Endometriosis has impacted my entire life

by GMS
(Cincinnati OH)

I finally feel normal again! I am 51 years old and have suffered from the symptoms of endometriosis since I was 14 years old. My periods were always super heavy, painful coupled with diarrhoea and vomiting.

My mom told me everyone had painful periods so I just believed the pain was my "lot" as a woman. I had my first child at age 20 and tried the pill briefly after his birth. But the pill made me nauseous.

I then tried the IUD, shortly after it was inserted I started having intense pain during intercourse, ovulation and during my period. My doctor diagnosed this pain as Pelvic Inflammatory disease and removed the IUD. I stopped using Birth Control but never became pregnant again.

When I was 30 years old, I decided to undergo an infertility workup. During this workup which included a laparoscopic exam, I was diagnosed with ENDOMETRIOSIS. The adhesions were removed and I thought my problems were over.

I was never able to conceive a second child. My periods continued to be extremely heavy, intercourse was painful, I missed days of work each month due to my painful periods. After suffering for 10 years I moved to a new town and met a new gyn doctor. He examined my medical history and determined a course of action to deal with my endometriosis.

First he stopped my periods with Depo Lupron injections to see if the endometriosis would go away, diminish?? These injections were like hell on earth, I was emotional, had hot flashes, I did not feel like myself. After two rounds of Depo Lupron injections my periods returned with more intensity than they had before the injections.

His next course of action was a "partial" hysterectomy. At age 41, I had my uterus and cervix removed and the endometriosis removed from my bladder. I thought for sure I was cured and that would be the end of my endometriosis story.

UNFORTUNATELY it wasn't, my ovaries were still inside producing ESTROGEN... over time I began to suffer from severe chronic pain, in my back, legs, I had headaches, bloating, heaviness in my abdomen, constant inflammation in my joints. I gained weight I was miserable for 10 years and I didn't know why. I did not think that ENDOMETRIOSIS was a problem since I was not having periods???

I have been diagnosed with FIBROMYALGIA, DEPRESSION, BACK PROBLEMS. Doctors have told me that my pain was all in my head. I ended up retiring from my job early because I felt so bad. Then one day I coughed, I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my lower right abdomen. I immediately contacted my GYN and was seen right away.

He ordered a transvaginal ultrasound which showed I had fluid in my left fallopian tube, (hydrosalpinx). My doctor gave me some options I could have my tubes and ovaries removed or he could monitor the hydrosalpinx and take action later.

I decided to have both my ovaries and tubes removed. My doctor performed surgery on me and he saw that I had ENDOMETRIOSIS EVERYWHERE, on my bladder, on my bowel, my right ovary was totally obscured by scar tissue. Many of my organs were pushed against my pelvic wall by large chocolate cysts. My left ovary was stuck to my sigmoid. I had a HUGE endometrioma that was embedded deep in my pelvis.

My outpatient surgery became an inpatient stay at the hospital. I underwent a bladder repair and left the hospital with a catheter for 7 days. Despite all I have been through I feel sooo much better. I pray THIS is the end of my ENDOMETRIOSIS story. GOD BLESS you all.