with a laparoscopy. My doctor found I had severe endometriosis during the surgery. I've never had pain from it, but he said someone with very little endometriosis can have severe pain; there's no correlation. I do get WIPED OUT every month and it was causing fertility problems. The endometriosis probably caused the ectopic pregnancy, since the embryo was lodged at the end of the fallopian tube and top of the uterus.

He put me on a drug called Lupron for five months after the surgery. It puts you in a menopausal state (stopped periods to give your body a break) and he said it also makes the uterus "sticky" for an embryo. As soon as I was off the drug and O.K.'d to try for another baby, I got pregnant and she's eight years old now!

Try not to be discouraged and keep researching 'till you get some solutions. Good luck!

Cheers, from
SwampWitch