Do I have endometriosis or what?

Question

I get *really* bad cramps for the first 2 to 3 days of my period, & my period lasts for about 5 to 7 days. Also, my first 3 to 4 days I bleed pretty heavy, and big globs of stuff come out too now & then (the lining shedding in globs I guess). My cramps have been describes as "labor like pain" by some people, but I've never been in labor so I don't know. Someone told me I might have endometriosis is this true? Yes, I'm going to go see a doc soon, so don't give me any "go see a doc" answers.

I'll be more specific. Taking Aleve doesn't get rid of the pain completely (@ 1 point it did but the pain kept getting worse over the months), or taking 800 milligrams of ibuprofen doesn't do much either (Aleve seemed to do a better job). I started taking "OOna 2PMS" 3 months ago along with 600 or 400 mg of ibuprofen that helps a bit more, but my friend gave me all these other herbs & they worked well to the point where I could function finally (I can't function while in pain). But this month I'm all out of those herbs & kinda broke. The pain & swelling is so bad I don't like anything touching my tummy area, most of my pants make the pain worse. The pain sometimes comes like lightning shocks, but it's usually a twisting pain inside that's constant with an additional worse pain that goes in & out within every 3 to 5 min or so.

oh and the pain or contractions are so bad they make me go #2 to the bathroom a lot. Not sure if that's important to notice or not. Also, the pain feels better when I either lay down or sometimes when I sit down.

oh and b4 my period I get gooey discharge like big snotty looking things a few or so days before my period. Also, I lightly spot *sometimes* after my period, and it's kinda brownish sometimes when I spot. When I'm on my period it's bright red and the clumps are a dark red.

"Oöna" sorry couldn't figure out how to do the o with the dots.

http://www.oonahealth.com/whatPMS2.html

OMGosh "HeptaDragon"
“very painful menstrual cramps”
yes
“pain with periods that gets worse over time”
yes
“chronic pain in the lower back and pelvis”
Yes during my period.
“pain during or after sex”
Don’t know, c0z I’m still a virgin.
“intestinal pain , painful bowel movements”
Yes during my period.
“heavy and/or long menstrual periods”
Yes I bleed heavy for like the first 3 to 4 days, and it lasts for 6 to 7 days.
“spotting or bleeding between periods”
Once in a while, but not really.
“infertility”
Don’t know, never tried to get pregnant.
“fatigue”
Only from taking the medicine.
“You are more likely to develop endometriosis if you began getting your period at an early age”
Yes, I started right before turning 9 years old. But I didn’t have cramps till like around 12 years old.

“have heavy periods”
yes
“have periods that last more than seven days”
No
“have a short monthly cycle (27 days or less)”
Not sure, I don’t know.
“and have a close relative (mother, aunt, sister) with endometriosis.”
yes
“experienced physicians may be able to find signs of endometriosis on pelvic exam. The two most common imaging tests for diagnosing endometriosis are ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); the only way to know for sure if you have endometriosis is to have laparoscopy.”
When I go next Tuesday I’ll ask for these tests, thanks for telling me about them.

"lizstar78" Yeah I just got back from the doc they didn't run tests c0z I'm on my period (I went c0z my Mom is in town and she made me, I was just gonna reschedule).
They did put me on Birth Control though, "Progestin/Estrogen Contraceptive - Oral" They and me are hoping that'll calm down my cramps in the mean time they gave me a prescription strength ibuprofen.

"ashleytabeling" thx 4 letting me know about the other things, I'll ask about them during my next visit. k.

Answer 1

IN most women there is cramping in the lower abdomen, usually in the first or second day of the menstrual cycle.

These are caused contractions of the uterus as your body sheds adn get rid of what it does not need.

Ibuprofen or other pain relievers like midol can sometimes reduce the severity of cramps. Exercise can also help in some cases.

With that being said, severe menstrual cramps, particularly if paired with excessive bleeding or passage of large blood clots, can occasionally be a sign of endometriosis or other disorders

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is the growth of cells similar to those that form the inside of the uterus (endometrial cells), but in a location outside of the uterus. The cells attach themselves to tissue outside the uterus and are most commonly found on the ovaries, the Fallopian tubes, outer surfaces of the uterus or intestines, and on the surface lining of the pelvic cavity.

Uterine Fibroids

Fibroids can cause a number of symptoms depending on how big they are, where tjey are , and how close they are to pelvic organs. Large fibroids can cause: sever pelvic pain, pressure, frequent urination, pain when havigna bwoel movement and very heavy bleeding, longer than normal periods and breakthrough bleedign between periods.

Pelvic Infalmmatory Disease

This is a general term for infection of the lining of the uterus, the fallopian tubes, or the ovaries. Some of the symptoms of PID are abnormal vaginal discharge
with an abnormal color, consistency and odor, abdominal pain and fever ( which is not always present)

I hope this help sand wish you the best of luck!!!

Answer 2

The symptoms you are describing are not specific and there is no particular set of symptoms specific for endometriosis. Symptoms of endometriosis include very painful menstrual cramps, pain with periods that gets worse over time, chronic pain in the lower back and pelvis, pain during or after sex, intestinal pain , painful bowel movements or painful urination during menstrual periods, heavy and/or long menstrual periods, spotting or bleeding between periods, infertility (not being able to get pregnant), and fatigue.You are more likely to develop endometriosis if you began getting your period at an early age, have heavy periods, have periods that last more than seven days, have a short monthly cycle (27 days or less), and have a close relative (mother, aunt, sister) with endometriosis.
At this point it is impossible to say if you have it or not so you will have to wait till you see your doctor. Sometimes, experienced physicians may be able to find signs of endometriosis on pelvic exam. The two most common imaging tests for diagnosing endometriosis are ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); the only way to know for sure if you have endometriosis is to have laparoscopy.

Answer 3

Hey I was diagnosed with endo @ 15 and was promptly referred for a laproscopy (a surgical procedure where they make an incision in your navel and place a tiny camera inside to have a squiz about your ovaries etc to look for any endo - it looks gross like little cysts) and if you do have any they will then make another incision either side of your navel for their scalpels and tongs and then literally "slice" off the endo. The operation is fairly painless although u do feel a bit soft round the tummy for a good month. The operation has an 85% success rate (meaning that for 85% of endo sufferers it will never grow back). Being on the pill also helps to slow down the growth of endometriosis. Talk to your GP about it but I would strongly recommend it - its changed my life :-)

Answer 4

Endometriosis takes its name from the endometrium—the layer of cells lining the uterus (womb). Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the endometrium appears at various locations outside the uterus. The disease may be found in nearby organs such as the ovaries, the bladder, and the intestine, and in some cases it may be present throughout the pelvic region.

Although endometriosis involves an abnormal growth of tissue, it is usually not cancerous. What makes endometriosis an abnormality is not the tissue itself but its location outside the uterus. Inside the uterus, endometrial tissue helps nourish a developing fetus during pregnancy. In nonpregnant women, it is expelled during menstruation.

However, endometrial tissue outside the uterus has no way of leaving the body. The result is internal bleeding, degeneration of the blood and tissue shed from the implants, inflammation of the surrounding areas, and formation of scar tissue. Some other complications, depending on the location of the implants, can be the formation of adhesions, intestinal bleeding or obstruction, interference with bladder function, and rupture of implants, which can spread the disease. Symptoms may worsen with time, though cycles of remission and recurrence are the pattern in some cases.

Strenuous exercise appears to reduce the risk to women of contracting a disease that can cause infertility and tumor growth—endometriosis. In the United States an estimated 10 to 15 percent of premenopausal women are affected by this disorder, which causes abnormal growth of uterine-lining tissue and is usually associated with agonizing premenstrual cramps. Rigorous exercise has “been recommended by a number of doctors,” Dr. Cramer of the Harvard Medical School said in The New York Times. “You don’t have to be a professional athlete to get a benefit from it, just a few hours a week can have a protective effect.”

Answer 5

I think you may have endometriosis. I have it and have excruciating pain during the first days of my period, heavy too. The swelling goes up and down. I go to the doctors regularly (every three months now cuz my swelling has gotten worse). For me stress seems to be a trigger, but for other there may be no cause. I don't take hormones or plan any kind of surgery. I do take something called Propolis it is a supplement from bees. It seems to work for me.

Answer 6

it sounds like you might have it. i have it and i've been dealing with since i was about 14 and i am now 28. i've been on birth control pills to keep it under control but it didnt complety get rid of the cramping but they were more tolerable. i just recently got the mirena (iud) and it has progersterone and its suppose to help me out more. right before i got the iud put in i tried being off all birth control for about 3 months and the pain was so bad kinda like the flu with nausea, diarrhea, cramping and hot flashes. so far the mirena is starting to really help. the flow is lighter and cramping is tolerable.

Answer 7

It could be endometriosis or it could just be the way your period is but help is out there no matter what. You really won't know for sure until the doc runs tests on you.

Answer 8

It is likely, but you'll never know for sure until your checked out.

Answer 9

you may have a infection or something, go see a doctor for sure