rio
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Posts: 27
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Post by rio on Mar 13, 2007 12:10:50 GMT -5
Hi - I know that there is a space for post-menopause on the boards, but it doesn't seem active.
I have had a variety of abdominal pains for over 30 years, since puberty kicked in. These pains have worsened both in frequency and severity over the years, and are always very bad before and during a period. Up until the last six years, my periods were very irregular, causing fertility problems, and even disappearing for years after the birth of my first child. I have two children (my second child was conceived when I used Clomid).
Doctors have ascribed the pains to IBS and adhesions from major bowel surgery 15 years ago - but verbally only, not on my medical records. However, last year, a nutritionist suggested that I had most of the symptoms of endometriosis as well as IBS, so I pushed my GP for a referral to hospital for an 'official' diagnosis of my condition. I wanted a referral to a gynae dr as well as a gastoenterologist, but the GP dismissed my concerns about endo. He said that the pain was mostly in my bowel (true - but I also get pelvic pain and I think I have endo in my left colon - the pain is different and distinctive there in the week before and during my period). He also implied that as I was nearly menopausal (I am 46), it wasn't worth pursuing that diagnostic route. To summarise, I was referred to a gastro dr only, he ran a series of tests, and (no surprise to me) diagnosed IBS.
My question is - if I have untreated endo, will it disappear by itself at the menopause? Or will it leave adhesions and scarring that will not disappear, and continue to cause pain and discomfort even without the hormonal triggers?
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Post by ouchy on Mar 13, 2007 12:16:49 GMT -5
Hi, rio. I actually have no clue. I know surgical menopause isn't always the cure, but I'm not sure about natural menopause. I hope we get some members who have gone through this themselves.
Maybe some girls on here can answer about their mothers? I hope so! Remember: natural menopause.
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Post by cherry on Mar 13, 2007 12:24:08 GMT -5
As so many women will verify, the endo doesn't always calm down at menopause. Sorry your doctor is such a horror. Maybe you should consider changing, cos the theory that you're near menopause is no reason to dismiss you out of hand. You could be 10 years away from your menopaus yet. I am not menopausal but I know the pseudo-menopause i was put on as a treatment for my endo didn't help much. Hope you get a lap soon to confirm things either way. My doc even dismissed my new endo symptoms as IBS, which turned out to be wrong anyway despite the fact that I have confirmed endo, and a fair few members here have been dismissed as IBS and then later diagnosed with endo too xx
PS My mum had endo and had a hysterectomy then an oopherectomy, and with or without HRT her tummy swelled like a balloon whenever me and my sister had periods, so it may not necessarily stop after your menopause x
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Post by ouchy on Mar 13, 2007 12:30:55 GMT -5
Yah, we know surgical menopause doesn't always help...but what about the natural menopause--when your body actually quits producing the hormones? With surgical menopause, fragments of the ovaries are sometimes left inside, and this leads to problems, as the fragments still produce hormones.
I'm curious as to those women who have actually gone through natural, biologic menopause.
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Post by erzulie on Mar 13, 2007 16:13:23 GMT -5
I've heard from women on another site who have gone through natural menopause and their symptoms persisted. I've also read about it in that book I'm always quoting. In fact, the book says the following things can contribute to endometriosis recurrence after menopause:
· Incomplete surgical removal of endometriosis · Use of HRT · Obesity · Immune reactions such as severe allergic reactions
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Post by akcheryl on Mar 13, 2007 17:09:19 GMT -5
My mom seems to be doing fine. She started menopause about ten years ago. However, even though she was diagnosed in her 20s with stage 4 endo, she never suffered from much discomfort or heavy periods, so it's possible that she still has endo problems and just doesn't realize it.
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rio
New Member
Posts: 27
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Post by rio on Mar 14, 2007 11:29:00 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies everyone. I will watch this space for more experiences of endo and natural menopause.
I suppose I could change doctors within the practice, but perhaps I should give him another chance. Now that I am on pain relief for the IBS, perhaps he will listen to me about the other stuff. My worry is that my pain - especially for 2 weeks out of 4 - is worsening as I get older. My mother had no problems with periods or fertility and had her menopause naturally at about 47. I guess I was just hoping that the menopause would be a 'natural' solution. I know that even if I was referred for a laparoscopy, I would be concerned that it would give me more adhesions. The reason for this is that, in the past, two surgeons have been unwilling to perform non-essential keyhole surgery because they said that I could end up in a worse state with adhesions than I am now.
Anyway - thanks for being here. This board is great.
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Post by zuzana23 on May 26, 2007 17:15:51 GMT -5
Hi Rio, I'm turning 45 next month and my doctor told me she thinks I might have endo, after she got my US results. She wants to send me for a lap, but I'm not so sure I should go. I just talked to one of my friends who is a nurse and she told me, that my symptoms, (heavy period cramps and cramping between periods) could be just normal symptoms of perimenopause. I have been experiencing perimenopausal symptoms for the last 6 years and thinks that I'm very close to menopause. My mom was 47 when she stopped with her periods. I don't want to be poked and proded for no reason. Even if I do have endo, I'm thinking that once I hit MP, it will just go away so why bother with the lap. Grrrr, I just don't know what to do. I'm seeing my doctor on Tuesday and I'll ask her if I can try the Mirena IUD to help with the periods and then we'll go from there. How are things going with you? I'd love to hear from you. Zuzana.
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Post by Joanne on May 28, 2007 22:49:14 GMT -5
Hi there,
I am new to the site and i have been suffering now for 13 years and no end in site. I have had two hysterectomies and still there. I first got uterus and cervix out hoping it would stop the pain and my doctor told me it probably wouldn't and it didn't. So approx. three years later i had my ovaries out and my worst enemy is still there and hanging in strong, with no end in sight. It doesn't always go away, we can always wish, but by having menopause natural and not by surgery, i don't know, but chances are it is there to stay. Sorry, but right now, I am not very optimistic when it comes to endo. Hugs
Joanne
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Post by zuzana23 on May 29, 2007 10:12:42 GMT -5
Hi Joanne, sorry to hear your troubles. What kind of symptoms do you still have? And do you mind me asking how old you are? Zuzana.
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Post by Joanne on May 29, 2007 10:27:22 GMT -5
Hi Zuzanna,
My symptoms are: lower back pain, right hip pain, and pain in legs, pain right across pubic hair area and lower abdomen. Also, vaginal area, feels like someone is pulling my insides out, and have bladder, bowel and intestine problems as a result of endo. Have had bladder scope and it okay, but have reoccuring bladder infections, and my bowel, well thats a story in itself. It starts off with cramps in abdomen and my intestines start hurting so bad it is worse than the cramping in the abdomen, and i have to go to bathroom for bowel movement if i can, and the pain doesn't stop until my body thinks i have gotten rid of enough waste. Also, while this is all going on I got hot sweats, nausea, and feel like I am going to pass out. I am 49 years old and have had six kids. After my fifth child I had my tubes cut and burnt and 16 years ago I got them reconstructed. Then I had my son who is now 15. Then I got the IUD in and it gave me pelvic inflammatory disease. Then i had a tubal pregnancy do to the PID. Thats when all my pain started. I was in and out of the hospital all the time, as a cure or to find the right antibiotic to cure PID is difficult to find. Then I had a laporoscopy and they found that my ovaries were attached to the linning of my uterus, so they operated to get them detached from the linning of my uterus. Then i demanded a hysterectomy thinking it would get rid of the pain. They took my uterus and cervix out, and my worst enemy was still there, as my gyno told me the pain might not go away. Than a year later I wanted my ovaries out, once again hoping, but thats all it was was hoping. And since than, my companion is still hanging in strong, but affecting the other areas I mentioned above. Hope this helps, hugs
joanne dreamquest
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Post by ouchy on May 29, 2007 10:43:07 GMT -5
Joanne, since I can't PM you--I assume your member name isn't working yet since you're still posting as guest, please stay on topic in your posts. If you're talking about endometriosis after menopause, please don't jump to the topic of PID. It's not a symptom of endometriosis. It's caused by bacterial infection. Anyway, just please stay on topic. I'd normally do this in PM, but I can't in this case, since your PM's dont' work right now. Thanks. ~Ouchy
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Post by zuzana23 on May 29, 2007 11:59:19 GMT -5
Hi Joanne, that sounds terrible. I hope there's some relief in sight for you. Maybe the sweats and nausea are a sign of natural menopause. I read on this site that sometimes even after a woman has her ovaries removed, small particles maybe left behind still releasing estrogen and thus causing endo tissue to remain active. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you, that this is an acutal menopause and things will settle down. Zuzana.
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rio
New Member
Posts: 27
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Post by rio on Jun 7, 2007 13:41:45 GMT -5
Hi Zuzana23, Thanks for sharing your experience. I posted an update on another thread, but to summarise, I am having an ultrasound scan next week to see if I have any cysts. The gynae dr wasn't at all willing to consider a lap because I almost certainly have bowel adhesions as a result of major surgery 17 years ago. Since then, as a result, I have suffered with almost daily bowel pains, but I also have other symptoms which could be endo. In fact, I've had these symptoms for years, but didn't know anything about endo until last year.
Things have definitely worsened hormonally in the last few years - very bad headaches, nausea, heavier periods, and leg/back/rectal/pelvic pains are much more noticeable, and not just at period times. I really hope that I have the menopause very soon, and then hopefully some of this pain will lessen.
Please let me know how you get on with the Mirena coil. I think that if they find any evidence of cysts they might try something similar with me. Like you, I just don't know what to do - should I just sit it out until menopause? After all, I've put up with it for all these years. Thanks again for responding - keep us posted. X
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Post by ouchy on Jun 7, 2007 13:48:17 GMT -5
^Yes. Please post Mirena experiences in the IUD thread. I'm sure lots of people would love to read about it.
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