Still no answers!!! >:(

[liaspyre31]

Hi, I'm Heather, I'm 26 years old, and serving in the US Army since 2007, first as a medic, and now as a Licensed Practical Nurse (still enlisted, not officer) on an inpatient MED/SURG ward in an Army hospital.

I've been putting up with this persistent pelvic pain of mine for 6 weeks straight now. I've been to the Emergency Room 8 times, Family Practice Clinic 4 times, and OB/GYN twice now during this time. I've had 3 different ultrasounds and a CT scan with contrast done, as well as several lab studies done, but nothing has turned up. I've been started on Lupron Depo on June 18th, Depo Provera 2 weeks earlier, and been taking narcotic pain meds pretty consistently during this whole ordeal, and I've also missed A LOT of work... I've only worked 5 days in the last 6 weeks! I'm surprised that I haven't been admitted yet!

Despite all that I have gone through in this short amount of time, I still have not gotten any straight answers from any doctors, especially at the OB/GYN clinic. Only a few of the doctors I've seen since this whole thing started have suggested that I may have Endo... unfortunately, none of those doctors are OB/GYN doctors.

During my last OB/GYN appointment on June 18th, I brought 4 pages worth of information related to my pain, including past episodes of pelvic pain, family history (my mom's sister has Endo), current symptoms I've been experiencing, and a list of conditions that have been ruled out. The doctor I saw that day took a brief look at what I had written, and didn't even do a very good exam. I told him that I wanted to have a laparoscopy done, and I was pushing for it too, but this doctor just wouldn't budge. I don't like the idea of experimenting with medications and HOPING that they'll work, but this doctor just wouldn't listen to me for anything! I was so mad that I wanted to punch him in the mouth repeatedly!!!

I've been getting the runaround the past 6 weeks. What makes this all worse is that I'm a single, active-duty enlisted soldier in the US Army, and it seems like the Army thinks that if you're single and active-duty enlisted, they can give you the runaround for a few years and use you as a guinea pig. NO SIR/MA'AM!!! I may be a single soldier, but I am also human, not to mention far too young to have to experience menopausal symptoms!

I've told my NCOIC once or twice, as well as my Dad and my old Platoon Sergeant, that I'm thinking about taking this matter to Patient Advocacy. Nobody should have to put up with this kind of garbage!! I understand that something like Endo is difficult to diagnose and can take a long time to diagnose, but still... I also now have a consult to Gastroenterology to see if maybe my pain is possibly related to my GI tract, but I kinda doubt it. I do have IBS, but this pain I've been having lately feels nothing like my IBS at all.

I've been at least thankful though, through all this, that my leadership and coworkers have been understanding of my situation... it still stinks though that I've been scheduled to work the floor, but I keep having to take time out of work because of all this, and each day I've been out, they've been short a nurse. I know that I need to take the time off and rest, but I still sometimes feel like I'm letting them down, but now I've been put on Admin time until we figure out what's going on and, hopefully, get it under control, otherwise I could end up being medically discharged from the Army.

I've also been thankful for the support from my friends and family... my friends, especially, will check on me to make sure I'm okay, offer me help if I need it, and give me some means of taking my mind off my pain, at least for a while. I just wish I knew what was going on with me already so that I can get back to my life!

[MustangGtGirl]

Hi Heather,

Welcome to the board. I know how frustrating and stressful the unknown can be. From what I have been told the only true way to diagnose Endo is with a lap. I went through so many tests and showed nothing but through lap Endo both lesions and adhesion's were found and when that was cut out there was a large fibroid hiding behind it. You are very lucky to have so many people support you. The girls on here are amazing and so helpful. Read through the threads and I hope you are feeling better soon.

[loveshoes]

Hi Heather! I'm sorry you are going thru this. I haven't checked the intro board yet to see if you posted other info there but have you tried the endo diet yet? I swear, it's hard but I have been on it now for about 8 mths and when I cheat, do I feel it. Wheat, sugar, gluten, caffeine are all major triggers and can be causes of your pain as well because they cause more inflammation. My best suggestions would be to see if you can locate a pelvic pain specialist in your area or someone who specializes in endo. Obgyn's are fine but most of them just aren't knowledgable enough when it comes to endo. I'm a little suprised that you were put on lupron right off the bat w.o a firm diagnosis - that is very reckless of your doctor. Lupron has a ton of side effects and many of us RUN from it. Depo is another one - I don't personally like it, never tried it either b/c I was scared that if I had any reaction from it that it wouldn't be easy to switch to something else. I take the BCP continuallly. I am only 36 but plan on staying on the pill continual until I hit menopause. The pill is one of the only things that keeps my endo quiet and gives me my life back. Unfortunately, with endo, the only way to diagnose it is with a lap but I would STRONGLY urge you to see an endo specialist first and NOT have surgery with just any regular OBGYN. You need to team up with someone who knows what to look for and will excise the endo the 1st time. Don't go with burning, excision is best for removal. Endo is unique too because you can have just a tiny amount of it, and be in dire pain or be like me who's got alot of it and have no daily pain unless I have a period adn then it's like OMG pain. Everyone is different in that regard. You might want to google search pelvic hot pack, they are these triangle shaped things filled with buckwheat or other things that you heat in the microwave and put on your tummy for pain - they are good to have around as well or a good old heating pad is fine too. I used to like the microwave ones to heat up if I had to drag my butt to work, I could at least have it in the car and then use my heating pad at my desk or keep re heating the microwave pack.

Good luck, keep asking us questions!

[hellsbells]

Take a look at the IBS and bowel threads...maybe you do, maybe you don't...I like you. You have your head well and truly screwed on. Keep pushing for those answers!

[faithh]

Hey Heather, frequently IBS can be a co-occurring symptom of Endo - at least that's what my specialist said to me. Especially if your diagnosed with the type of IBS that causes intestinal muscle spasms.

I understand how you feel about getting the run around - for a long time I got a lot of BS answers until I finally called up an endo specialist and talked directly to him - I've had every test and every imaging study done and a colonoscopy so they know they've ruled everything out. People would tell me that it was stress and anxiety and all in my head. That irritated me and the only thing that kept me sane is the fact that my therapist didn't believe this pain was in my head and pushed me to find answers instead of 'accepting I'll always be in pain and not know why'.

So I urge you to seek out a specialist - its going to be helpful talking to someone who specializes in endometriosis. I find a lot of regular doctors don't know what to look for when it comes to ENDO and believe certain myths about it like my GP was convinced that it would show up on an imaging test and we would know if I had it.

[Karen]

Regarding your IBS... have you considered diet changes to manage that? Many women on here are able to manage endo pain and other things like IBS through eliminating certain foods that cause inflammation or issues with digestion. Sugar, diary, and gluten often seem to be some big offenders. If anything, it may give you some relief while you work through the run-around!