[suffering]

Hello! I have some questions regarding symptoms. I was diagnosed with PCOS about ten years ago. I have always had irregular periods until a miscarriage in 2006. After a second D&C for that miscarriage my periods suddenly became unbelievably regular...to the day every month.

When I did have my periods (before and after D&C) they were always longer in duration and heavier than what my friends described they had, but I just thought I was different. However, after the second D&C, whenever I would get my period, the cramping was horrendous. I would sweat and feel like puking because of the intensity of the cramping.

Since that time I have had a baby. That was six weeks ago. About a week after having her I began to have chronic pelvic pain that has not let up since that time. I have had ultrasounds, CT scans, and pelvic exams and still no explanation for me. CT scan showed the cysts on my ovaries...but I already knew about those.

I know a lap is the only true diagnostic test for endo, but my gyn is baffled and hasn't even suggested the possibility. I know that no one here can diagnose me, but I am curious as to symptoms of others as opposed to me just reading a list on the internet. Can anyone tell me if any of these symptoms sound familiar?

-My pain tends to wax and wane. It's all located in my lower abdomen and pelvic area. It feels like I am going to start my period at any moment (but I'm exclusively breastfeeding and she's only six weeks...so highly doubtful). Besides being crampy, it's sometimes a burning pain. Most of the time it's all across my lower abdomen, but sometimes it's severe in the right side of my abdomen. Sometimes it will radiate to my thighs as well.

-If I have a bowel movement, the pain is at times excruciating AFTER the bowel movement and the pain can persist for hours.

-If I'm having an episode of pain, my pain will intensify if I lift anything or carry my baby around.

-Sometimes my pelvis has a really heavy feeling. It almost feels as if my insides will fall out (I was checked for prolapse and nothing out of the ordinary was found).

These are the most annoying/painful symptoms I'm experiencing. Do any of these sound familiar? I'm still bleeding on occasion and I'm due to meet with my midwife again on Friday to discuss what to do next. I'm just wondering if I should ask about endo. My aunt had severe endo...I don't know if it's hereditary or not. This pain is really depressing me and I'm having a hard time enjoying my sweet little miracle baby.

Thank you in advance!

[wantabigbelly]

Hi, Congrats on your baby girl!

I've read a lot about endo because I've always suffered of sever cramping and irregular periods and also fear having endo. I do think your symptoms sound like it's a possibility and I would def. push my doc. for a lap. If he doesn't pay much attention, I would go see a specialist. I went to see a fertility specialist for a cyst...not for infertility (at the time...he actually discovered another condition which has caused my infertility), and he was great. Helped me way more than my Obgyn.

I've had truly severe cramping as you are describing with a large ovarian cyst last year and as you mentioned, the pain would radiate to my thighs and my lower back. It was a pain I had for 2 months. Every day I'd take 6 aleves some days even more...I went to a specialist because of the pain, and he explained that when a cyst moves it can cause that type of pain. I know you've had cysts before but perhaps they were not moving or they were small and therefore never caused you this much pain??? Maybe even a ruptured cyst???

It sounds like your pain is excrutiating and maybe even worthy of a trip to the ER to find the cause asap...I wouldn't wait much longer to find out what's causing your pain.

[lovingwife]

My RE thinks I have endo. I'm scheduled for a lap in March. I don't have the symptoms you describe, but everyone is different. Actually, I really don't have many symptoms other than spotting before my period and lower back pain (it does radiate into my upper thigh). Oh- and infertility. However, the symptoms you describe could certainly be endo.

From what I understand, pregnancy should suppress your symptoms if you did have endo. It's stange that your symptoms would be so bad if you just had a baby. Good luck and maybe talk to your ob/gyn about the possibility of your symptoms being caused by endo.

[CryingInside]

My symptoms sound very similar. Excruciating pain to the point that I can't move for hours at a time. Very heavy periods with alot of clotting.

You should ask about a lap.