Post by megan6 on May 30, 2013 13:14:00 GMT -5
Hello. My name is Megan, and I am new on here. I am 28 years old and am wondering if I have endometriosis. I have a long family history of it as my mother and I believe both her sisters had it, it was suspected in their mother, and at least one of my two sisters is dealing with it, as well. I haven't seen a doctor because I am not having severe symptoms but am wondering if anybody can give me advice or signals to watch out for to help me know if/when to see one.
I had my first period the month prior to my 11th birthday. In junior high and high school, I had relatively heavy periods that lasted a week with cramps that were bad but tolerable. Pain meds and the occasional heating pad usually helped, although I did sometimes feel cramps into my vagina, butt and thighs, sorry if that's tmi.
I noticed definite improvements when I started the birth control pill about six years ago. My periods got very light and short and cramps were almost non-existent. When I would have them, they would generally be the day I started and next day. But lately, my cramps have been increasing in intensity and are almost as bad as before I started the pill. I am very bloated during my period and have worse lower back pains, as well. The cramps are also starting sooner than they used to, this last time, two days before I started, and generally the flow is dark sort of brown and sometimes with clots. It is rarely actually red, and although not heavy, it seems heavier lately. I am still on the pill. Also, I have always been a bit irregular with my bowel movements with some constipation, but I am not sure if this is more common when I am on my period or not. Occasionally when my partner and I have intercourse, if he goes too deep or too quickly, it will hurt a bit, too.
With my family history, I am just wondering if there are any subtle ways for me to know whether or not I could be suffering the same fate as the other women on my Mom's side of the family. I know a laproscopic surgery is the only way to really diagnose it and don't want to do that any time soon or waste a trip to the doctor if this could be normal with me being on the same pill so long, but I don't want to assume normalcy and overlook anything, either because I'd like to have a family in a few years. Does anybody have any tips for me or things to look for that may indicate endometriosis or not and if/when I should see a doctor? If I do end up seeing one, what type should it be? I'm ashamed to say I don't have an actual gp and just see a doctor if I'm not feeling well, so regardless of the type, I'd probably need to find somebody unless I could go to the last gp I got my pap from in January, which have always hurt a bit and which this last time, I had some pain when she did the part to check for lumps in the uterus, and that's never hurt before. Sorry for the rambling message. Thanks for any thoughts.
I had my first period the month prior to my 11th birthday. In junior high and high school, I had relatively heavy periods that lasted a week with cramps that were bad but tolerable. Pain meds and the occasional heating pad usually helped, although I did sometimes feel cramps into my vagina, butt and thighs, sorry if that's tmi.
I noticed definite improvements when I started the birth control pill about six years ago. My periods got very light and short and cramps were almost non-existent. When I would have them, they would generally be the day I started and next day. But lately, my cramps have been increasing in intensity and are almost as bad as before I started the pill. I am very bloated during my period and have worse lower back pains, as well. The cramps are also starting sooner than they used to, this last time, two days before I started, and generally the flow is dark sort of brown and sometimes with clots. It is rarely actually red, and although not heavy, it seems heavier lately. I am still on the pill. Also, I have always been a bit irregular with my bowel movements with some constipation, but I am not sure if this is more common when I am on my period or not. Occasionally when my partner and I have intercourse, if he goes too deep or too quickly, it will hurt a bit, too.
With my family history, I am just wondering if there are any subtle ways for me to know whether or not I could be suffering the same fate as the other women on my Mom's side of the family. I know a laproscopic surgery is the only way to really diagnose it and don't want to do that any time soon or waste a trip to the doctor if this could be normal with me being on the same pill so long, but I don't want to assume normalcy and overlook anything, either because I'd like to have a family in a few years. Does anybody have any tips for me or things to look for that may indicate endometriosis or not and if/when I should see a doctor? If I do end up seeing one, what type should it be? I'm ashamed to say I don't have an actual gp and just see a doctor if I'm not feeling well, so regardless of the type, I'd probably need to find somebody unless I could go to the last gp I got my pap from in January, which have always hurt a bit and which this last time, I had some pain when she did the part to check for lumps in the uterus, and that's never hurt before. Sorry for the rambling message. Thanks for any thoughts.