endometriosis?

[Megs]

I've had IC for 2 years....my frequencies has gotten much much better, but the pain is intolerable. they never considered testing me for endo, b'c i didn't really get period cramps. however, since the pain is not getting under control, they want to investigate other reasons why i have so much pain, including endo testing. the last few months, i have gotten severe mentrual cramping, but i know ic can do that to someone too. i was just wondering if anyone has endo and they didn't really have too severe of cramps to begin with......or any other ideas what might be going on other that IC?

[Katrina]

http://www.endometriosis.org.au/savvyendosite/treatments.html

A lot of have endo as well as IC. My periods were hardly noticable in the pain area before IC and endo.

My endo caused me a lot of problems and pain in places other than cramp area.

One other possiblity that I know of is a cyst.


I hope you are ok

Best Wishes,

[1tuffcookie]

Megs,

I know how you feel, because I've been there! When I started having periods at age 11, they weren't bad at all. But at around age 14 or 15, they started to get really painful. So painful that my mom took me to a doctor and he gave me prescriptions. Nothing seemed to help, though. I would just miss school or work for a few days every month. In 1987 I started having pelvic pain all the time. They thought it was an infection, and antibiotics did seem to help at first. But later the pain came back. I really can't remember if I was having any bladder symptoms back then. Finally, in about 1989, doctors did a laparoscopy. Then found endo and ovarian cysts. I had a complication afterward that I often wonder if it caused or contributed to IC: I couldn't urinate. It was about 5 or 6 hours before they finally catheterized me. By 1990, I was going to the bathroom up to 60 times a day, and having pelvic pain again daily. I went to a urologist. He did a cystoscopy and saw pinpoint hemorrages, but he didn't tell me I had IC. He said it was from stress. What a moronic jerk, huh? Later other urologists said it was IC, based on my symptoms and more cystoscopies. By early 1991, my periods were awful again. I wondered if my pelvic pain was from endo back again, or IC, or both. I had surgery with Dr. Redwine, an endo specialist in Oregon. He took out endo in several places, including the outside of my bladder. Somewhere in there, I tried all the drugs for endo. They either didn't work and/or had unacceptable side effects. In the summer of 1991, I was fed up. I had for a total hysterectomy. I don't regret it now, because at least I don't have horrible periods every month.

I think you should go for the laparoscopy because very painful periods are a classic sign of endo. It's better to know exactly what you're dealing with. Yes, IC can flare up at the time of your period, but it seems to me that if IC was causing your bad periods, you'd have had painful periods all along. Many women with IC do get endo. I know, because right now I'm researching that very subject for an article for the Endometriosis Association. I had 3 laparoscopies, and except for that urinary retention after the first surgery, they weren't bad. I recovered pretty quickly. Another reason to have a laparoscopy is that you could have something else, like fibroids. You just don't know until they look in there. Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth! I wish you all the best.

[Katrina]

:welcome: :welcome: :welcome: 1tuffcookie, cool name.:hi:

[Babs RN]

I have had endo since 1998, which was finally fixed with a hysterectomy. It alone can be very painful. I had multiple laps until the hysterectomy to laser or cut it off. Hope you're feeling better and let me know if you need anything.


Hug and a :kiss:
Barb

[arcticfox]

Megs,

I have endometriosis as well as IC. I was diagnosed with Endo first. I did some research and found out that I might be having problems with my bladder because the edno was attached on the outside of the bladder. I went to my Gyno and told him what I thought ( okay so a few tears were shed) But he listened to me and helped me to get diagnosed which I had to do outside of my community as the one I was in didn't have the specialist I needed.
He got me in to see a Urogynocologist in Edmonton, Alberta. There are only two there and the waiting list to see either one of them is two years long! He got me in to see them in about 10 months when I first talked to him! That's awesome! I had to fly down from Yellowknife, NT ( and I was nervous!) I had not flown since I came to Yellowknife about 11 years before! I actually had a laser laparoscopy as well, where some of the endo was removed. As much as possible without injuring other organs. This is when I found out that I have severe, level 6 endo. So I am currently on Lupron Depot shots once a months. I have one more to go. I just finished my DMSO treatments.

I don't know if my IC is worse because of my endo or that my endo is worse because of the IC. I guess I will try to take more notice of it after my last Lupron shot.

I hope that you and your doctor can discuss this and find a treatment that is right for you.

Arcticfox
:hi:

[Megs]

thanks for all your replies. i'm waiting to hear back from my dr. before we discuss it any further, but i'm really going to push for this to get done. hope you all have a wonderful weekend!